Rachael Marie Photography

07/20/2026

When the wedding doubles as a college reunion >>>>

Bringing all your favorite people together is one of the exciting parts of a wedding day. For Amy & Austin, it was extra special, as they met at Mizzou, and had a lot of mutual friends. To have everyone you love, from college & childhood, come from across the country back together for a weekend of fun?? Absolutely.

Graystone Valley is beautiful space to host such a party. It is located north of Branson, MO and south of Springfield, MO. There is a getting ready room for both sides, the ceremony spot showcases a wide open view of the Ozarks, the glass walls of the venue let in natural light (but not too much because there are so many trees on the property! Cocktail hour can be spent outside planning bags or just walking around the property.

You truly get to enjoy nature both outside, or standing inside looking out.

If you’re looking for a space to host up to 275 of your fav folks, have amazing fews & a beautiful backup rain plan, check out Graystone Valley | Midwest Gathering Space With A Stunning View!

Vendors
Photography Rachael | Illinois Wedding & Elopement Photographer
Venue Graystone Valley | Midwest Gathering Space With A Stunning View
Suit
Hair & make up Beloved Beauty Company
Florals Tonya
Dj Missouri Wedding DJ | Officiant | Photo Booth | Cold Sparklers Missouri Wedding DJ | Selfie Mirror | Wedding Minister

07/17/2026

On the blog!! Since photographing courthouse weddings through the years, I've really wanted to help couples elope in a way that doesn't have to be in a room with drop ceilings-- Illinois is in fact beautiful if you know where to look. Aaliyah came to me wanting a storybook kind of vibe, and trust me to plan their wedding evening at Allerton Park. It was a honor (and so fun) to create a experience for them that was meaningful & beautiful.

If you are looking to elope and want help planning it, AND want wedding photos that make you go "omg that's us?!?! 🥹" pleaseeeee let me help you !!! 🤍

Straight out of a storybook, this intentional elopement at Allerton Park included sushi, cake, personal vows, and romantic photos.

07/16/2026

Nyah + Sam’s pre-wedding shoot 😎

N&S went to the courthouse last February!! And this year they are gearing up for the biggest party of the year at The Artisan’s Building. Family & friends will be coming from all over the US and from Nigeria to celebrate.

Before their second wedding, we made sure to meet up for a pre-wedding shoot, with untraditional Nigerian outfits.

Which they both ABSOLUTELY slayed 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I made sure to use flash to give their photos a more editorial vibe and y’all I’m obsessed.

It’s been so fun to hang out with them so much— their courthouse wedding, their pre-wedding shoot, and then their white wedding in a few months!!!!

Stay tuned for N&S part 3, come fall… it’s going to be a blast 🎉🥳

07/14/2026

come along behind the scenes of an engagement session with me !! Some film & some digital 🎞️📸

the inspo — Tuck Everlasting 🤍🌞💫

For those romantic, soft, storybook vibes— we sure to meet close to golden hour into sunset.

Izzy & Jack’s outfits were soft & muted earth tones; Izzy’s dress was long with sleeves, and Jack’s shirt was lightweight & slightly textured. Rolling up his sleeves, his shirt felt more lived in.

I got to our location early to walk around & find some magical spots. I’ve been here before, but every session is a little different than the next, and I wanted to storyboard some of this IRL before Izzy & Jack showed up

TAAAA DAAAAAAA

See the gap in the reeds allowed that part of the lake to be inbetween their faces UGH the way the light reflects off the water 🥰

Always gotta get at least one “fridge” photo — where you look at me and smile !! ☺️

FILMMMMM 🎞️ that new Ektacolor pro 800

Film 🎞️ kind like they are a little off centered in this one

When I originally got to Comlara Park, I saw this trees and their fun branches and though “yeah have to use these later”

BOOM! Look at those branches 😍😍

Blue hour is in fact underrated, don’t pack up when you lose that golden haze !!

THE MOMENT —

— THE SHOT

Some film from above 🎞️

Sometimes I give my camera to my clients & have them take a picture of each other.

What I saw…

What Izzy shot!!

Idk how the light leak happened but it was DOPE 🤘🏻

Jack’s photos of Izzy 🤍🤍

My digital photos of them 💞

Again — blue 👏🏻 hour👏🏻 lighting👏🏻 is 👏🏻 so 👏🏻 GOOD👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

the end 🤍 and now I must remember to always take bts of sessions bc this is SO fun!!

07/13/2026

What if we…
ate cake 🍰
took some shots 🥃
and changed into something more comfortable? 😏

Olivia & Ryan were suuuuuper excited for their cake during their wedding reception!! They were kind enough to share it with others.

After cake cutting everyone meandered outside for about 30 to 45 minutes, which I feel like is a very Midwestern thing to do!! A little decompression moment & catch up after dinner with folks you weren’t sitting by.

After chatting, drinking, and a few flash photos, we went back inside for dances, and then open dance floor.

Pro tip ‼️ for comfy wedding reception clothing (advice from Olivia) 👗

Step 1 — try on bridesmaid’s dresses
Step 2 — find a style you like
Step 3 — order dress in a white, cream, ivory, etc
Step 4 — change into it after your first dance for maximum comfort & style on the dance floor

Dancing is so so fun— a change of clothing is important for letting it loose 🪩

Did you have an outfit change night of your wedding?? This bridesmaid dress idea is iconic!! 🔥

Venue: The Hilltop Barn in Virginia, IL
Gown: Luxe Redux Bridal & Girls In White Satin
Hair & make up: ILLINOIS BRIDAL & SPECIAL EVENT
Tux: Men's Wearhouse
Florals: Rosebud & Co.
Rings: Shane Co. & Hudson Jewelers
Chairs: American Rentals
Catering: Milanos Catering in Hillsboro
Cake: Holly Stewart
DJ: Chris at Complete Weddings+Events CTIL
String Quartet: The String Poets
Video: Ian Carranza / IanCarranza Photography

07/10/2026

Walking each other down the aisle >>>>

Olivia + Chance live sooooo close to Lincoln Memorial Gardens in Springfield, it made sense to get married there.

Now, they can walk back to their ceremony spot whenever they want 🥹

When Olivia inquire she wanted a nice slow morning. Getting ready at home. To meet up for photos, get married, and then just go to dinner!

Did we do it? Well here’s what actually happened—

They got ready at home together
Chance met me for the first look
First look !!! So so so good
Photos around LMG
Group photos
Ceremony with friends & fam
Off to dinner!!!

And the rain stopped juuuuust before we met up 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

After the full gallery was delivered she texted me — “I can’t stop sending these pictures to everyone that wasn’t there. Seriously I love them.”

😭😭😭

Here to support you & your boo, your love, your way. Always.

Congrats Olyvia & Chance 🤍

07/09/2026

Details that live rent free in my head about Megan & Sasha’s day at The beautiful DANK HAUS German American Cultural Center in Chicago✨✨

Megan MADE Sasha’s jumpsuit & sleeves!! And added the lace to the front of her own gown 🧵

They walked down the aisle together to “Liz on Top of the World” from Pride & Prejudice. ✨ Ikyk!!

The ceremony had three readings: a Buddhist reading, Wild Geese by Mary Oliver, and a selected excerpt from the majority decision on Obergefell v. Hodges (the US Supreme Court ruling that same-sex marriage protected under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses).

👉🏻 These readings were printed out so guests could follow along. (I took the ceremony handout home cuz duh 🥹 the passages were so special!!

Dinner was from a local Mexican restaurant-
amazingggg over roasted birria tacos. 🌮 DELISH!!

We had such a great time on the dance floor !! 💃🏻🪩 Pink Pony Club was a hitttt.

Sasha gave us a karaoke performance and it was 12/10 🎶🎤

Seriously the best day ever!!

REMINDER!!! June (Pride month) may be over — but you’re love is supported here 24/7 — 365 🤍🌈

07/08/2026

Ashton & Josh got married on vacation — but celebrated with the nearest & dearest in Illinois 🤍 best of both worlds !!!

If you’re local to Springfield, IL, and if you’ve ever been on the Carter Bro’s haunted hayrack ride— you’ve probably seen Josh Carter! He drives the tractor around the Carter Bro’s land every fall. It was an honor to photograph a staple of the 217. 🫡

It was a super chill evening. We were worried for rain, but it let up juuuuuuust in time for folks to start arriving. Everyone showed up in the best boots & hats. 🤠

A&J didn’t get too many photos of the two of them on vacation when they got married, so we made sure to get some of them throughout the evening. ☀️

If you want to elope — do it! If you want to host a party afterwards— do that too. Ashton & Josh had a great time chatting with friends, loved ones, coworkers, and wowowow we had a great time with polaroids later!! A&J are so kind, it was so special to be apart of their special celebration.

Congrats Ashton & Josh !!!! 🤍 thank you for trusting me to hang out with your favorite folks 🥹

07/08/2026

Some wedding guest etiquette 🥰 if you’re surprised by the couple choosing to make their own traditions, or stray away from traditional wedding events, here are some alternative phrases you can use instead of saying “you should ###x”.

“Wow! I’ve never seen that before.”
“That’s so you two.”
“How fun!!”
✨Or nothing at all✨

I wonder what other non-traditional things will keep popping up, or replacing old traditions in the next few decades.

The “traditional” wedding we know of has only been around 100 years or so. In the past three years, I’m noticing that couples don’t want to announce them cutting the cake, they prefer it be a private moment.

are there traditions that you skipped that people commented on day of your wedding??