2011 June | Champaign and Urbana wedding photographer

Champaign and Urbana wedding photographer | Holly Birch Photography bio picture

Welcome to my blog!

Hey! Thanks for coming to my blog! If you're here as a bride or groom, I hope you like what you see. I'd love to meet with you in person to talk about your wedding day and how I can help you. I love photographing weddings and hope that shows in my work!

Things I love: the Illini, the color orange, lobsters, my husband, my son, weddings, my Nikon D700, socks, my dogs, Johnny Cash, American Idol, my iMac, The Sound of Music, Hereford cattle, a pair of good-fitting jeans, the Food Network, & macaroni and cheese (and my Grandma Hazel wants me to add her in here too).

Scroll down to view images from recent weddings and sessions! Also, be sure to "like" my Facebook page to keep up with announcements & specials!

Monthly Archives: June 2011

June 29, 2011

Autumn + Joshua | Memorial Stadium Champaign wedding photography

Posted in Wedding 1 comment

Autumn and Joshua were married at Memorial Stadium on a beautiful Saturday in late June. After the ceremony, we headed over to the University of Illinois Arboretum Hartley Gardens for some wedding party and couple photos. We then went back to the Stadium for some photos and play time on the field and the reception back up in the Colonnades Club. I loved their navy and pink color scheme – a new one for me, I believe! Enjoy some of my favorite photos of the day!

We started off with some photos of the guys and girls separately, and I absolutely adore this photo of Autumn. It’s so classy, natural and all-around beautiful. And the lines of the columns add tons of drama.

Married!

Lovin’ this ring shot!

Vendors:
Ceremony & reception: Memorial Stadium Colonnades Club (thanks to Bobbi Duval for her always stellar work as coordinator!)
Florist: Blossom Basket
Cake: Cakes by Lori
DJ: Ryan Reid – Crash Events
Officiant – Dr. Bill Meier
Limo: Bell Elite (Dustin Jeffers)
Dress: Michelle’s Bridal – Maggie Sottero
Dresses: Michelle’s Bridal – B2 by Jasmine
Tuxes: Michelle’s Bridal
Caterer: U of I Catering
Photographer: Holly Birch Photography

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Tags: Arboretum, Champaign, Memorial Stadium

June 23, 2011

Paladin + Samson | Canine pet photography session | Urbana, IL

Posted in Pets No comments

My past roommate Andrea saw my pet session posts from a couple months ago and jumped at the chance to get some photos of her family’s adorable chocolate lab, Paladin. When I lived with Andrea, Pal was just a young, hyperactive pup but now he’s grown into a somewhat more mellow, beautiful adult dog. They also brought along Samson, who happens to be Paladin’s full brother. He belongs to a family friend of theirs.

Leave a comment below the post and after 25 comments, Paladin’s family will receive a complimentary 5×7 print!

I LOVE this one.

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Tags: canine, dog, Meadowbrook Park, pet, Urbana

June 21, 2011

Megan + Zach | Mason City & Lincoln, IL wedding photographer

Posted in Wedding 23 comments

I’ve known Zach for a long time as he was one of my brother’s good friends growing up (this makes the 2nd wedding for one of my brother’s classmates actually!). I didn’t know Megan until their engagement session, but I could tell immediately how sweet and kind she is. And she made such a beautiful, glowing bride! Zach is one lucky guy. We started the photos at the Mason City Christian Church, then headed to downtown Lincoln to the old train station for some wedding party pictures, followed by the reception at the American Legion in Lincoln. There are a couple new all-time favorites in this set I think, so buckle up! Zach + Megan, I hope you’re enjoying your time in Cancun!

AND, leave a comment below (either on the blog itself or via the FB plug-in at the bottom and after 50 comments, Megan + Zach will receive a free 16×20″ print!

I’ve had a couple people send me this idea, so I planned ahead for once and brought along my Bananagrams. So fun!

I know this shot is a little out of focus, but it shows the best how much they were bombarded by birdseed when they left the church. Just before they walked out, Megan said “I’m scared!”

Just a random shot that I fell in love with.

If they ever start a band…

MOH Samantha was having major issues keeping the bustle up. It did NOT want to cooperate.

Uhhh… YES. Zach suggested this spot as it was where he got some senior photos done. At first I waved it off because I thought it was all in the sun, but man am I glad we walked down there. The light and atmosphere were perfect for one of their wedding party shots.

This image was one of those instances where we were almost back to the limo, and I saw this light. And this old train. And we had to stop.

Fun with sparklers! Thanks bridesmaids for your help!

A big thanks to all the vendors for making my job so easy!
Ceremony: Mason City Christian Church, Mason City, IL
Reception: American Legion, Lincoln, IL – 217-732-3743
Florist: Drughes Floral Art, Mason City – 217-482-9400
Cake: Kate King Almengor
Caterer: Winkelmans
DJ: Superior Sound Entertainment, Tony Boston – Springfield
Officiant: Joe Briseno, MCC
Bride’s dress: Country Bride, Peoria – 309-691-5151
Bridesmaid dresses: David’s Bridal
Tuxes: Seno Formal Wear
Limo: Harmon Limo, Springfield
Photographer: Holly Birch Photography, Urbana

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Tags: Lincoln, Mason City, Wedding

June 14, 2011

Kristi + Matt | Rantoul wedding photographer | The Linden

Posted in Wedding 6 comments

Kristi and Matt were married on an unseasonably cool day in June. June 11 to be exact. I don’t know about you, but as a wedding photographer, I am always thankful for those rare cool Saturdays! They had a big wedding party full of fun-loving friends and family. And after a week of crisis-averted disasters including their limobus breaking down the day before, they had a pretty great day. The wedding party ended up carpooling from Rantoul to Champaign for pictures at West Side Park, but it was totally worth it because that’s where Matt + Kristi got engaged.

There are several photos included of Matt’s 6-year-old daughter, Grace. She is a big fan of weddings, and is a total girlie-girl. She cried during the ceremony and I about lost it myself! I overheard her telling one of the other kids later that she “felt sad but was really, really happy.” How cute is that? Matt also did his first dance with Grace, and it was just about the sweetest thing I have ever seen in my life. Be sure to check out those images near the bottom of the post. And be sure to leave a comment at the bottom. Once Kristi + Matt get 50 comments, they’ll receive a complimentary 16×20″ mounted print of their choice!

Trying the slideshow option again. Let me know if you like it!

Kristi’s sister is having a baby, so we had some fun with it.

My assistant for the day, Meghan, found this cool staircase in the back of the church with some great light.

Bling!

I heard a few of the bridesmaids say before the ceremony that Matt would cry when he saw her. He didn’t disappoint.

Here’s Grace watching her daddy get married.

Married!

And then we were off to West Side Park in Champaign for some more relaxed wedding party & couple photos.

The whole gang

Yeah. Favorite!

Kristi’s sister also worked at David’s Bridal for a while. I believed her when I saw her whip that bustle out in no time! It was seriously amazing.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… wedding cake is maybe the best part of being a wedding photographer. Ha! And Lori from Cakes by Lori has a special place in my ~~belly~~ heart.

Vendors:
Church: First United Methodist Church, Rantoul
Reception: The Linden, Rantoul – (217) 892-2582
DJ: Kyle Dietz, Complete Music
Florist: Paula’s A House of Flowers, Rantoul
Dress: Michelle’s Bridal – Mori Lee
Dresses: David’s Bridal
Tuxes: Seno Formal Wear
Cake(s): Cakes by Lori
Limo: Andy’s Limosine
Photography: Holly Birch Photography, Urbana, Champaign & Rantoul wedding photographer

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Tags: Champaign, Linden, Rantoul, West Side Park

June 13, 2011

Happily Ever After Contest Winners Announced | The Refinery | Champaign

Posted in Wedding No comments

Contestants in the Happily Ever After Wedding Giveaway gathered on Friday, June 10 as Michael + Tabitha were announced the winners.

The sponsors & prizes are as follows:
* An engagement ring and two wedding bands from Christopher’s Fine Jewelry Design.
* A Reception for up to 220 people from Events at Refinery. Some Restrictions apply.
* A two entree buffet dinner for 150 guests from Chef Benjamin.
* A lighting package from Elite Entertainment.
* Tuxedos for the Groom & Groomsmen from Seno Formal Wear.
* A certificate toward your Wedding Dress from Lindsey Lane.
* A Gift Certificate for Limo Service from Starr Limo.
* A 6-hour wedding photography package from Holly Birch Photography.
* The bride’s bouquet and grooms boutonniere from a House of Flowers.

From left to right, Q96′s Josh the Prize Guy, Tabitha, Michael & Q96′s Ashmo.

WCIA Channel 3 came by to video the announcement and interview the winners. The footage was shown on the 10pm news.

A sample bouquet from Paula at a House of Flowers

Sample linens from Elite Entertainment (and Refinery)

A sample bridal gown from Lindsey Lane

The rings from Christopher’s

The audience and the couples had some good laughs during the “Nearly-wed game.”