When you think of a football stadium, you probably don’t immediately think wedding venue. Or does center court of a basketball arena sound like the perfect place for a first look on wedding day? Well for Samantha and Steve it does! They held their beautiful fall nuptials on the campus of Illinois State University and for this fun-loving couple and their energetic bridal party this was exactly the right spot! What’s funny is that neither of them, when I asked, attended ISU as students. However, Steve’s parents have been long time season ticket holders for the basketball team. So Steve and his family have grown up being part of the ISU community. Samantha and her ladies were full of excitement the morning of the wedding day. Getting hair and makeup done, steaming dresses, and finalizing details in the reception space, which overlooked the football field. The bridesmaids alternated in colored dresses of rust orange and turquoise. When it came time for Samantha to step into her gown she was an absolute vision! The lace bodice with floral designs and off the shoulder details was stunning! And the simplicity of the flowy long train gave this glowing bride a touch of whimsical. She finished her look by tying up her white Converse hightops, which were a necessity for where she was meeting up with her groom…Center court!

Steve awaited for Samantha on the center logo of the ISU Redbird at CEFCU Arena. When she gave him a little tap on the shoulder he turned to see his lovely bride standing there with the biggest smile on her face. The pair embraced and shared a few moments in one of the largest spaces I could think of, but felt so intimate and only for them. While Samantha and Steve had some time on the court, we took full advantage playing up this amazing opportunity! Literally! They played a little one on one, took a couple of shots, and if you look really closely you may notice the shot clock even has their wedding date! The perfect touch! Of course, once Samantha and Steve were done on the court, the wonderful bride she is, Samantha, let the boys have some fun for a bit! Steve and his groomsmen had a chance for a few epic court photos of their own, including bringing the arena lights to their legendary red glow. The guys had a great time with this and looked awesome in their hunter green suits, but before we knew it the time had come to move over to the next stadium for a few photos! It was football time!

The whole crew met on the ISU football field at Hancock Stadium. Samantha and Steve’s day was delightful in temperature, however the winds were whipping a little. So needless to say, right on the middle of the field dresses and hair for the ladies weren’t necessarily staying in place. We decided to audible and do a lot of movement in our photos, which made this time with the couple and their bridal party a blast! Then it was the moment everyone had been waiting for…Ceremony time! Samantha and Steve chose to get married at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington right down the road from campus. The nuptials were sweet and light-hearted. Filled with stories from the pastor about the couple and their love for hiking. He even gifted them a carabiner clip speaking on like the strong metal of the hardware used in hiking, you need God in your marriage to hold everything together. At the altar in front of all their loved ones, Samantha and Steve exchanged rings, spoke their vows, and sealed it all with a kiss! Introducing the new Mr. & Mrs. Spence!

After the ceremony we grabbed a few gorgeous photos outside of the church, where the autumn colors and afternoon sunshine were dazzling! I loved the color combination of the full bridal party together with the deep, rich hues. So unique! Add in the pops of florals with the sunflowers and it was a lovely nod to the fabulous fall feeling. I then stole a few moments with the newlyweds to give them some time to reflect on their new status of MARRIED! We headed back to the ISU campus and the Aaron Leetch Stadium suite for the reception where the couple’s good friend’s band, Cosmic Jaywalkers, were entertaining their guests. The couple were toasted by their maid of honor and best man before they took the dance floor for their first dance. They then took a spin around the floor, Samantha with her father and Steve with his mother. The couple told me they wanted to waste no time getting into the party and opened the dance floor for the festivities to begin. And if you were looking for the newlyweds…You could find them on the center of the dance floor for the remainder of the evening having a blast! Cheers to Mr. & Mrs. Spence!

Ceremony Venue: St. John’s Lutheran Church

Reception Venue: Aaron Leetch Stadium

Wedding Planner: Mackenzie Bender – w/ISU

Florist: Casey’s Garden Shop And Florist

Cocktail Hour Band: Cosmic Jaywalkers

DJ: Future Entertainment

Hair Stylist: Valerie Schroeder

Makeup Artists: Hermana Studio Bloomington

Catering: Illinois State University

Bride’s Dress: Simply Elegant By Cheri

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Savvi Formalwear

Transportation: 1Up’N Limos