Kara and I did youth ministry together way back before I had kids. She waited for the perfect guy and here you have it. She’s in heaven! It was a privilege to be asked to photograph her very simple but very beautiful wedding afternoon.

I asked the lovely and talented Alysa Clark from Water Street Dreams to be my right hand girl and second photographer. (Incidentally she’d love to develop her niche specifically as a wedding photographer, for any of you lovely couples out there interested in getting hitched). She captured this perfect shot – love how Kara’s dad is looking at her here just before they walked down the isle. Kara was the epitome of chill. She’s so simple and sweet, all she wanted to do was walk down that isle to the love of her life.

This quite easily could be my most favorite shot of the day … caught ya!

And we have a brand new Mr. and Mrs.!! I love how happy they are. Soo soo happy!

The reception was a simple cake reception where they mingled with the people they care about the most. 

Not only do you have to figure out how to cut your own cake …  but … 

… it also might take a village to preserve that very important top of the cake!! This was funny. 

What struck me as so cool was that in true Kara form, she was serving … even at her own wedding. She has a heart for people and a heart for serving God and it was just so natural for her to help serve her own cake! She said it helped her to be able to see everyone. I love that. 

This was the part Alysa and I were looking forward to. Having just a few minutes with the bride and groom to ourselves. Kara had requested going to the nearby forest preserve for a few quick rounds of pictures … just for them. A bride and groom … in a forest preserve … um … yes please!!

My view …

Alysa’s view …

And this happy sweet couple gets to begin the rest of their lives together … So happy for you Kara and David!! What an unseasonably beautiful day you had at the end of March!! Gorgeous. Thank you for asking me to capture your day!!

In trying to narrow things down for this little peek … are you kidding me? You get a bunch here … but it’s supposed to be just a peek … and that, it is, because there are so many more I would have liked to show!! Anyway … on with the story-telling …

This was a second wedding for both Andrea and Dave which is one reason why they wanted to go smaller, less traditional, more intimate. Knowing some of their story, I was honored to be a part of this beautiful new chapter they are starting together!

The weather was very questionable for us this particular afternoon. It couldn’t decide if it was going to rain or not … so it decided to rain off and on, making it difficult for the staff to decide if they should set up for the ceremony outside or inside. Dave and I were certain it wasn’t going to rain, Andrea thought we were optimistic. So … to take advantage of at-the-moment dry skies we headed straight outside for a few shots.

This one cracks me up … look at her son’s expression when I asked them to give a smooch for the camera. Ha! Classic.

And then the drizzle began … so in we go.

This place had endless potential for photo opportunities. I could have spent all day exploring all the nooks and crannies. Andrea said we were allowed to go into the potting ‘shed’ which was more like an-awesome-warehouse-full-of-cool-stuff-but-very-stuffy-and-hot-so-we-didn’t-stay-long shed. And then the exposed brick, the candles, the windows … beautiful beautiful urban cool venue.

The venue was at A New Leaf in the heart of Chicago in Lincoln Park. It’s a beautiful florist on one side, and then they have this event space on the other side … here’s the view from the front door.

And the view from the opposite end looking to the front.

So the executive decision was to hold the ceremony in the courtyard. First the guests got poured on … we waited 15 minutes to start the ceremony … rain stopped … staff dried off all the chairs … and the ceremony began with beautiful lighting, perfect temperatures, and a gorgeous setting!

Once they were announced Mr. and Mrs. … it was time for the party!!

Andrea’s youngest was celebrating a birthday the following day so in leu of a wedding cake, they had a birthday cake!

The first dance … aren’t they the most adorable couple? Adorable.

And then grandma … she’s was unstoppable! I hope I have half the zest of Andrea’s grandma when I’m 80-something. She was just bursting with fun and joy … she out-danced everyone!!

I love the happy people, the couples enjoying themselves. So many couples I watched enjoying a quiet corner without kids, dancing, smiling, a lovely evening celebrating the special day of two friends starting a beautiful new start in in their lives together. Thank you so much Andrea & Dave for trusting my eye with your special day! I hope these images tell your story over and over as you look at them and they bring a smile to your face and heart as you remember each moment!

I was a bundle of nerves all day Saturday, stomach in knots, hoping the bride and groom and I made the right decision to have me do this.  Seriously.  Families … I know families. I’ve been shooting families for over a year now. I have a lot to learn, but I’m comfortable with families. A wedding? My first solo wedding? Am I cut out for this? I guess we’ll see! I committed to it last December so – if I thought I had a chance of being ready then, apparently I’m ready now! I’ve lived in Chicago long enough to know that what should take 35 minutes late on a Sunday night would take a little over an hour on a Saturday afternoon. I gave myself an hour and twenty minutes to arrive on time, after 20 mile an hour traffic {at least we were moving!} I arrived with five minutes to spare. Whew! My nerves were gone the minute I saw the bride. I was there. It was time to do my thing. I love doing my thing. I love it. It wasn’t until I was driving home that night that I realized when I was at ease. It was when I was shooting. When I was directing and scoping out the next moment to capture. I love what I do. She hired me to do what I do – I’m so glad about that. And I think she’s going to love the results. I can’t wait to show her … a few hundred pictures later! A much more all encompassing peek will come in a later post!

What a gift this wedding was in so many ways. From being floored and honored at the request, to giving me the courage to step out into professional family photography, to shooting the wedding … I’m so pleased with the results! I could actually DO this! This thing that I have only admired from a pew. Walking around with a camera in my hand being called “the photographer.” It’s so surreal. Am I dreaming? Someone please wake me up. Though I don’t know that I would ever want the responsibility of being THE wedding photographer … the 2nd photographer I could do! Here’s Charli & Matt’s story in pictures … {and to think this is just a peek!!}

The girls got ready …

The boys got ready … {that’s Matt in the middle}

And the day began with lots and lots and lots of pictures!!! This was the fun part. Everyone was so beautiful. Charli hired a professional photographer who does weddings for a living so for the rest of the day, my goal was to stay out of his way and capture the stuff he didn’t or get it from a different perspective. So, my hope is that most of these will not fall into the “traditional” category.

Charli’s mom had a friend at the Pickwick theater so they were able to get shots inside! This place is historic – very cool.

Then outside for some location shots … the boys were quite silly … and the girls, quite cold!

These ally and stair pics are some of my favorites!

LOVE this.

Don’t you adore her shoes? I love her tattoo too.

Then back inside to de-thaw and wait for the ceremony to start …

Finally the long awaited hour arrives …

I love that she’s totally checking out her new ring during the prayer!! Nice catch if I might say so. Funny.

Finally … the getaway … wait ’till you see the getaway car … sooo sooo cool.

Doesn’t she look like Cinderella in her coach with her prince? They are a very handsome couple.

Off to start their new lives together …

 What a great day. It was a beautiful wedding, the start of a new chapter for Charli and Matt and the beginning of a new chapter for me too! Charli, thank you so much for this opportunity! It will forever be the event that sparked everything! I hope you love your pictures … being part of your day in this way was such a pleasure.

I totally crashed last night.

The editing is just as much fun as the picture taking!!

I love this.

Here’s a hint …