Luxury Campground Wedding
Glamping at its finest! If you don’t know the term glamping, it essentially is glamorized camping. Rather than sticking yourself in a self-made tent on the ground, you are welcomed by a luxurious more elevated version of camping. For all of you bug haters and outdoor novices, glamping might just be right up your alley. For Melissa and Tommy it sure was! They had their beautiful Fall wedding at a luxury campground and it quite literally took my breath away. As some of you may know, I’ve been doing a camper renovation (follow for more updates on my IG here!). After this wedding though, I may have been converted to a glamping gal (jk). If you like an elevated luxurious outdoor experience, then you’re going to love reading all about this luxury campground wedding.
Camp Aramoni
Melissa and Tommy’s wedding was held at Camp Aramoni in Tonica, Illinois. Camp Aramoni provides a luxury camping experience and is perfect for any outdoor nature lover. The campground is located on 96 acres of forest and is the ultimate getaway, especially from our beloved city of Chicago. While staying here you are fully immersed in the camping lifestyle with just a few additional perks. On-site activities along the Vermillion River, safari-style tents, inclusive meals and more. There are SO many more perks that I could continue to rave about, but for more info just click here! If you’re thinking to yourself “wow I want to have my wedding here”, I would highly recommend it! To inquire with Camp Aramoni about hosting your dream wedding, click here!
Bride & Groom Getting Ready
As soon as I arrived that morning, I met up with Melissa in the bridal suite. You could see everyone scrambling to finish getting ready and it’s always such a fun time when we first start the day. I began taking some detail photos of Melissa’s gorgeous shoes, invitations, rings, and jewelry. Flatlays are some of the most fun to curate and put together, however, it does take a certain amount of skill… if I do say so myself. I talk more about what to include in your detail photos and why they are important in this blog here! While wrapping up with detail photos, I turned to my side and noticed Melissa putting on her dress. I gasped as I saw how stinkin’ beautiful she looked. It was the ultimate princess dress and she was absolutely glowing which is EXACTLY how you should feel on your wedding day.
While I was taking getting ready photos with Melissa, my second photographer was with Tommy taking his getting ready photos with his groomsmen. Now I’ve said it once and I will say it again, this is why you should have a second photographer on your wedding day! Since we can’t be in two places at once, having two photographers on your special day makes sure that no moment goes unnoticed. We’re not just saying it, it’s with a purpose!
The First Look(s)
Melissa chose to do a first look with her father as soon as she was done glamming. You could just see how stunned her father was to see her. I sometimes feel awkward in these moments because it can be such an emotional moment but that’s why you hire a wedding photographer, right? To capture these moments so a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! I always love it when my couples choose to do first looks because it really is such an emotional and impactful moment. First looks aren’t just for your partner though, it can be for parents & guardians and bridesmaids/groomsmen too! I actually go more in-depth on what a first look is here!
After Melissa’s first look with her father, we then met up with Tommy outside in this open area on the campgrounds for their first look. As you can imagine these two were so lovey-dovey and excited to get married which are the couples I LOVE to photograph.
Wedding Portraits
After finishing up with their first look, we really utilized the campgrounds and all of the beautiful scenery. We spent a good chunk of time down by the Vermillion River and took some amazing portraits of the two of them. If you’re a couple wanting to take some more adventurous-type photos on your wedding day, just prepare to get your attire a bit more messy than usual! Bringing items like stain remover, sewing kits and safety pins are vital especially when going to an area where your dress/tux could easily rip or get dirty. That’s why I always recommend having an emergency kit on your wedding day. For more emergency kit must-haves, check out this article here!
Before finishing up by the river, naturally, Camp Aramoni had provided us with a rowboat. I of course didn’t get on one, but Melissa and Tommy sure did and boy did they look so damn cute. It was really giving off Noah and Allie vibes from the Notebook, no?
Ceremony & Reception
Time really does fly when you’re having fun because before we knew it, it was time to get these two married! We went over to their ceremony space which let me say was decorated beautifully! The floral arch overlooking the water and the beautiful forest was just next level amazing. This entire ceremony was jaw was basically on the floor, but hey that happens when you have some of the most amazing couples in the world. Just sayin’!
It wasn’t long until these two were saying their I do’s and soaking up the fact that they just got married - woohoo! As you can tell from Melissa and Tommy’s faces at the end of the ceremony, you could say these two were pretty happy.
As if I wasn’t in awe already, I was absolutely stunned at how beautiful their reception space was decorated. Candles were lit everywhere and it honestly made me feel like I was in Hogwarts. We spent the remainder of the night dancing till our feet were sore, eating some absolutely phenomenal food, and celebrating Melissa and Tommy. The perfect way to end my day and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
If you loved this Luxury Campground Wedding, then you’re going to love this Downtown Chicago Fall Wedding.
