Mayslake Peabody Estate and Crystal Grand Banquet Wedding
There are so many personalized details from Karen and Justin's wedding I don't even know where to start. From the bouquet charms to the flask garter with their name, every item hold a special meaning to the couple. One of my favorite part of the day to photograph is the getting ready including the accessory shots. When I saw Karen's collection of personalized items I could not not contain my excitement. I think the getting ready image is an essential part of the wedding story. It provide a nice transition into the main event. Also there are so many great emotional moments to be captured during this time.
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This is my second wedding at the Mayslake Peabody Estate . This time I had the privilege of working with the nicest officiant Pam from Rev for Whatev. Haha, with a name like that you know she is laid back and fun to work with. The historic chapel of Mayslake and main estate provided a dreamy backdrop to the ceremony. The venue also have great shabby chic vintage interior plus outdoor space with mature trees. The whole place looks like the set up from a movie set and I can't believe it located right here in Oak Brook. Sorry Justin, I love a teary eyed groom too much not to share the moment you saw your bride.
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It's so cool that the bride and groom got a school bus to take the guests to the reception at the Crystal Grand Banquet of Lemont. I didn't even know you can rent a school bus! I must say this is a premium looking bus. It just looked shinier than the ones I took to school years ago. The lighting of the day was perfect so we were able to step out and grabbed a few more portraits during dinner. After that? Hours of dancing with music provided by Windy City Mix DJ service until the sparkler grand exit.
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Public Landing Lockport Wedding
I have a soft spot for small weddings because I love the warm fuzzy feeling of an intimate event. Everything about Tim and Jenni's wedding is about the close circle of families and friends starting with their attendance at the Wayside Chapel at Palos Park. It is one of the most charming little church I have been to and only seat up to 72 which was the perfect size. The ground was breath taking with secret garden feel pathways and mature trees. Unfortunately it started raining right after the ceremony and we could not do many portraits there. However the sun peaked through once we got to the reception site of the Public Landing of Lockport. Lucky for us the Public Landing is located in a beautiful historic building and had an elegant court yard which was perfect for wedding portraits. I could not be happier with the outcome. The advantage of a small wedding party is that we get to relax and just have fun. We do not need to spend much time looking for people, trying to keep group together, or trying to get everyone to look at the camera with open eyes. The expressions captured are more genuine and I get to spend more time on the bride/groom photos. I bet you can not tell these images were taken at one of the hottest days of the year with very very very high humidity. Tim and Jenni simply looked so happy.
We cooled off immediately once we got inside the upstairs loft with wood beam ceilings and brick walls. This place is definitely not your typical banquet hall. It was actually the former Gaylord building back in 1877. A guest was so sweet to hand me an ice water to whom I am still grateful for til this day. Everyone was greeted with classic wedding tunes from Affordable Soundz DJ and the Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Scallops being passed around were to die for. The party was kicked off with tearful speeches and a special first dance song from the grandmother's youth. The father of the bride was one of the most memorable dads I have met. He was so full of love and did not hold back on showing it. There were kisses flying around all night and it was such a great sight to see. I feel emotions are magnified with a small group. All the guests had a chance to chat with the newlywed instead of just saying congratulations. I feel like Tim and Jenni truly got a chance to enjoyed their families and shared the day with them.
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Naperville Noah's Event Venue Wedding
Ashely and Will celebrated their union in style at Noah's Banquet with many personal touches. Thanks to their wedding coordinator Bernie Lynn from Ruby Brown Stone Events , no detail was over looked. Although the original outdoor ceremony plan was rained out but that did not dilute any of the spirit for the day. The ceremony was heartfelt, the speeches were memorable, and the entertainment provided by Do It All Entertainment is one of a kind experience. Ashely looked like a queen in her airy gown and Will was styling in his light gray tux with black lapel. Ooh, and did I mention the convertible bridesmaid dresses? It is the only dress you need for all different body types and personal styles. Convertible bridesmaid dresses is a great solution if you have many girls in the wedding party. In addition to these moments I captured, the couple also had a fun photo booth from Million Dollar Moments to capture the silly sides of their guests. The printed images were then used as the guest book. Another great idea for my future brides and grooms!
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