Intimate Downtown Wedding | RPM Seafood Wedding Reception | Chicago Wedding Photographer | The Peninsula Hotel | Destination Wedding Photographer
Intimate Downtown Wedding | RPM Seafood Wedding Reception | The Peninsula Hotel | Destination Micro Wedding | Chicago Wedding photographer
Liza and Rick decided to have their wedding day be an intimate and romantic one. They started their day getting ready at The Peninsula Hotel together. I think it’s really sweet when couples do that, especially for those who may have nerves and don’t want that build up tension of a formal first look and it gives you a chance to spend the whole morning with your partner. They had a car service rented for the afternoon, which took us to all of the locations in the city where they wanted photos together. Honestly, if you’re up in the air about hiring a car (limo, party bus, etc), trust me, it’s definitely worth it. This gives you the chance to hop in and out of the car while the driver is waiting at every corner for you, and you don’t have to drive around searching for parking or calling Uber’s, which can take such valuable time away from you both on your wedding day, and gives you more freedom to enjoy drinks or your favorite snacks during your ride around town.
Liza and Rick rented a private room in RPM Seafood that has a balcony overlooking the Chicago River and has some of the best views of downtown. They had a small wedding ceremony there with a few of their closest family members and friends. I love how every couple make their day unique, whether it’s a large party into the night or a sweet, intimate dinner with a view, like this day was, I am always happy to document such a memorable and meaningful day in couples lives. x
Ace Hotel + City View Loft | Chicago Wedding Photographer
Ace Hotel + City View Loft | Chicago Wedding Photographer
This beautiful wedding day started with getting ready in a beautiful suite at the Ace Hotel and ended with a modern, industrial wedding reception and dance party at City View Loft. Nicki and Ryan, along with their amazing bridal party, really made this day an incredibly memorable one! Every friend they had by their side was truly there for them throughout the day, and that was beautiful to see. One bridesmaid would be holding her daughter, the other would be fixing her hair, the other was holding her dress, and of course, someone was always making sure she had food and a drink in her hand! The bridal party had such a beautiful understanding of the blend of having the most fun while understanding the seriousness of how special this day was to Nicki and Ryan!
I always love showing up to get more “getting ready” moments than planned, because there is usually so much going on. The little moments of seeing what everyone is doing to help prep the bride for her special day, most times go unnoticed, but I try to document each person doing something that is helpful and a memory that the bride may have missed because of being in her hair and makeup seat already. It’s just beautiful to catch the details of the lodging alongside the candids of how the morning of a wedding day goes. So showing up at the Ace Hotel an hour early to capture those extra moments were worth it for me, and for the bride’s reaction to her photos as well! Before we headed to the ceremony, we did a walk around the Ace Hotel to take photos of the bridal party and we found the most epic street art under a bridge it was such a fun moment with every person laughing and enjoying themselves. There were even a few candids of people walking by who jumped in to be in the photos with them. The bridal party walk was definitely one of my favorite memories from this wedding day!
Nicki and Ryan had the most beautiful ceremony in a vaulted room inside of a restored factory, called City View Loft. It’s one of Chicago’s most lovely renovated wedding venues. It’s on the outskirts of downtown and have beautiful skyline views of downtown Chicago. City View Loft has one of the best catering teams, LM Catering, so you don’t have to search for caterers who know the space and beautiful food! Nicki and Ryan also had a taco buffet bar in the middle of their dance party, which was one of my personal favorite parts of the day! Everyone loves a bite to eat in the middle of dancing for hours… especially when dancing with a camera in hand! And of course, the DJ’s at Toast and Jam brought amazing tunes all night long! Overall, this day was filled with memorable moments that will last a lifetime and that is what every wedding day special. Those moments happen with your favorite people, and that will always be unique to you both!
Nicki and Ryan gave me this genuinely sweet review on Junebug Weddings, and I couldn’t be
more grateful to have been there to document and celebrate these two on their wedding day!
”I was lucky enough to have a friend refer me to Melody. I looked at her website ONCE, fell in love, and reached out immediately. Having young kids and living quite a way's away from the city, Melody was more accommodating, flexible, and understanding than she ever had to be. On our wedding day, Melody wasn't just a photographer. It honest to God felt like she was part of the wedding and part of the family, the way she helped organize events of the day and helped with the little important things. That alone makes you feel comfortable in front of her camera. I never truly understood how important finding the RIGHT photographer was until I laid eyes on my own wedding photos. I guess there just aren't the right words to describe how much I appreciate how perfect and beautiful they are. Every detail that I hoped to remember was caught. Every amazing move someone busted on the dance floor was captured. From the tiny details in the decor, to the food, flowers, guests, and everything in-between. When I look at my wedding photos from Melody, I relive one of the best and most important days of my life, vividly! I don’t want to sign off without giving mention to the second photographer Melody brought in for the day, Ross, who captured some amazing photos of the guys! Just goes to show she really knows what she's doing!
I wish I had more room! Trust Melody xo”
- Nicki + Ryan
Lodging - The Ace Hotel Chicago | Ceremony + Reception Venue - City View Loft | Wedding Florals - Flowers For Dreams | Wedding Dress - White Satin Bridal | Catering - LM Catering | DJ - Toast + Jam
If you’d like me to capture your wedding day or see if your wedding date is available,
fill out the form at the link below and I would love to
create something beautiful with you!
Downtown Chicago Wedding | The Herbarium at Bad Hunter | Chicago Wedding Photographer
The Herbarium at Bad Hunter | Downtown Chicago Wedding Photographer
Whatever our souls
are made of,
His and mine
are the same.
-Emily Brontë
Ceremony Holy Name Cathedral // Reception The Herbarium at Bad Hunter // Florist Revel Decor // MUA Ryan Ternes // Hair Artist Claire Danstrom //
If you’d like to Inquire about me capturing your wedding day or see if your date is available for 2020 or 2021?
Fill out the form below and I would love to help you create something beautiful together!
I absolutely love downtown Chicago wedding venues. This particular Chicago wedding venue, The Herbarium, is located in a Chicago neighborhood called The West Loop, one of the most popular spots for some of the trendiest and edgist food scene in all of Chicago. The Herbarium wedding venue is located on the entire floor directly upstairs above the restaurant Bad Hunter, another wonderful spot to check out if you are visiting Chicago. The Herbarium has wooden floors, tall ceilings and is filled with Herbs and plants all over the walls weaving in and out through the bottles on the shelves behind it’s elegant bar. This wedding venue is not far from downtown at all, as their ceremony was actually based less than a mile away in downtown Chicago. After their downtown Chicago wedding ceremony we took wedding portraits on Michigan Avenue and we then headed to take wedding portraits in the West Loop. Since the West Loop is so close to downtown Chicago, it’s the perfect spot for visitors flying in to explore the beautiful downtown areas and also be very near your wedding venue within a mild walk or short taxi ride. All in all, I would highly recommend The Herbarium, not just for its close proximity to downtown Chicago, but the staff and food courses were top notch! Seriously, try the dumplings if you ever eat a dinner there! And If anyone is searching for any wedding venue ideas for the West Loop or downtown Chicago, I could not rave enough about The Herbarium! It has really stood out to me amongst all of the other wedding venues for intimate Chicago weddings. Truly a beautiful downtown Chicago wedding venue. On a side note, thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings about this lovely Chicago wedding venue, The Herbarium.
Karla + Gabe | Chicago, IL
Karla and Gabe are one adventurous gem of a couple. I consider them Mrs. + Mr. Chicago. I enjoy hanging out with them weekly, but had such a fun time on my rooftop with the Chicago skyline in the background and capturing their personalities! They are mix a quirky and silly, total babes and are some of the most genuine and kind hearted individuals I've ever met. And I also have the pleasure of calling them family! Gabe...forever and ever, and Karla, just this past summer when they got married!
Also, can we talk about how cool Gabe's tattoos are, incorporating a mix of Chicago pride, meaningful moments and hand drawn illustrations by his son.
Go check out more about what they are up to on Instagram. Both are the epitome of a Chicago creative and how to be musicians + entrepreneurs in a big city! Enjoy!
KARLA // @itsme_karla GABE // @g_a_b_e__
To inquire about a portrait, engagement or family session contact me below to chat!
Beautiful Barn Wedding Venue | The Farm at Dover
Their love is a thing of beauty, storybooks + lots of laughter.
Gabe + Karla. Two of the most beautiful individuals I know, inside and out (and who I also get to call my family). When Gabe introduced her to the family I instantly knew I loved her. She plays and teaches music to little kiddos for a living (at Little Parade in Chicago), so I guess that bubbliness is needed! But even for adults, her smile is vibrant enough to make the whole room happy!
They were both born + raised Chicago and are the epitome of city people. But for their wedding, they wanted to get away from it all, as we all do sometimes. They ventured north just over the Wisconsin border and found the most lovely little barn wedding venue called The Farm at Dover. Karla got ready in the pink house on the property, their ceremony was in the woods and their coffee hour and stunning reception was in the two-story renovated barn. The day was just perfect. The weather was overcast and the colors were perfectly romantic. Darker tones always tend to make me feel something from each image, more than vibrant colors. The tone of the day was somber and sweet and I'm so grateful I was able to capture the moments from the start of their new season together as Mr. + Mrs Lopez.
Cheers to new beginnings!
HIS / HERS DETAILS
Shoes: bryr clogs / aldo
dress/suit: BHLDN weddings / zara
watch: komono
handkerchief: Una Mae's
caterer: Chef David's
car: vintage VW
donuts: krispy kreme
flower crown: pistil + vine
table decorator: Sasha Kisiel, Mylene Raspado, Yolypix
coordinator planner: Divine delgado
coffee roasters: Ipsento
barista: Jeremy Mercado
If you’re looking for a beautiful barn wedding venue and live in the midwest, the Farm at Dover is such a lovely choice! And if you’d like me to capture your wedding day, whether in a barn or farm or elsewhere, I would absolutely love to create something beautiful with you! Reach out below!