* Bloomington Illinois * Illinois State University * Wedding Photographer *
Photographing weddings especially, keeps me on my toes, helps me invest in the love story of each of my couples, and make my heart soar. Angelina and Josh are one of those couples you instantly fall in love with and you simply want to interact with. And the amazing thing about them is that they are completely open to allowing you into their lives! They are of “The More the Merrier” mentality, which is so refreshing! I knew from the time we had their engagement session last year, which you can find HERE, we were going to have a good time! Their wedding day in Bloomington, Illinois on the campus of ISU was wonderful! We started off being on the dreary side of the day with some rain in the forecast. Yet, that didn’t seem to bother this couple. After seven years of dating through college and the years beyond, they were just ready to get married! Their ceremony was at the Bone Student Center, which was still bustling with students on a Friday afternoon leading up to their nuptials.
Angelina had all of her closest friends and family stand next to her on the big day, including her mother, Eileen, who played the role of her maid of honor. The bridesmaids long coral dresses were gorgeous and totally set apart when given their bouquets handmade by Angelina’s cousin, Cara Kuziel. Angelina was a Stunner in her beaded, low back mermaid dress! It fit her perfectly and she was glowing when her look all came together. Josh has an awesomely goofy personailty and such a big heart! He and his groomsmen were full of laughter while preparing for the ceremony in their light gray suits and coral vest paired with matching bowties. Before the wedding began, Angelina and Josh chose not to do a first look, however still wanted to have a little moment to themselves. So they chose to have a first “touch”, keeping them separated by a curtain at the student center, only holding hands, and sharing a few words with one another. It was adorable!
Their ceremony was filled with so much love, admiration for each other, and fun memories. The couple spoke their vows written by each of them from the heart. There were affectionate moments with a few tears as they talked about their seven year journey and the years moving forward as a married couple. Even hilarious moments when after Josh finished his vows he just wanted a hug from Angie! She couldn’t contain her giggles! Speaking of funny, I couldn’t believe how many different nicknames Miss Angelina answered to throughout the day! Ang, Angie, Leenie, etc! Loved it! No matter what Angelina was called, the most important to her was that she could be called Mrs. Harm at the end of the day!
We were completely spared of a full day of rain and by the time the ceremony was over the wet weather had stopped and we were able to photograph the wedding party around the Quad of ISU, of course the very special bench on campus inscribed with “To Those Who Fell in Love at ISU”, and at Miller Park capturing beautiful images in front of the charming Pavillon and stone bridge. I had a great time joking around with the bridal party during photos as well as capturing the pure devotion Angelina & Josh have for one another. I think with their unwavering fondness and lively characters these two share they will have an incredibly long marriage.
Josh told me, when the three of us spoke before their wedding, they are pretty good at throwing great parties! And boy was he right! They were surrounded by family and friends in a dazzling ballroom at the Bloomington DoubleTree Hotel. There were lots of special moments throughout the night including when Angelina’s brother, Billy, who is an active duty member of the Army and who recently served a tour overseas, presented the couple with an American flag. The flag was flown over his base in honor of their union. Also, when Josh talked about his one regret for the day, which was the fact that both Angelina & his own fathers were not at the wedding due to their passing. And of course the lighter moment with Josh was “Iced” by Angie during the garter retrieval! The dance floor was flooded all night and the love for the couple was delightful! They even made time to honor all of their ISU friends with a couple of photos! Looks like they were a silly crew to have around!
Angelina & Josh are perfect for each other! They are always ready to have a good time, gracious, hard working, and a fantastic match! I am so glad that they chose me to ensure their memories will live on forever! I’m looking forward to watching their lives flourish down in Texas, where they have recently moved. Thanks again for having me and allowing me to play such an important role in your glorious day! Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Harm!
Warm Regards,
Lauren
Thank You as well to all Angelina & Josh’s wedding vendors!
Ceremony Venue: Bone Student Center
Reception Venue: Bloomington DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center
DJ: Pitch Perfect Productions
Florist: Cara Kuziel
Hair & Makeup: Fox & Hounds Hair Studio & Day Spa
