Julia + Mike are such a great couple. They planned a very beautiful and classy wedding, with the ceremony at St. Matthew and the reception at the University of Illinois Activities & Recreation Center -- a first for me! It is a great venue! For the second time this year, I went to the Tumble Inn on a wedding day, as Julia + Mike asked a bunch of their friends to meet us there in between portrait locations. So after a stop at Hessel Park, we moved on to the TI, before finishing up the portraits on the Quad. There was some amazing, high-energy dancing going on at this reception, and I even got in the action myself for a song or two. Now, I don't want to name names, but there are couple people who make quite a few appearances in the dance-floor portion of the photos below. ;) Leave a comment below for Julia + Mike, and after 50 comments, they will receive a complimentary 10x15" mounted print of their choice!

I started out the day by joining Julia at her hotel room, where she was just hanging out with a few friends. I couldn't believe how calm she was as she fielded phone calls from friends and family! We then moved on to the church where Julia got dressed, and first donned her amazing lace top that she designed and had made by a local dressmaker. Mike looks slightly nervous. All smiles now though! I love this portrait, but I think the shape of Julia's dress just seals it for me. Lovely! Bustling is always such a group effort! I love when I get the opportunity to do some outdoor family formals! Desk copies, everyone? :) This wedding party was so, so cooperative. You guys were all so easy to work with, and I appreciate your willingness to do anything I asked and to stand in the heat! I didn't hear a single complaint from any of them. :) Mike's softball team is the Crack Monkeys, and there was a large contingency of Crack Monkeys present at the wedding. Julia had these cornhole (or bags, if you prefer) boards made for Mike's birthday, which is next month. I have several great photos from the parent dances, but I had to narrow it down to just a few. The one of Julia hugging her dad is one of my favorites from the whole day. This one was either Carly Rae Jepsen or Miley Cyrus. Really, it's a toss-up.