Weddings are events that are colored by tradition. White dresses, churches and well-known vows define the common wedding experience. But what if you want your wedding to stand out, not just for you and your spouse, but for all of your guests? Years down the road, what makes people look back and think, “Now that was a great wedding”?
At a recent wedding I photographed, the couple put their own stamp on the wedding experience by bucking tradition. Yes, the bride still wore white, rings were exchanged, and of course, pictures were taken– but Nicole and Brad expressed their personality by choosing an unusual venue. Chicago florist A New Leaf hosted Nicole and Brad’s reception and obviously provided their beautiful floral arrangements. The industrial-chic event space features an outdoor courtyard and a multi-level interior of exposed brick, concrete staircases and modern metalwork– it was certainly not your typical wedding setting. But it did provide a memorable experience, even for a Chicago wedding photographer like me, who’s attended hundreds of weddings!
The reception space also allowed me to create incredibly beautiful shots of the bride and groom. The simple decor made a unique and interesting background for the photos of the couple. Nicole and Brad also skipped another typical wedding tradition—not seeing each other the day of the service. Instead, Nicole and Brad made their day a little less stressful by allowing me to photograph them before the vows were exchanged. If you aren’t the superstitious type, this is a perfect arrangement. You can go straight from your service to your reception without taking the traditional post-service photos, and rest assured that you have a beautiful picture of you and your spouse. Plus, you can use the sights of your city to their fullest by being able to change venue for special and, more importantly, personal wedding portraits. Nicole, Brad and their wedding party were shot on La Salle Street, at the Art Institute Gardens, and at the Wrigley Building, adding Chicago’s local flair to their photos.
Makeup for the bride, which photographed beautifully and naturally, was done by Sonia Roselli, who is known for her experience in the industry and her philosophy that great makeup starts with great skin. And Nicole and Brad avoided the typical (aka terrible) wedding DJ by opting for the hip Chicago wedding DJ Toast and Jam. The music went perfectly with the innovative vibe of the event location by adding a modern pop.
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