Mackinaw Valley Vineyard Wedding, Dylan & Elizabeth, Peoria IL

“My fiance Dylan and I met at Bradley University our freshman year as mechanical engineering students and became best friends. We were always together. Through late night study sessions, ice cream breaks, stressful projects and drunken nights. Our classmates would tease us about dating and secretly saw something we didn’t. Finally, our senior year we saw what everyone else did. Truly, we really couldn’t stand the thought of being without the other. We began dating and the rest was history!”

Flash forward a couple of years, two dogs and a home renovation and here they are. Dylan and Elizabeth were married at Mackinaw Valley Vineyard on what The Knot claims is the most popular wedding date of the year! Unlike some wedding ceremonies, I love how they incorporated themselves into each aspect of it. Their officiant was a dear friend of Elizabeth’s. Because he was a friend, he knew the couple through and through. He spoke of friendship and what personality traits Dylan and Elizabeth have that complete each other. For their unity ritual, they chose to blend wine. How fitting since their ceremony was at a winery?!

In addition to incorporating their personalities into their wedding ceremony, the reception continued to do so. While guests took their seats, engines started in the background. Now I imagine when reading this, you’re envisioning them riding in on a convertible motorcycle or some kind of fancy car. Think smaller, much smaller. Rather than having a traditional entrance, Dylan and Elizabeth had their bridal party ride in on little electric Hot Wheels cars! It was the perfect way to set the fun, energetic mood for the reception.

Overall, Dylan and Elizabeth are such a fun, loving couple. I am so happy I was there to capture them as they said I do!