We started out at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers with Bethany on this sunny but chilly day. The atmosphere was hurried all around Bethany as the preparations for the day were underway. Yet Bethany was calm, focused and ready to marry the love of her life!!

As I mentioned earlier-it was a chilly day, and the women all braved the cold for the photo session without complaint!! Luckily they had shawls to help keep them warm.

I LOVE the photo of Bethany on the bench at the bus stop. She looks like a model posing as a bride. If you look at the other people in that photo-you’ll see how many layers of clothes they are wearing. This will give perspective as to just how cold it was that day.

We met up with the guys at Holy Name Cathedral. WOW…This is an impressive church to say the very least.

After the ceremony we got on the party bus and headed back to the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers for a fun and rowdy party. The band was amazing and had most everyone of all ages on their feet dancing for hours.

We wish these two all the best in their new lives together!!

This day was a beautiful spring day with almost perfect weather for Jimmy & Stefani.

The ceremony was held at the St. Sophia Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It was fun to watch the crowns being placed over the heads and the candles being lit. I love learning about, and capturing the different types of ceremonies we witness!

Afterwards, we headed out to a park in Arlington Heights for some fun photos with the bridal party! As you can see from the photos-the day was filled with love, laughter and smiles.

The reception was held in Schaumburg at The Hyatt Regency Woodfield. Great day. Great ceremony. Great reception. Fun, fun, fun…

We wish them all the best : )

This wedding day started with meeting the women at Hotel Blake in downtown Chicago. What a beautiful day, and filled with lots of love and laughter. I love the images of her getting dressed as she is surrounded by her sister, mom and grandmother. All the generations of women helping out Shawn as she embarked on her new venture in life.

The ceremony was held at La Salle Street Church, and afterwards we headed to Millennium Park for portraits with just the two of them. Finally we headed to Little Italy for the reception at Francesca’s on Taylor. Fun story about them-they both are from around here and both went to the same well known out of state university. They had the same major, mutual friends and never met until after they moved back home after graduation. How’s that for a small world!

We wish them all the best!

We started in the early afternoon on a beautiful fall day at the Marriott Downtown on the Magnificent Mile.
There were so many wonderful moments while she was getting ready, the laughter and high energy were contagious!

Once they were all ready we hopped into their transport bus, and headed to St. James Chapel for the ceremony. On the way she was serenaded by her friends with a rousing version of ‘Going to the Chapel’.

After the ceremony we went to Millennium Park. While we were taking the photos of Kristen and her bridesmaids a guy walked up to congratulate her, and asked to have his picture taken with the pretty bride. This request happens all the time, and I usually steer them away from the bystanders, but they agreed to take a photo with this guy. It was a hoot, and the women all had varying reactions to the request- as you can see in their faces and body language : )

We hopped back onto the bus for a quick trip to the Kinzie street bridge for a few more photos. Then it was party time! The reception was held at the Carpenters Union Ballroom on Erie Street. What a very fun night!

A New Years Eve Wedding!

It was a blast shooting their wedding on this particular holiday. Not only were the guests excited to witness the nuptials, but they also got to attend a fabulous party with a big countdown at midnight. Sometimes at evening receptions, the excitement wears down, and the crowd thins out as it gets closer to midnight-but not at this reception. Everyone, I mean everyone was crowded on the dance floor moments before midnight-even a handful a wedding crashers!!

The balloons dropped down at midnight and the crowd went wild!

We started the day at the Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church in Palatine just before dusk. We had a wee bit of time for some outdoor portraits of the two of them before the start of the ceremony.

The ceremony was candlelit only. This was hands down the darkest ceremony we have ever photographed. They wanted the photos to reflect the mood, and look of the actual ceremony-hence no flash unless absolutely necessary.
That’s why there is movement, grain and warmer tones in the images of the ceremony. One of my favorites is the second one down. I just love the combo of the stillness-especially her dad, and the movement of the people around him. Just love it.

The reception was held in Palatine at Hotel Indigo. It was a perfect place for the last party of the decade!

We wish them all the best.