Liz Schrenk 12/23/21 Liz Schrenk 12/23/21

Hannah & Matt’s Joyful Fall Makray Memorial Golf Club Wedding

Hannah and Matt were both in the Marching Illini throughout college. After every rehearsal, the band kids living at Newman would race back to the dining hall before it closed and crowd around 4-5 combined tables to eat together. They met at one of these dinners in the fall of their freshman year. The meals continued into basketball season, during which they both participated in basketball band. They started dating at the end of their freshman year and have been together ever since!

On March 1, 2020, Hannah’s family attended the Indiana at Illinois basketball game. After the Illini beat the Hoosiers, Matt forced Hannah to go with him to "get a new sousa hat from the sousaphones." Very reluctantly, Hannah followed. When they got down to the band, Matt took Hannah onto the court, knelt down, and asked her to marry him. She said yes and the band helped them celebrate by playing Oskee Wow Wow.

We first met Hannah and Matt at her sister Sarah’s small Covid wedding last summer. We knew from celebrating with Sarah and Dean how important the University of Illinois is to their whole family, and expected plenty of U of I fun at both of these sisters’ 2021 wedding celebrations. Conrad and I both had the best time taking Hannah and Matt’s engagement photos last winter at her parents’ home outside of Lake Geneva – the fresh snow on the ground made that afternoon feel magical. One of our favorite moments from that day was when Matt lovingly warmed up Hannah’s hands after making snow angels together for an epic drone shot. These two are so sweet together, and a magical sprinkling of snow on their wedding day meant that we could recreate that moment at Makray Memorial Golf Club! Between the stunning fall colors, the meaningful ceremony at Holy Family and then the delicious meal and packed dance floor at Makray (they even had an indoor s’mores station!) this was truly the perfect day!

Congratulations, Hannah and Matt, we love you and wish you a lifetime of happiness together!

To see all of Hannah and Matt’s beautiful wedding photos, click here

VENDOR DETAILS
Photography
Something Blue Photography

Wedding Dress
Premier Couture

Bridesmaid Dresses
David's Bridal

Menswear
Calvin Klein

Florist
Fabbrini's Flowers

Wedding Rings
Lashbrook and Parade

Desserts
Lovin Oven

DJ
Amp Event Professionals

Videographer
Something Blue Photography

Liz Schrenk 11/23/21 Liz Schrenk 11/23/21

Jess & James’ Gorgeous Independence Grove Wedding

Jess and James met on the first day of their Freshman year at Stevenson High School. They were introduced by a mutual friend while riding the bus to school – little did they know that bus ride was the beginning of an epic journey. Over the next several years, they maintained their friendship and were completely oblivious to the signs of compatibility between them. Friends pointed out the chemistry often, but James and Jess always insisted they were just close friends.

That all changed their senior year of high school. They officially began dating, much to the excitement of their families and close friends, and attended their senior Prom together. They were eager to begin their futures at Texas Christian University and Indiana University for college, but were unsure of what that meant for their newfound relationship.

Thousands of video calls, visits when possible, phone calls, love letters, care packages, and text messages later... college graduation was upon them. James had accepted an offer in Mansfield, Texas and Jess had accepted an offer in Chicago. They were not thrilled about the ongoing long distance, but they were confident they would find the best solution together.

After 8 months of being apart, Jess quit her job, packed up her belongings, and drove to Texas to move in with James. Since moving in together, their journey together has blossomed and grown in ways they could not have imagined. Conrad was on hand to photograph James’ romantic and snowy proposal to Jess, she was completely surprised by the thoughtful moment that he had planned for her.

They got married on the hottest day of the summer, but it was the most perfect day to celebrate their love. After their “first look” Jess and James exchanged private vows (our FAVORITE wedding “trend”). James showed Jess that he carries a picture of her from when she was little, it was the sweetest moment. From that emotional first look to their ceremony (officiated by our friend Brad of Love Story Weddings) to their amazing Independence Grove reception this was a wedding we won’t forget.