Jesse + Liz Married
Jesse and Liz's wedding was a pretty amazing day. The rain decided to hold out till we were all under the tent for the reception and it was nice and cool instead of sweltering like June weddings can sometimes be. Liz was radiant in her gown, a lace fit and flare number while Jesse was dapper in his suit complete with bow-tie. Their two children Mateo and Isaac were also dressed to the occasion and walked Liz down the aisle to meet their dad at the altar. Well Mateo walked her down and Isaac wasn't quite as sure. It was adorable to say the least.
After the ceremony we headed to the Worth Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for family photos and photos of Liz and Jesse together. I was in love with the backdrop we had for their photos. I have also never taken such a large family photo, so I am happy we had ample space to make that happen for them! Jesse and Liz both come from large families and we had the largest group at the whole park.
The night ended with the reception in Liz's sister's backyard. They had so much food, music and laughter. The night ended with Jesse being thrown up in the air by his friends, something I have never witnessed first hand. It was amazing and a beautiful day, congratulations Jesse and Liz!
Hair and Makeup - Javier Nieto
Flowers - Grapevine
Dress - Eva's Bridal in Oak Lawn
Ceremony - St.Patricias
Catering- La Casa Samuel
Cake - Bombon
DJ - Alex Perez
Jenny + Ian Married
I was so happy when Ian reached out to me about photographing his wedding last year. I have known Ian since high school so I was especially excited to photograph their big day. Ian and Jenny are the most amazing couple. You can see just how in love with each other they are once you meet them. They have an adorable son named Elliot who is their pride and joy and who I have been able to photograph during their engagement shoot and of course their wedding.
Their wedding was amazing and their party bus was filled of sing-a-longs and beers. The soundtrack to their wedding included such fine bands as Backstreet Boys, Aaron Carter, and Spice Girls, what more could one want in the music of their day.
Hair- Tamara Makeup – www.tamaramakeup.com
Makeup- Gabrielle Kalnins – O’Hara and Friends Salon
https://www.facebook.com/OHaraAndFriendsSalon
Wedding Venue- Stony Creek Golf Course-http://www.golfstonycreek.com
Reception Venue- Holiday Banquet Hall - www.holidaybanquets.com
DJ – Nick Vera - http://impulseentertainmentdjs.com-
Videographer – Josh Siegers - http://jksproductions.com/
Photobooth – Big Hugs Photobooth- www.bighugsphotobooth.com
Cupcakes/Cake – Naples Bakery - www.naplesbakery.com
Second Shooter- Courtney Scheimann
Same-Sex Brookfield Zoo Wedding
I had the pleasure of photographing Dave and Paul's gorgeous zoo wedding this weekend! What a gorgeous setting for a wedding and no one could of asked for a more perfect day. The weather was amazing, not too hot, not too cold, just right! Their ceremony and reception were filled of laughter and joy. One of the readings from their ceremony you can read bellow their images and was just the most amazing lyrics from a song sang in the musical "Catch Me if You Can". They had delicious signature drinks at the cocktail hour with the giraffes, followed by an awesome reception with some amazing musical choices for the dance floor. If you have never heard Downtown and Mrs.Miller, listen to it....you are in for a serious treat!
A Special thanks to the Officiant, DJ Benson, the couples great friend"She really made it personal and gave us a chance to turn around and take in the crowd. It was a breathtaking moment." said Dave
The venue for the wedding was the gorgeous Brookfield Zoo
The DJ was their friend's brother Jeff Beilfuss
The flowers were by Bride's Choice Wedding Flowers in Lisle. Mary Kenny was the flower designer.
Invites were through WeddingPaperDivas.com.
The cake came from Lezza Bakery in Bellwood which Brooke did.
The suits were through Formally Modern Tuxedo in Countryside. http://www.formallymodern.com/ Carmelo helped them in particular
Also a huge thanks to Ania Scheiman for being my amazing second shooter for the day!
I've seen the seven wonders
if you give or take a few
But all them seven wonders
well they can't compare to you
I've been a lot of places
Yes I've traveled near and far
But now I know that home is where you are
Niagara Falls a leaky faucet that a plumber oughta fix
The Pyramids are really just a dusty pile of bricks
The Taj Mahal a fixer upper
The Grand Canyon just a hole
The Grand Canal in Venice an Italian toilet bowl
I've seen the seven wonders
if you give or take a few
But all them seven wonders
well they can't compare to you
I've been a lot of places
Yes I've traveled near and far
But now I know that home is where you are
The Aurora Borealis just a night light on the fritz
And Stonehenge it's just a bunch of rocks
La Brea's tars the pits
I've seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa it looks like somethin' up and broke
Mount Rushmore someone climb up there and tell them boys a joke
Yes my travellin days are over
You get the check I'll pay the bill
Cause I see all the wonder in your eyes
Just standin' still.
I've been a lot of places
But I've learned now near and far
There's no need to roam
Cause home is where you are
There's no need to roam
cause home is where you are
yes now I know that home is where you are.
Paul + Dave
I am excited to introduce you to Paul and Dave, I had the pleasure of photographing them at the Brookfield Zoo a few weekends ago and have the honor of photographing their wedding this weekend at the Brookfield Zoo.
Paul and Dave met while they were both out with friends the night before Thanksgiving in 2000. They started talking early in the night and before they knew it, it was last call.
During the weekend, we like to shop, play games with friends and family (especially mah jongg) and go up to the place they share with family in Michigan.
Dave grew up in Elmhurst and went to Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. Paul grew up in Deerfield and went to Brandeis University in Boston. Dave can easily find his way around the western suburbs but gets lost up north. Paul can find his way easily around the northern suburbs but gets lost out west. That's why they say they are so perfect for each other. And they have a cat named Delilah.
Ian + Jenny
I have know Ian for years so I was really excited when he messaged me to inquire about me photographing their upcoming wedding this fall. We met at the Naperville riverwalk and they braved the cold so we could get them some great engagement shots and some pictures of them with their adorable son as well!
Joseph + Christine Expecting
I had a call from Joe a few weeks ago very excited to inquire about a shoot for him and his wife and high-school sweet-heart who are expecting a baby girl in early 2015! When I got there Christine greeted me at the door and was just so excited about the shoot as Joe was! There is nothing more I love when both of my subjects are just as into taking photos as I am in taking them! We had such a blast together and got some beautiful images of her perfect baby bump! I can't wait to meet the baby when she comes in a few months! I am sure she will be just as photogenic as her parents!
Chicago G&L Bar and Montrose Beach Winter Engagement Session
Jennifer and Bob started dating two years ago, in December 2012. They met at G&L the year before as the bar was his regular dive bar hangout and it was the hangout for one of my girlfriends, Kimberly Arndt, as well. This is why we started our shoot at that very bar. They would hang out and be drinking friends at the bar,until one night when they realized there was a connection beyond friends and the rest was history. They got engaged on September 20th in Paris on the Love Lock bridge after a day of bike riding and sightseeing in the city. Does it even get more romantic that that?
Joliet Patrick Haley Mansion Fall Wedding
I met with Matt and Candice last winter to talk to them about their fall wedding they were planning in one of the most gorgeous venues I have been to. It was a really warm October day, unseasonably warm, which was just perfect. Rain was in the forecast but it held off just long enough so they were able to get married outside as they had planned. As Candice and Matt read their vows there was not a dry eye in the entire place. They were surrounded by their loved ones on their special day and we even made the rain work for some fun shots outside! Congratulations Matt and Candice!!!
Naperville Riverwalk Engagement Session
I met with Matt and Candice exactly one month after their wedding to do their post wedding couple shoot. We met in Naperville on the riverwalk and also went through some of the alleys to get some more urban images so they had a nice mix of images to decorate their walls of their new place with. Although I may need to see them again soon since they are getting a 4 legged new member of the family and he will want to be on the walls too! Enjoy your images!!
Graue Mill Oak Brook Engagement and Family Session
I had met Liz and Jesse through Bella Life photography a few years ago when her youngest was just a baby! When she had emailed me to inquire about wedding photography I was excited to meet her and talk about her awesome wedding since I hadn't seen her in a few years.
We decided on Graue Mill in Oak Brook for our location and then she and the family braved the cold for an awesome shoot with the most gorgeous light you could imagine. While it wasn't the warmest day I hope you can feel a little bit of the warmth she has within her beautiful family! Can't wait till your wedding!!
