Iowa City has lots of beautiful wedding venues, but Lily and Alex knew they wanted something different, something true to them. They decided to host their Iowa City wedding at her childhood home. The beautiful land with its hills and right on the banks of the Iowa River made the perfect setting for Lily and Alex to soak up time with the family and friends. Their photos show a day full of ease and joy.
A Carefree Iowa City Wedding
Family has been important to Lily and Alex from the start of their relationship. They met in the midst of 2020 in Chicago. They told us that they spent time making dinners at home, watching the entire backlog of Survivor, and walking around the neighborhood. They left the city as much as they could to see their families in Iowa and Wisconsin. Getting married at Lily’s childhood home made perfect sense.
When we asked Lily and Alex what they envisioned for their Iowa City wedding, they said: “We want our celebration to feel natural and meaningful! We’re so looking forward to throwing the world’s best dinner party with our favorite people. I’d like to introduce our friends and family from around the country to the magic of my old stomping grounds through bonfires, dances on the old tennis court, and a ceremony by the river under the trees.”
Lily and Alex embraced those priorities with their whole hearts on their wedding day. They spent time with family and friends, laughing and hugging at every opportunity. There’s something about getting married at home that helps melt away the stress that comes with being in an unfamiliar place. Everyone came to the day with a sense of ease that you can see in these photos.
One reason Lily and Alex’s wedding day could be so laidback and carefree was that they trusted us with our craft. They left it to us to document the most important moments without worrying about a shot list. Instead, Lily and Alex could focus on being with each other and getting swept up in the day’s emotions.
Even though they got married at Lily’s childhood home, they went all out on the event design. Willow & Stock decorated the ceremony location and reception tent with stunning florals and candles. The rolling fields, shady woods, and elegant reception tables made an amazing backdrop for unposed, honest photos.
Images of Connection in a Stunning Setting
Our goal in documenting weddings is always to tell your story with honesty and meaning. We’re about the lived in moments and connections that become your best memories. We really resonated with Lily and Alex when they told us they were looking for “someone who helps us feel comfortable and captures the spirit of the day without lots of time spent standing and posing.” Those words were music to our ears!
At this Iowa City wedding, we focused on moments where Lily and Alex felt at ease. Their authentic connections with friends and family made for the best photos, even better than the portraits against the beautiful backdrop of Lily’s family’s land. These images show a level of comfort and love that you just can’t script.
Lily’s reaction to the photos might have been our favorite part of the whole process. She said, “[You] made this process feel so natural and true to us and our vision.” That’s exactly what we aim for in our client experience and photography.
Your Iowa City Wedding Photography
Lily and Alex’s wedding at her childhood home are a great example of what’s possible when you celebrate your love where you’re happiest. They put their trust in us to document the important moments and came away with a gallery that shows the connection and community at the heart of their wedding day.
Are you interested in having us document your Iowa City wedding? We’re Olivia and Christian, the wife and husband team behind these images. We tell your wedding story with narrative photography. We’d love to document your day.
Thank you to the vendors who made this Iowa City wedding so amazing.
Photographer: Olivia Katherine Photography
Florist: Willow & Stock
Cake: DeLuxe
Caterer: Peppercorn Food Company
Decor/Rentals: R & D Events
Signage: Allegra Iowa City
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