Tag: destination wedding photographer

It’s about time we made it back to Chicago! Karl and I used to visit several times a year when we lived in Michigan, but it’s a bit more off our beaten path these days. (In fact, we spent one of our first ever days together wandering around Chicago.) Thanks to Becky and Alex we were able to spend a long weekend enjoying the city, hanging out with their super nice family and friends, and photographing their extraordinary wedding. See some of their engagement photos here.

We were fortunate to stay at The James, just a block off of Michigan Avenue, where the wedding took place. If you’re looking for a downtown hotel I absolutely recommend The James- we had a fabulous stay! Our Friday morning involved filling fifteen massive balloons and eating some delicious croissant paninis. Not a bad way to kick off a wedding day if you ask me! Plus, carrying all of the filled balloons (to be used for photos later in the day) a few blocks to the hotel and up the elevator proved to be pretty comical.

A vintage Rolls Royce drove Alex and then Becky to their first sight at Washington Square Park. (The same park where they once had a snowball fight on a date.) It now has to be one of our all-time favorite first sights. The anxious and excited looks on their faces, the dress and the tuxedo, the beautiful park… the whole scene was just classic. The vintage car was the icing on the cake and complemented the moment perfectly. After that we headed to Millennium Park. When Becky and Alex stood underneath The Bean a crowd circled around them and cheered when they kissed! The wedding party joined us there for some fun with balloons. From there it was on to the church for the ceremony. Since we shoot mainly outdoor ceremonies in SWFL it was such a treat to shoot in a big, old, beautiful church!

Once the bride and groom were officially married the group headed back to The James for a stylish and modern reception. The space was really neat, from a room-sized chalk line drawing of the Chicago skyline to one of the most beautiful cakes we’ve seen yet. The dance floor stayed packed all night and the fotobooth kept both the kids and adults entertained. Mr. and Mrs. Hahn, we were honored to be a part of your wedding weekend. Thank you so much for having us, and congratulations!

Venue: The James Chicago | Dress: Amsale through Boca Raton Bridal| Wedding Planner: Tara with Lola Event Productions | Cake: Amy Beck Cake Design | Florals: Asrai Garden | DJ: Style Matters

See at the flower girls in the window waiting for the bride?

That’s our friends Natalie and Jordan, and they’re expecting their baby girl Greta in less than two months now!!

They picked an amazing church where three popes are interred, and where Pope John Paul’s skull is on display (or so it’s believed.) After the ceremony we photographed out in the church’s courtyard where the priest had purchased columns and broken tombstones from an old cemetery. The orange walls provided a vivid backdrop for portraits.

We then headed off the to the Trevi Fountain to capture a family photo. The crowds were intense, yet I had to clear a space for a group shot. Luckily, once onlookers see a bride and groom, they usually make room.

Capturing the Colossium just as the sun set and the evening lights began to glow made for one of my favorite shots of the day.

The reception dinner was absolutely the best meal I’ve ever eaten: seven courses of heaven.

By 1:30 in the morning we made our way to the Spanish Steps for a closing shot.

Congrats Sarah & Niall. You are truly blessed to have such a warm and wonderful family and now, to have each other. I can’t wait to come and see you and your family in Ireland, Nanette and I have already started to talk about it.

I met Niall and Sarah last summer at Jen and Jason’s Michigan wedding. Niall is Jason’s cousin, and he and Sarah live in Ireland. Come September I’ll be off to The Eternal City to take part in their destination wedding celebration for three days of amazing photo opportunities. We’re planning an engagement shoot through the marvelous Villa Borghese gardens, which offer panoramic views of Rome. After the wedding ceremony we’ll be shooting against the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and later in the evening the Colosseum.

The kicker is that my wife and I began our Italian honeymoon in Rome almost three years ago to the day. Which means… our third anniversary is just around the corner! As a tribute to our marriage I’ll be enjoying undetermined amounts of gelati.