Alexis & Kristian Hesed House Wedding
Vendor List:
Day Of Wedding Coordination - 618 EVENTS, Kylie Houchin
Venue - The Hesed House
Hair - Hansen and Co
Makeup - Hansen and Co
Caterer - Ancho & Agave
Bar Service - Hyvee
Photographer - Zimmerman Photography
Videographer - Dewy on point productions
Floral - DIY
DJ - DJ4U
Cake - Sugar Mama Bakery
Alexis and Kristian had a wonderful wedding day full of so much joy. They were an incredible go-with-the-flow couple who wanted to enjoy their wedding day. I am so happy that I got to know them and play a role in their big day. They were such kind people who deserved such a special day.
My first interaction with Alexis and Kristian was over a Zoom call. They do not live locally to Champaign, so we did a consultation via Zoom. I got to know them and learned more about their love story. They met working at a grocery store and couldn't keep their eyes off of one another. The rest was history! The couple was so thrilled to get married at The Hesed House and enjoy the gorgeous property. They had their engagement session out there and the photos were stunning.
It was evident that they were a giddy couple ready to tie the knot and begin the rest of their lives together. When Alexis and Kristian decided to book me, I was so excited to have the opportunity to work with them. I met with them at the venue about a month out from their big day. I loved the vision they had and assisted in brainstorming some more ideas. We all left that meeting feeling excited and ready to create a beautiful wedding day.
Alexis was fortunate to have Friday afternoon to set up with her friends and family. She did an amazing job with all of the decor and was the ultimate DIY bride! She even took on the task of creating all of the florals and they were beautiful and elegant. She used lots of popups grass in a variety of pink vases that she hand painted herself. Everything was the perfect mix between a fall wedding and elegance!
I had such a great time at their rehearsal preparing everyone for what was to come the next day. Alexis had asked one of her close friends to marry them, and it was a joy getting to assist him in his first wedding. Everyone was so excited to be celebrating the couple, and they were all so fun to work with. I was so impressed with Alexis’s flexibility with the ceremony and reception. As we know Illinois weather is SO unpredictable. We were unsure if the ceremony would be able to be held outside the next day as there was a chance of rain, and the fall chills had begun to set in. Following the rehearsal, they headed off to dinner with their friends and family. And it was time for them to rest for the big day!
The wedding day was such a sweet time for everyone. The morning began with the ladies getting all done up at the onsite Airbnb. They had such a nice space to just relax, and soak up those last moments of girl time together. I arrived just before lunch and started on my list of things to accomplish. The main decision was if the ceremony could be held outside, or if we would have to resort to indoors. Unfortunately, it was so windy and cold that we had to be inside. I was so thankful that Alexis had such a sweet soul and saw the positives in this decision! She was a rockstar! It was then time to begin setting up chairs, moving things around, and doing some finishing touches for the couple.
Once the photographers arrived, capturing the day began. Alexis and Kristian shared a sweet first look at the property, and thankfully the rain held off. Bridal party photos began with a few drizzles here and there. Thankfully we had a few umbrellas and I was able to shelter the couple from the rain when needed. The guests arrived and we were ready to begin the ceremony. We were all so thankful for such a versatile space at The Hesed House. The indoor ceremony was still gorgeous and Alexis was able to have an elegant double door entrance. It was a very short and sweet ceremony, and then the guests moved over to cocktail hour.
The newlyweds explored the property with the photographer and videographer to capture all of their special moments. They were able to take their time with their photos and just fully embrace the moment. Alexis and Kristian waited to return to the venue’s space until their grand entrance. Then they enjoyed their delicious meal provided by Ancho and Agave! YUM!! Everyone enjoyed dinner and the conversation was flowing all over the room! We love to see everyone happy and engaged in the moment!
The couple snuck away after their meal to capture some sunset photos and then returned for their loved ones to give a toast. They shared a sweet dance together, and then with their chosen parent. Alexis danced with her mom and it was such a special moment to witness. Lots of love and emotions were shared with the room. They got the party started by doing a t-shirt toss to their guests! How fun is that! They stood at the front of the dance floor and had everyone gather. Then played some music and tossed away! This was such a great way to engage with their guests and get the party started.
The dance floor was full of joy and moves. It is always a blast to see everyone enjoying themselves and having a fantastic time. Alexis and Kristian had a dreamy sparkler exit and then returned to share one last dance alone. Clean-up went so quickly because they had such a great crew of people wanting to help out. We were so fortunate to get everything boxed up and loaded into vehicles before the end of the evening. What a blessing that no one had to return in the morning to retrieve all of the decor.
I am so glad I was able to share a part in this lovely couple's wedding day. They were such great people and the love they shared was so evident. I hope they have a long life of love and happiness!