When I think of the phrase “down-to-earth” my mind will immediately go to Leah and Colin.

Currently, Leah and Colin live in Chicago but spent a portion of their relationship in Greenville, South Carolina so they knew they wanted to get married here since it is so special to them. 

I flew up to Chicago for their engagement session, and let me just say—it was a dream!! I photographed them along the Chiacgo Riverwalk with lights from the buildings reflecting on the water, twirling around and having the best time in their city. It was like something out of your favorite rom-com! I completely fell in love with them as a couple during our Discovery Call last year, so spending time with them in person affirmed that even more!! 

Leah and Colin were so genuine, kind, caring as they welcomed me into their city. They were so excited to see me and made me feel so comfortable in a place I hadn’t been. It was like we were old friends catching up and I absolutely adore them for that. Their sweet, loving nature was so perfectly reflected in their engagement photos and that made me all the more excited to capture their love on their wedding day! 

Fast forward to April 27th—their wedding day! For their wedding, they envisioned a garden party, which I thought fit their personalities and sentiment so well. Their decor was elevated and classy but presented in a  fun and carefree manner. They incorporated some trendy elements into their day like a champagne tower, unique food stations, and an incredible cocktail hour. Leah and Colin were solely focused on their family and friends, making sure they spent intentional time with everyone. 

Their venue, Lions Gate Manor, was all outside, and thank goodness the weather was amazing! Lions Gate Manor is the perfect venue if you are looking for that garden vibe. There are market lights, a gazebo, cobblestones, ponds, and beautiful paths throughout the property that allow you to feel like you are walking through a fairytale. The venue offers a good amount of shade which is a major perk, especially for those hot South Carolina summer days! 

It did not go unnoticed how attentive to detail they were in piecing together their special day. They incorporated personal touches around every corner which warmed my heart and made me smile from ear to ear. I absolutely LOVE when couples take the time to customize their decor and make the little details sentimental and unique to them. One of my favorite of their personal touches was the food stations! Each station and cuisine represented their adventures and memories together as a couple. It was such a fun idea and nothing I had seen before! 

Leah and Colin decided to skip a first look and wait to see each other for the first time at the ceremony, and let me say, the anticipation was real!! Instead, they opted for a first touch on the front porch of the manor. They read letters to each other and once I had a few shots of this special moment, I gave them a few minutes of privacy so they could be by themselves. I love to do this for my couples. So much of their day is surrounded by their loved ones so creating space for a few intimate moments pre-ceremony is always a priority of mine!

After their first touch, Leah did a first look with her dad. Wedding day moments with dads are always a big tear-jerker for me. I love seeing a dad’s face light up in admiration of his little girl.

Leah looked absolutely stunning in her gown and even wore her mom’s veil which was such a sweet touch and completed her beautiful look. She also treated herself to a pair of white Louboutin pumps so we made sure to snap some fun photos of those!

Their best friend married them and they only included their family in their bridal party while close friends were honorary bridesmaids and groomsmen. The ceremony was true to their personality and values, and was just more proof of how intentional and genuine this couple is. When Colin saw Leah for the first time walking down the aisle he radiated love and pure joy. Colin couldn’t stop gushing over how stunning she looked—the way they looked at each other the whole day gave me butterflies! Truly one of my favorites ceremony because of how present they were with one another and how genuine it was to them.

The spread for dinner was delicious and more than just your average buffet. They had a pizza station, BBQ, oysters, and prime rib (all of which symbolized their travels and journey together, how cute is that?!). Before cake cutting, they did the “bury the bourbon” and dug up a bottle that they buried months ago. I love this tradition! 

After dinner, Leah and Colin shared their first dance under the market lights. SO ROMANTIC! It was the most beautiful night and got more fun by the minute!

Once the first dances were done, the dance floor opened and their live band kicked off the party! To end the night they had cookies and milk (Leah’s favorite) and coffee offered later on which I thought was such a cute touch and fun for the guests!

When we chatted about their wedding day, they shared that the most important thing for them was to spend time with their guests. During our timeline call, they told me how they want to focus on spending time with their people as much as they can. Since they did not do a ton of first looks or have big bridal parties, we were able to have a simplified timeline that allowed us to capture what we needed thoroughly with plenty of time for them to mingle and have fun! 

Their day was so smooth and enjoyable for everyone. It was stunning all around from the tender, thoughtful moments to the decor, florals, color, venue, and weather.

Every time I look at this gallery I can’t help but smile. It is so true to Leah and Colin and their kind, genuine nature. I am still so touched by how wonderful these two are and it truly was such an honor to be a part of their special day.  Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Fuss!!