Chicago Athletic Association + St. Mike's Old Town

Romantic summer wedding at Chicago Athletic Association and St. Michael's in Old Town

Olyvia and John were referred to me by their wedding planner, Joni, with Elegante Events. Elegante specializes in luxury weddings around the world, with several planners based in Chicago.

When we first connected, Olyvia had a clear vision and high expectations for her photography. She's the one in her family who takes all the photos whenever they're together. So for her own wedding, she needed a photographer she could trust to do a fabulous job.

Olyvia and John wanted images that they could look back on and relive the day. After seeing their inspiration photos, it was clear they'd want a blend of documentary style candids that catch all the spontaneous emotion and moments, as well as natural portraits that don't feel stiff and awkward. 

It was important to Olyvia and John that they see each other for the first time as they walked down the aisle. That meant we need to take all of their wedding party and couple portraits before cocktail hour started. We worked efficiently to give them a beautiful selection of portraits, and have time to spare so they could celebrate at cocktail hour with their guests. 

Some of my favorite images of the day were the portraits in St. Michael's after their ceremony where we wanted to capture all the dramatic lighting and Olyvia's sweeping veil. That and all the laughs and smiles on the dance-floor, including Olyvia's dad surprising everyone with a guitar solo.