Back in October, I was the photographer for my brother- and sister-in-law’s wedding on their farm, and today I’m sharing some of my favorite photos from the day!
To give you some background, Charlie and Shirley run Above Normal Eggs: a chicken farm down in Normal, Illinois. While the original plan was to have a big 200+ person wedding in town, it became clear somewhat quickly that it wouldn’t be possible due to the pandemic. It was definitely heartbreaking, but Charlie and Shirley were so unbelievably gracious about it and decided to cut the guest list—which was very hard!—and have a small outdoor wedding in their backyard instead.
Of course, I think everyone wishes that all family members and friends could have been present. But I’ll say that it was 100-percent the most magical and memorable wedding I’ve ever been to because of how the families rallied and contributed whatever possible in order to make it happen. Everyone had a job since vendors were largely cut, and every detail was thought of. I tear up just thinking about it! I really have to hand it to my mother-in-law, Lisa, who was undoubtedly the MVP. Goodness. Can you believe what she did to the farm?! I always knew she had an eye for interior design, but she apparently has a real knack for wedding decor, too. From the flowers and table settings to the twinkle lights and burlap carpet down the aisle, she totally transformed the space. (I should also mention that the china was from each family’s personal collections! Everything was mismatched perfectly, and it was so meaningful.) And great care was put into making sure regulations were followed as well. People were amazing about quarantining and getting tested before and after—we just used a lot of Instacart during that time!—and there were a lot of good procedures in place for the day. Most importantly, higher risk/older people were separated and went home pretty early. So grateful that not a single person ended up contracting the virus.
The 2020 gods were definitely smiling down on us when they graced us with 80-degree sunny weather in October, too. There was unfortunately no real plan for rain, so what a miracle! The kids were running around barefoot, and everyone was comfortable. Those blankets that my mother-in-law (of course) brought along didn’t even get unpacked!
One of my favorite parts of the night was the toast given by my father-in-law, John, who grew up in the farmhouse that Charlie and Shirley now live in. (You can see it in the below photos! He fully restored it a few years ago with Charlie and Lisa, just as Shirley was coming on to the scene.) It was the most perfect toast, celebrating two people everyone loves so much, and I refuse to butcher it by attempting to paraphrase it, haha. But I particularly loved when he spoke about how special it was to see his son getting married and starting his own family in the farmhouse. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house! (i.e. Backyard. 😉)
Anyway, on to the photos! The photographer was cancelled to keep numbers down, and Charlie and Shirley asked if I would shoot the wedding. I was so honored. If you’re new here, I had a wedding photography business back when I lived in New York, but it had been a while since I’d shot anything professionally. I was admittedly fairly nervous on the big day; I just wanted to do a good job for them. But I think things turned out okay, and I absolutely loved being so intimately involved! (If I hadn’t been the photographer, I wouldn’t have gotten to know Shirley’s side of the family as well as I did, for example, and I wouldn’t have had so many special moments with her!)
In case you’re wondering, I shot almost entirely with with the small Canon EOS R mirrorless camera and this very inexpensive 35mm lens. (While I do wish I’d had this more versatile lens at the time, I had an old Canon 5D Mark III and an 85mm lens as a backup so that covered most needs!) We decided to forgo the external lighting/flash route because we didn’t want to take away from the ambiance of the evening, so my nighttime shots are a little grainy. But meh, the grain gives ’em a fun old-timey feel which I think works with the “venue,” I hope?! Ha!
A huge congratulations goes out to Charlie and Shirley. You two are perfect together, and you are so, so loved. Mitch and I feel beyond blessed to have been part of October 10th, and even more blessed to be part of your lives going forward! (Shirley, Sarah and I are also so freaking excited to have gained you as a sister! Larkin Ladies unite!) Life just keeps getting better—and that’s something that you two show us every day.
If you live in the area, definitely check out Above Normal Eggs! You can buy eggs direct through them, or you can visit ANE at the Bloomington Farmer’s Market. (The market is open from 7:30 a.m. to Noon May—October, and then moves indoors from November—April.)
If you live in the area, definitely check out Above Normal Eggs! You can buy eggs direct through them, or you can visit ANE at the Bloomington Farmer’s Market. (The market is open from 7:30 a.m. to Noon May—October, and then moves indoors from November—April.)
Wow! What a beautiful couple! Beautiful wedding! And GREAT PHOTOS! Thank you for posting these!
Awwww thank you so much, Judi! <3
Absolutely beautiful looks like a well blended family!..
Beautiful wedding, perfect setting. Everyone looks so happy. May God continue to bless their union.
Concur! Beautiful day.
loved your Mom’s dress! Where did she purchase it? I have a wedding soon for my god daughter and this dress is perfect!
Awww thank you! She will be so touched to hear. :) It’s from Macy’s: https://bit.ly/319q41R
What a gift! Beautiful photos ❤️ I found myself wishing there were more!!
Evelina, that is such a kind thing to say! Thank you!
Awesome! I wanted more also. May God bless their union.
Awww, I found myself tearing up at some of these! What a beautiful day, you can see everyone was just radiating happiness. And love the kids running around barefoot.
Lindsey, thank you! It truly was such a special day—one we will never forget! <3
Every moment of this day was perfect! The “venue” was spectacular. Each smile was bigger than the last, a true testimonial to the day! The colors were brilliant, the place settings stunning….mmmmm I’m forgetting something OH! Yes the photography was beautiful and fun and REAL. That is what art is all about! Wishing the bride and groom a glorious future with their family and friends!
I live in Louisiana, the wedding photos were, LIVE, Colorful, detailed backgrounds no flaws. The pictures and the bride and groom kept me smiling, LOVE AND HAPPINESS. BLESSINGS!
Beautiful couple, beautiful wedding, beautiful photos! Congratulations, Shirley and Charlie!
Thank you so much, GB! :)
Their love is so beautiful and let’s all of us know. Love is all that matters. Bless your union and many years of joy.
These photographs are great and the wedding looks beautiful!!! You did a great job capturing the event. Congratulations to the newlywed couple! <3
Thank you, friend, for this wonderful piece. I honestly gasped when I was scrolling through my Google feed, ‘Shirley Grimes!’ Her brilliant smile is remarkable. I can actually hear her voice, in my head, see her motioning to push-up her glasses – without thought. Oh, I miss that sweet, sweet soul. My heart is both happy and full. Thank you for this glimpse! I knew that bright eyed girl in my class was special!
Beautiful and incredibly meaningful wedding. What more could anyone ask for. Congratulations.
These are the most absolutely gorgeous photos. You captured the spirit and love of the event so well!
What an absolutely beautiful wedding: the love just radiates from this gorgeous pair! Many continued blessings and thank you for sharing with us! Honestly, made my day!
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL
Congratulations to the bride and groom! It looks like it was a magical day! This photo album is one of the most beautiful that I’ve ever seen!! Well done!!
Gods blessings congratulations
Brought tears to my eyes due to the beauty of his and her family, friends, and other relatives.
Beautiful beautiful stunning wow amazing! They look so so great together wonderful couple. And the photographer! Amazing, may our creator bless them and give them everything their hearts desire; thank you thank you you did a fantastic heck of job .
Enjoy this beautiful and precious life .
Congratulations and Bravo to the couple and also to the photographer; beautiful family.
Absolutely stunning. Your brother is very lucky, not just because he has a new bride, but to have a BROTHER as loving as you are.
I hope that every year they take a look back and see the love and care that you put into capturing their moment.
You are awesome. ✨
P.S. Congratulations to the bride and groom.
I have attended a meetings and watched even more on t.v., but this is one classy and beautiful wedding. I wish the couple much happiness.
Aaamazing. The pictures reflected the life of the moment
Beautiful interesting
What a beautiful couple and families! Love is a beautiful thing when blessed by God! Happiness and blessings to all. What beautiful, healthy, sweet children!
Charlie & Shirley, you just brought a smile to my face and happiness to my heart. This comes to you from Phoenix, AZ where many blessings are bestow on you and the entire family.
Happiness & Love Always
Beautiful Wedding! The photos are very beautiful also. Great memories. May you be Happy in the years ahead. I want to give you a very small piece of advise communication is very important!!! What a lovely couple! Enjoy each other…❣
Beautiful wedding. Beautiful family and friends.
May God always bless you all, so that you all enjoy health and happiness.
The venue was beautiful and beautifully decorated! Congratulations!
Absolutely beautiful!
I could feel the love pouring out of these photos. So much genuine joy and happiness.
The wedding setup was stunning…The Bride was GLOWING. GROOM WAS LOOKING SO HAPPY. CONGRATS..
I absolutely loved Charlie and Shirley’s Wedding. Such a Loving and warm day. I wish them both a life of Happiness.
Beautiful Pictures. One God sir. His name is Jesus Christ. Beautiful family filled with love. Will look them up.
This is absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed the pictures and the story. Beautiful family and wedding. Congratulations to them
That is so touching, just to see two families of different races so happy ,we really need more of this, stay happy,
Your love and joy was contagious! May God bless your union with happiness, a sincere commitment to each other and much respect. The photographer really captured the beauty of your day. Congratulations!
GORGEOUS pictures! This wedding was beautifully done, especially considering the (Covid-19) time we’re in. The couple even looks perfectly matched! Thanks for sharing.
Very beautiful couple and the photos were perfect.
Gorgeous! Beautiful couple and great wedding photographs ❤️❤️Best wishes to Charlie & Shirley.
Your photos were great. Thank you for share them.
With the best wishes♥
Beautiful couple and beautiful pictures!
Wonderful bride and groom, beautiful scenery. May God bless them both.
Absolutely beautiful pictures of a beautiful wedding.
WOW what a beautiful wedding…definitely looks like both parties are soooooo much in love with each other…Congratulations and thanks for sharing
Beautiful pictures and every onr in attendance looked happy . I wush i can have this photographer in Namibia
God had Blessed this lovely couple with a phenomenal family and great friends‼️Wonderful pictures.❗
Thank you
What a BEAUTIFUL couple…….
May GOD bless you …….
Always keep GOD first…….
Wow……beautiful pictures….. look like a picture perfect wedding
The wedding looks so nice and beautiful and the pictures was Breathe taking and gorgeous
This is what a blessed day looks like! How things came together was not a coincidence, they will live happily ever after.
I looked at all of the pictures in awe. To not be a professional, you really did a fantastic job. All of the pictures were beautiful as well as the couple in them. So Congratulations to the bride and groom and also to you!!!!
Beautiful wedding, awesome photos. Peace and blessings to their union.
Y’all look fabulous. U go girl and you hold on to that white chocolate of a real man.
Soooooooo Much love‼️. What a beautiful wedding. Photos are very special as are the bridal bouquet. Truly a lovely wedding‼️‼️
Oooh I loooove all of the pictures. The photographer did a great job.
The wedding was beautiful. I loved the arrangements and all of the decorations. I love the pictures so much even I feel like family but have never seen ya!
May God bless you is my prayer.
I live in NC.
Oh my gosh what a beautiful wedding such beautiful pictures you have a nice family.
Simply gorgeous!! Everything is so beautiful!! I love the colors, dresses, suits, venue, everything!! The photographer did an excellent job on all of the photos!! I love it all!! Congratulations to the beautiful couple and many Blessings always!!❤
Most beautiful! Your love was palpable, and it looks like a miracle. Praise God!
What a beautiful couple! You look like you really had fun. Some couples look scared to death! Wonderful venue for a wedding. I think my favorite pic of you is the one where you’re seated at the table & Shirley has her head on Charlie’s shoulder. Prayers for a long, loving, happy life together!
Just Beautiful, wishing them the best
Wow! Photos are beautiful, as is the house &yard. Kudos to all “workers “ & decorators! And Blessings on the happy couple.
Risa
A beautiful couple, beautiful wedding!!! Congratulations!! To the photographer, you were amazing with the camera!!! To a long and happy marriage!!!
Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos. Their beaming faces made me tear up!
How beautiful to see an interracial couple in this times of covid sharing so much love. May they be blessed for the rest of their lives together.
The photographer deserves an award.
Congrats! To Both Family & Friends, thank you for sharing these Beautifully Captured Memories~A Life Time of Blessings
Beautiful family.
Beautiful wedding.
Perfect Day.
I cried for happiness, and I wasn’t even there!
Beautiful photos that shows the Love ♥️, Complicity between both of them. I’m sure they’ll be a wonderful, loving and happy couple. Everyone of those photos says it all about the couple, but also about the whole family. My advice for them, “ALWAYS HAVE GOD IN YOURS HEARTS ♥️ AND YOURS MARRIAGE WILL BE FOREVER” GOD BLESS BOTH OF YOU AND YOURS FAMILIES !!!!
Love, Beauty, and Great Blessings for the newlyweds! Great pics, I wish I was there, Great Vibes!
Congratulations!
What a beautiful wedding! The couple and everyone around them so happy! I’ve got to say the photography’s was the best I’ve ever seen for any wedding. The small touches were touching and meaningful! The girls look fantastic in their red dresses. Everything was so well planned. Many many happy years wished for the beautiful couple.
Absolutely, beautiful, magical, and breath taking. I loved the decor and the pics are priceless. May God bless the union for ages to come.
What a beautiful story. Hope you will love each other forever.
Thk you for sharing..congratulations to you and yours. Awesome wedding
So beautiful!!! Amazing photos!!!
Beautiful couple!! Love and Happiness to them forever!!!
This touched my heart what a beautiful wedding not too many people but just simple I loved it it brought tears of joy 60 families coming together loving one another God has a plan congratulations to you both
Great pics. Made me feel like I was there….Thanks for sharing
Absolutely gorgeous thank you for sharing
This has moved me to tears. A fantastic job by the Photog, so many great captures.
What a beautiful wedding!
God’s graces to both of you for your new life together.
Can’t say nothing but look at Jesus who God has joined together let no man put asunder so beautiful
BEAUTIFUL. CONGRATS. Well blended family. Look like the coat of many colors. Thanks for sharing with us the public.
What a beautiful wedding!! I too got married last October., and it was perfectly magical….nothing like this wedding though! They look so happy in live ~
Just stunning! Beautiful couple! You did an amazing job.
Blessings and congratulations on the beautiful moment. P.s. lovely and vibrant pictures. Breathtaking❤️
Absolutely Beautiful !! Thank you for sharing.
Whst s beautiful couple snd What a beautiful occasion. Why can’t it be like this always! Love who you want to love! The wedding snd family were just beautiful!
If I lived in Illinois I would purchase my eggs from you! The pictures are fun to look at all the happiness there was! Thanks for sharing
What a lovely couple and what beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing! (Their home and the decorations were beautiful fall!)
Absolutely Beautiful!
I said a prayer for the lovely couple!
May their union be blessed!
These photos will be treasured forever!
The wedding was absolutely beautiful! You truly captured the love in those beautiful photos. It is such an amazing blessing to be able to see such love and beauty, in the mist of the pandemic. Many Blessings to the newlyweds and congratulations to you for a job well done.
Just came across this article and pictures as I was just scrolling through. WOW this story and the pictures are priceless!!! Beautiful pictures, story. And of all beauty people came together as ONE!!!!!
Absolutely beautiful! This is America at its best! So proud of them
Beautiful couple! I love the place and the families together to celebrate a great wedding!
Wedding pictures fantastic, enjoyed them, lovely families. If I ever get to Normal Illinois hope I can look you up.
I just can’t imagine anything more creatively more beautiful. Environment just breathtaking. The day was meant to be. Don’t tell me you’re not a professional photographer. Your work is beautiful.
An elegant wedding! I’d never seen a farm styled wedding; it was most beautiful with family, friends, colors, textures, and thematic to the season. Love has no boundary…Thank you for sharing. Soon to wed Celeste in New York City.
Hello, just be happy and congratulations to you all.
BEAUTIFUL HAPPY COUPLE!!…May GOD BLESS them!..as I was reading..it seems like I was there!…WOW!…I Loved it!
God bless theirs union! And god will bless my wedding too!! Oh when know my love! Yes! Will be! Amen!
Thanks so much for sharing your amazing photos. They brighten my day. During this awful pandemic it’s good knowing that there is still happiness and beauty in the world. Much luck and continued joy to the lovely couple. :)
so lovely. pictures are absolute gorgeous.
I just checked out your wedding photos and I loved the photos. They just told this beautiful love story of two people and their families love and support. I tell you, it was so touching , I just wanted to cry. The love that was was expressed was so genuine. I wish to this beautiful couple, all the joy they can handle and love and peace. Believe me, its all about the love you have for another person because love should be blind. Be blessed family. You all are amazing people.
Jo Ann
I also would like to share this thought. I felt like I was through the photos. That was the most romantic weeding that ever been to virtually or not. Charlie, your brother did an outstanding job of illustrating your wedding through the photos he captured. He is truly something special of a, well I feel like I can say an outstanding photographer and and not amateur at all. Charlie and Shirley, this photographer really caught those little things that when you know you know, this is truly my soul mate. Kudos to the photographer. Your love shined right through that camera lense. Thanks for sharing these memories. Be blesses and stay safe. Jo Ann
Oh my gosh, I am shedding tears as if I were there at the wedding. You could feel the LOVE from this couple. So much joy and happiness from everyone. I pray that the Lord continues to pour His abundant Blessings on them. Everything was gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.
The pictures are Beautiful.
Your wedding is beautiful. I love your pictures. God bless you both.
Such a beautiful couple & family!!
Thank you for posting your wonderful photos and sharing your wedding. I wish you both a very happy and bless life.
That was a beautiful wedding I love the colors.
So amazing
I Loved the photos and especially the love shared in them! I have family in Normal, and it’s great to see this business mentioned.
Beautiful photos, you did a great job catching the emotions and Love! These two have for each other. May they be blessed with many happy years of Marriage, family and blessings. Great brother to take on the task.
Gorgeous photos. It looks like a perfect wedding!
I smiled through all the pictures, they were absolutely beautiful and they look so happy. You left me wanting to see more pictures!!! May God bless their union!! ❤
Omg, I want to cry big tears of happiness and joy! What an absolutely beautiful family. I don’t know anyone, this just came into my feed… everything was absolutely amazing! Many blessings to all!
How did this couple. Meet
Every thing was just beautiful I luv the family photos the best and many blessings and prayers for a long time world of Joy and Happiness
So beautiful. God Bless this beautiful couple and their families. Everything was so beautiful and their Love was captured in these photos.
What a GORGEOUS Wedding!! You did a GREAT job on the pictures. May Shirley and Charlie have a long life together!❤❤❤
Beautiful wedding. Awesome pictures, you did an amazing job.
OMG…ABSOLUTLY FABULOUS. BEAUTIFUL COUPLE, GORGEOUS WEDDING. GOD BLESS YOU.
Absolutely beautiful! The love between them both, and their families can be felt in every photo! May they all be blessed!
Beautiful wedding and couple. Thank you for sharing.
Absolutely stunning wedding. Beautiful family and beautiful couple. The wedding decor and colors were gorgeous. Sending you wishes for a blessed life going forward.
To the photographer : Your pictures are absolutely amazing. They told a breathtaking story of love.