Weddings
One of the most rewarding, emotional parts of the wedding day is getting to see everyone come together. For most couples, the wedding is an opportunity to bring together their families and friends. It is a chance to have your past and present help your celebrate your future. Usually, the sense of reunion is for our loved ones. For Rebecca & Paul, there was an extra layer of celebration. In addition to bringing their families together, their gorgeous day at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum was time together for the two of them. After being long-distance for so much of their relationship, Becca and Paul were elated to finally start living in the same city as newlyweds.
When we asked Rebecca & Paul why they chose the Nature Museum, the answer was easy! “We are outdoorsy, nature-loving people! We want our wedding to reflect how we feel about the earth. The butterfly haven is the best!” We were so happy that they mentioned the Nature Museum’s Butterfly Haven, because the wedding day brought a very special surprise. The Nature Museum of course offered sunshine and the kind of green and floral background brides dream of having on their day. But you have to scroll down to see the cameo appearance Mother Nature made at the Butterfly Haven.
Enjoy the smiles, the laughter, and join us in congratulating Rebecca & Paul!
Meet the Team
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Peggy Nortebaert Nature Museum | Coordinator: Lisa Gordon Events
Weddings
As the seasons start to shift in Chicago, there’s no better way to celebrate summer than Katharine & Leon’s garden engagement. This session is all about the soft romance of flowers and garden greenery. Katharine’s long dress was delicate and charming, a perfect fit in more ways that one. Pair that with Leon’s crisp white shirt and this dynamic duo is ready for a garden party, a park stroll, or a brunch just for two.
The amazing thing about Lincoln Park (and Chicago summer) is the wealth of variety. No matter how many times we visit, we always discover new spots that are just begging for a Kodak moment. The Katharine’s dress, a floral background was a must. The bright yellow and green background is one of kind, and a match made in heaven for this session.
Be sure to look out for all those perfect pops of color you only see in nature, and a special appearance by a butterfly (a sure sign of luck and good fortune). And once the garden walk commences, these two take a break. Surrounded by the gorgeous architecture and a hint of Chicago skyline, get ready for some of the best laughing photos. Genuine love and laughter are some of our favorite moments to capture, and Katharine & Leon’s joy is oh so amazing!
Want more Lincoln Park engagement sessions? So do we! Click here!
Weddings
After the cake is cut and the bouquet has been thrown, you and your love finally get to exhale. You did it! You’re married! And while your relationship with most of your vendors comes to an end, our time with you is just beginning. We edit the photos, relive the memories, and put together galleries and slideshows for you to share with family & friends. But our job isn’t yet done. The art of photography is all about legacy, about preserving your story for future generations. The best way to capture the essence of your day is with a gorgeous Heirloom album.
Your wedding day is packed with those “a picture is worth a thousand words” moments. And while digital media is great for sharing (we’re all about Facebook posts and Instagram sneak peeks), you can’t put them on your coffee table. You can’t hold a USB in your hand on your anniversary, and flip through it with a glass of wine. Even in the past few years, we’ve seen technology undergo so many changes (from discs to USBs to direct downloads). One thing has been consistent: the quality of our Heirloom albums.
One of the best parts of the Gold Grid experience is your ordering party. We bring you into the studio and showcase all of your photos for the first time. There’s champagne, a fab slideshow, and a relaxing time to relive your day. It’s also a perfect opportunity to create your wedding album. We put together a pre-design that shows the highlights of your day, and utilize our software to make adjustments in real time. You can swap photos, ask for revisions, and by the time you leave — your album is ready to order! Most Gold Grid couples have their wedding album in hand three months after the wedding. The honeymoon phase is still in full blossom, and you already have a keepsake with a lifetime guarantee.
As you can see, we customize everything from the album cover, color, page number, and text — each album we create is unique to the couple and their story. Shall we help you tell yours?
Learn more about Gold Grid Studios!
Weddings
When we heard that Allison & Ben were getting married at the Wild Onion, we fell in love with the venue name. Isn’t there some song lyric about love being like wild onion? Well, there SHOULD be! When we asked these two what brought them to the brewery, Allison gave us the scoop. “We wanted to get married at a brewery because we love craft beers. The Wild Onion appealed to us because of it’s vaulted wood ceilings, rustic appeal, beautiful landscaping, and relaxed atmosphere. It also helps that their beer is very good!”
Get ready for a gorgeous, high-vaulted ceiling ceremony. It didn’t hurt that the sun coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows was a perfect spotlight for our star couple. And it turned out that Wild Onion not only served as a great rustic backdrop — it was also a source of inspiration for details. YES, that’s hops in Allison’s bouquet!
Also, keep your eyes out for Karrah & Marcus, who were a past couple of ours. Marcus is Allison’s brother. We were able to capture picture of the two of them walking down the aisle after the ceremony together. Marcus previously wasn’t a big fan of having his photo taken but…we’d say he knows he looks dapper now 😉
Enjoy getting to know Allison & Ben, and join us in congratulation them on a wonderfully realized day full of fun and laughter. And if we could sum up “love” in one photo…check out the one of Ben looking at Allison during toasts. #relationshipgoals
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Meet the Wedding Day Team:
Wedding Venue: The Onion Pub & Brewery | Wedding Dress: Joyful Occasion | Groom’s Attire: GQ Menswear | Bridesmaid Attire: David’s Bridal | DJ: Blackthird Entertainment | Florist: Prairie Basket Floral | Transportation: Elite Minibus
PS The bridesmaids’ gorgeous jewelry was handmade by the bride!
Wanna see more Gold Grid couples? Click here!
Weddings
An engagement session is an opportunity to take some fab photos, get comfy in front of the camera, and get to know your photographer. More than anything, your engagement session should be fun! We should smile with your smile, and hear your laughter. Pick a location that’s a backdrop, that showcases YOU. The Chicago Riverwalk is a great example — a popular spot that let’s you be the star. Whether you dress up or go casual, we always suggest comfort and showing off what’s unique about you. Let your personality fly!
Meet Mary Rachel & Travers, and get ready for their walk along the Riverwalk! Travers, you are a man after our own heart. The pattern of that shirt is exquisite, and we can’t get enough of that confident, colored pant. Pair that with Mary Rachel’s plucks of purple, and you are set up for success! These two are a vibrant, dynamic couple — outside and in! Seeing those bold personalities shine is making our week, and hopefully yours, too. Try not smile, and try not to laugh with this “oh so obviously crazy about each other” duo!
Mary Rachel on Travers:
“Travers’ sense of comedic timing is brilliant. Just read below. We laugh multiple times a day. His commitment to and passion for his many crafts inspire me to do mine. He also has foxy green eyes and a peppery beard, which is on its way to being full wizard beard. 🙂
I could go on and on and on and on…he is simply “my person” and I light up every time I see him, so they say.”
Travers on Mary Rachel:
Mary Rachel has the most amazing and contagious laugh. It inspires me to come up with material that will get it out of her as well as to see her heart melting smile. i tell people she’s so good at gardening on account of her being sunshine personified. She’s brilliant at thwarting my cynicism and grinch like tendencies with the warmest of hearts and most sensible of brains. We can talk for hours. Our neighbors let us know that. She is one heck of a dancer and is so unspeakable-y unnamable-y fun. I am so lucky I should wear a top hat, cloak, monocle and a cane.
Looking for more downtown engagement sessions? Take a look!
