Where to Elope in Champaign, Illinois

I photograph a lot of wedding ceremonies and engagement sessions — 35 a year o.O — and that means I get to see a lot of cool places that would be perfect for a wedding ceremony. Sometimes these are well known spots, and other times they are off the beaten path.

Elopements are great because you can go anywhere you like. Choose a location that is special to the two of you or find a beautiful spot just big enough to exchange vows. If you are thinking about eloping follow this blog series to get some great elopement location ideas!

In this installment of “Where to Elope in…” I’m going to introduce you to Allerton Park. It actually offers a full Wedding Venue too, but you can certainly grab a pass to just use the park for your elopement. And boy, what a park! I didn’t even know this place existed until wedding couple last year took me here for their engagement photos. The grounds at this park are pretty amazing. I definitely recommend spending a day here to see take a long walk and see all of the possibilities <3

Whether or not you choose to have a big wedding or a small wedding, I would love to document your day. Many opt to elope on a weekday which means discounts from many of your vendors (me included). Send me a message if you are interested. I’d love to help you plan your perfect wedding ceremony in any way that I can :)

Where to Elope in Lafayette, Indiana

I photograph a lot of wedding ceremonies and engagement sessions — 35 a year o.O — and that means I get to see a lot of cool places that would be perfect for a wedding ceremony. Sometimes these are well known spots, and other times they are off the beaten path.

Elopements are great because you can go anywhere you like. Choose a location that is special to the two of you or find a beautiful spot just big enough to exchange vows. If you are thinking about eloping follow this blog series to get some great elopement location ideas!

Courthouses aren’t the only place to host your elopement! These two rented an Airbnb (this one to be exact: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/21958504) and it was perfect! Several Airbnb’s allow you to host events in their homes and this place has a finished basement, perfect for hiding away before the big moment.

Here is an excerpt from the listings website:

Log cabin hidden off the beaten path close to Purdue University! Great for get away, family gathering, or a day away from the city! Great for weddings as it’s on 3.5 acres.

The space

This custom log cabin is now featuring a finished basement! With hand made furniture and only the best amenities money can buy! I hope you love your stay with Giles Brothers vacation rentals. Call anytime with questions!

Other things to note

Only 8 miles from prophets town state park And water park! And only 9 miles from Purdue campus!

Whether or not you choose to have a big wedding or a small wedding, I would love to document your day. Many opt to elope on a weekday which means discounts from many of your vendors (me included). Send me a message if you are interested. I’d love to help you plan your perfect wedding ceremony in any way that I can :)

Where to Elope in Anderson, Indiana

As a wedding photographer, I see so many awesome locations all over the Midwest, but one of my absolute favorites is still right in my own backyard. For anyone wanted to elope or have a small wedding, Mounds State Park is the place to go.

Located just off of I-69 and State Road 67, Mounds State Park is a centrally located venue with a Pavillian to use for a family dinner complete with a large deck for mingling with your guests and even a fire pit for late night smores while reminiscing over memories.

And, if you are the camping sort, the campground on the premises is one of the best. Often full though, so be sure to check with the Park office well before your wedding date.

A Day in the Life of the Hahn Family | BroadRipple Family Photographer

It’s hard work being a parent

Parents don’t get enough credit. I know becasue I am NOT one. Raising another human being is a never-sit-down, never-take-a-break job. It is twenty-four hours. It is seven days a week. A lot of times its fun and a lot of times it’s tiring but at the end of the day, every parent I have ever met says the same thing. “It was worth it.”

Emily and Cameron's Chicago Wedding at The Tiffany Celebration Garden and The Hive on Hubbard

“I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to save me; This all or nothing really got a way of driving me crazy.” — Lewis Capaldi

I love it when I get to photograph the best friends of past clients of mine so when I got an email from Emily mentioning that they knew Kyle and Jaime (from this awesome wedding in Indianapolis) I jumped all over the chance at getting to be a part of their day.

Emily and Cameron hosted their Chicago wedding ceremony at the Tiffany Fountain and celebration gardens right downtown and it was absolutely beautiful. Its not a wedding if something doesn’t go according to plan. So, of course, there was an event going on that threatened the clean views of the fountain with a giant tent…but with some quick thinking I ducked down and used the city as their backdrop instead :D

A Chicago park wedding is the absolute best way to host your wedding ceremony. I’ll leave the link to the Chicago Parks Department Rental page here in case anyone needs to find it. (If found it a bit difficult to find…so hopefully that will help anyone planning a Chicago wedding out a bit! haha)

Afterwards, we all piled into a trolley and went down to the wedding reception at The Hive on Hubbard. If you are looking for an industrial wedding space in Chicago then I highly recommend this venue. You all know how much wedding photographers love natural light and this place has tons of it! The entire roof is a skylight!

If you are wondering about Emily’s gorgeous wedding dress, she got it from Blanc de Blanc bridal in Pittsburgh and her hair and makeup was done by the super talented Kate Johnson.

At the reception, the group was kept dancing by their wedding DJ - Cage + Aquarium and kept energies by the sugar-y goodness of their wedding cake by Sweet Mandy B’s.

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Catlin Humes is a documentary based wedding photographer traveling anywhere in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and beyond. If you are interested in learning more about hiring a wedding photographer click here.and here is a link to my most recommended wedding vendors of 2020 :D