Jenni & Dan’s Romantic Wilder Mansion Wedding

Aug 11

Jenni and Dan are both teachers, they were on the same middle school “team” and quickly became close friends. One day Dan asked Jenni to go bowling with him after work, after she reluctantly said yes that game started a long streak of Dan beating Jenni at just about everything from bowling to mini golf (with the exception of volleyball!) Their strong and natural connection they have kept them close through the ups and downs of life. After 7 years of teaching together, approximately 700 of the same students taught and 5 years of dating Dan got down on one knee in downtown Chicago and asked Jenni to marry him. She enthusiastically said ‘yes!’ and their adventure toward becoming husband and wife began!

I got to know Jenni and Dan at their beautiful engagement session last Summer at Lake Katherine Nature Center. It was easy and fun to explore with Jenni and Dan, they share a quiet devotion to one another that is truly a joy to witness. Leading up to their wedding day, we asked Jenni and Dan to answer the question “what moment of your wedding day are you most looking forward to?” Their answer says so much about who these two are as a couple, they said “The little alone time we will have with one another to soak in the moment.”

When their wedding day arrived, we met up with Jenni and her bridesmaids at the gorgeous Wilder Mansion in Elmhurst. Christy and I joked that we could shoot at Wilder Mansion every single weekend and be thrilled, this beautiful historic home is filled with tons of natural light and one big empty room after another! It’s like a giant and gorgeous photo studio! Jenni looked radiant as she got ready for her “first look” with Dan – he was a little nervous but once he saw his gorgeous bride that all seemed to disappear.

Jenni and Dan exchanged private vows right after their first look (one of our favorite “new” traditions!) We had the best time taking pictures of Jenni and Dan and their wedding party at Wilder Mansion before and after their beautiful rose garden ceremony. Before long we loaded up and moved the celebration to Drury Lane where their guests were all waiting to start the party. We loved every moment of this romantic day, it was an honor to be alongside Jenni and Dan as they began their married lives together!