Val and Brad’s Hotel Baker Family Affair
Val and Brad have been friends for a long time, and they found their friendship grew after they each navigated divorce after kids. They bonded and soon fell in love, but their amazing children also developed a beautiful connection with each other. As this family relationship grew stronger…
Val and Brad have been friends for a long time, and they found their friendship grew after they each navigated divorce after kids. They bonded and soon fell in love, but their amazing children also developed a beautiful connection with each other. As this family relationship grew stronger, Val’s daughters and Brad’s son REALLY wanted them to get married. Val and Brad’s kids were the driving force behind them deciding to get married, and they were SO excited when that day finally arrived.
Set against the charming backdrop of the Hotel Baker in St. Charles along the Fox River, Val and Brad’s wedding day was nothing short of perfect. Our friend Elyse of Two Sisters Events served as day-of coordinator to make sure everything went smoothly and created the most GORGEOUS bouquets and arrangements for the wedding. Val looked absolutely STUNNING in her form-fitting gown from Crystal Bride. It was such a sweet moment when her daughters helped her into her wedding dress!
Congratulations, Val and Brad, we wish you and your beautiful family a lifetime of happiness together!
To see all of Val and Brad’s beautiful wedding photos, click here
VENDOR DETAILS
VENUE
Hotel Baker
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY
Something Blue
FLORALS & DAY-OF COORDINATION
Two Sisters Events
Something YOU – Liz
I have known Liz since high school, but through Something Blue I have gotten to know her better as we know both gracefully slide into our forties. Liz sent me a message a few days before our spring Something You event asking if she could join us…
I have known Liz since high school, but through Something Blue I have gotten to know her better as we know both gracefully slide into our forties. Liz sent me a message a few days before our spring Something You event asking if she could join us – I was thrilled to hear from her and even happier to have the opportunity to reconnect at this session! While Elisa worked her magic pampering Liz, I loved being able to hear about her adventures abroad and the ways she has grown over the last few years. Liz, you inspired me that morning to be more confident, to take ownership and move forward with courage. Christy took some gorgeous photos of Liz that day, these are just a few of our favorites.
We hope to see you again soon, Liz, thank you for joining us at the studio for this Something You session!
Something YOU – Nancy’s Warrior Session
Nancy was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer last year – she underwent an 11 hour surgery to remove most of the cancer before starting chemotherapy in November. She is one of Christy’s closest friends, and Christy wanted to honor Nancy with this Something You session.
When we first envisioned our Something YOU sessions, we wanted to create a portrait experience that would empower women and help them feel beautiful regardless of their circumstances. It has been such a joy doing these sessions for a wide variety of women, women who all inspire us in different ways. This session was honestly one of the most inspiring and beautiful moments I have ever experienced as a photographer. Christy invited her amazing friend Nancy to join us at the studio, and it was an unforgettable morning.
Nancy was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer last year – she underwent an 11 hour surgery to remove most of the cancer before starting chemotherapy in November. She is one of Christy’s closest friends, and Christy wanted to honor Nancy with this Something You session. She wasn’t sure if her friend would be up for doing something like this, after all it requires a ton of courage and vulnerability to get your photo taken ANY time, but at this particular time in her life Nancy was facing so much uncertainty.
With the help of the incredibly talented Elisa of Elisa Artistry, Nancy was pampered as she mentally prepared for her session. Christy is amazing at making everyone feel comfortable, and once she started shooting Nancy really began to open up and show her amazing personality. The narrative arc of these photos is so stunning to me; she started the session reserved and unsure of herself, and before long was owning every pose and absolutely KILLING it. She absolutely rocked both of her glamorous wigs (which her dear friend and cheerleader Stacy helped her fix and style throughout the shoot). One of our favorite moments was when Nancy started flicking off the camera while wearing the cancer awareness shirts that her incredible friends had made for her.
After Christy captured tons of gorgeous shots of Nancy in her wigs, we asked if she would feel comfortable taking off her wig for some photographs. Nancy bravely agreed, and we all cried along with her as she exposed her bald head. Her strength, courage and vulnerability is amazing, we are in awe of this beautiful woman.
The Monday after this session Nancy went to her doctor for a scan. The scan came back clear, meaning she is now showing no evidence of disease!! What awesome news to celebrate!
Thank you, Nancy, for being so amazing and sharing your story and journey with us. It was an honor to take these photographs for you.
To see all of Nancy’s Something You photos, click here
Something YOU – Donna Marie’s Warrior Session
Two weeks after she was released from the hospital, my dear friend Donna Marie agreed to come to our studio for a Something You session. From these photos you would never know that DM is someone who has fought many long and scary battles for her health…
Two weeks after she was released from the hospital, my dear friend Donna Marie agreed to come to our studio for a Something You session. From these photos you would never know that DM is someone who has fought many long and scary battles for her health. Over the past year DM experienced recurrent concussions and spent many long days recovering - time spent away from screens, in her room with the shades drawn, waiting for her brain to recover and hoping for life to go back to “normal.” But the nature of chronic concussions is unforgiving and unrelenting, and Donna Marie has lost a lot over the last year. Then early in March complications from a uterine disease Adenomyosis and a bad reaction to medication left DM hospitalized with blood clots in her legs and lungs. Told she could die from the clots, told she could die from bleeding from the fibroids. This woman is a F I G H T E R, fierce in every sense of the word and an inspiration to SO many. I was so happy when she agreed to come honor the strength and beauty of her body by doing these photos, and of course she simply SLAYED her session!
Donna Marie brought her amazing bestie Tajali along for moral support (or I should say, Taj drove DM because she’s an absolute gem and has been supporting DM through her ongoing crisis). Once DM finished with her sexy modeling moments Taj and I hopped in for a few quick pictures. But the palpable power of celebrating Donna Marie’s life and strength got the better of all of us and we ended the session in tears. What a beautiful thing it is when women empower women.
