Baldwin Wedding | Southern Illinois Wedding Photographer

I am so honored to have been asked to capture this gorgeous wedding - seriously it looked like it came out of a magazine (everything was so perfect!).  Colton and Alyssa are two of the most laid back people.  They were so easy to work with, and they made my job super easy.  Here's a lookback at their beautiful wedding day...

Wedding Venue: Church of Christ, McLeansboro, IL
Reception Venue: The Big Red Barn, McLeansboro, IL
Hair Stylist: Jaralynn Murphy at Salon 6, McLeansboro
Make-up Artist: Natalie Webb at 3rd Street Salon, Dahlgren, IL
Cake: Trish Pankow
Florist: Tarri Sutton of Tarri's House of Flowers, McLeansboro, IL
DJ/Band: Happy Hour Karaoke/DJ of Nashville, IL

My second shooter, Kris, and I arrived at Salon 6 around noon for last minute hair and makeup pictures.  We were so excited - this was our first bride that asked us to document the entire wedding process.  We were so excited!  Jaralynn and Natalie did a fantastic job making Alyssa and all the girls look absolutely flawless.  

Next we headed to the church so the girls could eat some lunch and put on their dresses.  While the girls were hanging out, I got some detail shots.  These are some of my favorite shots to take (I love my macro lens!).  Everything was so elegant and classy - Alyssa gave us lots of gorgeous things to work with.  Speaking of which check out her dress above - holy cow - she looked like a princess!!!

After having some lunch from good ol' McDonald's next door (and I say this in a good way - my parents had McDonald's on their wedding day too so I think it's good luck lol), Alyssa gave her bridesmaids, soon-to-be mother-in-law, and her own momma their gifts.  Sweet earrings for the bridesmaids and mugs for the mommas.

I love this shot of Alyssa and her momma! :)

Next the girls helped Alyssa get into her wedding dress, and she put on the finishing touches.

After the girls put on their dresses, we went out in front of the church and took some bridal shots.  Alyssa looked stunning! And did I mention that gorgeous dress!?  

Gorgeous flowers by the amazingly talented Tarri Sutton of Tarri's House of Flowers!  She never ceases to amaze me with the pieces she puts together - she always does such a wonderful job! :)

These shots were followed by some of Alyssa and her bridesmaids.  These beautiful ladies are all so sweet and so much fun to work with!

Matron of Honor: Hannah Moore
Bridesmaids: Olivia Campbell & Breanne Beard

After the bridesmaids shots were taken, Alyssa and the girls went back in the church to keep out of sight of the arriving guests.  The wedding would be starting soon! :)

I took some pictures of the handsome groom as well as some of him with his groomsmen.  Afterwards, Kris and I went into the church to get ready for the ceremony to begin!

Best Man: Brad Hall
Groomsmen: Alex Ridge & John Feldmann

The ceremony was so sweet!  First, Alyssa's mom and little brother walked her down the aisle.  Their preacher conducted one of the best ceremonies I have seen yet.  I loved his words - so simple yet so meaningful - about how important it is to love and honor each other!  Plus you can see from their faces in the pictures below just how excited Alyssa and Colton were that day!  They were smiling ear to ear!!

You may now kiss your bride!

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Colton Baldwin...

We went to the reception venue for some couple, wedding party, and family pictures!

The wedding party was so much fun to work with - they cracked me up! :)

The shot below just cracked me up so I had to include it.  The girls are panicking because there was a bee flying around, three of the boys are swating the bee, and the other groomsmen is playing with my uncle's dog who followed me across the street lol.

Flower Girls: Aubrey & Alaina Finley
Ring Bearers: Stratton & Thatcher Skidmore

Next came family formals!

Then it was time for the reception to start!  Everything was equally as gorgeous as earlier in the day!

Next came all the formalities - introduction of the wedding party, the dinner, speeches by the maid of honor and best man, cake cutting, first dance, garter toss, bouquet toss, and then one of the groomsmen brought a duck in they caught outside.  You know its a Ham Co wedding when someone catches a duck and brings it to the party lol.

Thank you so much Colton and Alyssa for allowing me to be part of your day!  I wish you both a lifetime full of happiness, laughter and love as you begin this new chapter together! :)

Baldwin Wedding Video by Kate Ragan Photography