Grace & Ian’s Perfect Glen Club Wedding
Grace and Ian met at their residence hall during their Freshman year at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. They quickly became friends and spent a lot of time together throughout their first two years of college. Grace and Ian officially started dating Junior year when Grace took the leap . . .
Grace and Ian met at their residence hall during their Freshman year at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. They quickly became friends and spent a lot of time together throughout their first two years of college. Grace and Ian officially started dating Junior year when Grace took the leap and grabbed Ian's hand during a football game. They walked home to Grace's apartment and spent the whole day laughing and talking and have been inseparable since. Ian chose to propose at the Terrace in Madison to honor where their love story first began.
When I first met Grace and Ian I was struck by how beautiful and joyful Grace is. She is truly a treasure, and her and Ian fit together perfectly. I loved getting to know this sweet couple (and their incredibly cute puppy!) at their engagement session last Fall. We had so much fun exploring together in spite of the unpleasant Chicago Fall weather! Fast-forward to their wedding day this October and sadly the midwest weather was not on our side again. But Grace, in her awesomeness, was up for anything and wanted to power through and still take photos outside at the Chicago Botanic Garden as planned!! After Grace and Ian did their first look at The Glen Club we made our way to the Botanic Garden – it was raining on the drive there but thankfully it let up just as we were parking. Grace bounded out of the party bus with a broad smile on her face, she was ready for anything and happy to drag Ian and the rest of their wedding party along for photos : ) It was blustery but so beautiful at the Botanic Garden, we would joyfully photograph there every weekend if we could! Grace looked radiant and Ian was so happy to be alongside his gorgeous bride, it was such a special afternoon.
After we finished photos at the Botanic Garden we went back to the Glen Club for Grace and Ian’s ceremony. Everything looked so beautiful thanks to the talented team at Flowers by Stem, these were some of the most gorgeous wedding florals we saw all year. Grace and Ian exchanged their vows under a magnificent chuppah that was later transformed into the prettiest head table for their reception. We snuck outside for a few more pictures of Grace and Ian once they were officially husband and wife, the grounds at the Glen Club are beautiful and we had a really dramatic sky thanks to that unpleasant midwest weather from earlier.
When it was time for the reception we were treated to emotional toasts from Grace’s Dad and sister. After a delicious meal and amazing cake from The Baking Institute (with THE most intricate sugar flowers!) we were surprised by an adorable choreographed first dance. Grace and Ian are just magical together, we loved being part of this unforgettable day!
Congratulations, Grace and Ian, we love you and wish you a lifetime of happiness together!
To see all of Grace and Ian’s gorgeous wedding photos, click here
VENDOR DETAILS
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY
Something Blue
WEDDING VENUE
The Glen Club
FLORIST
Flowers by Stem
DAY-OF COORDINATOR
Valerie Burian
HAIR & MAKEUP
Beauty by Anne Krause
WEDDING CAKE
The Baking Institute
WEDDING RINGS
I Gorman Jewelers
BRIDAL GOWN BOUTIQUE
Diana’s Bridal
BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES
Azazie
April & Chris’ Beautiful Beverly Country Club Wedding
April and Chris met in 2014 through mutual friends and immediately hit it off. They say “opposites attract” and that is true for these two, but they are perfect for each other. She fell in love with his selflessness and loving personality . . .
April and Chris met in 2014 through mutual friends and immediately hit it off. They say “opposites attract” and that is true for these two, but they are perfect for each other. She fell in love with his selflessness and loving personality for those he cares about most. He fell in love with her sense of humor, easy going attitude and patience.
Last year I met April and Chris at Graue Mill for the perfect Fall engagement session. I had so much fun with these two and was really excited to celebrate their wedding this year! Ashley, Conrad and I all first went to April’s parents’ house for getting ready photos and thought that April looked absolutely stunning in her Essense of Australia wedding gown. After a sweet “first look” with her Dad we made the short trip to her childhood church for their wedding ceremony.
April and Chris were married at St. Christina Parish where many couples from April’s family have also celebrated their weddings, including her parents. In fact, April’s Uncle presided over their beautiful traditional ceremony! After they became husband and wife we were treated to THE most organized extended family photos ever, they had point-people ready with lists to make sure everyone knew just where to be! They made our jobs so easy!! But our favorite moment at the church was catching some photos of April and Chris in the beautiful glow of St. Christina’s stained glass windows, the rainbow light playing off of April’s veil was so incredibly beautiful.
After the ceremony we traveled to Lake Catherine for wedding party photos, what an amazing location! We would love to go back to Lake Catherine again, it really was the perfect backdrop for all of our group photos along with some quiet and beautiful moments with the newlyweds. From there we settled in at the Beverly Country Club for an unforgettable celebration.
Chris and April spent time mingling with their guests during cocktail hour, but we had to sneak them out onto the course for THE most gorgeous sunset we have ever seen. Conrad got some hilarious video footage of Chris’ famous “Lieutenant Dan” wave while we were on the course, April always cracks up when he does that!
The reception room at the Beverly smelled SO good thanks to the amazing donut wall created by Donut Dudes Chicago. Honestly I have never been so tempted by a dessert at a wedding! Once April and Chris were introduced they were treated to several emotional and hilarious toasts before settling into a delicious dinner. As the party continued guests were treated to a surprise performance by the Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society of the Chicago Police Department. Everyone loved hearing their celebratory performance, it was the perfect ending to the perfect night!
Congratulations, April and Chris, we love you and wish you a lifetime of happiness together!
To see all of April and Chris’ beautiful wedding photos, click here
VENDOR DETAILS
Photography & Videography
Something Blue
Wedding Dress
Essence of Australia from Something Blue Bridal Boutique
Hair
Mary Schleyer
Makeup
Becky Quijano
Bridesmaid Dresses
Bill Levkoff
Menswear
Men’s Warehouse
Florist
Redberry Floral
Desserts
Creative Cakes
DJ
Don’t Stop the Music Entertainment
Wedding Coordinator
Pam Lohman
Emily & Mark’s Perfect Rolling Green Country Club Wedding
Emily and Mark met at a wedding in 2016 (on the shuttle to the after party to be more precise). The bus driver wouldn't move because Mark was standing in the aisle so Emily offered her lap for him to sit. They then talked the rest of the night . . .
Emily and Mark met at a wedding in 2016 (on the shuttle to the after party to be more precise). The bus driver wouldn't move because Mark was standing in the aisle so Emily offered her lap for him to sit. They then talked the rest of the night and the rest is history.
When we met up with Emily and her bridesmaids at the hotel for getting ready photos, we knew we were in for a treat. The girls were all SO laid back and fun, we laughed and laughed as Emily put on her gorgeous Jenny Yoo gown. Emily rocked a pair of white Birks on her wedding day and gifted her groom with his own new pair, one of the many things these two share in common!
Emily arrived at Rolling Green Country Club and saw Mark right away, their First Look was so sweet. As we explored the grounds throughout the day it was clear how much Mark loves Emily, he honestly couldn’t take his eyes off her. After their emotional ceremony we settled in for a beautiful reception inside the club. And then Emily and Mark treated their guest so THE most delicious tacos ever for a late-night snack, it was the perfect ending to the perfect day!
Congratulations, Emily and Mark, we love you and wish you a lifetime of happiness together!
To see all of Emily and Mark’s beautiful wedding photos, click here
VENDOR DETAILS
Photography
SomethingSomething Blue PhotographyBlue Photography
Wedding Dress
Jenny Yoo from BHLDN
Hair
Emily Lauf
Makeup
Alyssa Lynn
Bridesmaid Dresses
Azazie
Wedding Shoes
Birkenstock
Menswear
Suit Shop
Florist
Joanna From Donna’’s Garden Flower Shop
Desserts
Lovin Oven
DJ
T&R ProductT&R Productionsons
Wedding Coordinator
Nicki Padilla-Mack
Videographer
Something Blue Photography
Bridget + Joel’s Romantic Micro Wedding
Bridget and Joel were the first of their friends to get engaged, and while they had to dramatically change their wedding plans in the wake of Covid-19 they still managed to have the most romantic and beautiful micro wedding this summer.
Bridget and Joel were the first of their friends from Purdue to get engaged, and while they had to dramatically change their wedding plans in the wake of Covid-19 they still managed to have the most romantic and beautiful micro wedding this summer. Conrad and Lindsay had such a great time celebrating with this adorable couple and their incredibly supportive friends - Lindsay said that Bridget’s bridesmaids were oohing and aahing the whole day, she said we wished we could rent them out for cheering all of our couples on!
One of our favorite moments from any wedding day is when the Father of the Bride first sees his little girl as a bride. There is something so emotional and beautiful in that moment that we will never get tired of. Bridget’s Dad was emotional all day, his reaction to seeing her and that moment just before he walked her down he aisle was incredibly touching. He even got teary when he did his backyard toast after their ceremony, it was so sweet. We are so thankful for this wonderful couple, what a joy to be part of this beautiful day.
Congratulations, Bridget and Joel, we love you and wish you a lifetime of happiness together!
To see all of Bridget and Joel’s beautiful wedding photos, click here
Cassidy + Brad’s Romantic Backyard Wedding
Cassidy and Brad planned a big wedding celebration with 300 guests at The Metropolis Ballroom of Arlington Heights. When Covid-19 forced them to reconsider their original plans, they decided to still exchange their vows in front of about half of their guest list in the beautiful sanctuary of St. James, one of our favorite local churches. They live-streamed the ceremony for the guests who couldn’t attend, and after they were pronounced husband and wife they hopped into a pretty black Corvette to celebrate. When we arrived with the newlyweds in downtown Arlington Heights at the Arlington Alfresco we were greeted by plenty of excited cheers from the community. It was truly beautiful to see the joy that this sweet couple gave to so many of our neighbors; just by walking through the downtown hand in hand, happily newly married, Cassidy and Brad brought so much hope to everyone who saw them that day. After making a few stops downtown for photos we went back to for a sweet and simple backyard barbecue to celebrate, and while it wasn’t the grand party they originally envisioned it was still the perfect party for this couple. We were so thankful to be along for the ride, watching these two get married gave us hope when we needed it, too.
Congratulations, Cassidy and Brad, we love you and wish you a lifetime of happiness together!
To see all of Cassidy and Brad’s romantic wedding photos, click here
Courtney + Elliott's Whirlwind Chicago Wedding Weekend
Courtney and Elliott originally planned to marry in May, but of course the pandemic forced them to change their plans. They moved their celebration to December, and snuck away to Valparaiso and became husband and wife with only a government official with a polaroid camera to snap a quick and unflattering shot of the newlyweds. After they were legally married their thinking shifted to planning a winter wedding at Rockwell on the River, but Courtney’s mom felt uneasy in early August about the likelihood of a large celebration being possible this winter as Covid-19 continued to grind the events industry to a halt. With only a week to plan, Courtney’s mom Wendy put together a whirlwind wedding weekend for her daughter that was truly amazing.
We met downtown that Friday morning for a day of bridal portraits at some of Courtney and Elliott’s favorite Chicago landmarks - Millennium Park, The Art Institute of Chicago, River North and Wrigley Field. We had so much fun exploring together - at one point Courtney boldly hiked up her wedding dress to scale a fence at Millennium Park for the perfect shot! It was such a perfect way to get lots of gorgeous photos of the two of them in their wedding clothes!
On Saturday we convened at Rockwell on the River for their micro wedding. I was expecting the venue to feel empty only set for 20 guests, but I was truly amazed at how beautiful it was inside. The chuppah was the center of attention and looked so elegant, while off to the right tables were set for their ketubah signing, cocktail hour and dinner. It was truly the perfect backdrop for their traditional wedding ceremonies. While Courtney and Elliott’s marriage story was anything but traditional, their love shone through the celebrations. The star of the show was their adorable rescue puppy MJ, she made the most adorable ring bearer!! It was truly a beautiful weekend and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to be a part of it.
Congratulations, Courtney and Elliot, we love you and wish you a lifetime of happiness together!
To see all of Courtney and Elliot’s beautiful wedding photos, click here
Jenna and AJ’s Pretty Micro Wedding
Jenna and AJ met through mutual friends and time spent together at The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. They fell in love over a shared passion for performing and grew to become each other’s biggest cheerleaders. When they decided to get married in 2020 they envisioned a big celebration with their friends and family, but of course the pandemic had different plans for all of our Something Blue couples. So Jenna and AJ scrambled to rearrange their wedding plans and pushed their big celebration to 2021. But in rescheduling they realized that being married couldn’t wait, and they chose to celebrate with an intimate micro wedding on their original wedding date.
I can honestly say, this tiny wedding with only a handful of guests in masks carried bigger emotions than we are accustomed to witnessing on most wedding days. Jenna surprised everyone by wearing her wedding gown, a sparkly confection that made her look like a Disney princess. Her best friend and new mother in law’s reactions to seeing Jenna in her gown when they were expecting a simple modest dress were some of my favorite moments on this sweet and magical day.
When Jenna walked down the short aisle at Hey Nonny, AJ held back tears seeing his best friend as a beautiful bride. They exchanged hand-written vows in front of their parents, siblings, and just a couple friends before joyfully exchanging rings and sharing their first kiss as husband and wife. It was simple and perfect.
After some celebratory pictures we went outside onto the Arlington Alfresco where Jenna and AJ’s wedding party surprised them with homemade signs, balloons and plenty of love. The newlyweds’ shock and joy at seeing their wedding party there waiting for them was beyond emotional, I was definitely wiping tears away from behind the camera. That show of support was so beautiful, and I truly cannot wait to get to know this amazing group better as we all celebrate together in 2021.
Congratulations, Jenna and AJ, we can’t wait to celebrate with you next year!
To see all of Jenna and AJ’s sweet micro wedding photos, click here
Isabel + Nik’s Garden Wedding
Conrad and I walk together almost every day. We wander the streets of Arlington Heights talking about important work things, important life things. These walks keep us healthy and grounded. Our favorite walks happen close to home, we love exploring our Scarsdale neighborhood just beyond the parking lot of our studio. There are so many beautiful homes and friendly faces in our neighborhood.
In April I received a phone call from Jane, a neighbor who saw our studio (well, our adorable Happy Blue Camper) on her own walk through Scarsdale. From that first phone call I knew that Jane would not only be a client but become a friend. And that is why I love this job. Because in the dealings of business I am blessed to meet amazing friends along the way.
Jane called me looking for someone to document her daughter’s wedding in June. Isabel and Nik had originally planned to get married abroad, but Covid-19 had other plans. So in the swirling chaos of this spring Jane worked to give her daughter a wedding to remember. And we were blessed to be a part of it. This micro wedding was attended only by Jane’s immediate family but we streamed the whole affair so that Nik’s family in Germany and Isabel’s friends in the states could be there.
This small, intimate backyard wedding was filled with big, beautiful moments. Bursting with love that carried across the Atlantic. It was such an honor and joy to witness this wedding, and now every time we walk past Jane’s beautiful home we will always wave at our new friends and smile remembering this unforgettable day.
Congratulations, Isabel and Nik, we love you and wish you a lifetime of happiness together!
To see all of Isabel and Nik’s gorgeous wedding photos, click here
Gorgeous floral design by Twigs and Blooms