Weddings
Candlelight? Check. Fountains? Check. Breathtakingly dramatic staircase? CHECK! If you’re in the mood for romance that is borderline fairytale, we can’t wait for you to see Katie & Leon’s wedding day at the Armour House in Lake Forest! A good wedding venue does more than give you a place to celebrate your love. It can be an extension of your style, your story, and your vision for the day! When we asked Katie & Leon what they loved most about the Armour House in Lake Forest, we couldn’t agree more with their thoughts!
“We both loved the romantic and vintage feeling of the Armour House. There is such a variety of spaces and we like the feeling of hosting in a grand old home. We particularly love the staircase in the great hall, the fountain in the garden room and the fireplace in the great hall.”
I mean, who doesn’t love a Great Hall?! The day was perfectly planned around the intimacy and grandness of the different areas of the space. There could be intimate conversation in the Library before the party atmosphere of the Garden Room. Katie & Leon looked right at home, showcasing their story against the staircase, vaulted ceilings, and enviable natural light! Add to that all of Katie’s personal detail touches — and we’re in love! In the marble room (oh yes, the Marble Room!), there was a custom art installation made by Katie of white, pink and gold “roses.” Every candle and key was in place, leading up to a truly special first dance. Katie & Leon came ready to wow their family & friends, ending the night on a high note of elegance & romance.
Enjoy! And join us in congratulating Katie & Leon!
The Wedding Day Team
Venue: The Armour House | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Menus & Programs: InkAndVeil | Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Men’s Clothing: Men’s WearHouse | Hair/Makeup: Zaza Salon | Officiant: Pastor John Angle | Floral: Jazzy Flowers | DJ: Crestline Entertainment | Cake: Poppie’s Bakeshop | Photobooth: Fotio Photography
Check out more Gold Grid couples on the Featured Couples blog!
Weddings
You can never go wrong with Lincoln Park! It’s a popular engagement session spot for a good reason. No matter how many times you visit Lincoln Park, there are ALWAYS new discoveries to be made! New paths, a different shade of sunlight, and an assortment of events and people-watching pleasures. It’s easy to relax and get a perfect mix of cityscape and natural serenity. This makes it an ideal backdrop for smiling, laughing, and showing off just how IN LOVE you are!
Friends, meet Emily & Brandon! They win the award for amazing fall/winter accessorizing, with cozy jackets, fabulous scarves, and lots of cuddling! Get to know their love story, and join them on this stroll through Lincoln Park!
On how they met:
We met the old fashion way….an online app! Two swipes right and the rest is history. Brandon swears he messaged Emily first but Emily knows she messaged him first and is considering requesting the messaging history through the app’s legal department to win the debate. Kidding…sort of.
Emily, on her favorite things about Brandon:
My favorite trait of Brandon’s is how deeply he cares about the things that matter the most to him. He’s extremely passionate and driven to be successful in his career. He cares deeply for his friends and family and would do anything for them.
Brandon, on what he loves about Emily:
So many things are amazing! She has amazing smile and beautiful eyes. She is intelligent, fun, outgoing, has great taste, cultured and probably the most important thing she makes me a better person!
On their favorite things to do together:
One of our favorite things to do as a couple is to explore our city. We both love trying new things together whether that’s a walking around a new neighborhood, trying a new restaurant, hitting up a local bar or whatever fun local activity is happening. We are both up for anything!
Want more engagement sessions? We’ve got you covered!
Weddings
Get ready for a little rainy day romance! Sara & AJ’s wedding day at the Hilton Orrington in Evanston was a showcase of love, laughter, and soft elegance. With lace details, grey tuxedos, and subtle peach and lilac florals — the cozy outdoor atmosphere was a nice touch to the intimate day. The truly ironic thing about rain on your wedding day is that it’s actually great for your photos. An overcast day means no squinting, less shadows, and a natural tendency to snuggle!
As we got ready for to enjoy the day in Evanston, we asked these two what they love most about each other. According to Sara, AJ makes her laugh all the time — and is full of “mischievous” surprises. AJ makes Sara feel like her “true” self. Swooooon! When AJ also mentioned smiling and laughter, we knew there’d be no need to “say cheese” on this day — the smiles would already be there!
If one must stay indoors, Evanston’s Hilton Orrington is a wonderful choice. With big windows & tall ceilings, it is perfect for capturing the natural light, and for highlighting all of those wedding day feels! Please join us in congratulating Sara & AJ on their gorgeous wedding, a laughter filled celebration that made everyone happy to be inside together!
Meet the Wedding Day Team:
Venue: Hilton Orrington | Event Coordinator: One Fine Day Events | Men’s Clothing: Men’s Wearhouse | Bridesmaid’s Clothing: Adrianna Papell | Floral: Bella Flora | Cake: Bittersweet Pastry | DJ: Spinnin’ Discs | Transportation: Windy City Limos
Weddings
Alright, sports fans! It’s time for a romantic trip to Wrigleyville! One of our favorite things to do before an engagement session is find out what each couple loves. For Teresa & Sean, it was clear right away: sports, music, and each other. They knew that the Chicago Music Exchange was ideal, and we are all so happy that CME was on board for their session. Before sitting down with the guitars there, it was first time for a stroll around Wrigley Field! Is there any place in Chicago that is more about love and devotion? No one knows about commitment and loyalty like a Cubs fan!
Teresa’s subtle Cubs love was perfection for this session — the bright blue sweater, the fierce red nails! Yes, pops of color! And these two were so much fun. Laughter & smiles abound! And they’re already thinking like a married couple: we heard rumors from their friends that the Wrigleyville session was a compromise — they’ll be headed to the United Center for part of the wedding day! Now, THAT is thinking like a team! There’s enough love to go around!
Enjoy! And join is congratulating these two sports fans! Go, love, go!
Wanna keep looking at fabulous engagement sessions? We’ve gotcha covered!
Weddings
We’ve been so excited about Kristine & Ben’s wedding day! Ever since their stylish downtown engagement session, we have known that this Loyola wedding was going to be elegant and chic. Kristine went to college at Loyola University Chicago, and would sometimes attend mass in the breathtaking Madonna della Strada chapel. In many ways, this day was a homecoming. It was an opportunity for Kristine to return to her alma mater, and for these two families and cultures to come together. This Loyola chapel is not only a gorgeous indoor spot — it’s walking distance from Lake Michigan and all the natural beauty of the beaches and parks nearby.
There are beautiful touches of Kristine’s heritage throughout the day. We started the day at the luxurious Warwick Allerton before heading up to Loyola for a ceremony full of Filipino traditions. Also, did you know that Ben likes to dance? Well, get ready! This groom managed to bust a move during almost every part of the wedding day! He led a cool crew of groomsmen to the ceremony, where he showed off his skills! And no reception would be complete without some public displays of…improvised choreo?? Take a look at how much fun this happy couple is having at their reception. There’s so much joy that they literally cannot contain themselves. These candid dance moments led into a HALL OF FAME bouquet toss that you MUST see!
Enjoy this magical day, and join us in congratulating Kristine & Ben!
Meet the Team:
Caterer/Venue: Warwick Allerton Chicago | Ceremony Venue: Loyola University | DJ: Remix Entertainment Inc. | Wedding Cake: Vanille Patisserie | Florist: Bride’s Choice Flowers | Transportation: Absolute Dream Limousine | Make-Up: Makeup by Renata | Hair: Brides by Becky
