Why I Love The Olde Wicks Factory

There are venues I’ve photographed where I spend the whole day solving problems. Bad light, no interesting geometry, nowhere for a couple to stand that doesn’t look like a parking lot with tablecloths. I show up, I do my job, and I make the best of what’s there.

The Olde Wicks Factory in Highland, Illinois is not one of those venues.

I’ve been there. I know the rooms. And every time I’m there, the building does half my job for me — not because it’s flashy, but because it’s real.

The building has something to say

The Olde Wicks Factory started life in 1905 as a pipe organ manufacturing company. The bones are still there — exposed brick, heavy timber, original stained glass. Jennifer Ostrander and her family didn’t cover any of it up. They preserved it, cleaned it up, and let the building be what it already was.

That matters photographically because authenticity reads on camera. Texture reads. Age reads. A room that has genuinely been somewhere for a hundred years photographs differently than a room that was designed to look like it has.

The Stained Glass Hall does something I can’t do with flash

I work with off-camera flash. I shape light deliberately. I can make a flat room look dimensional and a dark room look warm. But I cannot make colored light fall through original stained glass windows and move across a couple’s faces as the afternoon progresses.

That’s what happens in the Stained Glass Hall. The light in there is not something I bring. It’s something the room gives you, and my job is to be ready for it.

The Gatsby Room is the best-kept secret in the building

Couples sometimes use it as a cocktail hour space. Sometimes it’s the late-night room. I’ve seen it as a getting-ready space. Whatever it is, it’s the room I keep coming back to — dark tones, warm light, tufted leather, brass chandeliers. It was clearly designed by someone who thought about what a room should feel like, not just what would look good in a brochure.

It photographs beautifully and it’s usually not what couples lead with when they describe the venue. It should be.

The spiral staircase in the Grand Hall

There’s a spiral staircase that leads to a balcony with additional seating. I want more venues to have this. It gives me an elevated angle, it frames a couple against the room below, and it creates an architectural image that couldn’t exist anywhere else. When I’m shooting there, that staircase is on my shot list every time.

The staff remembers their weddings

This isn’t a photography note. It’s a human one.

When I’m at a venue and chatting with the coordinator between shots, I can usually tell within five minutes whether they love what they do or whether they’re running a transaction. The Olde Wicks Factory staff reference past couples by name. They remember details. That’s not something you train into people — it’s either there or it isn’t.

That energy affects the day. Couples feel it. I feel it. It shows up in the pictures in ways I can’t fully explain but can always see.

It’s one of my favorite venues in the region. If you’re planning a wedding in Metro East Illinois, go tour it. And then call me.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is The Olde Wicks Factory considered a great venue for wedding photography?

The Olde Wicks Factory offers genuine architectural character — exposed brick, original stained glass, timber rafters, brass chandeliers — that creates authentic depth and texture in photographs. The Stained Glass Hall produces moving colored light during ceremonies, the Grand Hall’s spiral staircase provides unique elevated framing, and the Gatsby Room offers warm, intimate light that few venues can match.

What is the Stained Glass Hall at The Olde Wicks Factory?

The Stained Glass Hall is an intimate event space seating up to 150 guests, featuring original stained glass windows that cast colored, moving light throughout the room as the day progresses. It’s particularly notable for ceremony photography, producing images with natural colored light that can’t be replicated artificially.

What is the Gatsby Room at The Olde Wicks Factory?

The Gatsby Room is a lounge and event space featuring warm colors, dark tones, exposed rafters, brass chandeliers, tufted leather seating, and a full bar. It’s often used for cocktail hours, late-night gatherings, or getting-ready spaces, and is one of the most photographically distinctive rooms in the building.

Where is The Olde Wicks Factory located?

The Olde Wicks Factory is located at 1100 5th Street, Highland, IL 62249, in Metro East Illinois approximately 25 miles east of St. Louis.

How can I book MDKauffmann Photography for my Olde Wicks Factory wedding?

You can reach MDKauffmann Photography through the contact form at mdkauffmann.com. Matthew Kauffmann is a Certified Professional Photographer serving Metro East Illinois and the greater St. Louis area.