Intimate Winter Wedding at Allerton Park Mansion in Champaign, IL

I had the joy of briefly meeting William & Anna at their engagement session and instantly felt drawn to their calm & sweet love for each other. I couldn’t wait to shoot their Allerton Park Mansion wedding in Champaign, IL!  This lovely couple couldn’t have chosen a more perfect venue or decor to showcase their style and relationship.  I’m thrilled to have been a third wheel on their wedding day.

Allerton Park Mansion

While the barn and warehouse weddings I typically book here in Illinois are gorgeous, the Allerton Park Mansion was such a nice change of pace!  I learned after meeting William and Anna that they both have a history of working as librarians and love history. Believe me when I say this venue fit them to a ‘t’! Not only is this historical mansion full of collections of vintage books, it accommodated less than 200 guests (who have the option of staying in the on-sight accommodations!) for a cozier, more intimate atmosphere.

Elegant Champaign, Illinois Wedding Venue

As a history buff myself, this venue was right up my alley and it impressed me even more from a photographer’s perspective.  Allerton Park offers multiple locations on site for weddings, each with varying capacity.  For couples looking for a venue that is as accommodating as it is aesthetically appealing, definitely consider this one! Each room in this Champaign, IL venue is beautifully decorated and there are endless opportunities for photos both indoors and outdoors.  William & Anna’s wedding took place on a particularly chilly day in March which limited our time outdoors, but the library made for beautiful photos that paid tribute to who they are as a couple.  Their theme was very much academia and the details they wove throughout the day tied everything together.

Winter Illinois Wedding

Despite the winter temps, William & Anna’s Champaign, IL wedding was full of warmth.  From the beautiful florals designed by Finding Eminence to the vintage academia decor, their day was uniquely them and very family-oriented.  Their guests thumbed through library catalog cards to find their seats and they kept their decor elegantly minimal to allow the beauty of the historic venue to shine through.  Family and close friends made up the bridal party and contributed decor and desserts (delicious and allergen-free, by the way.)  It was so calm and relaxed that the entire day felt more like an intimate family get together than a wedding in the best way.

Allerton Park Reception

William and Anna exchanged vows before built-in bookshelves filled to the brim with hardback classics, surrounded by the people they love most.  It was such a sweet, sophisticated ceremony followed by delicious food, speeches, and dancing.  White linens and amber bottles filled with wildflower stems donned the tables in the reception area, numbered with library check-out cards. If the details of their wedding day are an indication of how in tune William and Anna are with each other, they’re off to a great start with their marriage!  I think the uncontrollable smiles they shared that day really drove it home too.  It was a beautiful day for a beautiful couple, and I’m honored to have been able to capture their love story for them.

Champaign, Illinois Wedding Photographer

Hey there, I’m Samantha, a wedding and couples photographer serving the Illinois area.  I believe in photos that are genuine, candid, and in the moment, though I like to include thoughtfully posed images too.  Are you looking for a photographer to capture your unique love story in a way that showcases your connection and all of the little moments that make you fall for each other again & again? Take a peek at the details of working with me and let’s chat about capturing your big day!