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
Sometimes, a fabulous engagement session is about more than just photos of the two of you. Ben & Kristine’s trip to the Chicago River was ALL of the things!
It can be an opportunity for family portraits! Take a look at Kristine & Ben, and their adorable furbaby. Pets are always great for a smile, a laugh, and to help a Gold Grid couple loosen up in front of the camera. It was all smiles at the Chicago River! After a family stroll, we switched gears to focus on Kristine & Ben. The architecture and green spaces around the Chicago River made for a great mix of city and summer.
It can be the beginning of your modeling portfolios! Kristine & Ben were dressed to impress! We always tell our couples to put comfort first. But also, think of the session as an opportunity to show off! Think of a session as the beginning of a night out together! In an ideal world, you get to leave your session, smiling and relieved. If dressed in that “snappy casual” way that Ben & Kristine are…you’re ready to go out to your favorite restaurant.
This lovestruck couple told us that their happiest memory is traveling to Finland and getting engaged (jealous!!). “We were in pajamas in a log cabin listening to music with the fireplace going and two glasses of wine.” While we are #swooning over that story, enjoy this engagement session perfection. To quote the wedding classic My Best Friend’s Wedding (which just happens to have a few scenes along the Chicago River), we “Love the bag. Love the shoes. Love everything!”
Want more of the Chicago River? We don’t blame you! Click here!
Weddings
It’s story time, friends! Let’s get to know the absolutely adorable Catherine & Kristopher. Before we get to their Olive Park engagement session, we will take you back to the beginning. It all started at Raven’s Bar with a game of giant Jenga! After that, Catherine tells us, “the rest is history.”
When we asked about their favorite memory together, they immediately recalled getting engaged in Paris. Once we got over a bit of engagement envy (Paris, amiright?!), we let them continue. “We were at dinner and the food was incredible. It’s our happiest memory because it made it official that we were spending our lives together. We also had the most amazing dessert and champagne after.”
As it turns out, these two lovebirds visit Navy Pier every year for their anniversary. This made Olive Park a great option for their engagement photos. Olive Park is just off the pier, has a wonderful skyline view and great mix of park, city, and beach backgrounds! It’s a one-stop spot for engagement session bliss!
But enough about the background — let’s focus in on our stars: Catherine & Kristopher. We asked these two lovebirds what their favorite trait about their partner is. Kris love’s Catherine’s smile, and Catherine adores his eyes. Get ready for lots of romantic close-ups that show off both! And join us in congratulating Catherine & Kris!
Want more fabulous engagement sessions? Take a look!
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!
Weddings
When you’re getting ready to move to Chicago, you tend to hear two things about the weather. The winter is terrible, and the summers are so amazing that it makes the winters worth it! We can’t really disagree with either sentiment (though winter certainly has its perks). Summer in Chicago is an absolute dream. In addition to being prime time for weddings, engagement session, and fun outdoor shoots — THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO! The city is alive with vibrant events, and we’d like to put in a good word for at least a few of them. On any given summer day in Chicago, you can stay in, go out, make friends or fly solo on any budget!
Take a look at some of these August highlights, and plan your next day off! Or hang onto this list for a cold December night, when you need to remember that another fabulous city summer is just around the corner!
THROW A PARTY FOR YOUR TASTE BUDS
Who doesn’t adore a sweet treat? Tis the season for fro-yo, ice cream, margaritas, and white wine. If it’s chilled, it’s a yes! There is no shortage of local shops in Chicago when it comes to quieting your sweet tooth. Everyone in the Windy City has a favorite parlor. What’s yours?
TAKE A WALK
Chicago is a pedestrian’s city, and summer is ideal for a sunlit stroll. Explore your neighborhood, pick a CTA stop to discover, or try one of these hot spots! It’s a good excuse to get a little exercise, and to remind yourself that fun can be found anywhere in this gorgeous city.
HAVE A BEACH DAY
From Promontory Point to Montrose Beach, find a little slice of sand to call your own. It’s easy to forget how close Lake Michigan is to us. Take advantage of the tranquility and relaxation a little trip to to the lake can provide. And oh the sunsets!
RETAIL THERAPY WITH YOUR BRIDAL PARTY
Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day…these are just three excuses for HUGE sales! Whether or not you’re in planning mode, a trip to Michigan Avenue with you best pals can be very therapeutic. Window shop, find some inspiration, and treat yourself!
SEE MOVIES WITH ACTUAL STARS
Oh, how we adore Chicago’s Movies in the Park. The release of each year’s schedule is a highlight of the spring, and the addition of neighborhood screens means you don’t have to venture downtown. You can just take your blanket and cooler to the nearest park, and have an enchanted evening! With sunset happening so late, a dusk date with your favorite movie is perfectly paired with a walk about town!
Feeling the summer vibes? Take a look at our most recent sunset session!
