Ray and Taylor had the prettiest backyard wedding I have ever seen! They stayed close to home and chose the cutest locations in Fairfield, IL to make all of their wedding day memories. They surrounded themselves by friends and family, each of whom clearly meant so much to them, and had an amazing time celebrating the transition from long-time-lovers to husband and wife.
Getting Ready
Ray and his boys took advantage of a local AirBnB’s outdoor space to don all of their wedding day finery. Luckily the sun was shining and the temperatures were magical and we soared through this portion of the day in record time! I always joke with my brides about how long it takes the girls to get ready vs. how long it takes the boys to get ready. This was no exception!
Just like Ray, Taylor booked a beautiful rental property that had plenty of room for all of her bridesmaids and the moms to get ready at. There was a sunroom that provided gorgeous light so naturally we took advantage. The girls were all having a great time getting ready together and it was fun that there was plenty of space so they could all be together at once.
Some of my favorite getting ready photos of all time come from this wedding! Taylor is just absolutely beautiful. she chose the most stunning gown that fit her figure like a glove. Her bridesmaids were gorgeous and doted on her lovingly. It was pure magic, both for photos and Taylor’s memories.
The First Looks
Taylor chose to have two very sweet First Look experience: one with her dad and one with her Groom.
Taylor sneaked up on her dad, whom I’m not quite sure knew exactly what was going on. It was really sweet to see his surprise when he saw his beloved and only child in all of her glowing wedding day finery. Taylor shed a few tears as she modeled her dress for her dad, something I imagine she’d done growing up when she got new clothes. (My girls always put on a “fashion show” for their dad, as did I when I was a little girl!)
Ray, on the other hand, knew exactly what was coming when it was time for his first look with Taylor. I took a minute to give him a little pep talk about how excited Taylor was for this moment. I could see the gears in his head working as he made sure to not only soak in this incredibly important experience, but made sure Taylor felt as gorgeous as she looked when he laid eyes on her for the first time that day. He admired her and she was in heaven! It was the sweetest!
The Bride and Groom
After their First Look, I whisked the couple away to photograph their Bride and Groom portraits. Taylor’s mom made arrangements for us to be able to shoot at the most gorgeous historic building! Being able to use such a beautiful and unique backdrop was so much fun! And of course, Taylor and Ray made the experience even better. They loved all over one another and made it so easy to create some really smashing photos!
Isn’t this the most gorgeous spot in Fairfield, IL for wedding photography?!
We took a few more minutes to get some truly epic photos at Taylor’s mom’s house, which is where the Ceremony and Reception were also held. It was so nice to be so close to the “venues” and have such picturesque scenery to take advantage of! Not only was the property super photogenic, it’s completely unique to Taylor and Ray as it’s never been used for a wedding before!
The Bridal Party
One of the best parts of a Bride and Groom having a First Look is that we are able to complete most of the formal portraits before the ceremony even happens. This means that not only do the Bride and Groom get a little break between the Ceremony and Reception, the Bridal Party does too! And I can only imagine what shenanigans this fun group of people got into! I want to point out that Ray had his daughter stand in as his Best “Man.” Isn’t that the sweetest thing?!
The Ceremony
From lakeside views to warm, streaming sunlight, happy friends and family, and a truly gorgeous couple, this Ceremony was just perfect! I loved the tender sermon the Officiant shared and the very personal, touching, and funny vows that Ray and Taylor exchanged. The whole moment was magical!
The Reception Details
The tented backyard reception space was too pretty not to overshare details! Katie Doersom and Bauerhaus Tents did an incredible job of making this al fresco event feel intimate and luxe. I especially loved all of the pretty fresh flowers and hand calligraphy, Katie’s specialty, used in all of the decor!
The Reception
Ray and Taylor’s guests settled into their seats, which were nestled under a large white tent, while preparing to welcome the new Mr. and Mrs. Aguilar to the celebration. The happy couple entered their reception to the sound of hoots and hollers of joy and congratulations. I couldn’t help giggling when Taylor announced to the crowd that she could “finally eat carbs again” now that the wedding day was finally here!
After two very touching toasts from Taylor’s best friend and Maid of Honor and Ray’s Best “Man” and daughter, it was time for the cake cutting and all of the formal dancing. The Bride and Groom had a lot of fun with their bouquet and garter tosses, and then it was time to party with their guests! Everyone seemed to have had a really wonderful time!
The crowning moment of the evening was when Ray surprised Taylor with a fireworks show. Taylor LOVES fireworks and as soon as the first burst of light exploded in the sky, she grabbed her mom’s and her husband’s hands and tearfully ran out of the tent to watch. She was completely overwhelmed with emotion! Both Ray and Taylor had huge smiles on their faces as they watched the sparkles dance in the sky. It was a truly epic way to not only end their evening, but to begin their marriage.
Taylor and Ray are a truly wonderful and genuine couple. I know they have an amazing future full of life and love ahead of them. I count myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to meet them and share a little piece of their happiness. Congratulations Ray and Taylor Aguilar!
The Creative Team
Coordinator/Planning: River Top Event Coordinating
Florist: KD Decor
Hair and Makeup: Autmn Carmondy
Catering/Cake: Bauerhaus Catering and Pastry
Rentals: Bauer’s Tents and Party Rentals
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