I was SOOOO excited for Colette and Wade’s wedding this past September at Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood. Originally planned for early June, COVID-19 forced the happy couple to reschedule for later in the year so they could have more than 10 guests and they lucked out with a BEAUTIFUL late September day for an outdoor wedding ceremony and cocktail hour at Ravisloe. I was so happy for them as they are such a laid back and sweet couple! We began the day with getting ready, myself with Colette, bridesmaids, and mother at Ravisloe while with my wonderful second photographer Deonna at the La Banque Hotel in downtown Homewood with Wade and the guys. Before we knew it the time came for a first look, Colette did a first look with both her father and with her soon to be husband and I just love those candid moments filled with so much love!
I asked Colette and Wade if they enjoyed doing the first look as I like to hear from couples so I can encourage other couples to do a first look if the timing is tight on thier wedding day. Colette told me “We did a first look and both completely agreed that it was the best decision for us! As much as I always imagined my first look being down the aisle, we both felt that it would be best to maximize our time on our wedding day by doing pictures and first look before the ceremony so we could actually be present at and enjoy our cocktail hour. The “first look” was still a very special moment and we were able to make our own memorable touches as we read notes from each other. I also think seeing Wade before the ceremony gave me a sense of calmness before the wedding that I didn’t think I would have!”
After some amazing and fun portraits with the wedding party and family, it was time to get married. Ravisloe has one of the most beautiful outdoor patio locations in the Chicago Suburbs for a garden wedding ceremony and cocktail hour!
Wade told me that one of his famvite moments was “seeing Colette walk down the aisle. We did our first look beforehand which was another favorite moment but seeing her walk down the aisle and how happy and beautiful she looked, words can’t describe how I felt and I wish I could relive that moment over and over.”
I thought the plant was a nice touch in lieu of a unity candle, very clever, and a thoughtful surprise! This was also a favorite moment for Colette, she told me “one of my many favorite moments was during the ceremony when we did our unity gesture. One of our best friends was our officiant and he kept our unity gesture a secret from us. Our parents brought up a potted plant and we were told that the soil from the plant came from each of our childhood backyards. It was a sweet and memorable surprise and a special moment during the ceremony where our parents were standing up next to us and telling us the origins of the soil.” I just LOVE this idea!
Colette and Wade choose to have an extended cocktail hour so more of their family and friends could celebrate safely with them before heading home. Only the nearest and dearest family and friends stayed for the indoor dinner. Colette and Wade told me to offer this advice to other couples who may have to change the wedding day plans because of COVID…and such great wisdom that I actually noticed during many of the weddings I did photography this year!!
” I would tell all “covid couples” that the size of the wedding truly doesn’t change the feel of the day. Scaling down our original guest list was stressful and heartbreaking but it turns out that when 50 of your closest friends and family are together in one room, you feel just as much or even more love than you would with a 200+ person wedding. I still wish that everyone I wanted there could have been there, but in the end, there were a lot of perks to a small wedding and the day turned out better than I could have ever imagined. “
Congratulations Colette and Wade, I wish you nothing but love and laughter as you begin your happily ever after. A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this a very special day for the happy couple including:
Johanna and the Staff at Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood
Homewood Florist
Monestero Entertainment
