Hotel Palomar Wedding

Ryan and Jeff keep it simple.

Their wedding was all at the lovely Hotel Palomar. Ryan and Jeff dressed in their room, and helped each other quite a bit, then we met on the balcony for some portraits in the warm autumn light. The ceremony was held in the hotel where many laughs and tears were shared. We stepped out during the cockail hour to the river to capture downtown Chicago architecture with this artistic couple. We also found some ivy walls to photograph them in front of as the sun set. Did I mention they had a cake on every table?

Congratulations Ryan and Jeff!

Also: see our post on their wedding featured on 4 Real Equality Blog. Click here!

Candlelit Ovation Chicago Wedding

Tessa and Derek had the loveliest wedding

Filled with warm early Spring sunsets and candlelight. They are a sophisticated couple who keeps it simple. No flowers, no bridal party, just two people in love who wanted to get married. Tessa arrived in the Ovation automobile just as the sun set. They were so excited to see each other. We made some photos of them in front of and inside the loft space. Simple and lovely. Ovation was filled with candles and the sunset as they said their vows. Cocktail hour led to dinner which led to lots of conversation and fun with family and friends.

Congratulations Tessa and Derek!

Location: Ovation
Planning: LOLA Event Productions
Catering: Jewell Catering and Events

Winter Indoor & Outdoor Engagement Photos

Alexandra and Patrick had many ideas for this photo session.

First, Lizz photographed them at Debi Lilly loft. The couple ate gummy bears, cuddled in corners, and enjoyed this luxury apartment in the city. Then, Nicole & Lizz went out with the couple on a chilly January day to explore the city. We found an enormous pink engagement ring to photograph them in, and braved Lincoln Park for some snowy pictures.

We are so pleased to have spent some fun times and getting to know Alexandra and Patrick before their wedding day.

Winter Engagement Session

Mariah and Chris wanted a winter engagement session.

Their wedding is to be this summer and they wanted pictures for save the date cards and, well, just for fun! We met up at Morton Arboretum, because even though the leaves had fallen off the trees, they have a beautiful collection of conifers to inspire us. The couple wore cute coats and scarves and even cuter winter sweaters for the photo session. We always appreciate when an outfit can be made different so simply for these types of shoots. We are so excited for their wedding day this summer!

Industrial Ballroom at the Ravenswood Event Center Wedding

Ariana and Ryan had the most emotive wedding day.

Ariana wore her beautiful hair down and surrounded herself with bridesmaids in blue. Ryan kept it cool wearing a patterned tie and stylish shoes. Our day started at the Hotel Palomar where the ladies all got ready in awesome animal print robes. We met up with the men at the Ravenswood Event Center Industrial Ballroom where the ceremony and reception was to take place. We just can’t get enough of The Ravenswood Event Center!

The couple had their first look right behind the space, in the coolest alley in Chicago. Ariana of course climbed a ladder for a cute photo just before the couple saw each other. Everyone was excited for the ceremony to begin, so off we we went! The intimate ceremony ended with everyone singing the classic Beatles tune Here Comes the Sun. (You know Lizz and I joined in to sing while photographing!)

The tables were decorated with yummy smelling herbs, glasses were filled and raised and then dancing began! The couple and their friends had so much fun together and, well, we have the pictures to prove it.

Congratulations to Ariana and Ryan!

Vendors who made this day awesome:
Ravenswood Event Center Industrial Ballroom
Hotel Palomar
Anna Held Florist
Salon V Hair & Makeup

New Editorial Features

We are so pleased to have had some editorial features!

The Knot Chicago featured Kyle & Todd’s unique wedding in their Spring/Summer 2015 issue! You can see our blog post here for more images and information about their wedding.

We are also so proud that Ryan & Jeff’s lovely wedding was featured on 4 Real Equality Weddings blog! Please view the post from 4 Real Equality here.

Luminous Ravenswood Event Center Wedding

Beth and Matt’s wedding was gifted with beautiful light.

You may remember Beth and Matt from the engagement session we did with them in the summer. We just couldn’t wait for their wedding day. The couple handmade and personalized many decor items, including a wall of cones made from maps, a wooden display for family photos and a pinning map for guests to encourage the couple to travel. Their day began at the JW Marriott where we had beautiful light while Beth dressed in the luxurious bathroom. The couple had their first look right on LaSalle Street and from there we went to Lincoln Park to make some photos. Beth was unfazed by crickets, even mating ones, jumping on her dress. Then it was off to Ravenswood Event Center for the ceremony and reception.  The couple had guests hold candles during the ceremony, a casual dinner and lots and lots of dancing planned for the evening. We just had to spend a little time doing a goodnight photo session with them. We walked to the front entrance to do an artistic photo of Beth descending the staircase to Matt and the couple loved dancing in the empty neon lit hallway.

Congratulations Beth & Matt

Vendors who made this wedding lovely:

Venue: Ravenswood Event Center
Photography: Studio Starling
Event Planning: LOLA Event Productions
Hair & Makeup: Sonia Roselli
Flowers: LOLA Event Productions
Cupcakes: More Cupcakes
Music: Mary Monica Music
Hotel: JW Marriott

Black Tie Michigan Shores Club Wedding

Kate and William dreamed up the perfect elegant wedding.

Michigan Shores Club, black tie, formal and much merriment. They both were dressed at family homes on the North Shore and then driven to Saint Xavier church in Wilmette for the ceremony. They made a stunning flower petal exit. We were thrilled to be able to walk to the beach from the Club for some photos at the lake with the couple and their bridal party just as the sun was setting. The guests had fun wearing sunglasses the couple provided and the dance floor was filled all night. A great day for a wonderful couple.
Vendors who made this wedding beautiful:

Ceremony Venue: Saint Francis Xavier Church
Reception Venue: Michigan Shores Club
Photography: Studio Starling
Coordination: LOLA Event Productions
Flowers: Cornelia McNamara Flowers
Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Jaycie
Reception Music: Maggie Speaks

2014 In Review

2014 has been a blast!

We had the opportunity to share in the wedding days of some wonderful couples and their families. This is a round up of images we take of each other during weddings. Sometimes we are testing the light and our cameras and sometimes hilarious things happen in front of our cameras of each other that we just have to capture them.

Thank you to all the wonderful couples we worked with in 2014. Here’s to a fabulous 2015 and all the new adventures we will have!!!

Lizz instructing a couple to make out in a phone booth.

And of course we had to try the shot too!

Nicole waiting for the ceremony to begin at Gallery 1028.

Lizz waiting for a ceremony at the University Club.

Sometimes a silly face is the best face.

Lizz loves it when Nicole goes in for the shot!

Lizz will lie in the sand and work her core for the shot.

Or the grass…

Pretty!

Lizz, and me as Vivian Maier.

Nicole is still smiling after a long day!

Winter in the Lurie garden.

Lizz and Nicole in a rare photo together checking out a new venue on the NorthShore.

Salvage One Wedding

Rachel and Tristan are simply adorable.

It was a pleasure to photograph their Salvage One wedding this year. We began our day with Sonia Roselli’s team at the Thompson Hotel which was full of ladies getting ready. We steered Rachel to the balcony where she could relax, take a breath and pose for some pretty pictures. She met her groom for the first time that day in the lobby, where they both shed tears and were so excited for their day.

We drove to North Avenue Beach on this perfect day to make photographs then went to Salvage One for more photos and to get ready for the ceremony. There, Lola Event Productions, Cornelia McNamara Flowers and Elysia Root Cakes had the place looking gorgeous. Everyone filled the dance floor with the sounds from Mary Monica Music. Of course, we stole a last moment with the couple outside by the iconic Chicago sign.

A dream come true day for a truly magical couple!