“We had a blast shooting Mike + Valerie’s engagement photography in Wheaton at Cantigny Park and in downtown Naperville. The shoot was on another windy, warm Spring day. In fact, it was so windy that a branch at Cantigny park broke and fell to the ground about 100 feet from us. The wind can be a challenge to work with ( Mike + Val’s hair-do’s were blowing everywhere ), however we always love the motion and drama it creates in pictures.

 

We first met Mike + Val in January and as of then, Mike hadn’t technically proposed yet. So when we met up for their shoot, we got to see Val’s amazing engagement ring and learn how the big proposal night went down. Let’s just say Mike’s a romantic who surpised Val with a candle lit, hallway leading to a rose petal decorated bedroom. Hearing the stories of each of our couple’s proposals is great, no two are the same. When discussing ideas and location ideas for M+V’s engagement photo session, we talked about a downtown Chicago shoot in Lincoln Park and @ Second City, where M+V had their first date. But Mike couldn’t resist going to Cantigny and the Tank Park. So we planned a trip to Cantigny’s First Division Tank Museum – we loved using the army tanks as a prop. For the softer and nature side of the shoot, we enjoyed the mix of architecture, gardens, lush landscaped grounds and sprawling, 500-acre park of Cantigny www.cantigny.org. Towards the evening, we captured sunset photos in nearby downtown Naperville and planned for a few “secret shooting spots” and brought a few unique photo ideas to close the night.

 

Mike + Valerie are tying the knot over Fourth of July weekend at St. Patrick’s Church in Lemont and their reception is at the luxury, boutique Renaissance Oak Brook Hotel. As I speak, we are designing M+V’s engagement photo guestbook and have already started talking about their wedding day photo bridal session… M+V are very excited about the big day. We know their wedding is going be a great time! M+V we hope you enjoy the blog preview pictures… it was a lot of fun working with you. We can’t wait to meet each of your families and be there on your wedding day photo documenting the celebration.”

 

“With so many photos and wedding day details, we could have several Mike + Aimeé wedding photo blog entries describing the details of their amazing wedding day. While driving home from their wedding, we kept raving about how amazing and intricately specialized every moment of their wedding day truly was.

 

To sum it all up, their Illinois Spring wedding was a Chicago wedding photographers “dream” to photograph… so many details, DETAILS, details!! To all who attended, didn’t you appreciate every single detail too? … Between the bride, groom, both of their families and wedding day coordination from Holly Coan of A Passion For Weddings, it was a dazzling designed and a “modern vintage styled” wedding day.

 

Mike and Aimeé’s elegant Chicagoland wedding, ceremony and bridal session all took place at the historic Patrick C. Haley Mansion in Joliet Illinois. The Patrick Haley Mansion is a three and one half story exquisite “Castle on the Hill” located in downtown Joliet. The historical wedding venue provided wonderful photo opportunities for us to create some overall distinctive styled pictures and the perfect location for pre-ceremony, bridal magazine editorial style photos of Aimeé in her empire style, lace 2010 Pronovias Collection wedding gown. We always love photographing our couples in unique venue’s environments, but when Aimee offered to us added time for a solo bridal session in the Mansion, we fell in love with the idea!

 

The Patrick Haley Mansion was built in 1889 and is a historical wedding venue described as stately and impressive. The Mansion is decorated with antique period furniture and includes the full use of the entire inside and the outside building’s grounds – - access is to the Mansion’s historical three floors on South side of the property and it includes to the North the grand ballroom, conservatory and outside garden. The mix of venue styles is “vintage history, plus sophistication” all-in-one for a visually impressive and memorable wedding event space! We loved it. ( And Aimeé told us she did too. ) Opting for the indoor ceremony option, as M+A’s April Spring day was sunny but a little chilly, their sun filled indoor space was ideal for indoor, ceremony photography and lighting. The conservatory’s floor to ceiling windows and the golden sun shining was magical. After dinner, the venue converted the conservatory space providing the perfect stage for their choreographed wedding’s first dance under the ceiling’s atrium skylights.

 

Just to name a few, of the many details, we loved… the handcrafted hurricane candle lit table centerpieces, subtle touches of soft pink at each table, the “Bella Rosa” gold sugar lined pink martini wedding cocktail drinks created in honor of Mike + Aimeé, the opening of the ceremony when a guest speaker spoke to Mike prior to Aimeé’s entry at the ceremony, and the various reception moments ( such as the elegant first dance, desserts and the added venue’s architectural highlights. ) There were too many beautiful individualized touches on Mike and Aimeé’s day to list – details were around every corner. We enjoyed the bridal party who as a group were dressed an a modern vintage and elegant style. For Aimeé and her bridesmaid’s, as a pleasant alternative to holding flowers, the ladies carried white satin clutches and accessorized with contrasting black gloves. Aimee’s Barcelona dress was paired with a Spanish fan and family heirloom handkerchief. Her eye catching, cathedral length veil next to Mike’s distinctive suit’s fittings, all composed their regal wedding day style. A stunning couple and fantastic bridal party group to photograph!

 

Thank you Mike + Aimeé again in choosing us as your wedding photographers! We are so happy a past client of ours Joshua + Stacy referred you to us. We loved every moment of your wedding, the personalized details, the historic venue and working with the two of you. We wish your new marriage all the best. Enjoy your Punta Cana, Dominican honeymoon trip + best wishes to a happily wedded future together.”

 

 

 

Revisit our September 2009 engagement photo session with Mike + Aimee.

 

Mike + Aimee’s bridal session, wedding and reception venue all took place at Patrick C. Haley Mansion patrickhaleymansion.com. in Joliet Illinois. Wedding day planning and coordination by Holly Coan from A Passion For Weddings apassionforweddings.com. Mike + Aimee’s first dance instructor was Elena at Tinley Park Fred Astaire Dance Studio fredastairetinleypark.com. Aimee’s arranged a week prior to her wedding a trip to New York to pick up her wedding gown from Pronovias’s New York City Flagship Store. To view more stunning dresses by the Barcelona dress designer Pronovias, visit pronovias.com.