Amanda & Sean's Perfect Fall Wedding in Peoria
Mr. & Mrs. Villiger
On Saturday, October 13th 2018, Amanda and Sean had their wedding located in Peoria. This is an overview of their special day. I had the privilege to be their wedding photographer, which means I spent the majority of the day with them. It started for me at Alter Ego Spalon in Peoria where Amanda, her mother Bonnie, and her bridesmaids were getting their hair and makeup done. They had the backroom which was lined with mirrors and lights, which made for fun photos, as long as I managed to not be in the frame!
The way Amanda’s mom looked at Amanda as she was getting ready, was pure love - I knew right away it was going to be a beautiful day.
After spending the morning with the ladies, it was time for me to head to Pere Marquette Hotel where the guys were getting ready. Sean had a room on the 5th floor - in the room were his parents and groomsmen. I was able to get a few candids in the five minutes it took him to get ready (sorry ladies!). Once Sean was dressed, I made my way to the 11th floor where Amanda and her girls were staying.
At this point, we were running a little late (weddings, am I right?), but we managed to still get some beautiful pictures. I especially like the ones where Bonnie is tying up the back of Amanda’s dress. Even though we were a bit behind schedule, the mood of the room was very relaxed and fun, which it should be. Amanda’s dress by the way was absolutely stunning and all the ladies were looking beautiful.
After Amanda got into her dress, it was time for a Cheez-It break!
It was now time to make our way to the ceremony. As we were heading out, Amanda and her mom had a sweet moment as Bonnie looked at her daughter all dressed up and ready for her wedding - it was so emotional and beautiful.
Shortly after arriving at Robinson Park before the ceremony, Amanda and Sean had their first look. The two of them looked amazing!
The ceremony started around 4:30pm. It was now time for Dad to walk his daughter down to be married.
The ceremony location was beautifully decorated - you would’ve thought it was a designated space for weddings to be held. The transformation was nothing short of spectacular.
Family Picture Goals
After the ceremony we had limited time to take a few pictures before heading to the reception. The sun was setting so we were in the “golden hour”, which is my favorite time to take outdoor pictures.
The reception was held at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria which is a very cool place to have a wedding. Amanda and Sean cut their wedding cake and we went into dinner, which was my favorite - a taco bar! During dinner we had the speeches, which were heart felt and also had some laughs. Then the first dances.
As the night progressed and people had more to drink, it was time for open floor dancing! Oh yea, Amanda and Sean had dueling pianos! Midwest Dueling Pianos did a fantastic job and they definitely know how to get people up on their feet. Everyone was having a great time, including myself!
As the night was coming to an end, I grabbed Amanda and Sean for a quick portrait session to cap off the day. These two are genuine and kind and they go great together. And after meeting their family, it’s no surprise why they turned out as great people. The wedding turned out beautiful and I had an incredible time being there for every step.
