Kelsi and Andrew’s Wedding

KELSI AND ANDREW ARE MARRIED!!!😍✨🎉  These two promised forever on a beautiful summer day surrounded by their sweet family and friends!  The big day started with getting ready and getting married in Carmi, Illinois, then the party danced the night away at Evansville Country Club…it was such a GREAT day full of love, laughter and joy. We are beyond thrilled and oh so honored to share a sneak peek into allll the magic of Kelsi and Andrew’s wedding! Snuggle in and check everything out below! Cheers to the newlyweds!!🥂💕

Tell us a bit about your wedding!!

“Our wedding was traditional elegance with touches of fun and youth. Colors were black, white, gold, and pinks. We wanted everyone of all ages to enjoy themselves, and we wanted to have a blast, too as we celebrated ourselves as a couple. Our ceremony was at Kelsi’s home church in Carmi, and our reception was at the Evansville Country Club, with the cocktail hour on the patio and dinner in the ballroom.”

What BIG lesson did you learn throughout your engagement and wedding planning?

“Everything always works out for the best! Kelsi loves to plan, so that things go smoothly, but sometimes things are out of one’s control. The week of the wedding Kelsi was really upset at the prospect of possible thunderstorms on the big day, but the weather was actually perfect, especially for daytime photos. There was no need to worry!”

What was your favorite part of your wedding day?

“Despite the tight schedule of the day, we both had so much time to spend with our amazing wedding party! We rode a trolley from the church to the reception area, which was about a 50 minute drive. After a crazy morning of hair, makeup, photos, and a wedding, it was so fun to let loose and have fun with our best friends!”

Did you two do a first look?!

“Yes! We chose to do a first look to have a special moment just the two of us to take the pressure off the ceremony and to allow plenty of time for pictures. Our first look was on Kelsi’s front porch. Andrew was nervous beforehand, but seeing Kelsi put his nerves at ease. Kelsi was excited to see Andrew and also to show him her dress she’d be keeping a secret from him for over a year! When Andrew turned around, we embraced and shared a few kisses and then talked about how we were both feeling about the day. It was so special!”

What’s next? What are you two planning on tackling next in life?

“We are moving in together for the first time into our new home in Carmi, so we are going to be getting accustomed to doing life together. We’re looking forward to cooking meals together, movie nights every night, and enjoying weekends by our pool in the coming weeks!”

For the bride: What are three things you love about your groom?

“I love Andrew’s faith in God, his passion and loyalty for the people he loves, and how he always makes me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world.”

For the groom: What are three things you love about your bride?

“I love Kelsi’s goofy sense of humor, her love for her family and friends, and that she never backs down from a challenge.”

Kelsi, who helped you pull off your dream wedding??

“My whole family worked so hard to make our day perfect and unique. My mom’s organizational skills made the planning process so smooth, and she always had the best ideas. My dad’s skills came in handy, too. He welded candelabras and photo frames for the ceremony and reception, and anything else my mom and I threw at him, he tackled with ease and excitement. My grandparents also took on projects that helped to make our day “ours”. It was a family affair!”

Advice for other couples who are planning their own wedding right now?

“While you shouldn’t sweat the small stuff, don’t underestimate the power of small DIYs that make the day more personalized! Microsoft Publisher, my mom, and I were hard at work during wedding planning to create kids’ activity sheets, a personalized crossword puzzle, cake pop favor tags, and more for little to no cost. If DIY is your thing, go for it!”

Did anything hilarious/unexpected happen?!

“Two things happened that we will likely always remember. First, right after our first look, we decided to put our rings on for our portraits. Kelsi slipped hers on with ease, but when Andrew went to put his on, it wouldn’t fit over his knuckle. Luckily, his came with a less precious alternative ring that he was able to slide on. Crisis averted! Second, right before we were supposed to head up from cocktail hour to make our reception entrance, we wanted to snap a picture in front of our marquee letters sitting on the ECC scorebox. Kelsi hopped up on the ledge, and her zipper on her dress ripped completely. After about 45 minutes of trying to fix the zipper, Kelsi’s grandma finally had to sew her back into the gown! It held like that all night long!”

What is something unique you incorporated into your wedding?

“Andrew has several young nephews, and we also invited quite a few other children, so Andrew’s mom had the idea to rent a bouncy house during the cocktail hour. It was such a hit for the little kiddos… and some of the big ones too!”

First dance song?

“Old Love Feels New by Chris Young”

Ceremony music?

“Traditional wedding music”

How big was your wedding party?

“Seven bridesmaids, seven groomsmen, and five ushers”

Reception dinner: buffet or served?

“Served dinner”

Reception: open bar or cash bar?

“Open bar”

What dessert did you serve at your reception?

“Cake”

Did you give out a wedding favor?

“Yes! A cake pop was sitting at each seat.”

 

 

THE VENDORS:

Photographers: Bret and Brandie

Reception Venue: Evansville Country Club

Ceremony Venue: First Christian Church of Carmi

Makeup Artist: Hannah Sailer

Hair Stylist: Kelly Blackford, Montana Daniels and Sammi Morrow

Event Coordinator: Arika Brown with Vida Events

Cake Artist: Piece of Cake

Caterer: Evansville Country Club

Florist: KD Florals

Musician/DJ: Alice Bryant (ceremony pianist) & Kingery Productions (reception DJ)

Gown Boutique: Marie Gabriel Couture

Bridesmaids Gown Boutique: David’s Bridal

Groom Boutique: Men’s Warehouse

Officiant: Greg Grant

Rings: Brinker’s Jewelers

Invitations: Bailey Marie Studio

Guest Favors: Amanda Winter – Callie’s Creative Confections

Videographer: Kingery Productions

Transportation: Feller Transportation

Marquee Letters: Honey Do

Bounce House: Bounce Babe

Dance Floor: TRU Event Rentals

ECC Coordination: Morgan Locher

Photo Booth: Oh Snap!