“We had a great time spending the afternoon with Kurt + Carrie out on their summer Libertyville engagement photo session. After delaying the shoot a few times ( due to rain and then two weeks of bachelor and bachelorette fun in Vegas, so jealous ) we were happy for finally a dry day. Except the day was more than just a little buggy, there were a ton of mosquitos outside… especially at dusk. With it definitely being one of those super hot summer and very humid days, thanks Kurt + Carrie for sticking things out until the end, even through the bugs to capture night shots. : )

 

We first met with Kurt + Carrie last Winter during their search for a north shore Chicago wedding photographer for their wedding. Carrie told us she searched in nearby areas like Lake Bluff, Libertyville and other North Shore suburbs, but eventually stumbled on Miller + Miller and loved our unique wedding photography style. With all the Chicago area wedding photographer options out there, we’re glad you found our photo blog.

 

For Kurt + Carrie’s engagement pictures, Carrie asked if we would be up for heading up to the Chicago Northern suburbs. Of course, that was no problem as we love traveling anywhere for engagements and weddings. We enjoy shooting couples located anywhere in and around Chicago… often too in other States or Countries outside of the US. For Carrie’s engagement session, she had a few of her and Kurt’s favorite locations around Libertyville in mind for the shoot. Libertyville is a big part of their relationship as it’s the location where they originally met and are currently living. Their unique “falling in love story” started several years ago while attending Libertyville High School… yes they have known each other for nearly a decade. Carrie was telling us of her memories of the older senior grade level Kurt, back in her freshman year, and being out with other cheerleader friends in the back of Kurt’s Jeep. Hearing stories of the past are always cute. Ryan and I have our own high school and college era stories too.

 

Thanks Kurt + Carrie in spending the day with us and providing the tour around your place! We enjoyed roaming around Libertyville, meeting Kurt’s mom, visiting with your dog for a bit, and exploring your home town. Libertyville looks like a great place to live. See you in a few weeks for the big wedding day!!

 

 

 

Kurt + Carrie are going to be married in a few short days… their wedding is this upcoming September. Both their ceremony and reception are going to take place at Ivanhoe Country Club in Mundelein located nearby their Libertyville home. Kurt was telling us how the golf club has 27 holes, with three different designed terrain styles one course is a prairie, one a marsh and the last 9 holes are in a forest setting. Sounds beautiful… looking forward to hopping in a cart and exploring the course.

“Congratulations goes out to Robert + the beautiful Lindsey. Their wedding was absolutely gorgeous and everything on their 123 acre estate and grove National historic landmark ground’s in Glenview looked amazing!!

 

When searching for a wedding and reception site, Lindsey said her hunt was for a Chicagoland mansion wedding venue, but in addition to the site having a mansion, it must offer the option for an outside ceremony, and nature if possible. Mission accomplished… Redfield Estate at The Grove is a North Shore gem of a location! And yes it was a beautiful ceremony spot. Located a few miles North of Lindsey’s family’s home town of the Naperville area, the estate’s Glenview location was a short drive for the family and their Pastor Josh Cook from Calvary Church of Naperville. The Redfield Estate is a beautiful historic landmark wedding venue that was built in 1929. Restricted to small weddings, holding up to 100 guests, this distinctive venue offers world-class charm, history and elegance. The venue’s combination of Old World charm and the majesty of the spacious outdoor lawn surrounded by woodlands offered so many photographic options. We could’ve spent hours roaming around this venue taking photos of the couple. We can’t wait for another future event at the estate.

 

Lindsey said, when her and RJ found the Redfield Estate, they fell in love with the location, it’s natural beauty and historic charm. For their spring wedding, Lindsey decorated with earth tones and the colorful Spring shades of greens, with yellow accents. Her bridesmaids wore green dresses and it was fun meeting all of Lindsey’s 6 sisters who rounded out all of her bridesmaids ( she is one of 8 kids in the family… 7 girls and 1 boy who is the youngest brother in the family, and one of RJ’s groomsmen. ) Finishing up the bridal party was RJ’s two brothers. For Lindsey, you can imagine why she didn’t assign a maid-of-honor roll… how could a sister choose between six sisters? : )

 

Taking advantage of the Redfield Estates’s very photographic grounds around the outside of the Mansion, plus looking to provide to Miller+Miller a good amount of time for creative photos, RJ + Lindsey decided upon the decision to see each other before their ceremony. We love capturing this “first glance” time and the moments they turn and see each other for the first time. A special moment… capturing pure smiles, sometimes tears and definitely many emotions of the couple’s pure happiness!! This first meeting moment is memorable and a special private experience many of our couple’s decide to incorporate into their day’s schedule – especially when one single venue hosts both their ceremony + reception at the same location.

 

After RJ + Lindsey’s “first glance”, we ventured around the estate’s exquisitely landscaped yard and snapped a few individual photos of the couple and then pre-ceremony, bridal party group photos with the bridesmaids and groomsmen. At 3:00 PM their beautiful mid-day, outdoor ceremony proceed under a gazebo which was just a short walk beyond the historic Redfield Estate home. Afterwards, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were enjoyed by guests on the lawn and the estate’s terrace. The reception, dinner and dancing continued on indoors in the first floor’s, 3 main rooms and the great room of the historic estate. With guest’s spanning the entire first floor of the estate, their 65 guests enjoyed the close, intimate, dinner party feeling during dinner. The food was amazingly delicious!

 

Closing the wedding festivities at 8:45 in the evening, RJ and Lindsey arrange for a send-off time. Departing their wedding day in style, a vintage, Rolls-Royce getaway car arrived at dusk. Under the venue’s twinkle lights, we snapped the last images of RJ + Lindsey just before leaving to the airport for their California Newport Beach and Catalina Island honeymoon.

 

RJ + Lindsey… thanks for choosing us to capture your memorable wedding day celebration with your closest family and friends! Again, congrats!! Hope you enjoy these sneak peek and favorite images of ours from your beautiful wedding. We can’t wait to show to you the rest of the image proofs which will be ready in a few more weeks. Hope you had a wonderful time on your honeymoon and are now enjoying newly-wedded life… ”

 

 

 

 

Reception + Ceremony Venue: Redfield Estate at The Grove, Glenview, Illinois
Ceremony Officiant: Pastor Josh Cook, Calvary Church, Naperville, Illinois
Wedding Cake: Chocolate Wedding Cake with Buttercream Frosting
Hors d’oeuvres: Meatballs, Tuscan Rice Fritters, Artichoke Parmesan Puffs
Dinner Featured: A Bistro Salad with Berries and Balsamic Vinaigrette, Beef Tenderloin, Roulade of Chicken, Portabella Mushrooms
DJ + Music by: Ken Murphy from AMP DJ Services
Honeymoon: Catalina Island + Newport Beach California

 

Lindsey commented how extreme temperatures both their winter engagement session at close to the teens was and for their wedding, so abnormally warm at about 90 with high humidity. Revisit those photos of Robert + Lindsey’s Winter, downtown Naperville riverwalk engagement photo session in the snow!