* Brooke + Neil * Erin’s Pavilion * Springfield Illinois * Spring Wedding
Spring is a time of fresh starts, new life, and lots of wonderful colors! Brook and Neil’s springtime wedding held at Erin’s Pavilion in Springfield, Illinois was nothing short of all of those words. Choosing to tie the knot and pledge a vow to start a lifelong commitment together is the perfect way to kick off the season! Brooke and Neil have spent many years together and actually had friends who tried for a while to set them up. They finally met and had their first date at another friend’s wedding and the rest is history! These two have a deep connection and that is apparent as soon as you see them together. They are both very close with their families and ensured they granted plenty of time throughout their day with their loved ones. After a tough year for Brooke’s mother, Kelly, with medical issues, Brooke wanted to make her big day just as special for her mom as her mom wanted for her daughter. Helping Brooke into her dress, her mom was soaking in every detail. It was lovely to bear witness to their profound bond as Kelly made sure Brooke was ready to walk down the aisle. When we did the first look between Brooke and her dad, Bill, we took great care to include her mom in this precious moment. And afterward, Kelly and Bill gifted their daughter a beautiful pearl necklace, Brooke did not expect. The love between them all is unbelievable! Neil even had a chance to see his bride-to-be for the first time and his reaction was just as awesome! I adored how they both took it all in and then began sharing how each other’s mornings had gone. Neither wanted the other to miss out on any aspect of the day!
Due to the rain, which was forecasted for the majority of the day, we changed plans and decided to head to downtown Springfield to the Horace Mann building. This spot has quickly become a favorite of mine! The lighting is perfect and on a rainy and windy day, it provides much-needed shelter from the elements. The bridal party, which included Brooke and Neil’s friends and family as well as their pride and joy, their 9-year-old pup, Brandi were fantastic and super easy to work with! We flew through some fun photos with the girls dressed in purple and the guys sporting gray suits. The gorgeous flowers throughout the entire day brought the wedding vision together! Brooke and Neil spent a little more time with me and that is when the magic happened! Neil has a way of gazing deep into Brooke’s eyes, which shows the admiration he has for her. Then within a few seconds, he will make a silly face at her and the giggles will burst out! I honestly had a blast with these two!
Their ceremony was simple and sweet pulling the rustic feel of open doors for their arbor and capped off the look with two huge wooden barrels! Neil’s good friend, Pat officiated the nuptials after Brandi the dog helped usher the way for Brooke and her father to make their entrance. The pair shared a few lovely moments as they exchanged rings, poured colorful sand together symbolizing they are moving forward with one new life, and they sealed it with a tender kiss. Hand in hand (plus a leash) the family of three made their way up the aisle together. The reception was filled with loved ones from near and far and was covered with gorgeous purple, peach, and white blooms, wood and metal accents, and delicious cupcakes! Although Brooke and Neil were upbeat and were flexible with the changes we had to make due to the rain, I knew they were a bit bummed about the weather. However, I kept telling them to be patient and many times the sun peeks out from the clouds right before it drops below the horizon. Sure enough…That’s exactly what happened! We quickly made our way outside to the back of the pavilion for a few last sunset photos with the delightful landscape and the new Mr. & Mrs. Holderread!
I feel completely blessed I had the opportunity to work with Brooke, Neil and everyone they hold so dear. It was a pleasure to work with such a pleasant, genuine, and laid back couple who made me feel like part of the family! Best wishes in your marriage, Brooke and Neil!
Warm Regards,
Lauren
Huge shoutout to Brooke & Neil’s amazing vendors!
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Erin’s Pavilion, Erin’s Pavilion
Wedding Planner & Designer: Cynthia Millburg
Florist: Petals and Company, Petals & Co
Cake Artist: Three Twigs Bakery, Three Twigs Bakery
Band/DJ: Epic Entertainment, Epic Entertainment
Bride’s Dress: Allure from Girls in White Satin http://girlsinwhitesatin.com
Makeup Artist: Brittany Clark, Brittany Clark
Hair Stylist: Dani Richmond, Dani Richmond
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal, David’s Bridal
Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse, Men’s Wearhouse
