“We loved spending the day with Ian + Erica. For their extremely unique, urban Chicago engagement photos session. I+E were so awesome to work with, we loved their trendy high-fashion style and had a great time exploring some crazy City shooting spots.

 

When we met Ian + Erica last Winter, we learned Ian is a talented, Chicago DJ who’s spins at some serious National music venues. Check out his Facebook page or blog. Last year alone, Big Once “Ian” rocked crowds from LA to Brooklyn, opened for Cypress Hill and Z-Trip in the same night, recorded with members of the Wu-Tang Clan, and has played nearly every live venue and club in Chicago at least once, including Lollapalooza. Places which his bio refers to as the slickest downtown clubs, or the grimiest hip-hop dives. Once our schedule lessens up a bit, we can’t wait to head out for a night out to listen in person. In the meanwhile, we enjoy streaming his mixes.

 

Ian + Erica said once they found our wedding photo blog, they knew our edgy photographic style was a perfect match for their personalities. Miller + Miller enjoys putting individually a style for each of our couples in their own preferred photo environments. I+E’s love our pics that incorporate graffiti and the raw decay, urban location settings – we had no problem working with that. ( With Ryan’s early artistic start as a slightly rebellious teen + graffiti artist, he and Ian instantly bonded about graffiti. ) Not to mention, we love Ian’s eclectic mix of dub step, drum and bass and hip-hop music style that Big Once spins and felt inspired while listening to it up until their shoot last week. After talking with Erica, we found both of our relationships ironically started with music in common early in both of their relationships and also their connection because of mutual friends. We couldn’t live without music… a huge inspiration for our art, creativity + life.

 

Many thanks to you Ian + Erica in exploring the City and hiring us as your engagement and wedding day photographers. It was fun putting all of our artistic, brains altogether coming up with unique shooting spots and unique, urban engagement photos of the two of you. We have so many favorite images from your session. Looking forward to your upcoming wedding – in only a little over two weeks!! Can’t wait to hear your comments about the pics!”

 

 

Ian + Erica’s June Chicago wedding is at The Stan Mansion located within Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. The venue is described as an idyllic place to host a storybook wedding. The mansion features ornate décor and an auditorium which includes a stage. Erica was describing the place, colors and the lighting they’ve planned for their day. We can hardly wait to for their wedding day and are looking forward to meeting all of Erica + Ian’s family, friends and other music industry friends… not to mention, we can’t wait for some unique out of the norm wedding day music to help celebrate with.

 

↑ ↑ Be sure to watch Monica and Tomás’ YouTube Save the Date invitation video above. This creative stop motion flick was crafted by Tomás’ sister! ↑ ↑

“Wow, this was one smokin’ hot shoot! And what a stunning couple, meet Monica + Tomás. While discussing with Monica, their urban Chicago engagement session, she mentioned that they’d first love capturing a few softer photos at a nearby park where Tomás proposed and discussed incorporating their bikes in the engagement photos. Tomás said he can hardly live without his bike while living in Chicago – it’s a huge necessity even in the Winter months for him in getting around. After a bike through the park, we transitions M+T’s shoot’s focus into our popular high-fashion engagement photography style. We loved the intensity we captured of M+T, the day’s perfect sunset, urban locations, train tracks, graffiti wall and industrial looks, they all came together so well during this session.

 

We really enjoyed learning about how Monica and Tomás met and became college sweethearts. Tomás’ life experience was also very interesting. He lived two blocks from the World Trade Center Twin Towers in lower Manhattan during the 911 attacks of 2001. Tomás witnessed up close and personal one of the biggest tragedies in human history while losing his home and possessions due to debris and destruction. It was a very compelling and humbling story, thank you Tomás for sharing it with us… However Tomás did start his life over, making a dramatic change, by picking up and moving himself to Wisconsin meeting Monica, who changed his life forever.

 

Monica + Tomás are looking forward to their June Chicago wedding celebrations. The rehearsal dinner will be hosted at the colorful venue Carnivale and the ceremony + reception at the impressive Pazzo’s within the 311 South Wacker Drive, Chicago Loop building. With Monica originally from South Dakota and Tomás from Brooklyn, having a midwest wedding and bringing their families together for a Chicago City wedding is picture perfect. M+T hired the expertise of Marcy Alspach and her team at Here Comes the Party wedding event planning company. We can’t wait to see all of the special touches Marcy’s putting together for their wedding day.

 

Having another windy Chicago day for this photo session, didn’t phase M+T even the slightest. For the evening shots, Monica’s Chicago boutique lime green dress looked gorgeous and we actually loved the added element the gusty winds brought to the shoot… the touch of blowing wind added an edgy, editorial style to so many of the shots. Oh and Tomás… you looked pretty good too wink, wink. With too many great photo options, editing was a challenge narrowing the photos down to just these blog favorites – we hope you enjoy them Monica + Tomás! Thanks again for dinner at New Line Tavern – what a fun place to eat food, drink Guinness and sip wine. We enjoyed spending the day with you. Talk to you soon!!”

 

 

 

We are excited to announce a few of M+T’s Chicago engagement pictures have been featured on the www.trendsettingwedding.com blog. Check’em out!