Terri and Blake Freeport IL Wedding, [Chicago day after session]

Freeport IL is a wonderful town, it  has such charm and character that I’m planning on going back again in the spring. I usually get a little nervous when I don’t get to meet the couple before the wedding, but within 5 minutes of arriving I knew I’d have a great time with Terri and Blake and their wonderful families. The fist thing I noticed was the flowers, so unique and creative, definitely my favorite to date!

Could this be more picture perfect? The little white chapel in the valley, it looked like something out of a movie, I was so exited!

Favorite!

I just love the joy and the laughter, this is what it’s all about 🙂

Longest conga line I’ve ever seen.

😀

The next day the drove down to Chicago for a Day-after fun urban photo shoot 🙂

Can you believe that sky? I was on the verge of hyperventilating that’s how exited I was.

From Terri…..

 

I had a blast at our wedding, which honestly, is something that has me a bit surprised.  There are so many stories of brides who feel like they blinked and the day was over or who felt constantly pulled in different direction or who, for whatever reason, thought the day wasn’t what they had expected.  After reflecting on thoroughly enjoying our wedding day, I think I discovered the secret:  trust your vendors to do what you can’t.  For me, at least, this was what allowed me to relax and soak in the moments.  While planning and executing our wedding, we worked with several really spectacular vendors.  The best of the best are as follows:


 
 
 

Flowers:  This ended up being the most difficult element of the whole wedding.  This is also the only element that my wedding planning partner (my husband) threw his hand up and fully withdrew from participating because of my crazy indecisiveness.  Craig Deininger, of Deininger Floral Shop in Freeport, not only tolerated my hesitancy, he did so while smiling and reassuring me that we will find the arrangement of my dreams.  Thanks to the creative genius and talent at Deinenger’s, our flowers were so beautiful that I spend most of the day after the wedding staring at them.  Just thinking about them now makes me smile.  What I dreaded the most ended up being one of my favorite things about our wedding. http://www.deiningerfloralshop.com/


 

Music:  Tim Taflinger, of Absolute Light and Sound in Hudson, is a close friend and former employer of mine.  When it came time to select our DJ, there was no question of who I wanted.  It was very comforting to know that Tim was in control of our reception.  He takes what he does extremely personally, and it shows in his work.  Absolute Light and Sound: 309-275-5100


 
 

Pictures:  What I liked so much about working with Hilda Burke, of Angel Eyes Photography, was how her personality helped me relax.  She is the perfect mix of laid back and quietly quirky, while at the same time, easily inspired and a little obsessive.  I was always confident that she was determined to get that perfect shot.


 
 

My favorite part of our wedding was the ceremony itself.  Beforehand, we had spent a lot of time with our Pastor discussing our hopes and plans.  Pastor Brown, of Salem/Ebenezer Church in Stephenson County, honored our request for a ceremony that centered on the positive aspects of entering into marriage and he highlighted the equality in our partnership.  The ceremony really felt like it was it was ours.  The best part: holding hands with my intelligent, gorgeous, loving husband-to-be in front of a packed church and knowing that for as good as this day is, this is only the beginning.

 

Terri Musser (Bennett)