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!
Hickory Creek Forest Preserve wedding in Mokena and DIY wedding of Jessica + Sara
Jessica and Sara got married on October 2, 2016 at Hickory Creek Forest Preserve in Mokena. From arriving at Jessica's parents home where they were both getting ready it was evident at how much work they put into all the details of their wedding. One of my favorite details was all the plates they had sourced from multiple thrift and vintage shops. It was just stunning! All of the florals were also done by them including the gorgeous fabric and burlap bridal bouquet. I could not believe she made it herself nor have I seen such a unique bouquet before. Also her father is a baker and made the wedding cake along with cookies, and other goodies. They told me to help myself and I must say I did (who doesn't love cookies) and they were amazing! If you are looking for a great baker check out her dad's bakery called Iversen's Bakery in Blue Island. You will not be disappointed. Instead of a guest signing book they had rocks that everyone signed that I thought was very unique. Well enjoy the images from their special day!
Bakery - Iversen's Bakery
Catering - Bartolinis
The Abbey Resort Wedding in Lake Geneva Wisconsin of Brett and Todd
I was so excited to photograph the wedding of Todd and Brett. When they first contacted me Brett and me instantly hit it off since we actually went to the same college, Harrington College of Design and we shared a mutual hate of cilantro! They got married at the gorgeous Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva Wisconsin on September 4, 2016 surrounded by family and friends and we had the most perfect day for their wedding. They got married with the boats and lake in the background under a beautiful gazebo. So take a peak at their wedding!
Venue - The Abbey Resort
Suits Burberry
Shoes Ted Baker
Ties & Pocket squares - Amazon
Emily & Catrinas dresses - Alfred Sung by way of Bella Bridesmaid in Chicago
Flowers Joanne Leach - Tattered Leaf Designs
Cake Christine LaSorda - A Bakers Tale
Officiant - Jason Gold
DJ Nate - Sound by Design
Second Shooter- Courtney Scheimann
The Crown at the Tribune Tower Wedding
I met Jeremy and Lewis and learned all about their love of Disney and how they had met while working there in the college program. They were so fun to work with. They celebrated surrounded by family and friends. I arrived to them getting ready at the Gwen Hotel, then we walked though the mall to get to the Tribune photographing them along the way. They got married on the top of the GORGEOUS Crown at the Tribune Tower in Chicago. I just love Chicago weddings! Enjoy the images from their day!
Wedding Planner - The Miracle Brothers Event Specialists
Venue - The Crown at the Tribune Tower and Howells & Hood
Flowers - Flowers for Dreams
Cupcakes - Molly's Cupcake
Quartet- Innocenti Quartet
Officiant - Dr. Rebecca Armstrong
Silver Lake Country Club Orland Park Wedding of Zuri and Alex
I had met Zuri and Alex while photographing their family members wedding (Liz and Jesse) the year before. I was so excited when they contacted me to then photograph their wedding! Zuri and Alex have been together for quite some time and their love of their dogs was evident throughout the day. We included the dogs in their engagement photos so it was only fitting they got to have some photos with their mom and dad on the big day. Zuri and Alex started the day of getting ready and their parents houses, then we went to Our Lady of Charity in Cicero for them to get married it. The dogs came right after the ceremony so they could get their photos taken and then we were off to their Reception at Silver Lake Country club in Orland Park. Silver Lake is one of my favorite country clubs to shoot at, they have such beautiful flowers and foliage throughout and at night there are twinkle light everywhere! The party kicked off with a full Mariachi band who played throughout dinner. It was such a wonderful wedding and Alex and Zuri spent it with those who they loved all by their side! Enjoy the images from their wedding!
Church - Our Lady of Charity Reception - Silver Lake Country Club Cake- Creative Cakes Florist - Gala Floral Designs Hair and Makeup - Crystal Eyez DJ - Matthew Ontiveros Second Shooter - Courtney Scheimann
Northfork Farm Wedding
When Lisa contacted me about doing her wedding I was thrilled. She herself is a photographer so the pressure was on to really give her the most amazing wedding images which I think we did. Her and Aaron were just so in love. During the ceremony letters they had written each other were read by the officiant unknown to them. Their wedding was at Northforks farm in Oswego which was the perfect rustic setting with all of their gold accents throughout. Aaron and Lisa performed a thank you rap for all of their guests to start of the reception which was a huge hit. Did I mention that they had a bouncy house at their wedding! That was a blast, I was so excited to get in there with them for some awesome portraits. They finished the night off with a sparkler exit. Enjoy the photos from their day!
Venue - Northforks Farm
Videographer - Alan Whitney
Cake and Treats - The Sugar Path
Caketopper - Plasticsmith
Florist - Rachel Buster-Dorsey
Bouncy House - The Bouncy Store
Brides Makeup and Hair - Nina Trader
Second Shooter - Laura Manzano
Oak Brook Bath and Tennis Club Wedding
I was so happy to photograph Nicole and Sebastian's wedding on June 18th this summer at The Oak Brook Bath and Tennis Club. I knew that they were a sweet couple from working with them at their engagement shoot but all of their friends and family were amazing as well. It's not often you have a member or the wedding party worried if you and you second photographer need water. The energy of the whole group was infectious and stories of the nights before dip in the pond had us all cracking up.
Sebastian and Nicole first got ready at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort which had the most amazing light and location for their photos before the ceremony. Nicole's dress was a gorgeous lace gown paired with adorable ballet flats.
After getting ready they decided to do a first look with not only her husband to be, but also her dad, there wasn't a dry eye anywhere and this daddy loved his little girl.
The ceremony was outside and just beautiful right in front of the lake. After that it was time to head inside to the reception and dance the night away! Enjoy the images from their wedding!
Ceremony Venue - Oak Brook Bath and Tennis
Flowers - Roselle Flowers
Cake - Courageous Bakery
DJ - Admit One
Lighting - MDM Entertainment
Catering - Tasty Catering
Getting Ready -
Makeup - Evelyn Najera Beauty
Second Shooter - Courtney Scheimann
Chicago Osteria Via Stato Wedding of Tracy + Aileen
I was so excited to meet Tracy and Aileen a few months ago when they contacted me asking me about photographing their big day. We talked all about their love of family and friends and how they really wanted to treat them to amazing meal at the Osteria Via Stato and I must say it was some of the most delicious Italian food I have ever eaten. They had handmade guest name tags on spools of thread that were adorable. The cake they decided on was three different flavors and was decorated with the Chicago skyline around the base from The West Town Bakery. It was the most delicious cake and the only bakery and Chicago that promises completley nut allergy free. Their ceremony was beautiful and started with their nephew playing the violin as the flower girls, Tracy and Aileen walked in. It also included them locking letters to each other into a wine box. I had never seen that before and thought it was a nice touch. Please enjoy the images from their beautiful day.
Venue - Osteria Via Stato
Dresses - Miss Pamelas
Rings - Wyatt Austin
Florist - Cut Floral Design
Cake - West Town Bakery
Minister - Reverand Marian Hale
Mayslake Peabody Estate Wedding of Eric + Summer
We could of not asked for a better day for Summer and Eric's wedding in Oak Brook at Mayslake Peabody Estate on April 23. It was unseasonably warm, and so sunny I even got a sunburn OUCH! Only in Chicago do we get weather so crazy.
Summer wore a gorgeous gown that fit her style to a T and some fabulous gold wedges. While all their girls wore grey gowns and heels. Her youngest, Avery, could really walk in her shoes and I was impressed, at 10, well who am I kidding, even now I still can't walk in any heels! Allium Floral Design provided the flowers which were amazing, all the girls flowers fit with the day just perfectly.
Mayslake was just beautiful and all the trees were finally in bloom. Eric and Summer were so fun to photograph, they are both pretty silly and and even made some silly faces at me during the ceremony.
Their kids along with Summer and Eric's friends Brian and Eve Johnson played and sang "Hey Ho" By the Lumineers while Summer's oldest daughter played the ukulele after the were married. Summer and Eric looked so happy looking on at their 5 kids playing for them. They sounded amazing too.
After that it was time for family photos and pictures of the happy couple. The grounds of the estate were so pretty and gave us so many options, I could of photographed them there all day but they wanted to get to the party at Clara's and I don't blame them, stuffed mushrooms, YES please!
Mayslake Peabody Estate - Oakbrook IL
1717 W 31st St, Oak Brook, IL · (630) 850-2363
Clara's - Woodridge IL
6740 State Route 53, Woodridge, IL
Allium Floral Design
Allium
Traci Imbrogno - Makeup
630-835-7798
Jenny Menolascino - Hair
708-415-5763
Chicago Gay Wedding at the Wyndham on Wacker Drive
Some weddings just really show how in love a couple truly is and reminds you of what marriage should be. This was the case with Jon and Francisco, seeing how truly happy they make each other and how they always bring smiles to each others faces. They got married at The Grand Wyndham in downtown Chicago which is a stunning venue. The views from their reception room were just out of this world! So take a look at their gorgeous wedding!
Venue-Grand Wyndham Chicago
Flowers-Flowers for Dreams
String Quartet-Cloud Gate Quartet
Desserts-Bittersweet Bakery
Photo Booth- The Traveling Photo booth
Second Photographer-Ania Scheiman