Morton Arboretum Wedding Photography | Adam & Valerie

Morton Arboretum Wedding Photography

Adam and Valerie were married in September in an intimate ceremony at the Morton Arboretum. It was a lovely day filled with joy and laughter despite the fact that, in true Fall fashion, it went from being sunny and beautiful out to a random mysterious rainstorm. Thankfully the rain held off until just after their outdoor ceremony and only lasted for about 15 minutes so we were still able to pop outside for a few wedding party pictures. Phew!

Now on to some pictures! Valerie has shared some thoughts about her day and the planning process, and you can find those scattered throughout the post!

See their engagement photos HERE!

Hair: Sid Zickur
Makeup: Haley Temes
Florist: Jacquie Young of The Prairie Petal Co. & Tricia Vandermeer of Lasting Impressions
Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero in the Talia style from Blushing Willow Boutique
Shoes: TJ Maxx
Bridesmaid's Dresses: David’s Bridal
Suits: Men’s Warehouse
Ceremony: The Fragrance Garden at Morton Arboretum
Reception: Thornhill Education Building at the Morton Arboretum
Cake: The Cakery
DJ: Something2Dance2

The Dress:
I brought my matron of honor and one of my lovely bridesmaids with me out to a small boutique in Janesville, WI. The girls knew it was the one the second I put it on, but let me figure that one out after a few more dresses. I love the way my dress sparkled in the sunlight, and how it washed all of my insecurities away for the day. I felt amazing!

How they met:
Adam and I went to the same high school, but I am a year older. We actually met while on a week long class trip to France and Spain, and became friends after spending the entire trip hanging out. We started dating a year later, and the rest is history!

The Venue:
I have always wanted to have a garden ceremony, and after touring a few places we knew Morton Arboretum was the right choice. We decided in the car before we even made it out of the Arboretum!

The Ceremony:
I wanted to have both my Step-Dad and my Dad walk me down the aisle together, and they both stepped up to make it happen. We had the ceremony music come from two of our favorite movies, and it was a sweet way to incorporate something from both of us. We beat the rain by about 5 minutes!

The Photographer:
One of my florists, who is also a good friend, highly recommended Chrissy to me after Chrissy did her daughter’s wedding photos! It was an easy choice for us!

The Reception:
We didn’t have a theme. I wanted my florists to have fun, so I told them the colors and any specific flowers I wanted to have, but otherwise I let them design everything on their own. I think it turned out perfect!

The Honeymoon:
Universal Studios in Orlando!

Advice for couples planning their wedding:
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! It can be so overwhelming, but your bridal party is there for you. Try not to take everything on and pile too much on!