Starved Rock State Park Winter Elopement – Corrina and Kenneth

February 9, 2023

Corrina and Kenneth’s elopement day at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois was a deeply personal and intimate winter elopement, and one of the sweetest I’ve ever photographed. There were so many happy tears shed and incredible memories made throughout the day. 

A empty bedroom in a cabin at Starved Rock State Park.

Getting Ready at the Sunset Cabin

Their elopement day started with both Corrina and Kenneth getting ready separately. Starved Rock State Park is known for its hiking trails, but it also has a fair amount of buildings on the grounds as well which Corrina and Kenneth used for their elopement day. Corrina got ready with the help of her mom at one of the rooms at the lodge, while Kenneth got ready at one of the State Park’s Sunset Cabins.

Once they were both ready it was time for a first look at the cabin. I LOVE first looks for my couples, it’s such a sweet and intimate moment and always gets the emotions flowing. Corrina and Kenneth spent the rest of the morning together, sharing gifts with one another, having a couple drinks, and finally reading letters they wrote to one another on the cabin bed. Let me tell you guys I was melting during these letters, and both Corrina and Kenneth teared up when reading to one another.

Wine glasses with the coordinates of where a bride and groom met. Gifted to one another on their wedding day.
Wooden ring boxes sitting in front of a beautiful bouquet with white roses and berries.
A Brilliant Earth wedding ring in a wooden ring box sitting on a bed before an elopement.
A groom stands looking out the window while tightening his tie smiling.
A groom looks directly at the camera smiling in front of a window before his elopement at Starved Rock State Park.
A bride stands while her mother buttons the back of her dress. She looks back at her mom smiling.
A bride smiles while her mom buttons the back of her two piece wedding dress before her elopement at Starved Rock State Park.
A bride approaches her soon to be husband for the first time on their wedding day.
A groom sees his bride for the first time during their first look on their wedding day at Starved Rock State Park.
A bride hugs his groom during their first look at Starved Rock State Park.
A bride and groom check out each others wedding attire in their cabin before their elopement at Starved Rock State Park.
A groom looks lovingly at his bride during their first look at their elopement at Starved Rock State Park.
A bride and groom kiss in their cabin during their elopement at Starved Rock State Park.
A bride and groom look at one another smiling at each other in their cabin at Starved Rock.
A bride and groom kiss one another in their cabin at Starved Rock.
A bride and groom open up a small bottle of champagne in their cabin at Starved Rock.
A bride and groom look at one another smiling at each other in their cabin at Starved Rock.
A bride and groom look at one another smiling at each other in their cabin at Starved Rock.
A bride and groom look at gifts they gave one another in their cabin at Starved Rock.
A bride and groom open gifts they gave one another the morning of their elopement in Central Illinois
A groom opens a card from his bride the morning of their elopement at Starved Rock National Park
A groom opens a gift from his bride the morning of their elopement at Starved Rock National Park
A groom opens a gift from his bride the morning of their elopement at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom kiss one another lovingly after exchanging gifts at their wedding in their cabin at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom kiss one another lovingly after exchanging gifts at their wedding in their cabin at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom kiss one another lovingly after exchanging gifts at their wedding in their cabin at Starved Rock National Park
A bride puts on her snow boots before going out to take wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park
A groom pours beer into a glass before going out to take portraits for their winter elopement at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom clink their glasses of beer while smiling at one another before their elopement at Starved Rock National Park.
The couples favorite beer sitting on a table while they are in the background enjoying the beers.
A bride and groom sit reading letters to one another while reading letters from family and friends before they elope at Starved Rock National Park
A groom sit reading letters to one another while reading letters from family and friends before they elope at Starved Rock National Park
A bride sit reading letters to one another while reading letters from family and friends before they elope at Starved Rock National Park
A groom sit reading letters to one another while reading letters from family and friends before they elope at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom sit reading letters to one another while reading letters from family and friends before they elope at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom sit reading letters to one another while reading letters from family and friends before they elope at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom sit reading letters to one another while reading letters from family and friends before they elope at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom sit exchange vows with one another before they elope at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom sit exchange vows with one another before they elope at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom sit exchange vows with one another before they elope at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom kiss before heading out to Starved Rock to take their wedding portraits.
A bride and groom kiss before heading out to Starved Rock to take their wedding portraits.
A bride and groom kiss before heading out to Starved Rock to take their wedding portraits.
A bride and groom kiss before heading out to Starved Rock to take their wedding portraits.
A bride and groom hold hands before heading out to Starved Rock to take their wedding portraits.
A groom puts on his snow shoes before heading out to take wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park.

Their Elopement Ceremony 

After Corrina and Kenneth’s morning together they made their way to Starved Rock State Park’s Great Hall for their elopement ceremony. The two had their ceremony streamed to a FaceTime group call so their friends and family who were unable to attend in person could still be there to witness this incredible moment. There was something so surreal and personal about having their ceremony in this massive space with only Corrina, Kenneth, their officiant, Corrina’s parents, and myself in the room. It felt magical and so intimate, something the Great Hall is not typically accustomed to. After they read their vows to one another and exchanged rings, Corrina and Kenneth shared their first kiss! They took some time after the ceremony to talk with the guests that had attended via the FaceTime call, and then we had some time for portraits with Corrina’s parents.

A bride and groom stand during their wedding ceremony at a cabin in Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom stand during their wedding ceremony at a cabin in Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom stand during their wedding ceremony at a cabin in Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom stand during their wedding ceremony at a cabin in Starved Rock National Park while their guests watch via zoom.
A bride and groom exchange rings during their wedding ceremony at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom stand during their wedding ceremony at a cabin in Starved Rock National Park while their guests watch via zoom.
A bride and groom kiss during their wedding ceremony at a cabin in Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom kiss during their wedding ceremony at a cabin in Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom kiss during their wedding ceremony at a cabin in Starved Rock National Park
A couple celebrates their marriage immediately after their wedding at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom facetime their family members during their elopement at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom smile at the camera after their wedding ceremony at a cabin in Starved rock National Park
A bride and groom kiss after their wedding ceremony at a cabin in Starved rock National Park
A bride and groom kiss overlooking a cliff at Starved Rock National Park.

Wedding Portraits Around Starved Rock State Park

After the family portraits, we made our way outdoors into the State Park grounds for some wedding portraits in the snow-covered landscape. We originally had intended to have their elopement ceremony on the Starved Rock State Park grounds, but the snowstorm blocked the path we intended to take. The Grand Hall ended up being the perfect space though, but we still wanted to get some portraits throughout the park. The snow honestly added to the experience and made the day just that much more incredible. After a while, we made our way back to the lodge to warm up and get some indoor portraits before Corrina and Kenneth finished their elopement day off with a beer at the lodge’s bar.

A bride and groom smile while overlooking a cliff at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom walk along a snow covered trail during their winter elopement at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom stand in the snow next to a cliff while smiling at the camera.
A bride and groom stand in the snow next to a cliff while smiling at the camera.
A bride and groom snuggle in close while standing on a bridge in Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom snuggle in close while standing on a bridge in Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom snuggle in close while standing on a bridge in Starved Rock National Park.
A married couple holds one another on a bridge while taking their wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park
A married kisses one another on a bridge while taking their wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park
A married holds one another on a bridge while taking their wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park
A couple stands next to one another in their winter coats during their winter elopement at Starved Rock National Park.
A close image of the bride and grooms hands with their wedding rings during their elopement at Starved Rock National Park
The bride and grooms snow boots under their wedding gear at Starved Rock National Park
A bride and groom walk into their cabin towards the fire to warm up after taking their wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom smile at the camera standing in front of the fireplace after taking their wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom hold hands standing in front of the fireplace after taking their wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom hold hands standing in front of the fireplace after taking their wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom hold hands standing in front of the fireplace after taking their wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom share a first dance in front of the fireplace after taking their wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom share a first dance in front of the fireplace after taking their wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom share a first dance in front of the fireplace after taking their wedding portraits at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom share a drink at the bar at their cabin at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom share a drink at the bar at their cabin at Starved Rock National Park.
A bride and groom share a drink at the bar at their cabin at Starved Rock National Park.

Corrina and Kenneth’s elopement day at Starved Rock State Park was nothing short of incredible. Even with a snowstorm throwing a curveball in our original plans, we still were able to create an elopement day that these two will be able to cherish and look back on for a lifetime! If you’re looking for a photographer for your own elopement, head to my contact page here so we can get your planning started.