Chicago Wedding and Elopement Photographer

City View Loft Wedding: Rachel + Ben 7/22/17

January 21, 2018

It is always fun when you walk into the brides getting ready room to see familiar faces! I met Rachel via Ronit who was a previous BBP bride and a bridesmaid for Rachel. So when I arrived at the hotel it was like walking to a room of friends! The girls were busy getting dolled up and my second shooter Renae went to hang out with the guys until their First Look.

Rachel met Ben on the mezzanine overlooking the gorgeous lobby of the Palmer House hotel. After a lovely first look moment we headed out on the bus for some photos at Olive Park with the skyline and a quick stop at LaSalle Bridge before heading to the venue. As guests starting arriving Rachel and Ben were joined by their families and wedding party for their Ketbuah signing. A lovely ceremony full of tears and laughs followed as they said their I do’s.

Post ceremony guests were treated to cocktail hour and then headed up to the reception space that has amazing views of the city skyline. They toasted the newlyweds as the sunset over the city and danced the night away!

Congratulations to the newlyweds and thank you for letting me capture your day! Here are a few (okay a lot ) of my favorites!

Ceremony Venue: Kitchen Chicago

Reception Venue: City View Loft

Wedding Planner : An Affair to Remember

Getting Ready Hotel : Palmer House

Florist : Juliet Tan Floral Design

DJ: Okyne Media Lab

Catering : LM Catering

Invitations: Minted.com

Hair & Makeup: Pin Me Up Chicago

Cake: Vanille

Rabbi : Jodi Kornfeld

Bridal Gown : Diana’s Bridal

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Venue One North Shore Wedding: Katherine + Jude 7/15/17

January 2, 2018

Meet Katherine & Jude! I was so excited to work with them from the moment I first met them for coffee. Not only did I get to work with a dream team of vendor friends, but both the bride and groom, their wedding party and families were a delight from start to finish.

My excitement only grew when we did the walk through at the new Venue One North Shore. It’s such a big modern space that can be shaped in so many ways. I loved that they weren’t afraid of using bright colors as it seemed fitting for their warm July day. Thankfully we had good weather as I had scouted out a lakeside photo location that I was dying to shoot at and finally got to!

Below are some of my favorites from Katherine and Jude’s day. Thank you again for letting me be a part of your wedding day!

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Venue One North Shore

Wedding Planners: Five Grain Events

Flowers: Steve’s Flower Market

Hair & Makeup: Theodora Bourikas / Flawless Beauty :Christina and Andrea

DJ: Toast & Jam

Invitations: Minted.com

Cake: Three Tarts Bakery

Videographer: Smiling Toad Productions

Officiant: Rev. Alan Taylor

Bridal Gown : Amsale from Nordstrom’s

Second Photographer: Brianne Bradbury Lee

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Chicago Sports Museum Wedding: Jackie + Brian 5/27/17

November 7, 2017

To say I’ve been excited about this wedding for awhile would be a giant understatement. I was there when Brian proposed back in January of last year, lurking nearby trying not to let Jackie see me. We’d met a couple times through mutual friends, so I was terrified she’d spot me even though I had on like 25 layers of clothing since it was so cold! Obviously she said yes and I was thrilled when they asked to shoot their wedding as well. So yah…. definite excitement!

I met up with the ladies as they were getting ready downtown at the Omni where the ceremony was going to be held. I’ve shot a lot of weddings and this group was so relaxed and chill, which always makes for a fun day! After a few pre ceremony photos it was time for the “I do’s!” I knew if Brian cried that I would cry. I cried. I hid behind my camera.

From there we headed a few blocks away to a park for some photos. And in true Chicago fashion Jackie hailed a cab in her wedding dress to get us there! Since we were right off Michigan Ave some middle of street shots were in order. We even snuck back out later for some night shots which are my favorite!

And then it was off to the Chicago Sports Museum for the reception! This is a newer venue downtown and such a cool space. While the guest were at cocktail hour they got to check out all the Chicago sports memorabilia, see if they could jump as high as Jordan and several other fun interactive games. The reception room is decked out with jerseys and even a basketball hoop!

The dance floor was rocking all night! And the Tamale Guy even made an appearance!! (Only the Chicago people will understand the excitement of the Tamale Guy showing up. Basically he roams around bars with a cooler full of homemade tamales that are delicious. Seeing him walk in when you’ve had a couple drinks is basically the best thing ever. No one knows his name. He’s just “The Tamale Guy”)

Congrats again to Jackie & Brian! Here are some highlights!

Ceremony Venue: Omni

Reception Venue: Chicago Sports Museum

Wedding Planner: Urban Allure Events

Flowers: Mariano’s

DJ: Brad Mamo

Hair & Makeup : Fab Faces

Wedding Dress: Eleganza Gallery

Cake: Oak Mill Bakery