Ovation Chicago Wedding Venue | Elizabeth + Alex | Chicago Wedding Photographer
Ovation Chicago Wedding Venue | Elizabeth + Alex | Moody Chicago Wedding Photographer
This beautiful wedding day started in one of my favorite cities, Chicago,
and ended at one of my favorite wedding venues, Ovation Chicago.
Elizabeth started her day by getting ready in a beautiful loft downtown with her mother, sister and best friends. After meeting Alex for a private first look on a the quaint street below, we headed to the West Loop to take their bridal portraits before the ceremony. I always love looking for interesting light whenever roaming around Chicago or really any destination that I travel to for weddings. The harsh shadows, the light from around a corner, the crisp of sunlight always get me really excited to capture the couple in a unique way! Light is always changing, so you have to be really flexible and knowledgeable on the times of the year and times of the day that you shooting. That’s why it’s always best to make sure your photographer knows about light, because then they can look for it anywhere.
For Photographers, training your eye takes some time, but is so worth it to be able to work with soft or harsh natural light at any time of the day, so that you can create the best portraits for your couple. And what is great is that you don’t have to wait for a wedding day to to practice shooting in harsh light, any sunny day, just wake up to shoot for sunrise, then shoot for mid day, and then shoot at sunset. Find the light in and around your home and city and you’ll be able to practice your exposure settings anytime! And if you want to chat more about this, feel free to reach out to me about a Mentor Session Here!
Now back to this lovely wedding day! After the portraits we headed straight over to Ovation Chicago. Elizabeth and Alex’s wedding day was filled with so many beautiful Jewish traditions. They signed the Ketubah first amongst the intimacy of just their families, which really solidifies their union as one and husband and wife in the Jewish culture. They also did the candle lighting ceremony during this time as well. The formal wedding ceremony was then held with all of the wedding guests in the grand open floor plan, naturally lit, ceremony space of Ovation Chicago. The florist, EcoWilde Flower Co, did such a beautiful job with the archway for the wedding ceremony, as well as Elizabeth’s wedding bouquet and the gorgeous sprinkling of greenery on the elegant family style tables for the reception. The food was catered by Big Delicious Planet, and wow, was it delicious! Their name choice is definitely an accurate one.
And to end the night, there was endless dancing! What I love most about Ovation, is that they always have the DJ’s from Style Matters, and man, are they GOOD! The guys themselves are just a joy to be around and truly just bring life to the event with their music selection. They really know how to read a room and always bring the whole party to the dance floor. Truly, this was such a great day of celebrating Elizabeth and Alex’s love as everyone welcomed them into the the start of their next season of life together!
Wedding Planning + Design - Naturally Yours Events, Lauren West @nyeventschicago / Florist - EcoWilde Flower Co. Emily Neumann / Make-up + Hair Artist - Lerin Johnson Bridal Beauty / Makeup - Lerin Johnson Artistry / Hair - Lerin Johnson Bridal Beauty / Wedding Dress Designer - Rivini from Bella Bianca / Shoes - Anny 70mm in nude by Stuart Weitzman / Bride + Groom Rings - Ruth Hendleman / Ceremony + Reception Venue - Ovation Chicago / Cocktail Hour, Reception Caterer + Desserts - Big Delicious Planet / Reception DJ - Style Matters / Wedding Filmmaker - Aaron Bean
If you’d like me to capture your wedding day or see if your wedding date is available for 2020 or 2021,
fill out the form at the link below and I would love to create something beautiful with you!
VARCA | A Bridal Atelier
Chicago Wedding Dress Designer | Varca Bridal | Chicago Wedding Photographer
Sarah Varca is the boss lady behind the Bridal Atelier, Varca Bridal! She designs all of her gowns in her Chicago studio, in Logan Square, providing dresses for “the woman on her own level'“ all over this lovely planet. Sarah Varca’s bubbly yet sassy spirit really comes out in all of her gorgeous gowns. If you want to have fun and be seen feeling your best, go set up a consultation for an original gown by Varca or visit one of her stockists around the world! If you are ever in Chicago trying on wedding dresses, you can try on her beautiful wedding gowns over at Honey Bridal!
The two Varca wedding dresses below are called “The Nikki”, where the lace neck and puffy sleeved cape is removable, and the “Arabella Gown”, the one with all of the fluffy layers and white leather! These are part of Varca’s latest collection and I’m just amazed at the detail that went into them!
I’m just so grateful to photograph entrepreneurs, like Varca Bridal, who are doing amazing things, and creating beautiful masterpieces by hand and businesses from the ground up. So enjoy these beautiful bridal looks below and be on the lookout for future features on creative entrepreneurs that I am inspired by, coming to my website soon!
If you are ever in need of someone to help you plan your Chicago wedding day, I will happily refer my favorite Chicago wedding planners in the city! Chicago has such a good range of wedding dress boutiques, but Varca Bridal is one of my favorite designers in Chicago, and you must look at her gowns at Honey Bridal while you are dress shopping! You won’t be disappointed! Varca Bridal also designs custom wedding gowns for anyone who has shopped around and hasn’t quite found what they are looking for! You can find the store stockists on Varca Bridal’s website to see where you can try on her fabulous wedding dresses! And if you need any other Chicago vendor referrals, from Chicago wedding florists to Chicago wedding venues to Chicago wedding videographers, I’m more than happy to send over my referral list! Cheers to wedding planning and the start of a beautiful new beginning with the one you love! And make sure to go visit Varca Bridal’s website above to browse her gorgeous wedding dresses!