“Just about anyone would say long distance relationships can be tough. But we were wondering if planning a wedding long distance is even harder? Well Maggie + Dave have experience in both! The couple met while on vacation and traveling out of the country. At that time, Maggie lived in Illinois and Dave in Minnesota, but the distances between them didn’t stop them from writing a few letters and texting notes to each other after the trip ended. After all Dave knew he’d be traveling to Chicago once in awhile for his job and perhaps he’d be able to stop by and see Maggie again. Then on one unplanned weekend day, an unexpected text turned into the day they would reunite. Here’s Maggie’s details of that story:

 

“Dave and I’s story began in Acapulco, Mexico, during college Spring Break. We knew we had a connection the minute we saw each other, but there was little we could do about it because I lived in Chicago and he lived in Minneapolis, so we decided to stay “pen pals” after the trip. A year later, Dave came to Chicago with some friends and randomly gave me a call to say hi. As it turned out, he was at the bar LITERALLY right next to where I was with my friends. We met up for a drink and then pretty much immediatly decided to give this long distance thing a shot. This quickly turned into one of us getting on a plane almost every weekend to see the other. In fact, we even had a few “date nights” where Dave flew to Chicago on a weeknight after work, and took a 6AM flight so he was back at work in MN the next morning. Luckily it’s only a 50 minute flight! I paid him back by finally moving to MN after two and a half years of the flying back and forth!” Thanks for sharing this story Maggie. And thank you also in you both taking that same 50 min flight home after this photo session.

 

Dave + Maggie were a fun couple to photograph, we had a great time downtown with them. Instantly we felt like we were hanging out with two of our best friends. To those who already know Dave, you likely already know he’s a pretty hilarious guy. He definitely has a humorous side to his personality and additionally he’s absolutely in love with his stunning fiancé Maggie. Maggie’s incredibly smart, sweet, and as you can see a gorgeous blonde beauty. As a couple together, there’s a lot of chemistry and they are a perfect match for each other. While out on the couple’s downtown Chicago engagement photography session, we were all laughing nearly the entire day. Especially because of Dave’s welcoming and inviting sense of humor ( and at one point he even started dancing an Irish jig. ) Thanks Dave in keeping us the photographers laughing, and in keeping Maggie also smiling.

 

These two booked us as their wedding and engagement photographers from out of state and from Minnesota. So before this engagement session, we actually never spoke nor met in person. :) We corresponded prior to each other all via email. So when brainstorming the couple’s fashions and engagement photography stops for the day, we emailed about a few ideas. As soon as Maggie mentioned her and Dave would be staying downtown at one of their regular and favorite choices in city hotels, we decided why not plan for some time to shoot inside at that hotel? The venue fit the couple’s preferred look for a unique and modern photo backdrop. We loved inside the drama and pink uplighting adding to a fashion and edgy style. And in D+M flying in, having only the one single day in town, we in turn needed regardless of warm and dry weather a place to capture the photos. The hotel was a perfect solution. With some decent weather, we were luckily able to shoot outside of the hotel photographing in a few of our favorite outdoor spots, capturing engagement photography under the Chicago L train tracks, along the lake shore where the Lake Michigan water was so still and beautiful, and in front of the night skyline last. We always love mixing in of a number of photographic styles, some fashion inspired, some artistic, and some urban and dramatic. Thanks Maggie + Dave in being so open to all of our photo ideas. Looking forward to your September wedding! We know it’s going to be a fabulous celebration. Can’t wait to see you two again, in the gown and tux this time.”

 

 

 

♥ Maggie + Dave are planning their wedding events to take place here in Chicago-land. Maggie says she choose Illinois because the wedding belongs in the bride’s home state and friends & family are very excited for the occasion. The ceremony will be at Ceremony at St. Mary of Vernon in the town of Indian Creek + the reception at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel.

“Athena loves pink and the plans for her and Jimmy’s wedding day is to incorporate a few pink details. For J+A’s engagement session, I was in love with her pink pumps! Well… we were basically a fan with all their purchased fashionable pieces they wore. ( Thanks Athena + Jimmy in putting together such great looks for your session. ) We loved the two’s fashion sense and the gorgeousness they brought to the photo shoot. Jimmy arrived prepped for the pictures and was looking stylish in his indigo tie and rocking few of his favorite pairs of sneakers. We learned another early wedding day detail, not only are we to expect pink, but Jimmy will be wearing one of his favorite pairs of shoes along with his suit. He admitted he has a sincere love for shoes.

 

The weather unfortunately wasn’t being very cooperative for photography. Although, luckily we had already planned for a unique indoor location which Jimmy had provided us special access to. ( Jimmy works for a leading catering and restaurant company in the city. ) So having a warm and dry location previously arranged, helped us in proceeding with the engagement photo session as planned. But when the time came to shoot outdoors, we hid the best we could from some amazing wind gusts and even away from a few light rain sprinkles. Later however, there was no way of shielding ourselves from the blustering “windy” city when it came time to capture the skyline photo. It was bitterly cold!! J+A were so determined to fight the wind and below freezing cold temps, all to capture the perfect shot. ( The skyline was their must have for their save the date announcement. So that factor, provided them with some real determination. ) The water’s river edge and skyline was a favorite location of Jimmy + Athena’s because their Chicago River’s waterfront wedding is set to take place near this exact spot. Dinner, dancing and festivities will take place along the water and at Fulton’s on the River. Jimmy works in the restaurant industry, so naturally we’re excepting some spectacular food. Beyond a great food selection, we’re also in love with the Fulton’s location as their venue choice. It offers a outdoor terrace, the Chicago river venue location, a and contemporary inside cement and glass modern room. Paired with amazing food, all this make for fantastic choice in a downtown wedding restaurant reception venue. On the night Jimmy proposed, he also hand selected a perfect and one of the most romantic spots in Chicago of locations to propose. Here’s Athena’s memories from that day.

 

“It was a cold Saturday in March and Jimmy had just returned from Omaha, Nebraska, where he had spent over a month opening up a new restaurant. It had been rough being away from each other for so long and he promised me that we would go out for a nice dinner when he got back. He even told me to get all dolled up! He didn’t tell me where we were going though, but I figured it was one of our favorite spots and considering he always loves surprising me I didn’t think anything of it. We arrived at Vivo , a small, cozy rustic Italian restaurant located in the Randolph Street restaurant district. When we arrived, the restaurant was absolutely packed, and as the hostess walked us to our table I couldn’t see an open table in sight that she would be able to seat us at. As we approached the back of the dining room, she directed us to walk up a narrow spiral staircase that I had never noticed being there before. As we approached the top, we arrived to a table that was hidden in a room behind a thick set of velvet curtains. This was the famous hidden Table 70 perched inside an old elevator shaft. It has been the secret table amongst the likes of Oprah, Michael Jordan, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and the Grateful Dead, it’s absolutely impossible to get a reservation for! We were seated at this secret table overlooking the whole dining room 20 feet in the air. The view was stunning. Awaiting us was a beautiful arrangement of flowers that had been delivered to the table with all my favorites, orchids, roses, hydrangea, it was gorgeous! Knowing that I am champagne fanatic, Jimmy ordered a bottle of my favorite Ruinart, Brut Vintage Rosé. It was delicious! We chatted the evening away, about how we have both changed each other’s lives and how we couldn’t possibly imagine life without each other. Jimmy talked about the future and how much he loved me more than anything in the world, and how he couldn’t believe that he had found his soul mate. Our secret elevator shaft had two thick velvet curtains adorning it and Jimmy stood up and shut the curtains leaving us in total silence away from the dining room below. As he stood up, he looked down at me and told me that I was the most beautiful person in the world and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life loving me. He then motioned for me to get up and give him a kiss… as I did, he dropped down to his left knee and held out a box with a stunning diamond ring… The surprises weren’t done for the evening though… uncharacteristically, Jimmy didn’t order dessert which I thought was strange considering I LOVE everything chocolate. He said we could go for coffee and sweets somewhere else to spice things up. We arrived in Greek Town to one of our favorite coffee shops, Artopolis – where Jimmy had secretly invited our family and friends to come and share in our happiness. I was in heaven, I couldn’t of asked for anything more – it was PERFECT!”

 

The Table 70 and private room at Vivo sounds and looks breathtaking. What an amazing story, thanks for sharing! We can’t wait to be a part of your wedding day story. Look forward to seeing you both again in a few months for the big day. Hope you enjoy our favorites we included in this engagement photography blog post. Talk to you soon.”

 

 

 

♥ Athena + Jimmy’s ceremony is set to take place at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. The couple’s evening reception will take place at Fulton’s on the River. Looking for a unique reception venue choice, we suggest checking into Fulton’s. We love the riverfront setting, industrial cement loft feeling, columns and raw exposure to the City’s nightlife, river frontage setting, passing boats and the waterway. It’s the perfect August and summer wedding venue. With the outdoor terrace and being steps from the high-rise buildings, what a memorable Chicago kind of place to celebrate with friends and family a recent marriage.

 

We loved J+A’s fashion style. Athena’s outfits were purchased at Akira Chicago, Bebe and Neiman Marcus Her shoes were all purchased from Nordstrom. Jimmy’s outfits and his sneakers ( which Athena says he owns too many to remember ) were purchased at Nordstrom as well. Athena’s make-up completed at the MAC store in Oak Brook. Although Athena says she has a hair stylist she goes to religiously, she styled her own hair for this session.

 

Looking for a romantic location to propose? This venue is a former fruit market and is located in the Randolph Street restaurant district in Chicago’s West Loop. Check out Vivo. The restaurant also offers a unique space for ceremonies and wedding receptions. To view a photo of the most romantic restaurant table for a proposal and read about the infamous Table 70, check out this article published by Michigan Ave Magazine.