Gillian and Bobby’s wedding day at The Pavilion at Orchard Ridge Farms is here!!
It was an honor to celebrate Gillian and Bobby throughout their engagement and on their wedding day! A real-life fairytale wedding day! What a couple!! These two are driven, ambitious, kind, and fun souls who are the perfect match. Even after thirteen wedding seasons, I still can’t believe I get to call this my job! I’m feeling incredibly thankful to call this couple friends.
From the Couple
Bobby and I are high school sweethearts, we met his senior and my junior year in math class, started like it always does as “just friends” and here we are almost 10 years later engaged and a few months from being married! We went to college and did long distance for 5 years, we grew up together, cherishing the time we did have in person and making the best of college without each other. Bobby and I both graduated and went right into working back home where we grew up, Bobby as a police officer and Gillian as a dance teacher. We bought our house and moved in together in 2021 and have loved creating a home.
We got engaged on one of our big yearly road trips last May 2023 in Kansas City, it was a total surprise and Gillian’s 2 best friends were able to be there and help pull the whole thing off without a hitch! The two of us do a big road trip every summer that we plan all year so we can see and explore new places together and create new memories, we have traveled to 27 states so far in the 3 years we’ve been doing these trips and plan to keep it going for as long as possible! We both love to travel, we love a good beach day, country music and concerts, tacos and margs, deep dish pizza, a cold Miller Lite, all the dogs, and being with family and friends!
Favorite Part of the Planning Process
I love how the planning process has brought so much joy to both our families and how it has brought our families even closer together. Wedding planning brings excitement to everyone when we chat about it with family and friends. I love how it has allowed us to be true to ourselves and create exactly what we have always envisioned. It has allowed us to be creative and make sure the day is true to us and a celebration of us and all our favorite people!
Advice for Engaged Couples
Be willing and open to compromise to an extent, listen to each other first before you make a judgment call, always talk it out with each other first, and don’t let the outside noise interfere with what you truly want and envision.
The Wedding Day
Gosh, I don’t know if I have the perfect words to describe Gillian and Bobby’s dreamy wedding day at The Pavilion at Orchard Ridge Farms. So, I’ll mostly let the photos speak for themselves!! We started and ended the day on the beautiful property of their venue. The property is vast and spans many acres. There are mature trees, grassy fields, a pond, orchard, and so much more. It’s truly a little slice of heaven on earth!
The morning of the wedding was filled with all of the usual hustle and bustle while the girls had their hair and makeup done and the guys hung out! We always joke that the guys are so lucky on wedding days because their mornings are chill and relaxed. I truly love that for them! Before we knew it, it was time to get Gillian into her dress and off to the first look with Bobby. These two shared a simple and sweet first look and exchanged private vows after that. It was the sweetest moment, just for these two.
After the first look and their first moments together on their wedding day, all the nervous jitters faded away. These two were all smiles and filled with excitement for the day ahead. I love first looks because they allow our couples extra time spent together on their wedding days. What a gift that they will share in so many of the memories throughout the entire day together!
I loved spending time with Gillian, Bobby, and their wedding party! It was such a gorgeous, warm September day. They shared an outdoor ceremony surrounded by the most gorgeous trees and sunlight. What a dream! After the ceremony, we snuck away for a few sunset photos with the newlyweds. We visited several spots throughout the property during just fifteen minutes of photo time, and these are some of my very favorite photos from this wedding day. One of the most memorable parts of Gillian and Bobby’s wedding day was at the reception. Gillian teaches dance and her dancers came to the reception for a special wedding day performance. Something we’ve never seen before and a moment we’ll never forget! The happiness and love Gillian has for her dance girls was overflowing in those moments. So, so special!
Gillian & Bobby – Thank you for sharing your amazing wedding day with us! I’d frolic around the apple orchard with you two and my camera in hand any day!! Cheers to a beautiful marriage and many blessings in your life together!
Creative credit goes to…
Gillian’s Attire: Genevieve’s Bridal Couture – Deer Park, IL | Bobby’s Attire: Generation Tux | Wedding Party Attire: Birdy Grey + Generation Tux | Hair: Kate Morgan + Kandace Peterson | Makeup: The Bridal Glam Group + Julie McKenzie | Jeweler: Mitchell’s Jeweler Ltd – Arlington Heights, IL | Venue & Catering: The Pavilion at Orchard Ridge Farms – Rockton, IL | Wedding Officiant: Reverend Dr. Charles (Chuck) Mize | Guest Accommodations: Courtyard By Marriott Rockford – Rockford, IL | Florist: Event Floral – Loves Park, IL | DJ: Okyne Media Lab | Transportation: Van Galder Bus / Coach USA Company – Chicago, IL | Reception Rentals: Event Floral – Loves Park, IL | Event Designer: Mollee Johnson Style 1519 | Photographer: Kara Evans Photographer – Kankakee, IL | Cake: The Noble Cakery – Oregon, IL | Stationery: Minted | Favors: River Street Sweets
