“For Greg and Kathleen’s engagement session, weather ( an unexpected cold front and the possibility of rain ) urged us to alter a bit our Spring engagement session’s plans. With several consecutive days of gloomy weather, G+K kept their eye on the forecast, and because they were not able reschedule for another day, Greg quickly worked to improvise finding an indoor shooting location. Greg works for a large property management company located in the Loop, so he’s familiar with the a number of unique spaces and historic high-rise properties in the Downtown area. After he searched and the couple discussed their options, Greg and Kate decided on “The Library” located within the historic 190 S. LaSalle Building. Greg and Kate emailed me excited about creating a library themed session. They said it would be a unique indoor location, they loved the colors, the concept incorporating the books and bar area, and felt it would be perfect especially for them.

 

The Library is located on the 40th floor of the 190 South LaSalle building and is a members-only club and private entry space. The venue is perfect for booking private meetings, wedding oriented events, or unique cocktail parties. Located in the Loop, on the corner of LaSalle Street and Adams Street, it is near the Board of Trade Building at the end of LaSalle Street. Visit www.190southlasalle.com and call Noelle Frost at 312-444-1258 for more information about the space. Greg heard about the space from a friend who had booked the venue for his wedding reception space. We captured some fun pictures near the aisle of book shelves, a few of the couple reading the books, by the bar, and near the social area of the space’s pool table. A beautiful iconic Chicago high rise building, and uniquely designed space… the room incorporates vintage chandelier lighting, tall ceilings, long corridors, and art deco and modern accents of colorful green shelving lighting along the bookcases.

 

Next we decided to venture with Greg + Kathleen outdoors. It took a little bit of courage and fighting the 25 MPH winds while photographing these two along one of our favorite treelined locations near the lakefront. During this part of the day, it was fun watching the way that Greg and Kate interact and seeing how truly madly in love with each other they are. Kate was freezing and it wasn’t long into our time outdoors that Greg came to the rescue providing to her his jacket. He was working nearly the entire shoot to keep her spirits up… it was cute. Greg + Kate thanks to you two in all the smiling and doing a great job hiding the fact that it was chilly. Next, we decided to search for ideally a hidden from the wind, place to shoot in and luckily we found a beautiful and full of blooming color garden. Being outdoors and in nature was a part of Greg’s proposal plans on the big engagement day. So in us discovering the space and capturing photos in the garden, Kathleen said she was thrilled as it was perfect. Kathleen forwarded to me details about Greg’s proposal:

 

“His proposal was super cute and well thought-out. Greg actually put me onto a scavenger hunt – and I visited all the people in our lives that were most important and influencial in our relationship – ultimately I ended up at the Prairie Path in Elmhurst in a gazebo – where we trained for the Chicago Marathon together. Afterwards our closest friends gathered at my mom and dad’s house for champagne toasts and lots of hugs. It was so perfect!”

 

Thanks in hiring us as your photographers – we are looking forward to your upcoming wedding Greg + Kathleen next month! We had a great time getting to know the two of you better… and come the wedding day we will all hopefully be enjoying warmer weather conditions. Looking forward to day of photos plans we have already discussed. Hope you enjoy the photos and memories from our day together.”

 

 

 

♥ Greg and Kathleen are getting married this September at Immaculate Conception Church in Elmhurst with pictures following in nearby Wilder Park. Kathleen says it’s a tradition in her family to capture photos at this park near her parent’s home. Friends and family will be enjoying cocktails, dinner and dancing following the ceremony at the resort-like hotel The Oak Brook Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus. The Oak Brook hotel is unique to other hotel venues in the area situated amongst nature trails, waterways and acreage of trees.

 

“Talk about decorating with distinctive personality. We are in love with Adam + Kim’s independent sense of style which they incorporated into their day. Often, we find we are drawing in engaged couples who are artistic and carry over their personal creativity into their planning. ( And we continually enjoy being hired on as those couple’s wedding photographers receiving the opportunity to shoot those fabulous, throughly planned out, and personalized styled events. ) For Adam + Kim’s Fall wedding, Kim created a style of romance with touches of victorian goth wedding elements in selecting the couple’s colors, clothing, jewelry, floral and in choosing her venues. Kim decorated with rich shades and dark colors with a mix of reds including bright red, burgundy and blood red, contrasted with deep purples. Impressive was even the emphasis and detail that was put into selecting their unique rings ( A+K had the most unique bands we had seen in 2010 ). Kim’s glistening diamond ring was set on an ornate victorian setting, while Adam’s black band displayed Celtic crosses.

 

Adam + Kim are another two of our amazingly talented and creative DYI wedding couples. Kim created by hand nearly every wedding detail for the bridal party, the Fall masquerade reception, and outdoor Chicago wedding ceremony. We captured photos at two locations inside and outside of the hotel at The Hyatt Lodge and Elmhurst wedding photography after the ceremony on the grounds of the Mansion. A formal garden is found a few steps away, along a paved walkway, from the Elmhurst Wilder Park Mansion. This is where Adam + Kim exchanged vows within the sunken garden outside of the Wilder Park Mansion. The formal garden is outdoor ceremony location which features a white tent space and is surrounded by towering pines, oak trees and exquisite landscaping with herb gardens, seasonal floral displays and sunken perennial flower beds. Outdoor ceremonies are our all time favorite to photograph, and we loved how the garden ceremony setting provided A+K with private picturesque setting surrounded by nature’s Fall ambiance.

 

The reception was epic and located within a castle at Royalty West Banquets in Willow Springs. The castle venue was a primary inspiration for Adam + Kim’s gothic vintage decorating style. Again, Kim another impressive job as the room with nearly all of the decorating, centerpieces and floral arrangements which were hand created were beautiful. Many congrats to you Adam + Kim! Thank you in hiring us, it was a pleasure spending the big day with you. Thanks for sneaking away from the reception A+K after dinner to capture the couple of night photos outside the castle. Some of our favorite shots from the day. Enjoy.”

 

 

 

Kim added many beautiful, gothic vintage wedding DIY elements + hired these vendors:
Fall Outdoor Ceremony: Wilder Park Mansion and Formal Garden, Elmhurst, IL
Reception Site: Royalty West Banquets, Willow Springs
Couture Dress Designer: Kitty Chen Couture
Bridal Dress Shop: Eva’s Bridal, Oak Lawn
Bride + Groom’s Prep: The Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus, Oak Brook
Bridal Hair: Tiffany Mareno + Nina Strode ( family )
Bride’s Makeup + Hair Feathers: Custom created by the Bride Kim
Bridesmaid’s Bolero Jackets: Angelika Liv on Facebook or on ETSY at etsy.com/shop/maryandangelika and etsy.com/shop/angelinadesign
Groom’s Apparel: Suit from Savvi
Ceremony Accessories: Ring Bearer Pillow, Flower Girl Basket, and Flower Girl Wings all created by Kim
Flowers: Silk Flowers ( Boutineers, Bouquets, and Centerpieces ) by the Bride Kim
Cake: Oak Mill Bakery

 

 

 

Adam + Kim were a referral to us from their friend’s Derek + Jorie. Derek and Adam are both firefighters.
Revisit Derek + Jorie’s firefighter, nature and industrial engagement photography photo session from November 2009. Thanks for the referral D+J.