NIU, Altgeld Hall, DeKalb, IL Wedding Photography | Cole & Laura

NIU, Altgeld, DeKalb, IL Wedding Photography

Cole & Laura were married last year in an intimate ceremony surrounded by close family and friends in Sycamore, and this year they were able to celebrate with a reception the day before their one year anniversary at the historic Altgeld Hall at Northern IL University. While splitting up their ceremony & reception wasn’t their original plan, it was still a sweet and special time. I feel so privileged to have documented their journey over the past couple of years (click here to see their engagement photos from 2019)!

See their engagement photos HERE, and their ceremony photos HERE!

Hair: Salina & Emma at Ulta
Wedding Dress: Kenneth Winston from Alexis Kay Bridal
Shoes: Badgley Mishka
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: JJ’s House
Groom’s Tux: JoS A Bank
Florist: Kar-Fre Flowers
Getting Ready & Reception Venue: Altgeld Hall Ballroom
Cake: Hy-Vee of Sycamore
DJ: Chris Hodson

The Bridesmaid’s Dresses:
The bridesmaids' dresses were from JJ's House. It was nice to have so many styles so that everyone could feel their best in whatever they chose.

The Dress & Jewelry:
The dress I wore was the first dress I tried on. I knew I wanted something simple and elegant. I also knew I didn't want the dress to "swallow" me as I'm pretty petite. The dress made me feel glamorous, but still like myself.

I wore hoop earrings, a tennis bracelet, and an aquamarine necklace that Cole designed. All the pieces were given to me by Cole throughout our relationship.

The Tux:
Joseph A. Bank—not required, but custom is a must. Shawl lapel. I felt like I needed a martini—not stirred.

How they met:
We met in sixth grade and briefly "dated" in seventh grade. Laura went to college out of state and returned home after graduation. We reconnected through a mutual friend and have been together ever since!

Cole proposed outside the Field Museum in Chicago in February of 2019.

The Photographer:
We found Chrissy through a google search of photographers in our area and fell in love with her work!

The Venue:
We had a Covid ceremony last summer with our immediate family and bridal party. It was a beautiful and quiet way to begin our marriage.

We chose Altgeld Hall at NIU because it is a beautiful space near both our families. As a bonus, the venue provides everything you need for dinner (flatware, dishes, etc.), as well as setup and take down services.

The Decor:
We chose our color scheme to fit the venue. Burgundy (velvet drapes in the ballroom), blush pink, and gold (gold ornamentation in the ballroom). Our decor was very minimal because Altgeld is extravagant looking in its own right. Kar-Fre Flowers provided flower petals and NIU provided vases and floating candles to adorn the tables.

The Honeymoon:
Last year following our ceremony, we had a short honeymoon in New Glarus, Wisconsin.

Advice for couples planning their wedding:
Find a venue that will do as much for you as possible. That way, you don't have to worry about so many small details (before or during your big day)!