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Katie & Jack – Wedding highlights

Katie Duffin & Jack Contri were married July 2, 2011, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Springfield and their reception was at Erin’s Pavilion at Springfield’s new Southwind Park.

Enjoy some of our favorite moments from their wedding day!

Katie was given a special hanger which she used to hang her wedding gown on the special day. The hanger was a gift from friends who found it on one of my favorite gift websites – Etsy!

Jack and his brother Val chill out at their parents’ house before getting ready.

Katie’s mom, sister and other bridesmaids help her get ready to go to the park to meet her groom.

Jack & Katie decided to see each other before the ceremony. There was a wedding later in the day at this gazebo in Springfield’s Washington Park, but a call to the park district before the big day ensured it would be available when we needed it.

After a few minutes seeing each other for the first time on their big day, they were ready to head to Katie’s parents’ house for family and bridal party portraits.

Katie’s parents’ backyard includes a bridge over a creek that runs behind their house. Katie’s sister, Shannon spent hours earlier that week power washing the bridge so it would be ready for photos.

 

Katie and her father Dennis wait for the ceremony to begin. Katie’s mom Theresa surprised Katie by having the florist incorporate Theresa’s own wedding veil into Katie’s bridal bouquet.

Katie & Jack, along with their bridal party, entertained the guests with their entertaining, dancing entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shannon’s maid-of-honor speech included a prop. The prop illustrated stories of Katie’s graduate school days.

Val’s best man toast was heartfelt and reflected the brothers’ close relationship.

The wagon came in handy when it came to the garter toss.


We always keep an eye on when the sun is setting. If it’s an appropriate time for the bride and groom to leave their party for a few minutes, we try to use the beautiful light to our advantage.

Posted by Tiffany/Warmowski Photography. We notice the things that make your wedding special whether the big day is in Chicago, St. Louis, Springfield and world wide. 

 

 

 

 

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The “out”

Dad and I wait upstairs at MacMurray's Annie Merner Chapel while guests are seated. 15 September 2001 Photo by Zuzana Killam
Dad and I wait while my sister Nicole (far left), and best friends Tracy Mazurkiewicz and Michelle (McIntyre) Davlantis chat. Not pictured is Steve's sister, Janet (Warmowski) Jackson, also a bridesmaid. She was the first one to walk down the aisle, which is probably why she isn't in this photo. 15 September 2001 Photo by Valérie Berta Torales

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I’ll never forget the option my dad gave me before walking me down the aisle on my wedding day 15 September 2001:

Dad (looking at the door to go outside): We can walk out the door if you want to, Tiffy.

Tif: What do you want to do, Daddy?

Dad: No, Tiffy. What do you want to do?

Tif: I think I’ll walk down the aisle.

It might seem weird to be given that option moments before walking down the aisle, but in honesty, I have always been grateful for that “out.”

When we were walking down the aisle, dad said to me, "Tiffy, I've been thinking about this day for a long time." Here we are just before that. My cousin, Amy Bennett, was our flower girl. I was the flower girl in her parents' wedding 18 years before. 15 September 2001 Photo by Valérie Berta Torales

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Before our good friend Esther married Steve’s mentor, Archie Lieberman, Esther’s aunt told her, “Five minutes before is better than five minutes after.” Esther didn’t take the “out.” But she never forgot about her aunt offering to her, either. Esther and Archie were married 60 years before his death in 2008.

We’ve had 3 couples cancel or indefinitely postpone their weddings this summer. But believe me, there are no hard feelings here! Making a lifetime commitment is not something that you should do just because you have been planning a wedding for months or because people will be disappointed if you decide not to go through with it.

I hope that all couples work as hard on preparing for their marriage as they do planning their wedding (if not harder!). And if they reach a point in that process where things don’t feel quite right, then taking a step back and taking a good hard look at things just might be the right thing to do, whether the wedding is months, weeks or days away.

**Photos Copyright Warmowski Photography 2010** Blog post by Tiffany/Warmowski Photography Tiffany & Steve Warmowski were married in Jacksonville and photograph others’ weddings in Jacksonville and around the world. WarmowskiPhotography.com