The Evergreen Hour

14/04/2024

With this gorgeous spring weather and wedding season just around the corner, I am filled with so much excitement and gratitude! It’s such an immense honor and privilege to capture and experience my couples real emotions on their wedding day. Trusting me to see, feel, and capture their excitement, love, nervousness, grief, tenderness, intimacy, and connection. It’s absolutely indescribable that I am able to film these special moments. To create a wedding film that strings together all the grand and intimate fleeting moments that then puts you right back into that moment is so special to me.

I can’t wait to see what moments and emotions this wedding season brings!! Thank you for being here 🤍!! I’m still booking 2024 dates + 2025 🫶🏻

With love,
Meghan ♥️

📸 Madison Anne Photography

28/11/2023

The smallest touches always mean the most. I saw so many of these moments unfold between Megan + Victor and their loved ones ✨ Victor wiping away Megan’s tears, the way they softly embraced each other throughout the day, close friends and family swooping in for hugs, the adjustments the wedding party made to each others outfits making sure they looked perfect for the day, and so on!

What a wonderful wedding to end my 2023 season with! Enjoy this sneak peek! Cheers to the Mwirigis 🪩🥂!!

Megan Larkins + Victor Mwirigi

Spent the day with some of my fave local vendors!

Venue: St Paul’s Church + Burlington Golf Club
Photographer: Brandy Swartz + assistant Madison Anne Photography_
Hair: Halo Hair Studio
Makeup: Jordan Lea Beauty / Spray by J
Florist: Zaisers Florist & Greenhouse Inc
Decor: Parties Unlimited
DJ: GoodvibeZ Entertainment
Limo: It's Electric Entertainment
Wedding dress: Schaffer's
Rings: Helzberg Diamonds

27/10/2023

Such a fun day working + meeting with these talented women! Being involved and around this much creativity was invigorating! Thank you so much to Nikki + Mallory for all the planning and coordination that went into creating this awesome 3 in 1 day shoot! I can not wait to share!!!!

Also an amazing surprise getting to see and hang with Rachel Anderson Photography again

Yesterday was so nice to meet with other photographers for our first ever styled shoot event in my new space!! Co-hosted with Mallory Kienast with Made by Mallory bakery!! Plenty more to share but wanted to give a shout out to the photographers/videographer real quick and share this photo! It was a blast getting to know you all and be creative together!! I look forward seeing what we all captured and I hope to meet again soon!! Thank you for trusting and joining us in our visions!! (Missing Amber Dawn Photographyand Shawnee Sheehan Photo

Kory Kensett Photography
Rachel Anderson Photography
Amanita Photo Co.
The Evergreen Hour

More photos to come of all of our wonderful vendors and products, and their amazing services they have to offer. For now, a HUGE shout out to each vendor who helped make this day possible!!! You all are so talented and I GREATLY appreciate your time and effort in making it all come together!!

Nichole Peterson with Poppin’ balloon company
Jordan Lea Beauty / Spray by J
Sade Suites
Old Hickory Lane Boutique
Knotted Wonder LLC
The Blessed Basket Co
Parties Unlimited and Event Rentals
Sarah Alexandria bridal boutique
The Barn at Fairview Acres
FORK Catering Co.

Also, to our models, thank you so so much for getting in front of our cameras and spending time with us!! I hope you all enjoyed it!!
Johanna and Brandon Brent
Shyla Harmeyer klein
Sadie and Mercer

♥️
nikki

24/10/2023

October 14th — one of the most important, special, and celebrated days in Emily + Isaac’s lives. Not only did Emily + Isaac begin dating on 10.14.14 they then got engaged on 10.14.22 and now married on 10.14.23!

The special details of their day didn’t stop there. Isaac proposed to Emily at her family home, where on her wedding day, she also got ready with her bridesmaids. Her family home is also right across the street from the church they had their wedding and reception at. Being high school sweethearts, their family and wedding party have become so intertwined with each other so everyone had this indescribable special energy together!

I’m so incredibly honored to have captured a love like Emily + Isaac’s! Emily and I met in college and to think years later I would capture her wedding is so surreal!

Congrats to the Moellers 🤍✨Hope you enjoy a sneak peek into their day!

Emily Moeller
Venue: St. James the Less Catholic Church
Videography: The Evergreen Hour
Photography: Canyon McCarty Photography
Hair: Sade Salon
Makeup: MC Beauty + Skin
Florist: Bella + Row
Wedding Dress: Jocelyn Taylor Bridal and Prom
DJ: Thin Blue Line Productions
Rings: Beckers Jewelers
Caterer: Sonny's Super Market

06/09/2023

Stunning pictures from the styled shoot by the talented and sweetest Courtney!!

21/07/2023

Hi friends, it’s Meghan! I recently took some updated pics with Madison Anne Photography and been dying to share some with you!

Taking updated pictures is always so exciting for me and also holds so many emotions! I am always the one behind the camera, capturing the whirlwind of beautiful emotions around me and tearing up most of the time (this also happens again when I’m editing hehe). When it’s my turn to be in front of the camera it always makes me reflect on how much I love being the one to document others cherished moments that become cherished memories! I love my job, I love all my past/present + future couples, all the wonderful vendors turned friends I have met, and all of you for following along! Thank you for believing in my creativity and dream 💌🌿

ily all,
Meghan

14/05/2023

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, motherly figures, and moms to be 🫶🏻🌷💌!!! You are all strong, kind, and extraordinary! Forever grateful to capture sweet moments like these that can be cherished forever ♥️

11/05/2023

My pov from behind the camera: I just filmed the most magical, stomach butterfly enducing, chills up my spine, perfect moment of the wedding day ❤️‍🔥

08/05/2023

Hello friends 💌✨!! It’s time for a life update!

Last update post was in August when I was quite few weddings deep into the 2022 season. Then fall came and was such a whirlwind as I had a wedding about every weekend from the start of Labor Day weekend up until Christmas! The 2022 wedding season was phenomenal and I’m always blown away by all my amazing couples and the opportunity to capture their love!

As mentioned in my last update, during this academic school year I was also an adjunct professor teaching three classes in the digital media design program for the fall and spring semesters. The opportunity came to me and I decided to take it! I’ve been teaching art classes at my local art center for years so I wanted to see what the collegiate level was like! It was a life changing and enriching experience that I’ll cherish forever ♥️

Since I did take the teaching opportunity, I became a little MIA on all my social media! I already am someone that finds it hard to post and share my life on a personal level (my friends know the pain of trying to get me to post a pic lol) so I slowed down quite a bit on my business page too. I definitely plan to post more as I love sharing all the special moments I capture, but also try to let you all into my personal life a little more 🥰

I still have been busy doing small updates and projects for The Evergreen Hour though! For example, I put together a pre-booking and booked pdf guides which I’m excited to share with my interested and booked couples! I am still booking 2023 and now 2024 weddings!!! I’m so excited to hear from you!!

Thank you all for your support and I can not wait to start the 2023 season ✨!!

with love, Meghan 🫶🏻

01/01/2023

2 0 2 2!!! Another year of capturing the most intimate, intentional, and sacred love. Cheers to a year spent with the most AMAZING couples who let me create films that were fueled by their love, letting me into their inner circle and capturing their most private + cherished moments, and being able to create moments that will last forever! Never in a million years would I have thought this would be my life ♥️

In awe at all I accomplished this year and how I got to share it with so many fantastic couples, hardworking vendors, and everyone that follows along + supports me! I’m forever grateful for all of you ♥️

Cheers to 2023 🪩✨🥂

21/12/2022

Celebrated my final wedding of 2022 with Taylor + John 🪩⚡️

Taylor’s stepmom Molly surprised Taylor with the gift of wedding videography at Taylor + John’s engagement party! I felt so honored to have been a part of this surprise!

When their wedding day finally came, the smiles and laughter were ever present on the faces of Taylor + John and their loved ones which set a precedent for their day! Taylor started the day off with joyous tears as she gifted family members close to her heartfelt gifts! Then her sentimental first look with her Dad just before she walked down the isle where John saw her for the first time 🤍! The day continued on with sweet first dances and speeches and of course dancing!

Cheers to the Torrance’s 🥂!! Thank you for ending 2022 on a high!

Posted on FB too for you both♥️
Taylor Rae Torrance + John Torrance

28/10/2022

Sneak peek from Sabrina + Nick’s sweet day ✨!!

Every bit of this day was filled with sweet, fun, and goofy energy! When going through my footage I have so many clips of Nick and Sabrina just goofing off with each other and being their genuine selves! Their wedding party and family reflected their fun attitudes as well and supported Sabrina + Nick in every way! Cheers to the Mr. + Mrs. Stephens 🥂

04/10/2022

As Connor said during his speech, it’s always been Christina + Adam ♥️

These two have always been the most selfless, kind, and wonderful people on their own, but together, they are all these things and more! They are the definition of soulmates! It seems like they fell in love just yesterday and still have those giddy feelings for each other even 8.5 years later!

You couldn’t get them to stop smiling even when Joe ( Forever Green Studios ) asked for some serious faces they would immediately break back into a smile! It couldn’t have been a more perfect day with so many sweet friends and family, the perfect weather, energy, and venue. Getting married at The Walker Homestead was even more special as Adam proposed to Christina there!

It was such an immense honor to film them and see so many old friends and parents I haven’t seen in so long! I CAN’T WAIT to share more!!! CHEERS TO CHRISTINA + ADAM ♥️🪩🥂!!!!!!

Christina Johs Adam Johs

08/09/2022

Magi + Kero sneak peek 🤍

My first Chicagoland wedding spent with the most amazing couple! As Magi was walking up to Kero for their first look she kept yelling “Turn around, turn around!” even though she was still far away. So once they set eyes on each other there was not a lull in the laughter and love between them! True love was on display the whole day!

Also if you saw my bts from their day, you know that Magi + Kero along with their family/friends sure know how to get down on the dance floor! I have some super fun clips that I can’t wait to share in their film ✨!!

Photography: Addison Slavish Photo + Film
Getting Ready/First Look Venue: Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort
Reception Venue: Bloomingdale Golf Club

16/08/2022

A look into Kamaryn + Michael’s wedding day ✨

Having the pleasure of filming high school sweethearts never gets old for me! It’s a type of love that has sustained through the years despite all the changes of life. They have both grown as individuals, but also grown together. Kamaryn + Michael have been together since sophomore year of high school and still look at each other like they just fell in love :,)!

More of their sweet, fun, emotional, and dancing filled day to come 🪩🥂!!

Kamaryn Seabloom + Michael Seabloom

Photography: Courtney Dohse Photography : Quad Cities Photographer I had so much fun working with Courtney!!
Reception venue: The Camden Centre
DJ: Music Connection Inc.
Catering: Bridges Catering
Dress: Hope's Bridal & Prom

09/08/2022

A peek into Andrea + Taylor’s beautiful wedding day 🌿

Andrea + Taylor’s love is so sweet and effortless! I loved how relaxed they were the whole day and everything felt so natural! You would never guess that the heat index was 104 as it didn’t phase them! The love from everyone present was so immense and ever present! I have so many favorite parts of this day that I can’t wait to share!

You two are so special Andrea Schrage + Taylor Wedeking

Photographer: Wild Soul Weddings - Luxury Wedding Photography
Florist: Wedding Decor by Ruth
Caterer: Chickasaw County Cattlemen
Dress: Mara Bridal
DJ: Kenyatta's Sound DJ/Music Service
Cake: Kendra's Cakes

11/07/2022

A sweet sneak peek from Alexus + Jacob’s wedding this last weekend❣️

These two share such a beautiful love for each other! They have been together for 7 years, have two beautiful children, and are now married!! Getting to see them tie the knot after all those years was such an honor to capture, especially with all the emotions that came with it 🤍

Cheers to Mr. + Mrs. Pearson 🥂

Alexus Pearson + Jacob Pearson

Venue: Catfish Bend Casino
Photography: Courtney Rae Image Design
Videography: The Evergreen Hour
Hair + Makeup: Halo Hair Studio Rachel Selena + Amber
Decor/Rentals: Parties Unlimited and Event Rentals
DJ: Shane Williams
Dress: Sarah's Bridal Gallery
Suits: Melissa's in Westland Mall

06/07/2022

*This film was having issues uploading directly to Facebook for some reason so instead there is a link to watch it on YouTube!!

Filming Emily and Mitchell’s wedding was so romantic and enchanting! The love they have for each other jumps off the screen, and these two show just how special a wedding day can be! I can’t express how sweet it was to get to know Emily + Mitchell and how effortless it was to capture these two interacting. Emily + Mitchell have been waiting for this day for so long and have grown + built such an amazing love over the years ♥️!

I am obsessed with all the candid moments I captured during their day! It’s hard to pick a favorite moment, but one moment I loved was when Emily showed Mitchell a screenshot of a text message thread between them from years ago that she has kept. Emily had sent Mitchell a picture of a bowl made out of rice krispie treats and Mitchell said if she made that for him he would marry her on the spot. Now, on their wedding day after showing him the screenshot, Emily handed Mitchell the rice krispie bowl she made!!

It was also such a privilege to get to capture and talk to their family, wedding party, and friends. Such a fun group of people Emily + Mitchell surround themselves with! They also hired such an amazing vendor team that made me feel like I was working with friends all day! Emily + Mitchell also requested to have parts of their personal vows throughout their wedding film. Getting to hear these words over and over while I edited continually made me smile and laugh!

Cheers to a lifetime of love ✨🥂 Emily Engelbart + Mitchell Engelbart

Planner: Elizabeth Bliss Events
Venue: Pinicon Ridge Park + Calkins Barn
Photographer: Photography By Corinne ELM Photography
Videography: The Evergreen Hour
Decor: Aero Rental
Hair + Makeup: Sarah Marek
Floral: E's Florals
DJ: Hyde Guy
Desserts: Candle Ready Cakes
Coffee Truck: That 1 Place
Dress: Vera's House of Bridals

Filming Emily and Mitchell’s wedding was so romantic and enchanting! The love they have for each other jumps off the screen, and these two show just how spec...

05/06/2022

Hey all! Yesterday I turned 23 and today I published my updated website!!!!!

I had so much fun celebrating yesterday while also reflecting on the last year of my life. 22 was a great year for my business + personal life. For my business, I captured so many amazing couples, met some awesome vendors that I hope to work with again, and learned so many other little things that have helped me grow! I can’t wait to see what 23 brings for my business + personal life!!

Got some time to scroll? Check out my updated website and let me know what you think! For the best experience view on a desktop or laptop! www.theevergreenhour.com

Pics taken and edited by the talented Brooke Created by Brooke

25/05/2022

Sneak peek from Cheyanne + Nick’s sweet sweet day 💫

I wish I could put into words the emotion and beautiful energy that this day had and how honored I am to have been able to capture it! Never have I cried this much and felt so this much emotion among everyone at a wedding. I can’t wait to share more of the love, the tears, the humor, and the fun that came out of this day ♥️

I was a little late on putting this out as I’ve been unexpectedly under the weather these last few days, so I’m excited to start getting back on track!

Cheyanne Nicole + Nick Dreckman

Venue: Koru Aronia Berry Farm
Photographer: Cathryn Grace Photography
DJ: Mojo Productions
Dress: David's Bridal
Suits: Skeffington's Formal Wear
Cake: Sweettopia

25/03/2022

I post most of my longer format films here on Facebook, so if you are looking for more short form content and stories follow me on Instagram ! I will start to upload some short form content here as well though!

I love recessional ceremony songs and sometimes they can be overlooked! You just had your first kiss as a married couple, so what song are you celebrating with?! Here are three recessional songs that I've heard and loved!

17/12/2021

Tia + Shane’s day was simply a dream! Everything about their day was so beautiful; from the way Tia looked walking down the isle, to their personal and sweet vows that were read aloud during the ceremony, to the way Shane looked at her when she was taking solo portraits, to how touching the BM and MOH speeches were. These kind of days are my favorite because they show you true love stories exist!

Tia Cavanaugh + Shane Cavanaugh thank you for letting me capture your love! Congratulations!

Venue: Barn on the Ridge
Photographer: Sierra Phy Photography- Northwest Arkansas
Videographer: The Evergreen Hour
Hair: Maria Bigger
Makeup: Karley Dawson
DJ: Portable Playlist DJ & Karaoke
Catering: Hy-Vee
Cake: Juanita Dameron
Dress: David's Bridal
Suits: SuitShop
Music licensed through Musicbed

08/01/2021

I have four packages + a la carte options that start at $950! I’ve been making a few tweaks over the last week and I am finally happy with them! If you have questions or would like a free consultation send me an email ([email protected]) or message me! Also, I am currently designing my website where all my packages will be listed for future reference!

*If you are a bride that has already booked with me, I have reached out to those of you that are affected by the changes!

31/12/2020

2020 is finally coming to a close!! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I launched my business this summer because of how this year was shaping up, but wow was I surprised! From start to finish, the love and kindness shown by all these couples was so special! I feel so honored to have worked with each one of them and I can’t put into words how awesome you all are! I am so excited for the New Year and all the weddings coming up as I know they will be amazing as well! 2021 couples I’m coming for you!!

I still have dates open for 2021 and would love to be part of your day!! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or for a consultation!

25/08/2020

I have been seeing this question asked a lot from brides trying to plan their special day. Of course as a videographer, I definitely think it’s important to hire one for your wedding! One of my top reasons is, many brides will tell you after they’re married that the day was one big happy blur. As a videographer, I capture all the sentimental and intimate moments in motion throughout the day and create a memorable film. The film is not only a great way for the couple to see their entire day from the viewpoint of their guests, but it is also a great way to share their wedding day with loved ones and others who couldn’t be there in person, especially with the circumstances of today. If you have any questions about videography, or what The Evergreen Hour offers, please contact me!

20/07/2020

I’m still building my wedding portfolio, so I’m offering a reduced rate that is under $1,000! I still have room for some 2020 weddings and starting to book 2021! Book now before my rates go up!

30/06/2020

Welcome to The Evergreen Hour! I’m Meghan Riley - owner/videographer. After a couple years of freelance work, prepping, planning, stress of failing, and big breakthroughs, I’m finally launching. Although a lot in our world has had to change these last few months, we are still finding a way to celebrate love! I want to create films that are unique to each couples personality + love story and not just another wedding video. I can’t wait to capture all the romantic, silly, heartfelt, spontaneous, and life changing moments with you! So, are you or someone you know getting married and in need of a videographer? Send a message my way!