Janelle & Jon Get Married | St. Charles Wedding Photo & Video

Back in 2010, I took yearbook, a class I considered to be a “blow off class.” One of my assignments required I take pictures of the homecoming parade. That sparked my love for photography and capturing emotions to tell a story through candids. In that yearbook class, I met the amiable Janelle.

In 2011, she messaged and asked if I would do her senior pictures.

In 2012, I took her family’s photos.

In 2014, I took her brother Derek's senior pictures.

In 2016, Janelle had a beautiful baby girl, Delilah, and I took her newborn photos.

In 2017, I had several mini sessions with Delilah and Janelle. During one memorable mini session in the fall I met Jonathon.

In 2018, Janelle sent me a message through my website about her wedding day. I still remember opening that email in the car and the tears pouring down when she said she couldn't imagine any other photographer capturing her wedding day.

Over almost a decade I've gotten to be really invested in her life, cheering her on as she navigated through some pretty hard obstacles with determination and courage. When Janelle became a mom, I watched her evolve into an even stronger, even more beautiful woman.

When I met with Janelle's mom, Sandy, to talk about taxes, she gushed about how great Jonathon was. I was a little leery. Could he really be good enough for Janelle?

When I spent some time with them over coffee, Jonathon quickly won me over. Janelle was more at ease than other times I had met her. She smiled a lot more, which was easy to do when Jonathon was telling one of his stories... especially the one about the brown rice. He took such visibly good care of her. A few months later, during their engagement session I got to see them more as a couple and I appreciated the way he genuinely loved her. While I liked Jonathon on all these occasions, I knew for sure that he was a good man during our Bride & Groom Christmas party. Sitting in our living room, Jonathon told us how he's learned that when he's at work, he can talk to the men like men, but when he comes home, he's talking to a strong yet delicate woman and he has to change the way he communicates with her. I knew then that if he was willing to learn how to communicate with Janelle as a loving husband, he would be willing to continue to invest in their relationship creating a healthy, lasting marriage.

On Saturday, January 26th, Janelle and Jonathon promised their forever together using vows they had written themselves at a beautiful ceremony in front of friends and family at the Stone Chapel of St. Charles. Jonathon's grandfather officiated the wedding, pausing a few times to hold back tears. Amber, one of the couple's friends wrote and read a lovely poem and the couple gave gifts to their mothers and exchanged rings.

They planned so many neat things for their guests to enjoy at their reception including an ice cream cake and ice cream cupcakes made by Cold Stone Creamery! They had a caricaturist from Bax Illustrations and my personal favorite, a coffee bar from Silo Coffee. Their first dance with each other was so precious, followed by Janelle and her dad's dance where I was crying.... yet again. When the dance floor opened to every one, we learned that the Ballentine side of the family really knows how to cut up and Grandpa is a disco fiend. He had us rolling!

Janelle & Jon, we wish you the very best. We hope that as you continue to look back upon these images for years to come that you will be reminded of the love and joy you shared. Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your wedding day!