Their vows included a statement about being each other’s bread and butter.

If they’re bread and butter, they’re like real Italian bread and garlic butter. You know, the good stuff. The real thing. Not just the dollar white bread and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.

Sarah and Gordon, you guys are amazing! I hope you enjoy your sneak peek… there are so many more to come!

Kevin and Kathy had one of the most intimate weddings I have seen. It was them, their respective children, a small group of their closest friends and family, a beautiful park, and a room at a Mediterranean restaurant (which had AMAZING food)… while large weddings are always a fun party, sometimes it’s nice to just have a laid back day.

Congrats, Kevin & Kathy, and thank you for welcoming me into your family for a day!

I would have been honored to shoot Jamie and Tim’s wedding even if I didn’t know Jamie, but it’s always fun to shoot weddings where you know the family (and not just because of the blackmail photos, I swear). And, let me tell you, travel is really nice when the bride gets ready at her house…. and it’s next door.

But all jokes aside, Jamie & Tim had a beautiful wedding and one heck of a party at the reception. It was the Fourth of July AND their wedding day, so there were two reasons to party! Congrats guys!

(Ha. Better make sure your friends don’t have any vendettas against you before asking them to help with your tie )

Sometimes I get sad when weddings are over. This is one that I’m sad about it being over. BUT, I am so happy that Cassie & Jimmy are married. They were so happy that it seemed like someone (or everyone) was crying from shared happiness all night. What a great wedding.

Here are just a few for now.

(I couldn’t resist this one. It was fun.)

Kevin and Kathy had a beautiful ceremony at Centennial Park in Munster, IN. The weather even gave Kathy and Kevin a present by holding off on the rain so that they could have their ceremony outdoors!

Here are just a few from their wedding… more to come!

Elaine and Dan got married yesterday! It was a day that was equal parts tradition (I’m in love with tea ceremonies now), love, family, and of course…party. I’m so happy for Elaine and Dan, and I can’t wait to show more from their day!

Mandy and Dan had a gorgeous summer wedding.

What can I say about their wedding? Well, the wedding party was Fun (yes, with a capital “F”), there were a surprising amount of fake mustaches at the reception, and mostly, it was a beautiful day. The church was AMAZING (really, scroll down), Mandy and Dan were adorable (they almost made me tear up during the first look!), and it was amazing just how many happy people there were!  Can’t you tell from all the smiles?

Details:
Ceremony: St. Edmund, Oak Park, IL
Reception: Renaissance Hotel, Oak Brook, IL
Video: Go Wedding Video/Sarah Tessitore
Flowers: Carousel Flowers (they were gorgeous!)

Thao and Dan’s wedding is one that I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.

Thao had contacted me when I first started publicly offering portraits and weddings, over a year ago. She and Dan were the first “official” engagement session I had, and they were the first “real” wedding I booked (not including friends’ weddings). I don’t know how I got so lucky to have such an amazing couple as some of my first clients, but I must have done something right, because they’re amazing. They both have huge hearts, are welcoming, creative, and just all-around great people.

Fast forward to about a year later, and it was finally time for their wedding, which was held at a family cottage on a lake in Akron, OH. Very intimate with just a few handfuls of family and close friends, it was the most loving, heartfelt wedding I have ever been to. Throw in a bunch of handmade details, and it was also probably the most personal wedding I have attended. I almost expected Hollywood film crews to come out of the lake bushes, because it was the kind of picturesque day that you usually only see in movies.

So, for that reason, prepare to be overloaded with photos. I can’t bear to leave something out.

Thao & Dan, I love you guys, and I wish you everything your hearts desire.

Mandy and Dan got married yesterday!

You know it’s a fun day when there is a wedding party of just under 20, and you can hear them all singing “Party in the USA” on the bus from many yards away.

Here are just a few photos to hold everyone over until I can post the rest!

This wedding was special because Jamie’s family actually lives next door to me, so it was great to see some familiar faces at the wedding – so often, I only know the bride and groom! I’m just posting a few for now, but a lot more from this fun, super laid-back wedding soon!