This week I am so excited to share Heather and Rich’s winter wedding at The Venue CU! I met these two for the first time to talk all things wedding in the studio. And from the moment I met them, I could tell that these two are the perfect compliment for each other. They are the most down-to-Earth, fun-loving pair and that really shined through on their wedding day!

We were at The Venue CU on this chilly December day. This venue is right up there with Carmon’s Champaign as one of my favorite central Illinois wedding venues (you might remember Carmon’s from last week’s blog post). Just like Carmon’s, it’s a one-stop-shop for everything you need on a wedding day.

The girls got ready right upstairs in the bridal suite at The Venue CU. It has enough room for all of the activities. From hair and makeup, to a perfect spot for a grand entrance for the bride, the space just provides everything you could ask for!

Heather had the most beautiful blue winter cape that she wore. It was very reminiscent of Belle from Beauty and the Beast and I adored it!

Rich is a firefighter, so these two got to take advantage of my discount for service men and women too! And because he and all of his groomsmen are either cops or firefighters, the guys were all in their dress blues for the occasion.

During bridal party portraits, Rich wanted to surprise Heather with these masks. Paying ode to the SNL skit with Justin Timberlake. It was hilarious and Heather loved it! Then they pulled the firetruck out for some portraits before we explored around downtown Champaign a bit. You can tell from their photos that this group was having so much fun celebrating Heather and Rich!

Rich has a great eye for all the little details and was much more hands-on than my typical groom. It was so cool watching him on this day as he handled the little things so Heather could enjoy the day to the fullest. But Rich also always knew exactly when to let Heather’s strengths shine through too. Like I said, they are the perfect compliment to each other and it’s beautiful!

When we got back to the venue after portraits, everything was set up and it was classic Christmas everywhere! They did such a great job making it feel warm and Christmasy on such a chilly day. There were so many beautiful moments throughout their day, but one of my favorites was Heather making her grand entrance down the staircase and seeing everyone’s reactions. It gave me goosebumps!

We finished off the evening with some fun downtown photos. The city lights made for some unique and gorgeous portraits for Heather and Rich!

VENDORS // The Venue CU // Michelle’s Bridal // Men’s Warehouse // Pan and Cake Catering // Elegant Events CU // Felix and Fingers Dueling Pianos //