Before the wedding: Exner Marsh in Lake in the Hills
Before the wedding, I photographed Maureen and Kyle’s engagement session at Exner Marsh, off Miller Road in Lake in the Hills. We walked the paths through the autumn grasses and trees, taking time for portraits of the two of them and photos with their children. The playful moments,especially Maureen and Kyle tossing leaves together show the easy, happy connection they described when they told me their story.
Their proposal happened during a spontaneous evening with friends at their house. Kyle felt that it was the right moment and quietly asked a friend to record what was happening. The friend didn’t know what he was about to capture.
Maureen was surprised. When I asked whether her reaction was tears, laughter, or shock, she said it was a little of all three. It’s a story that sounds very much like them: relaxed, joyful, and shared with people close to them.
Maureen and Kyle’s wedding felt personal from the moment I arrived. They had turned a private barn property in McHenry into a place to celebrate with their family and friends. There were campers for getting ready, an outdoor ceremony on a hill overlooking the lake, and a barn they had cleaned and decorated themselves. Their two children were part of it all.
A story that began years before their first date
When I photographed Maureen and Kyle’s engagement session, I asked how they met. They told me they connected on Plenty of Fish but that wasn’t quite the beginning of their story. Their moms had worked together when they were younger, so Maureen and Kyle had met before. They had even worked at the same place as their mothers for a couple of summers.
Some couples can point to one moment when they knew they had found “the one.” For Maureen and Kyle, it was more gradual. They had always had a great time together, and being together simply felt right.
Getting ready at the barn
On the wedding day, Maureen got ready in her mom’s beautiful trailer. Kyle and his best man prepared in another camper. These spaces gave the morning its own character and made the preparations feel connected to the place where they would soon be married.
Their children were part of the day, too. They helped with chores around the property before joining in the wedding celebrations. Those small moments—everyone lending a hand, getting dressed, and making the space ready—are part of what made this wedding feel so personal.
A ceremony overlooking the lake
Guests gathered outdoors on a hill facing the lake. With their family and friends watching, Maureen and Kyle said “I do” beneath the ceremony arch. The setting gave everyone a view of the water, but the best moments were close to the couple: their expressions during the vows, the kiss, and the joy immediately afterward.
Before the wedding, they had told me they were most excited for two things: “The PARTY! And saying ‘I Do’!” Seeing them come back down the aisle, it was clear the first part of that wish had come true. The celebration was just beginning.
Portraits by the lake
After the ceremony, we took time for portraits around the lake and the open fields. The water, trees, and evening light gave us beautiful backgrounds, while Maureen and Kyle gave me what matters most in a photograph: moments where they were comfortable together.
A barn celebration and a bonfire under the moon
Maureen and Kyle had personally cleaned and decorated the barn for their reception. Guests gathered for cocktails, cake, speeches, dancing, and the party the couple had been anticipating. As the evening went on, a large bonfire drew people outside. A beautiful harvest moon appeared in the sky, giving the night one more memorable scene.
From the work they put into the barn to the time spent with their children and friends, this wedding reflected the life Maureen and Kyle have built together. Congratulations to them both, and thank you for trusting me to photograph your day.
If you’d like to see another wedding I photographed in McHenry, take a look at Zach and Marissa’s wedding at Smith’s Central Garage. Their venue has a very different feel from Maureen and Kyle’s private barn, and it’s another lovely example of a McHenry celebration.
