Chicago City Hall Elopement | Samantha + Joe | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photographer
Chicago City Hall Elopement | Samantha + Joe | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Vivienne Westwood | Alex Brown Hair | Miranda
Cary MUA | Raulph LAUREN
RL RESTAURANT
Sam (the stylish, hilarious and “worth following along online” bride) and her endearing partner Joe decided to have an intimate wedding ceremony before their larger celebration with friends in Mexico. So they decided to have a Chicago City Hall Elopement with their closest family members. We met at City Hall, where they had gotten their marriage certificate and then we strolled around the historic building to take their bridal portraits. Sam was wearing a chic all white shoulder padded suit with a stunning choker from Vivienne Westwood. Her makeup was done by the talented Miranda Cary and her hair was done by the amazing Alex Brown Hair. Both ladies are some of the best hair and makeup artists in Chicago. We also did a bit of strolling around La Salle, because that street has some of the loveliest building architecture and textures for portrait backdrops.
After the bridal portraits downtown we left the Chicago City Hall area and headed towards the Chicago River. The Chicago River is the perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony, as it creates an open space amidst the skyscrapers in downtown Chicago. They decided to pick a space that was near somewhere meaningful to them, so we settled in a beautiful inlet of the sidewalk in the center of the city. There family was all waiting for them to arrive as they walked up. They had the lovely Rev Beth of Rev Beth Weddings officiate the wedding ceremony and she is one of my favorite officiants in Chicago. The way she words things so personably, is open to any kind of couple (no matter the background or religion) and is flexible to meet you anywhere to perform your wedding ceremony, she is simply the sweetest. They exchanged wedding rings and said ‘I do’ in front of all of their loved ones in the city center. After the ceremony there were many family hugs, kisses, selfies and heart warming smiles.
Joe helped Samantha get into a luxury SUV where they had their vintage bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne and cuddles before heading to meet their family members at the Ralph Lauren RL Restaurant. At the RL Restaurant the two of them stopped off for a drink and private cheers in the bar area and then joined the rest of their family at the dinner table. They did things the best way possible, cake first. A delicious cake was brought to them straight after being seated and they didn’t just cut it, but ate it and I love that about Same and Joe! They had a family toast and then enjoyed the rest of their evening together making memories around the dinner table with the ones they love. I really appreciate being able to capture such personal and intimate memories in couples lives. Sam and Joe, the stylish newlyweds that you are, I absolutely adore you both and your sweet and spicy personalities! x
Downtown Chicago Wedding Venue - Chicago City Hall | Wedding Outfit - White Blazer Shoulder Padded Suit | Choker Necklace - Vivienne Westwood Three Row Pearl Bas Relief Choker | Chicago Hair Stylist - Alex Brown Hair | Chicago Wedding Makeup Artist - Miranda Cary MUA | Chicago Wedding Officiant - Rev Beth Weddings | Intimate Wedding Dinner Reception - Ralph Lauren RL Restaurant
The Renaissance Chicago Downtown Wedding | Nika + Vinnie | Assumption Catholic Church | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photographer
The Renaissance Chicago Hotel Downtown Wedding | Nika + Vinnie | Assumption Catholic Church | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photographer
Nika and Vinnie held their wedding day in the city they grew up in, the lovely city of Chicago. I absolutely love downtown Chicago, so truly loved that their wedding hotel, ceremony and reception were all in the heart of the city, located on the Chicago River. Nika and Vinnie got ready in suites at The Renaissance Hotel and then had their first look in a private courtyard in between two skyscrapers near the hotel. Then they strolled over the bridges and Chicago river walk to spend some time alone and get couple portraits before the rest of their bridal party joined them for bridal party photos. Downtown Chicago has so many lovely textures and backdrops for bridal portraits and the vibe is always a timeless one!
Then we all loaded on the party bus to head over to Assumption Catholic Church for their stunning wedding ceremony. The architecture in this church was so beautiful and has so many historic details. I will never tire of church weddings in historic buildings, specifically catholic churches tend to appreciate the architecture more so. After the ceremony we headed back to The Renaissance Hotel for their cocktail hour and wedding reception. The Cocktail hour was in a room overlooking the Chicago river. The best part about this cocktail hour was that there was a beer pong table set up at the window overlooking the city skyline and everyone was having a ball (pun intended) playing it! Even some of the elder family members gave it a try!
Everyone then went to a larger ballroom upstairs in the hotel for a seated dinner while sweet speeches were being made. There was a DJ, cake cutting and a whole lot of dancing! I love when dance trains break out because it feels like everyone is one big unit and picking up people who are sitting down! It’s a lot of fun to watch! Nika and Vinnie had a buffet of McDonals’s burgers and chicken nuggets for all of their guests and ended their night by feeding each other Mickie Dee’s! What a solid way to end such a beautiful wedding day! x
Bridal Suite Hotel - The Renaissance Chicago Downtown | Wedding Ceremony Venue - Assumption Catholic Church | Downtown Chicago Wedding Reception Venue - The Renaissance Chicago Downtown | Wedding Florist - Belmonte's Florist | Make-up + Hair Artist - Konstantine Mironychev (booked through Bianca Sansosti Artistry) | Wedding Hair Stylist - Rhona Kane Hair | Wedding Dress - Adore by Justin Alexander (purchased on Still White) | Wedding Shoes - Dolce Vita | Groom Tux + Shoes - Gentlemen’s Quarters | Bride + Groom Rings - Arezzo Jewelers | Wedding Cake - Alliance Bakery Wedding Cakes | Chicago Wedding DJ - Chris Nergaard (booked through Style Matters DJ’s) | Wedding Filmmaker - Mike Mendoza | Late night food - McDonald’s
The Peninsula Chicago Hotel Wedding | Downtown Chicago Elopement | Luxury Chicago Elopement Photographer
The Peninsula Chicago Hotel Wedding | Downtown Chicago Elopement | Luxury Chicago Hotel | Chicago Elopement Photographer
Karina and Matt started their elopement in downtown Chicago by doing a champagne toast in their suite at The Peninsula Hotel on Michigan Avenue. After they opened a few gifts, Matt saw Karina in her dress for the first time, they headed down Michigan Avenue for a stroll to meet the officiant and say “I do!”
Karina had a beautiful bouquet of jewel toned flowers that matched her chic and jewel toned green dress. I loved how minimal yet beautiful it was! Once we met up with the officiant at the Fourth Presbyterian Church, she led them in their vows and exchanging of rings. After they committed to spend the rest of their life together in the stunning church courtyard downtown, they signed their papers and were officially newlyweds!
We took a few more portraits in the courtyard and then strolled back down to The Peninsula Hotel, where we parted ways and they continued onto a beautiful and private evening together. I honestly love when couples do what feels right to them on their wedding day.
All of this to say, if you want to wait and spend your day with your loved ones, then do that, because it’s important to you and that definitely matters. And in the same vain, if you want to take your next step into married life with just your fiancé by your side, then do it! either way should be celebrated and I am here for all of it! I personally eloped to St. Lucia this past November with my husband and can really appreciate this kind of wedding day as well as the larger ones, because we also still want to have a larger wedding with all of our family and friends in the years to come!
I truly loved how romantic this day was and am so grateful for every couple who asks me to document their day, no matter how large or intimate! x
