HANNAH + MAX

They first met at a small-town bar in Glenarm, IL called Paula’s.
She immediately noticed he was outgoing and funny. He immediately noticed that she was quiet and reserved.  Although that might seem like a less than likely combo, it obviously ended up working perfectly.
Max had a thing for Hannah right away.  He’ll admit it was lust at first sight.  She, however, was less than willing to go on the first date, but with his outgoing personality and humor, he was able to talk her in to dinner.
They went to Obed and Issac’s in Springfield IL for dinner. Hannah thought the date was going well and was impressed with Max being a gentleman. She was pleasantly surprised. It took a bit of convincing to get her there, but once she had some time to get to know Max better, the more she liked him.
They ended up falling in love and dated for almost 5 years. They never really had that “this is the one” moment, but about a year after they started dating, they decided to move in together and after remodeling a home together, they knew they could get through anything.
Even after those 5 years, she still loves Max’s humor and his unconditional love.  He cherishes how sweet and level-headed Hannah is.  The thing that the two cherish most about their relationship is trust.  They fully trust one another wholeheartedly, and it’s evident in everything they do.
On July 28, 2018 on a walk after dinner, Max paused in front of the Old State Capitol Building in Springfield IL and asked Hannah to be his wife. A year and a half later, the two said “I do” in a beautiful winter ceremony inside that same location.  Please enjoy this first peek at Hannah and Max’s wedding day. Hannah is a stylist at the Willow and Birch salon across from the Old State Capitol Building where the ceremony was.  It was such an amazing location for Hannah and her friends to get ready for the day. We first met Hannah in Mexico when we photographed her sister Caitlin (Pictured below with her mom Mary) and Michael’s wedding.  We always say that if we come with you for your destination wedding you’ll never get rid of us lol. Luckily this was the case when it came time for Hannah to get married.  Knowing a family so well after spending several days together felt like being with old friends.  We will forever cherish these people.Max wasn’t in Mexico, but we still really like him. 😉  He’s so down to Earth and easygoing, and you instantly feel like you’ve known him forever.  We quickly saw why Hannah adores him so much.Hannah’s dress though.  Wow.Hannah – you are the most beautiful.  You are so kind, genuine, and your beauty just radiates from the inside out.2 different angles + 1 sweet first lookIt was cold, rainy, and windy outside, but with full access to the Old State Capitol Building, we certainly didn’t mind staying indoors.
The rain started to change over to sleet as we retreated inside to get ready for the ceremony.  But the warmth of the location and the people made you quickly forget what Mother Nature was doing outdoors.So, the sleet changed to snow.  Big, heavy, beautiful snow.  The one thing Hannah had hoped for was snow, and boy did she get it!!  When Hannah and Max arrived at the State Fair Grounds, we met the two at the gate and grabbed some beautiful snow photos.  Hannah and Max were getting COVERED with it, but we urged them to hold out even though it was cold.  Magical moments like this come once in a lifetime, so ya better make the most of it!Outside may have been cold and snowy, but inside their reception was a warm dream.This moment right here when Hannah danced with her dad Tom had me in tears. Not like a quiet little tear streaming, like full-on face melting off weeping.  I can’t help but love the love this man has for the women in his life.  The song she picked for their dance was so perfect and this was truly an unforgettable moment.
This gal, on the other hand, will have you crying laughing.  We met Max’s parents at their engagement session and they had us laughing the entire time.  These two are truly blessed.We had planned to grab some photos in the downtown area in Springfield where there are lights strung across the street.  With it sleeting at the time we had to nix the idea, but once we saw the reception we promised Hannah we could create something even better than the downtown would have been.
Mission Accomplished.

FROM THE BRIDE + GROOM:
What was the vision/theme/inspiration for your day?
Our vision for our wedding was to make it our own. We kept our day simple, but everything we did was meaningful to us. We had a traditional and romantic decor with a touch of modern. We also made sure it was cozy and relaxing for our guests!
What moment did you look the most forward to on the wedding day? 
The moment Max looked forward to was the first look. Hannah looked forward to the personal vows during the ceremony. 
What was your favorite moment of your day?
Max’s favorite moment of the day was the first look. After we saw each other his nerves settled down. Hannah’s favorite moment was right after the ceremony, just the two of us walked into a room together and reflected about ceremony and vows. And couldn’t believe we were officially married!!
What was unique about your wedding?
Keeping our day as simple as we could, so we would be more relaxed and enjoy it ourselves. We spent a lot of time deciding what meant something to us and what didn’t. Max and I took the time by ourselves to get a drink at a local bar after the ceremony and before the reception which was a really great moment. We also greeted our guests at the reception through the food line. We also had rain, sleet, then snow!! Haha
SONGS:
First Dance: Feet don’t touch the ground- Stoney Larue
Father-Daughter: Strong- Will Hoge
Mother Son: days like this- Van Morrison
Advice for future bride/grooms?
To not feel like you have to do everything the traditional way. Do it your own way! You will be much happier and be able to enjoy your day!
Wedding Professionals that made the day fantastic:
Cindy Millburg- Decorator/Coordinator
Three Twigs Bakery– cake, cupcakes, and cookies
Epic Entertainment- DJ
Smokin’ Wet BBQ- Catering
1 UP’N Limousine- Transportation
Dress- Cleo Bridal (O’fallon, MO)
Max’s Suit- The Brass Horn (Decatur, IL) 

Honeymoon Location:
St. Lucia

Hannah and Max call Rochester, IL home

Check out more of this beautiful couple and day in the slideshow below!