Destination Elopement Portraits on a Lake | Romantic Canoe Wedding Portraits | Melody Joy Co.
Destination Elopement Portraits on a Lake | Romantic Canoe Wedding Portraits | Melody Joy Co.
Gabe and Karla were married in 2017. They are some of the sweetest humans and creative couples I know. I watched a thriller movie about a cabin in the woods with Karla one evening and thought to myself… let’s go to a cabin in the woods and do a shoot! So I went straight to Airbnb and found a cabin in Michigan for us to do this elopement wedding shoot. We were able to capture wedding portraits of them in a canoe that came with the lake house. Not only was it a way for me to create something beautiful during this season, but I love giving real life couples memories that they can cherish forever. They both are so full of creative juices from Karla running a music school for children with Little Parade Music, and Gabe doing music production, Illustration for children’s books, recording, leading worship, a talented barista and all around loving human to everyone around me. I’m so grateful for these wonderful and inspiring cousins of mine and I’ll never tire of capturing the different seasons of their life. Enjoy these moody portraits of them in a canoe on a lake. x
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I would love to create something beautiful with you!
Modern Wedding | Art Institute of Chicago | The Publican | Chicago Wedding Photographer
Modern Wedding | Art Institute of Chicago | The Publican | Chicago Wedding Photographer
Tim and Ivy are two of the loveliest humans I’ve had the pleasure of documenting. Their wedding day had so much personality in it. Ivy’s wedding dress was her mom’s vintage wedding gown, that she slightly customized to make it her own. They had their beautiful dog be a special part of the day by having him be their adorable “Ring Bear.” I love when couples include their animals, who are more like family, into their wedding day. They now live in New York City, but since Ivy grew up in Chicago, it held a special place in her heart. Also, the Art scene in Chicago is amazing. With The Art Institute of Chicago being one of their favorite museums and them both being Whitney museum members in NYC, it was an obvious choice for where they wanted the majority of their wedding portraits taken.
Ross and I started the morning documenting Tim and Ivy in their hotel suites overlooking the beautiful Chicago skyscrapers. We then walked down with them individually, to have them meet on a bridge overlooking the Chicago River, which weaves beautifully throughout the city scape. Even though they were in the middle of a bustling city, it still felt like they were the only ones around to each other. We walked down the river for a bit before hopping in a cab and heading to The Art Institute of Chicago. At the Art Institute, we walked by all of their favorite works to take portraits of them while they strolled and viewed the artwork together. From the Thorne Miniature Rooms by Mrs. James Ward Thorne, to the Marc Chagall Windows, to the Claude Monet Water Lilies and Stacks of Wheat, to the entire Modern Wing. It really was so special to wander around the museum with someone who values and appreciates art as much as I do. Side note, I’m a member at the Art Institute of Chicago and I can easily get lost in the works of art weekly. Artists of all methods and time periods inspire me so much.
Once we finished our stroll at the Art Institute of Chicago, we headed to Oak Park for their intimate wedding ceremony. The Ceremony took place in the beautiful cathedral of Grace Lutheran, where Ivy’s family attended growing up. They had their dog be the “ring bear” and he really was such a sweet touch. I love when couples want their animals, who are more like family, to be a special part of their wedding day. The ceremony was incredibly beautiful and serene, which was perfect way to honor the most important moments of the day.
When the ceremony ended we drove back to the West Loop to end the wedding day with a reception at The Publican. Of course, when you have a wedding reception at The Publican, your food is going to be the absolute best.. and theirs most definitely was! They rented out the entire restaurant, which made for an intimate evening of food, speeches, drinks and dancing! They moved the restaurant tables into beautiful long lines that surrounded a dance floor in the center of the room. Ivy had to ring their huge cowbell on the wall to announce to all of the guests that dinner was being served! All of the food was the top level from The Publican and it all came out family style for all of the guests to share. Family style servings really helps your guests to get to know each other and to speak to each other more. Truly a lovely way to make your wedding experience more intimate for your friends and family. They cut their cake, which had an adorable cut out of the two of them and their sweet dog sitting on the top of it! With an open bar, a dessert table and happy hearted guests, The Publican turned dark, and the DJ from Toast and Jam (Who I highly suggest for any wedding party!) led the night into a fun dance party! All in all, this was a truly beautiful day filled with family, friends and delicious food. Tim and Ivy, you both are amazing humans and I hope you’ve had the loveliest time together as Newlyweds!
At the end of this wedding day, I headed home after the last dance and was so filled with joy while looking out of my Uber as the Chicago skyline passed by, and just thought to myself “wow, I have the best job and the best couples.” I’m just truly so grateful for couples, like Tim and Ivy, who allow me the privilege of documenting and celebrating their love. It’s such an honor and always so memorable to me. Melody x
I love that in just a few miles from the heart of downtown Chicago, you can be in the quaint and beautiful neighborhood of Oak Park. Ivy grew up in this Church during her childhood years, so having her ceremony here was really meaningful to her. I love that even though Tim and Ivy’s portraits and and reception are in the urban city area of Chicago, that their ceremony could be in this intimate church setting in a quiet neighborhood. This is honestly what makes Chicago so unique and this couple so incredibly beautiful, to choose a meaningful place to start the rest of their lives together.
Wedding Portraits - Art Institute of Chicago | Wedding Dress - Vintage | Wedding Florist - InFlorEssence | Wedding Reception - The Publican Restaurant | Wedding Planner - Chicago Vintage Weddings | Ceremony - Grace Lutheran | Wedding Filmmaker - DeepEnd imagery | Hair - Paul Rehder Salon | Hotel - Virgin Hotels Chicago | DJ - Toast and Jam
If you’d like me to capture your wedding day or just want to chat with me to see how I can help you create something beautiful on your wedding day, reach out on my contact page below!
Chicago City Hall Elopement | The Rookery | Elopement Photographer
The Rookery Wedding Venue | City Hall Courthouse Elopement | Chicago Elopement Photographer
Two of the most beautiful souls.
I was so honored that Dylan and Juan reached out to me to capture their Courthouse Elopement in downtown Chicago. They are truly wonderful human beings and their love for each other radiants to anyone who is around them. I honestly did not want to leave after spending the afternoon with them because I was having so much fun! They brought along both of their parents and only their closest friends, it was so intimate and emotional in the best way possible. Everyone was packed into a little room in the Chicago City Hall with big smiles, and then tears and then hugs and endless joy! After the ceremony everyone hopped into a Party Bus and we drove all around downtown Chicago to take couples portraits and family photos in their favorite locations! We ended the afternoon taking photos at The Rookery, one of the most historic and beautiful buildings in all of Chicago. It was a day filled with overflowing amounts of joy and love and you can’t ask for a better elopement than that.
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Chicago City Hall is the best way to elope in downtown Chicago. Eloping in Chicago is a great way to spend your wedding day with the one you love! Chicago City Hall is beautiful building with plenty of great portrait opportunities. If you are looking for a place to elope in Chicago, Chicago City Hall would be a perfect wedding venue for you! I love capturing weddings downtown at City Hall. City Hall is perfect for walking around and taking photos on the lakefront, at Navy Pier, in Millennium Park, on Michigan Avenue, by the Chicago River and in front of so many historic sky scrapers downtown. City Hall is also a perfect spot for parents who are visiting from out of town, because they can walk straight to City Hall very conveniently from any hotel downtown. Chicago is full of endless beauty, architecture and art, and if you are looking for a beautiful place to elope in an urban jungle, then City Hall is where you should have your intimate wedding.