Julie & Tucker’s wedding was one of my favorites this year.  Not because of their unique and fun vintage style, not because of the incredible reception location of my dreams – Salvage One, not because they were married in one of my favorite Chicago catholic churches – Holy Family, not because of Tucker’s southern drawl, not because of their super fun wedding party – but because of Julie and Tucker themselves.  They are the sort of couple you get sucked into orbit with and find yourself magnetized to.  You are riveted because they are so rich in life, so deep in love and so much freakin’ fun.  They are a couple you wish you were cool enough to be friends with.  And yeah, some of those other things might help.

Julie and Tucker got ready at The Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel – so, so, so gorgeous, and just the right fun and posh start to their day.

The ceremony was at my favorite Chicago catholic church – Holy Family.  I’ve shot there before, and its just gorgeous every time.  Beautiful light, an amazing dramatic but friendly interior, and one of the nicest priests you’ll ever meet.

Starting from this moment below, Julie smiled thru the entire ceremony, and really the entire day.  Seriously, she was giddy with love and happiness, and it was clear on her face.

This picture below is what every church wedding should be.  Fun, full of life and personal, as well as traditional and reverent.  Julie and Tucker brought in an episcopal priest close to Tucker’s family who co-officiated, and adding this personal element made their ceremony just that much more them.  This moment right after their vows, as everyone transitioned to the next step, with Julie & Tucker overtaken in laughter and the business of a ceremony unfolding around them, epitomizes their comfort and joy.   Most church ceremonies feel stiff and unfamiliar – but not this one!

See what I mean about that light?

The photo below – all Julie & Tucker’s idea, and all them.  Easily a favorite of mine, forever.

I don’t usually include outtakes or silly photos in the blog post.  But, this shot below is just so the type of humor you encounter with Julie & Tucker every couple of minutes, that I couldn’t leave it out.

Ah, so now we get to Salvage One.  My dream wedding reception venue.  (Okay, well, one of them)  An architectural artifact and found object store/warehouse in downtown Chicago that hosts events within the store. What could be better for exploring and partying?  Oh, how I love this place!  So much fun, so much to work with photographically, and so much personality oozing out of every corner.

Each table setting was a different feel and era of furniture, so I felt it only fitting to immortalize these choices with some chair portraits:

Tucker’s mom is a pottery artist and made all of the vases for the centerpieces:

On the left below – hangover cures for each guest to take on their way home – so adorable!

The Alabama vs. LSU game was the same day as Julie & Tucker’s wedding.  And well, from what I understand, being a ‘Bama boy means being a fan from birth – so I loved it when Tucker’s Mom checked in on the game with him during dinner from her phone.

Recipe for a rockin’ reception?  Awesome setting, dramatic lighting, a jammin’ band, and a relative who can take to the microphone and the harmonica and totally take over the crowd!

The Credits:

Ceremony Venue: Holy Family Catholic Church

Reception Venue: Salvage One

Getting Ready Venue: Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel

Florist: Asrai Garden

Makeup and Hair: Pin Me Up Chicago

Catering: J&L

Band: The Homewreckers

Cake: Alliance Bakery

Bride’s Gown: Lazaro

Bridesmaids Dresses: J. Crew

Groom’s Suit: Balani

Julie & Tucker – where to start?  I wish our time together hadn’t already come to an end.  I loved working with you both and getting to know you this past year!  You are so fun, and so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful family and friends who love and support you, but also add to that level of fun.  May the joy, blessings and wonderful memories of your wedding day be only the beginning of a spectacular married life together!

Gina and Jason’s story is all about finding the divine in unexpected places.  They met on a day and in a moment that neither one thought would lead to anything.  And their wedding vows were spoken at a church that is truly gorgeous, and definitely a hidden, unknown gem on Milwaukee’s north-west side – St. Francis of Assisi.  They celebrated on Halloween weekend with an event that was anything but the expected spooky, but instead full of beauty and elegance at the Marcus Performing Arts Center.

Jason’s little niece started the ceremony off right with an adorable entrance:

There was just enough time that afternoon for a stop for champagne and cigars – so fun!

The Credits:

Ceremony Venue: St. Francis of Assisi

Reception Venue: Marcus Center of the Performing Arts

Florist: Fresh Design

Cake: The Cake Lady

Band: The Kingfish Band

Catering: Sazama’s

Makeup: On Location

Day of Coordinator: The City Bride

Bride’s Gown: Lazaro – Gigi of Mequon

Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Priscilla of Boston

Men’s Suits: Calvin Klein

Acoustic Guitar: Mitch Green

Gina & Jason – Thank you for including m three studio in your wedding day plans.  We had such a great time laughing along with you, all day.  Your wedding was blessed with sunshine, warmth, beauty and lots and lots of laughter.  All great ingredients for a long and happy marriage.  May this day just be the beginning!

Every wedding is about joining – the joining of two people, the joining of two families.  But not every wedding is about creation.  For Morgan and Joe, theirs was all about officially creating a new family with Morgan’s son Brayson.  The precocious 6 year old was the sweetest and cutest Best Man I think I’ve ever met.   His connection with Joe is admirable, and it was so fun to witness and enjoy the love between not only Morgan and Joe, but with their fun little guy as well.  Hopefully you aren’t all Christmas-ed out yet, because this is a lovely and elegant Christmas wedding with a gorgeous Catholic ceremony, a stunning reception at The Grain Exchange, and a huge surprise at the end.

Sharp-eyed blog readers will recognize former m three studio bride Jen below, one of Morgan’s bridesmaids.

St. Jerome’s Parish in Oconomowoc is nothing short of stunning.  Big, beautiful, new and yet still so full of traditional elements.  I could shoot there again and again.

The Credits:

Ceremony: St. Jerome’s Catholic Parish

Reception: The Grain Exchange

Florist: Diane McNulty

Cake: Simma’s Bakery

DJ: Sound By Design

Catering: Bartolottas

Makeup: Spargo Salon

Stationary: Jenny Krynicki – Denoveau Designs

Entertainment: Dancers – Alec Mazo & Edyta Sliwinska

Caricature Artist – Roger Furtado

**Since this was my last wedding before the baby arrives, I had a co-shooter (because 10 hours on your feet at 34 weeks pregnant is hard) for this day.  Major thanks and credit goes to my friend Melissa Schollaert, who flew in from warm and sunny Phoenix to help me shoot this one.

Weddings are often about the couple of honor – it makes sense.  And I’ve seen many a surprise pulled off in their honor.  But never have I see the couple pull off a surprise for someone else on their wedding day.  Morgan and Joe did just that – and what a surprise it was!  Morgan’s Dad is a huge fan of Dancing with the Stars, and has been disappointed ever since his favorite dancer, Edyta left the show.  So, Joe smoothly moved thru his toast, and then knocked everyone’s socks off when he revealed that they had a gift for this lucky Father of the Bride – a special performance by Edyta and her husband!

Morgan and Joe – what a delight it was to work with you all and your families!  Stepping into your lives for a brief moment was like walking into a fun movie you watch over and over again, just for the pure joy of it.  I can’t wait to see how your little family grows and expands in the coming years – you have your hearts right where they belong for it to be an awesome ride!

Some wedding days are a perfect storm of every element that makes a wedding great.  I’ve blogged about them before.  After experiencing such a perfect storm at Emily & Dave’s wedding, I’ve concluded that there is something about the couples that choose the combination of a ceremony at Villa Terrace and a reception at Lake Park Bistro that causes this to occur.  Every wedding I’ve shot with this combination has been so gorgeously designed, had such perfect weather, had such a happy and joyous couple and family, and the most awesome friends and guests – people you wish were your own friends.  They are the types of weddings you don’t want to end, that you hate to leave, that you wish were your own.  Oh, and they really know how to party!  I’ll get to the pictures and fill you in on some of the awesomeness that was Emily & Dave’s incredible wedding day.

This little flower girl totally entranced me.  I sent a screen grab of this shot to Hubby on the spot – if we have a daughter half as adorable, beautiful and sweet as this little one, we will be very lucky.

Emily & Dave bought their groomsmen custom baseball bats, which made for some awesome props!

Where to even begin with Jonathan Diel’s design?  Incredible.  Such amazing florals – textured, unique, full of interest and color.  Wait until you see the rest!

Dave and Emily had two officiants who shared in creating their ceremony.  It was so emotional, so spiritual.  You could feel the faith and strength radiating off of them all.

How awesome are parasols at Villa Terrace?  So beautiful, and so useful on that fully exposed terrace!

Right after the ceremony, one of my favorite moments unfolded – Dave led Emily into the library for a few private moments (albeit captured by me thru the doors).  I was privileged to witness their unbridled joy at being married in these first few moments – I’m sure it is a moment they’ll remember always.

The Kiel’s and the Yolo’s are two families I will hope to work with again and again.  Such wonderful, sweet parents, such great siblings, and family dynamics you wish you were a part of.  They are the types of families where you hope that is you and your husband one day at your own children’s weddings.

Cutest flower girl and ring-bearer ever.

Emily and Dave arranged for this vintage car (loaned by a friend) to be on-site to transport their grandparents to the Reception.  I love it when a couple sees beyond themselves and makes a special gesture for others on their wedding day.

Here comes more of that amazing design work by Jonathan Diel.  Seriously, Lake Park Bistro was transformed.  It was comfortable, imaginative and beautiful!

I have never, in well over a hundred weddings, seen a tent-full of guests give a standing ovation to the Father of the Bride before he gives his speech.  There was some serious love in that tent, and Mr. Kiel knocked his speech out of the park!

A wedding party romping around on the lawn bowling courts amongst the sprinklers means they are having a seriously good time.

A little sunset light photo shoot to reconnect before the serious partying begins:

I’m not sure how to describe this dance floor.  Constantly packed, high energy, people singing every word to every song, and much, much, love for Sound By Design who fostered that atmosphere.

The Credits:

Ceremony Venue: Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum

Reception Venue: Lake Park Bistro

Catering: Batrolottas

Florist & Wedding Designer: Jonathan Diel

DJ: Sound By Design

Makeup & Hair: Creative Flair Salon – Emma Hofstetter

Bride’s Gown: Watters

Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Jim Hjelm Occassions

Groom’s Suit: J.Crew

Groomsmen’s Attire: Express Men

Transportation: DMI Limousine Service and Milwaukee Trolley

Stationery:

Emily & Dave – Thank you so much for including me in your “perfect storm” of a wedding.  It truly was a magical and exceptional day, just like the two of you.  Your energy and joy are infectious, working like a magnet to all around you. I hope the years ahead only improve upon this incredible start and are filled with beauty, love, faith, joy and sunshine.  May our paths cross again and again!