“Larry + Kelly are an adorable couple and what an incredibly fun time everyone had on their beautiful wedding day! Starting off the day, was their indoor church ceremony which took place at Kelly’s home town church in Burr Ridge at Trinity Lutheran Church. A special added touch, Larry’s home town reverend from Central Illinois traveled a few hours East to the Chicagoland area to speak as the second presiding reverend for the ceremony.

 

After the ceremony, Kelly + Larry set aside time at Kelly's grandparent's home estate which hosted the bridal party photos. The grandparent's cattle ranch, also in Burr Ridge and nearby both the church and reception venues, was a beautiful place for some personally memorable photos for Kelly. With memories of visiting the ranch for many years since her childhood, it was extremely meaningful to capture photos from her wedding day at her grandparent's property. The rain held off only long enough for a few photos outside by the home's private pond. Moving indoors, a spent a few minutes capturing photos in the home's dark wood and magnificent study. This regal room's interior was impressively decorated ... perfect for some luxurious, bridal photos. L+K look like royalty!

 

The reception took place at Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge and wedding guests were surprised with the unique and creative touches which were added around every corner… the fun just kept coming! While the couple was working, studying and traveling abroad, and eventually living in Denver, Colorado, Kelly’s mom Kim played a tremendous part in the planning of their wedding day. Kim was a big help in personalizing the decor and coordinating extra guest activities into the wedding day ( matching closely to L+K’s personalities… the newlyweds love traveling, the outdoors, spending time with friends + family, and making the most of life. )

 

As the saying goes, something new ( look closely as Kelly dressed in three wedding dresses ), something borrowed ( she borrowed her mom’s hoop skirt for her second / reception dress ) and well… there were a lot of things blue! A number of shades of pool blue were incorporated into the bridesmaid dresses, table decor, walls and ceilings within the reception’s ballroom, with blue ambient uplighting, tinted champagne flutes, a pool blue fondant dressed wedding cake, pillows, candles and fun blue paper lanterns in the attached to the reception lounge area. Guests enjoyed glow sticks, sombreros, hula hooping, and late night snacks like popcorn, cotton candy, pizza, fruit & veggies, and the specialty ordered groom’s cake. Not to mention, our reception photo backdrop, was an option amongst the guest’s extra after dinner activities beyond the lively dance floor.

 

If you are a frequent visitor to the Miller+Miller photo blog, you might notice something new… the black & white images from Larry+Kelly’s reception’s photo station backdrop. The Rock the Drop is what we call our Miller + Miller photo booth. The “drop” is an optional added fun reception, photography element and upgrade available for a couple of hours at the reception. We have five Rock the Drop weddings in 2010. As you can see, personalities are on display and guests really bring the life of the party into these photos. The drop was a hit and a fun was had by all. Larry, Kelly, Valparasio University college friends ( L+K met at Valpo ), and family visiting from out of town all rocked photos in our reception room’s backdrop photo station. Sombreros, cotton candy, cocktails, friends and smiles… it was a celebration.

 

Larry and Kelly we wish you both the best of luck in life, love and happiness. We enjoyed your wedding day and the mix of fun, elegance and style. Congratulations, you two and we’ll talk to you soon!!

 

 

 

Reception Venue + Cake: Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge, www.marriott.com
Church: Trinity Lutheran Church, Burr Ridge, www.tlbr.org
Wedding Dresses ( Ceremony + Reception ): White Satin Bridal, www.whitesatinbridal.com
Lighting Specialist: Precision Sound and Lighting, www.precisionsoundandlighting.com
Videography: Dennis Sagel from Beiteverso Productions, www.slickart.net
Bridesmaids Shoes + Dresses: David’s Bridal, www.davidsbridal.com
Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse, www.menswearhouse.com
Hair: Salon Efthimia, www.salonefthimia.com
Wedding Veil + Bridal Shoes: White Satin Bridal, www.whitesatinbridal.com
Flowers: Bride’s Choice, (630) 512-0450
Honeymoon: Dominican Republic, Bavaro Princess in Punta Cana, www.bavaroprincess.com

“What a beautiful “picnic in the woods style” May wedding!! Ryan and I loved Sean + Stephanie’s wedding day. Remember when we photographed S+S at this same wooded Sugar Grove, IL Forest Preserve back in January? It was much greener this time around (and definitely warmer at close to 90 degrees plus humidity.) The wedding at the forest preserve was filled with bright colors of orange, warm touches of nature’s green and brown, and was buzzing with family and friends gathering for Sean + Steph’s wedding ceremony.

 

The picturesque outdoor ceremony spot Sean + Stephanie picked was on a rolling tree-covered hill, beneath the warm shining sun — intimate nature was all around and it was an absolutely perfect, naturally beautiful May day. S+S’s ceremony at Bliss Woods reminded Ryan and I of our own Nevada mountain wedding ceremony in a way… our favorite types of weddings to shoot are destinations or local Chicago area outdoor ceremonies.

 

Sean + Stephanie’s very personalized ceremony and “picnic-style” reception was a reflection of Sean+Steph’s relationship, engagement at the park and past visits to Bliss Woods. With the help of Mary Beth Kraft of Social Butterfly and her wedding planning & decorating expertise, the day encased numerous touches of picnic elements such as baskets, candles, cupcakes, wine bottles, wildflowers, picnic benches, picnic tables + table cloths, outdoor wooden touches brought inside, shades of oranges, and greenery. The guests enjoyed live music, everyone danced all night, it was truly a memorable and awesome time. During the ceremony the Aletheia String Quartet created a ceremonial ambiance and played “All you need is Love” as the exit song —a special request by Stephanie. Prior to dinner the Brent Shroy Recital (a live band who are friend’s of Sean+Steph) joined by Stephanie’s sister Amanda, the maid-of-honor, performed during happy hour. DJ Monty from St. Louis Missouri kept the dance floor going all night long. I fell in love with their first dance song “Can’t Help Falling in Love, Fools Rush In” a cover by Ingrid Michaelson. ( I downloaded this song myself. It’s beautiful & a perfect first dance song! ) The reception venue was a familiar place to Sean’s family and grandparents. It was a country barn style police lodge which was decorated with twinkling lights spanning the roof beams. Attached to lodge was a white tent which included picnic tables and a cocktail bar, so guests could enjoy more of the outdoors throughout the evening until the end of the reception. We loved the set up and so did the guests.

 

Thanks S+S for setting aside a little extra time in your busy wedding day for some on-location bridal coverage! It was fun photographing indoors at the restaurant & bar and getting creative with the Bride + Groom : ) Sean + Stephanie — we hope you love these fun pics and enjoy the photographed memories of your wedding day. Thanks for hiring us, we enjoyed celebrating with your family & friends and maybe we’ll see you again one day one soon at one of their weddings… if we’re lucky!!”

 

 

 

 

Revisit Sean + Stephanie’s Winter engagement photo session which also took place at Bliss Woods in Sugar Grove.

 

Sean + Stephanie’s outdoor wedding ceremony and reception were both in Sugar Grove Illinois. Their Spring wedding ceremony took place at Bliss Woods and following was the reception at the nearby Kane County F.O.P. wooden lodge and rustic barn. Wedding day planning and coordination by Mary Beth Kraft from Social Butterfly 630-631-9567. The live event music was by the Aletheia String Quartet, the Brent Shroy Recital, Stephanie’s sister Amanda and Scott Monahan of DJ Monty 618-567-6237.