New Lenox Backyard Wedding of Braden and Ryan

I had such a wonderful time photographing the backyard wedding of Braden and Ryan. When Covid spoiled their plans of a big wedding in Michigan, they pivoted and still got married surrounded by their closest family. It was a beautiful ceremony and really reminded me of the reason why people get married, because they truly love each other. I can’t wait to photograph their vow renewal and reception next year in Michigan and what is even better is now I know their families. Take a look at their day here from their beautiful details to their crying ring bearer. The day was filled with memorable moments.

Illinois Beach Resort Summer Wedding

Meet the Harpers! Sarah and Jessica got married on a cool summer day at the Illinois Beach Resort in Zion. Their day was perfect from having their dog Leah there to Sarah’s Grandma being their flower girl. For their wedding favors they gave s’mores kits and had a big bonfire on the beach to roast them at. It was the perfect day and I am so happy to share some photos from their day!

Thanks to the amazing vendors as well!

Venue - Illinois Beach Resort
Officiant - Ashley Meitzler
Cake - Sweet Discoveries
Flowers - Southern Blooms Co.
Hair/Makeup - Beaute Luxe
Cake Topper - Topper Designer
Place Cards and Table Numbers - Soumyas Designs
Sand Ceremony Set - The Dream Wedding Shop
Second Shooter - Lauryn Schalk

Midwest Rainy Lake House Wedding of Sarah + Margaret

10.7.2017

     Sarah and Margaret had their big day at Sarah's families lake home up in Antioch, Illinois. The day started off rainy as we were getting ready in the hotel but right as we were doing their first look the rain started to clear a bit. As family and friends started pouring in so did the rain. Sarah and Margaret luckily had a rain plan and wed in the tent their reception was going to be in. Thank goodness for backup plans. After they wed the clouds cleared, the sun came out and wind calmed just in time to do some awesome portraits on their pier on the lake. 
    We came back into the tent as the sun began to set and ate a delicious dinner, listened and laughed as the speeches went on and finished it off with delicious cake and cupcakes. I am a sucker for good cupcakes! We finished the night with a few night shots with the lake house and it ended up being one of my favorite images from the entire year.

Venue - Private Residence
Florals - Fairy Godmothers Wedding and Event Design
DJ- Chicago Mobile DJs
Catering - Maravelas
 

Palmer House Hotel & Chicago Symphony Center Wedding of Dan & Rob

Dan and Rob got married on July 1 at the gorgeous Chicago Symphony Center. Before they got married they got ready at the gorgeous Palmer House Hotel. This is also where they took all of the photos with their families and wedding party. What a pretty hotel it is and we really were able to capture some amazing images for them there. We then headed to the Chicago Symphony Center where we got to go on stage for some more photos and it was STUNNING. I had never been on a stage like that before. After that they exchanged their vows in the unique rotunda surrounded by all of their families and loved ones with Rev. Marian Hale. I have had the pleasure of working with her before and she does such a wonderful job! I was most impressed by their AMAZING glittered dancing shoes, hands down the best shoes EVER. After they said their I Do's we headed upstairs to the reception where their room was decorated with gorgeous deep blues. There was a macaroon tower filled with rainbow macaroon and a gorgeous wedding cake. They then danced the night away and ended it by watching the fireworks from the outdoor balcony!

Hotel - Palmer House Hotel
Wedding Venue - Chicago Symphony Center
Catering - Blue Plate Catering
DJ - Harsh Singh
Florist - Flowers for Dreams
Cake - Toni Patisserie/ Marissa Wilger
Harpist - Anette Bjorling
Officiant - Rev. Marian Hale
Second Shooter - Courtney Scheimann

Spring Chicago Courthouse Elopement of Same Sex Couple

I am so happy to share the Chicago Courthouse Wedding images of Jean-Marie & Alyssa. Their families both came to town from acorss the country for the special day on August 4. I have never photographed a weekday courthouse wedding before but must say I was pleasantly surprised with the shortest line ever! We also had one of the nicest Judges I have ever came across there. It was a rare cool August day which was just perfect for being outside, and luckily we just missed the rain. After they wed I had us head up to the top of a chicago parking garage where I had parked and scoped out earlier to get some fun city shots without all the city traffic that is there at ground level. We then headed to Winnemac Park which was a place they had both spent time at and special to them! 

Chicago 31st Street Harbor Engagement Session

I met with Rob and Dan last week at the Chicago 31st Street harbor for their engagement shoot. We had been looking at weather reports of rain all day and were on edge but we decided to go for it and I am so glad we did since we were greeted with gorgeous rainbows in the sky! You can't plan a session with the hope of rainbows but there they were and I don't think it could of been any more perfect! We ended the session with them popping some champaign which was pretty amazing! Then chatting about their upcoming wedding at the Chicago Symphony Center in July and great NPR podcasts. So take a look at some of the highlights of their session bellow.

Oak Park Engagement Photography of Sarah and Margaret

I met with Sarah and Margaret at their place and we headed to downtown Oak Park right around the corner from when they live. We went by Poor Phils, where they had one of their first dates. I had such a great time exploring the area with them and there are so many hidden gems we found along the way. After we finished there we headed out for some Chicago street art in Bucktown and Logans Square. We finished out our session at my favorite spot, South Pond in Chicago. I can't wait for your wedding this October.

The Wit Hotel Winter Wedding of two Grooms

Darius and Suresh got married on December 17, 2016 at the Gorgeous Wit Hotel in Chicago. They had a whirlwind long distance relationship that really came about by chance as Suresh was moving to Chicago from Atlanta. They met at a bar by chance in Atlanta right before Suresh left to the Windy City in 2010. Luckily between many flights back and forth Darius finally joined Suresh in Chicago 18 months later. In 2013 they added Bailey to their family, an adorable cockapoo puppy expanding their family. I even met Bailey during their engagement photo last year. 

Their wedding was gorgeous and they were surrounded by family and friends from all across the country and globe! They had the cutest Chicago gift bags for all of their out of town guests joining them for their wedding. They got ready in a gorgeous suite and then went down to the Chicago riverwalk to take photos. It was a bit slippery but we all managed without a single fall. As we were struggling to walk we see runners running the same icy path, gotta love Chicago dedicated runners.

After that we headed to do family formal photos in their gorgeous suite and and headed to the ceremony at the Wit which was lit by candles. The ceremony was beautiful and included Darius and Suresh walking down the isle with their mothers. After they were wed it was time to party! After they were introduced and had their first dance and cake cut they invited all their guests to the dance floor to kick off the party before dinner. I had never seen this before but it was a huge hit! 

Dinner was delicious and the speeches were heartfelt. Darius sister and best friend from Atlanta toasted them as well as Suresh's little brother and good friend. After all of that it was time to hit the dance floor again. They had an amazing dance floor and I realized I and my second shooter Laura were dancing and singing along while photographing them! Congratulations Darius and Suresh!

The harpist: Nichole Luchs

The officiant: Liz Hoffman

Florist: Phillip's Flowers

Cello and guitar players: Moeller Music

DJ: Scott at Hot Mix Entertainment

Drapes/tableclothes: Studio AG

Hotel/food - The Wit Hotel

Invitations - Minted.com

Tuxedos: Tommy Hilfiger

Second Shooter : Laura Manzano

Gwen Hotel Chicago Wedding of Shaun and Jon

Shaun contacted me with a crazy proposal, He was getting married to his partner of over 20 years in 2 weeks and needed photography and just started planning that week! I of course said yes and was so excited. It was a small intimate affair with their closest friends. They got married in the beautiful Gwen hotel in Chicago in their room suite. The view from their room was spectacular. Shaun and Jon were so kind and their friends were a riot, I can't imagine of a better way to wrap up 2016 weddings then to spend it with them. Shaun suggested at one point if they could jump onto the bed....we tried that and then I asked if the would both be game with getting up on the bed and actually jumping on it....and they agreed, how fun are they? Well enjoy their wedding and their photos!

Venue - The Gwen Hotel

Reception - Mia Francescas

Shinnyo-En Buddhist Wedding and Maggianos Reception of Kean and Jonathan

Kean and Jonathan reached out to me last spring looking for a photographer to capture their big day. Both of them are entrepreneurs and living in Texas but came in Illinois to get married at the Elk Grove Shinnyo-En Temple. This was my first Buddhist wedding and the ceremony was absolutely breathtaking, It was so rich in tradition and culture and so different than any of the other weddings I have had the privilege of photographing before. After tearfully read vows they were pronounced married and shared in a tea ceremony with both of their families. 

After the wedding we headed to Maggianos in Schaumburg for their reception. There they shared their first dance, cut their wedding cake and enjoyed the night surrounded by all of their loved ones some who had traveled from all over the world. 

Congratulations again Jonathan and Kean, It was truly a pleasure photographing your wedding!