MIKAELA + CALEB WEDDING

I’m not going to even apologize for the long blog post that’s going to be shared here. While we love all our couples, our adoration for Mikaela goes way back. We’ve known this girl since she was 15 and she’s held a place in our hearts ever since. We had the privilege of photographing her senior photos, as well as the honor of photographing both of her sisters’ weddings. We’ve kept up with Mikaela over the years and have loved watching her shine.
(Don’t worry Caleb, I’m getting to you.) About 8 years ago we started seeing this guy show up on Mikaela’s social media. We’re pretty big fans of Mikaela (in case you didn’t read the previous paragraph) so we were cautiously optimistic about if this guy Caleb was good enough to have the title of her boyfriend. As time went on he kept showing up, and no matter what Mikaela was doing – there Caleb was with a kind smile on his face. The two radiated joy together.
There were many years of dating, but eventually, I saw the engagement announcement and tried to manifest her contacting us about photographing her wedding, and luckily it worked. We finally got the opportunity to meet Caleb at their engagement session, and at every opportunity Roger and I had we discussed how great he was. He won us over instantly. We don’t have a daughter, but if we did – Caleb would be the man we’d hope she’d find.
So now that I’ve given you our love story with Mikaela and Caleb, I’ll share the part you’re really here for – their story.

Mikaela and Caleb’s love story began during a memorable weekend at “Spring Weekend” held at Bass River Resort in Missouri. Both of them had ties to Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a co-ed service fraternity. It was a getaway meant for friends to bond and create lasting memories, but they couldn’t have known that fate had something special in store for them.

From the moment they laid eyes on each other, Mikaela and Caleb were drawn to each other’s unique qualities. Mikaela was instantly captivated by Caleb’s carefree personality and infectious energy. She admired his ability to light up a room and his genuine authenticity. Caleb, on the other hand, was struck by Mikaela’s patience, energy, and intelligence. Her glowing smile and willingness to engage in conversation made him feel an instant connection.

While their initial attraction was sparked by their personalities and vibrant energy, Mikaela and Caleb soon discovered deeper qualities that drew them closer. Mikaela admired Caleb’s selflessness and kind heart, always willing to lend a helping hand without expecting anything in return. She also found solace in his calm and level-headed nature, which brought her comfort during stressful times. Caleb, on the other hand, couldn’t resist Mikaela’s beauty and appreciated her openness and intelligence. Her thoughtfulness and constant consideration for others showed him how truly special she was.

For their first official date, Mikaela and Caleb chose to visit the STL Zoo and enjoy dinner at Peacemaker Lobster and Crab. Despite it being their first date, the ease and comfort between them made it feel like they had known each other for years. Both of them had a fondness for crab legs but were unfamiliar with “blue crab.” In a bid to avoid embarrassment, they quickly looked up how to eat it online… they decided to stick to their favorite, snow crab, from then on.

Mikaela and Caleb’s love story has spanned over eight years, with a majority of their relationship being long-distance. Mikaela was in college in Jacksonville, while Caleb lived an hour away in Blue Mound. Even after college, distance remained a factor, as Mikaela moved back to Carlinville, still an hour away from Caleb. Despite the distance, they cherished their Wednesday date nights.

On December 17, 2022, the two headed out on a “surprise weekend” in St.Louis. “I had a feeling the engagement was going to happen because Caleb is terrible at keeping secrets,” Mikaela admits.  They went to a majority of their past STL dates (the first stop was to the Fountain on Locust, which is where Caleb took Mikaela on her 20th birthday) and then the next stop was The Butterfly House (where we had gone on a date in 2017). Caleb felt it was a prime location for a proposal. Since it was December, it was cold, but the butterfly house is a giant greenhouse where it’s about 80° so he thought it would be perfect because “we wouldn’t have our giant puffy coats on for photos after”. Caleb was so nervous walking through the greenhouse trying to find the perfect location to propose. He had the ring box shoved in the back pocket of his jeans, but somehow Mikaela didn’t see it. When Caleb finally found the perfect spot he said, out loud, “This looks like a good spot to propose.”(although he was so nervous he doesn’t remember saying it!) He got down on one knee and asked Mikaela to marry him. Caleb claims Mikaela never actually said ‘yes’ –she just smiled and grabbed the ring. With no one else around and the moment to themselves, it was perfect. After, they checked into a hotel (Angad Arts Hotel – which they had stayed at when it opened in 2018) and went to the STL Zoo Lights – back to where it all began followed by dinner at the same restaurant as their first date, Peacemakers.

On December 31, 2023, Mikaela and Caleb embarked on a new journey of love and joy as they celebrated their wedding day at Hamilton’s in Jacksonville, IL. With a vision of a fun-filled New Year’s Eve party infused with glamour and elegance, their wedding day exceeded all expectations and created memories that will last a lifetime. The two wanted the wedding to feel classy, but also intimate and inviting which is exactly how I would describe it!  Enjoy a sneak peek at Mikaela and Caleb’s wedding day!!

Mikaela wore her late Grandma Therese’s diamond earrings, adding a sentimental touch. All of her jewelry was so beautiful.

Oh Mikaela, you are so beautiful inside and out. You are radiant.
Caleb’s favorite things about Mikaela: First, I would like to note how beautiful Mikaela is. It was the first thing that attracted me to her and still is a great quality of hers. I also appreciate how open Mikaela is. Throughout our seven years together I have done some pretty dumb things and Mikaela is thankfully one to talk to me when she is upset. It could be very easy for her to give me the silent treatment, but she faces the difficult conversation with me so we can get through the dispute together and end up on a happier note. Mikaela is incredibly intelligent. She is not only book-smart but also street-smart. She has taught me many things throughout our relationship that I am thankful for. Lastly, Mikaela is thoughtful. She is constantly thinking about me and others. Whether it’s getting gifts, or returning a favor for someone she is constantly thinking about others.Mikaela’s favorite thing about Caleb: I could say so much, but his heart and his selflessness are some of my favorite qualities. I joke we will never get our house remodeled because he is always doing jobs for other people. The thing is, he never expects anything in return. He never wants payment, he just does everything from the kindness of his heart. He also is SO levelheaded. When I get stressed, overwhelmed, or worked up, he is my calm place. I have never seen him get riled up.

The first look between Mikaela and Caleb was a moment they looked forward to when they dreamed of their day. It provided them with a private and intimate moment to calm their nerves and share their excitement before all of the hustle and bustle began. 

When a flower girl makes a request for a wedding party pose, we do what she says.I always love that Roger gets to capture the moments before and bride walks down the aisle that we don’t get to see, and times like this are why.“As part of our personalized ceremony, Brenda had us each write 3 vows to each other. We genuinely did do them separately, but they turned out to be almost the exact same! It was very funny in the moment since neither of us had heard the other’s responses. “Mikaela and Caleb both went to Illinois College in Jacksonville, which is where the venue for both the Ceremony and Reception – Hamilton’s  – is located. Mikaela’s older sister Jenna was roommates and best friends with Leevia Hamilton, the daughter of Gina and George Hamilton and both of her sisters had their wedding receptions at Hamilton’s. They were so well taken care of and had beautiful receptions at Hamiltons, and even though Mikaela and Caleb explored a few other options, none compared to what Hamilton’s had to offer. The ceremony space was just what we were looking for – an intimate space that we could make our own. We are so lucky they were a part of our big day!WIth it being a New Year’s Eve wedding both Mikaela and Caleb agreed they wanted the colors to be black and white, and Mikaela made sure there were plenty of sparkly touches as well.First dance song: All Your’n – Tyler Childers
“We went back and forth on if we wanted a traditional first dance song or something more modern. We ultimately chose All Your’n because it was a song we both loved and we wanted something we would continue to hear that would take us back to that moment.”Ladies, get yourself a man that looks at you the way Caleb looks at Mikaela.

Mikaela and I talked right away about her wedding day, and we discussed sparklers. I was honest with her and told her that sparklers with all of your guests, well after midnight, after several hours of drinking is not going to end as you would hope. So I advised her to try to do a sparkler photo with the wedding party to control the chaos.
Well, it was just as anticlimactic with the wedding party as no one could get their sparklers lit at the same time.
Cue the confetti.The lesson here is don’t give flaming objects to people who are not sober and are very cold. Confetti works every time.

At the end of the day the two felt “Tired and parched! Haha – truthfully, we expected to be exhausted since the reception went well past midnight, but there was so much buzz and excitement that it really didn’t hit us until the next day. ”

Reflecting on their wedding planning experience, Mikaela and Caleb offer valuable advice to future bride and grooms: “We recommend still finding time to ‘date’ during the hustle and bustle of wedding planning. Sometimes it can feel like every night you have a meeting, or a phone call, or a form, or a checklist item to do…and it can take away from the excitement of WHAT you are doing! Set time aside to disconnect from it all and check in with each other on things other than wedding planning.
For the day of, drink lots of water and sit as much as you can before the wedding, because you will be on your feet the rest of the night! 🙂 ”

After a blissful honeymoon at Sandals in Negril, Jamaica, Mikaela and Caleb returned home to Taylorville, IL, where they have begun their journey as a married couple. Although day-to-day life may not feel drastically different, they eagerly look forward to the adventures of married life and the prospect of starting a family in the future.

Mikaela & Caleb’s Wedding Day team:
Ceremony & Reception :: Hamiltons
Florist :: Main Street Florist
Officiant :: Brenda Baptist Protz
DJ Services :: Tony Boston – Epic Entertainment
String Quartet :: Devon Carpenter 
Marquee Lights :: Alpha Lit Springfield
Hair :: Haley Naugle
Makeup :: Morgan Douglas, Hannah Naugle
Wedding Dress :: Gowns

Mikaela and Caleb – Roger and I are FOREVER & EVER cheering you on. You have everything you need for a lifetime together. Your strong – not just love, but like – for one another is the foundation for making it through the hard times together. Wishing those hard times are very few, and that every day has the happiness and laughter you two do so effortlessly.
Cheers to forever sweet friends. xo