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!

Extended Family Photos at South Pond Chicago

Today I want to share with you an extended family session I did after thanksgiving this past year. Robby who lives in Chicago, with his partner Kevin, had contacted me about setting up the shoot for his parents, along with his sister, her husband and their adorable two kids who were in town for the thanksgiving weekend. This was a gift to Robby's parents from him and his sister. What a great gift. We decided on South Pond near Lincoln Park Zoo after discussing a few other options . We captured some with the skyline on the kissing bridge along with some great photos with the tall wild grasses and of course the famous honeycomb. We may of had to bribe the children with some delicious candy but in the end we captured so many great images! I hope they cherish them for years to come and that I see them all again some day.

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

Chicago Lakefront Portrait Session

After seeing the shoot I did with Fransisco and Jon last week Lucy contacted to capture her and her husband Pablo before the head off to Miami in only a week! Luckily I had an opening and we had the best day for our session. We started near the zoo and then walked to the lakefront to get some amazing shots with the skyline. After that we headed back to the south pond area, on of my favorite locations and photographed the gorgeous fall colors there! Enjoy!

South Pond Post Wedding Session

I am so happy to share with you images from my recent shoot with Francisco and Jonathan. I photographed their elegant Chicago wedding this past January and was so excited to catch up with them and photograph their post wedding session. We tried to book this shoot twice before but rain and a heat wave made us move our session back. The third time was the charm and we had the most amazing weather and had South Pond and the Lily Pond practically to ourselves. We ended the shoot and I caught a few shots of them driving away on their scooter. What a perfect ending to our shoot!