Please CLICK HERE to view the entire summer issue online.  Here are a few more images of Nicole and Aubrey’s gorgeous fall Ritz Carlton wedding.

Only a few Chicago wedding venues offer discerning couples the best of both worlds.  The Ivy Room is a modern oasis in the heart of downtown Chicago.  The timeless elegance of an ivy enveloped garden was the perfect setting for Diana and Matt’s fall wedding.  The refined asthetic of April Joy Events used white and green floral arrangements to enhance this chic and modern venue.

I am always flattered when a photographer chooses me the photograph their wedding.  Diana’s photography is all about capturing special moments with friends and family.  One of the most exciting wedding day moments is when the bride and groom see each other for the first time.  Being a photographer, Diana knew the importance of making time for this moment and taking advantage of the early afternoon light.  Many wedding professionals prefer that the bride and groom schedule a “first look.” Diana and Matt devoted an hour of their wedding day to simply enjoy one another.

If you would like to see a slide show of this Chicago Wedding please click here. Diana and Matt, thank you for your beautiful smiles, kind spirits, and reminding me why I love my job.

The reception was held at the unique Chicago wedding venue Galleria Marchetti.  Al Okyne made sure that the dance floor was full.

I highly recommend cupcakes for any occasion!  Molly’s Cupcakes created this beautiful tower of treats.  Not only do they make delicious cupcakes, but the business also donates part of their profits to local schools.

Wedding toasts are one of my favorite parts of the celebration.  It is the best time for a photographer to capture candid moments and heartfelt emotions.

Please click here if you would like to see a slide show of Molly and Ryan’s beautiful wedding day.  Thank you for reminding us that not only is true love possible, but so are 70 degree November days.

Molly and Ryan dreamed of having a beautiful wedding day.  They chose a November wedding date, and never imagined it would have been sunny and 70 in Chicago.  An important element to consider for a fall or winter wedding is the availability of natural light.  The sun sets around 4:30 so I highly recommend couples see each other before the ceremony.  As you can see, the excitement of the first meeting is not diminished by taking place early in the day.

Weddings in Chicago are truly unique simply because the city presents many unexpected moments and experiences.  Molly and Ryan’s first meeting was private, however, their bridal party and family pulled up in the trolley to surprise them.  We headed to Michigan Avenue and The Wrigley building for photos.

I love this shot!  Taken by my amazing second shooter Brianne.

Speaking of unexpected moments…Obviously the entire family and bridal party were having a great time!

The unique wedding bouquets and day of coordination were flawlessly provided by Dilly Lilly.

]]> http://beckyhillweddings.com/blog/2009/12/a-lovely-winter-wedding-molly-and-ryan-part-1/feed/ 0 http://beckyhillweddings.com/blog/2009/09/jessica-and-ryan/ http://beckyhillweddings.com/blog/2009/09/jessica-and-ryan/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:38:05 +0000 admin http://beckyhillweddings.com/blog/?p=875

Jessica and Ryan had truly beautiful and joy-filled wedding, and I had the honor of being able to attend as their photographer! The couple took advantage of a current wedding trend and hosted a ceremony, reception and after party, showing different sides of their personality through different elements of the night.

The expertise of Engaging Events by Ali Phillips ensured the reception was an elegant affair. Hosted in the Grand Ballroom of the Palmer House Hilton, the event design was truly breathtaking. The decor echoed the colors of the bridesmaids’ dresses, which were champagne.  The table settings and flowers were tranquil and classic, in champagne and muted pink and white. Heffernan Morgan Designs created the floral and event design for Jessica and Ryan and outfitted The Palmer House beautifully.

After the reception, there was, of course, the after party. Having an after party is a tradition in the making for the big day and is becoming more and more common. Since it’s an up and coming trend, there are really no rules for the after party, except for you have to invite all of your reception guests. Presumably, many guests will not make it to the after party, after enjoying themselves at the reception. For Jessica and Ryan, the after party moved guests from the Grand Ballroom to the Red Lacquer Room of the Palmer House for a festive late-night celebration. The room’s design was about as different from the reception as can be– red fabric draped everywhere, animal print lamps and black and white pillows set a very different mood for the guests who made it to the end of the night! I liked the idea of the after party because it allowed the couple to have a traditional classic reception and a more festive party, giving them the full experience they wanted for their wedding day. Ali Phillips once again did an amazing job coordinating the event so that it was hospitable for guests and memorable for the wedding party.

For help planning an after party for your reception, you can check these resources online. You have options for your after party– An after party can be a spirited late night party for whoever will stay after the reception, or a relaxing and small lounge event for close friends and family who need to wind down after a big day. A well planned after party allows you to extend your night in a way that doesn’t involve picking a bar nearby for everyone to wander to!  The Wedding Bee discusses the pros and cons of an after party– they can be very good for entertaining your guests, especially if many of them are from out of town and aren’t familiar with your city. There are tons of ways to run a reception after party, and it is sure to be a success, as long as your plan it to fit the atmosphere of your wedding and to please your guests!

Other vendors involved in the event with me were Take the Cake, who contributed to the luxurious night with delicious cakes, and Keith from Poetic Productions, who documented the night in video. Judging from our own experience at the wedding, we’re sure the wedding party and guests alike had an amazing evening!

When you’re talking about great Chicago photo locations, every photographer would mention the Adler Planetarium. The views are the best in the city, and the image of the skyline makes for incredible wedding day portraits. Not to mention, the architecture created beautiful shots from the ceremony and reception. I shot Hannah and Robert’s wedding at the Planetarium in June and got to live every Chicago wedding photographer’s dream!  Hannah and Robert’s event was planned by Ali Phillips at Engaging Events. Ali has a great blog for brides, grooms and any one preparing to plan a wedding– it’s full of information about vendors, sales and ideas that would be helpful for any event planner! The floral decorations and bouquets were created by Amy Crum, head designer at Blumen Design, and they were a unique peach color that made an memorable impression for Hannah and Robert’s big day.

Shooting Hannah and Robert’s wedding was fun and challenging as always, and I got to experience a Chicago photographer’s most sought after photo locations. Along with the beach of Lake Michigan and the Art Institute Gardens, the Planetarium was a very exciting experience for me!

Whitney and Juan hosted an intimate outdoor ceremony for their June 2009 wedding. It was incredibly easy for me to photograph on the day, since it was gorgeous out, but couples who choose to have their wedding outdoors are not always so lucky! As a Chicago wedding photographer, I always advise my clients to make sure they have an indoor photo location, just in case the weather turns foul! Photographing Whitney for her bridal portraits was a very easy experience! This was partly due to her skillfully applied makeup, done by Sana for Sonia Roselli Weddings.  The whole event, hosted at the Eaglewood Resort in Itasca, went incredibly smoothly thanks to the expertise of event planner Ali Philips, coordinator and owner of Engaging Events.

Whitney and Juan brightened their day with fuschia, pink and purple flowers. They created their “aisle” by scattering pink flower petals, and tied their ceremony into their reception by scattering the same petals across their banquet table. With a few creative touches, they made their outdoor wedding really stand out. If you are considering planning an outdoor wedding, check for some great tips here and here. You can also save money on a simple backyard ceremony and reception– if you are a do-it-yourself kind of couple, try throwing a special outdoor wedding for yourself in a setting you are familiar with, like your home or family’s home.

]]> http://beckyhillweddings.com/blog/2009/08/outdoor-chicago-wedding/feed/ 0 http://beckyhillweddings.com/blog/2009/07/a-traditional-pink-wedding-meredith-and-wes/ http://beckyhillweddings.com/blog/2009/07/a-traditional-pink-wedding-meredith-and-wes/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:51:53 +0000 admin http://beckyhillweddings.com/blog/?p=835

Pink weddings have been popular and in the public eye ever since Julia Roberts said, “My colors are blush and bashful” and her mom retorted “Your colors are pink and pink!” in Steel Magnolias. A traditional pink bridesmaid gown is a choice that I see often as a Chicago wedding photographer, and I think it’s a great one– bridesmaids can wear pink dresses again, most shades of pink look good on most women, and of course, it’s easy to match pink dresses to pink flora for decoration.There are also a million different ways to style a pink wedding, so even though it’s a popular choice, it can still express your individuality!

Meredith and Wes went pink with their flowers and bridesmaids’ gowns for their recent nuptials and it photographed beautifully. Pink, yellow, fuchsia, and purple showed up in the decorations, along with the coral pink dresses, but there are lots of ways to pair pink on your wedding day. Pink and white is a classic choice, pink and brown lends itself to a more casual feel, pink and orange is bright and cheerful, and pink and navy or indigo is a modern take. With a few distressed details, a pink wedding can become a shabby-chic affair.

Meredith added some great details that distinguished her pink wedding, too– I loved the rhinestone detail on her shoes and her bridal attire as she prepped for the big day with Livia Caporale for Sonia Roselli. Additionally, Elizabeth Wray did some great, original pieces for the tables at the reception, which was held at the Oak Brook Hills Resort. David Clawson of Perfect Pear Media caught the whole thing alongside me on video.

As a Chicago wedding photographer, it is always my goal to capture the individual beauty of my client’s day without interfering-in fact, if I can go completely unnoticed, I can snap photos of the “authentic moments of joy” that inspire my artistic vision.

A good, experienced wedding photographer has tons of tricks to catch the beautiful candid moments between the bride and groom on the big day. While photographing Marta and Dwayne, capturing these shots proved to be an easy task. The couple’s joyful day was full of moments of togetherness for me to shoot. They were so at ease with each other, and it makes sense-they’ve been together long enough that they went to high school prom together!

I love to photograph the bride preparing for her walk down the aisle; these intimate pictures always convey the excitement of the day and all the time spent preparing for it, time that is sometimes lost in traditional wedding portaits. Sonia Roselli, who did Marta’s makeup, allowed me to shoot Marta during the makeup process. Many brides opt to wear false eyelashes to accentuate their eyes in photos on the big day-check out some pros and cons on false eyelashes here. With an expert makeup artist like Sonia, brides can achieve a flawless look that won’t need much maintenance throughout the day.

For Marta and Dwayne, we shot at St. Ferdinand Church and the reception site, Lido Banquets. Amy Vaught with Vaught Events coordinated the day and, along with Sonia Roselli’s makeup, the bride had her hair perfected by Livia Caporale. The bride’s aunt, Teresa Maslowska, acted as florist. Marta and Dwayne’s wedding day was so special for me to photograph and it really allowed me to practice my craft of capturing the little moments of joy.