Classic Chicago Wedding Photos – Michelle + Chris
Hello, old friends! It is finally January! That wonderful time of the year when it gets too cold for most people to get married and I retreat to comfy lounge wear, hot tea and blogging by the fireplace.
Before you get jealous, its only about a tenth as relaxing as that sounded.
But it sure doesn’t suck and I’m loving reviewing our 2015 season and picking our beautiful images to share with you! Tonight, its all about Michelle and Chris’s classic Chicago wedding photos. I was so pumped about this wedding. Chicago is such a gorgeous city and we don’t get to spend nearly enough time there.
While Michelle and Chris actually said their vows and celebrated their reception outside the city, some careful planning and a party bus meant we got to head to Michigan Avenue to create photos that showed off the city.
But back to the beginning…
I loved the church that they were married in! So beautiful! Our 2015 season took us to a lot of really beautiful churches actually. For a while it seemed like the majority of couples were leaning toward outdoor ceremonies or other locations…but I think church ceremonies are making a come back.
Whenever possible, Zac captures the moments between the bride and whomever is walking her down the aisle, just before their big moment. I love those pictures. You can’t hide it in those last moments – nerves, excitement, lots of sappy emotions – whatever you’ve got going on is showing right before those first steps down the aisle!
That awkward moment when officiants ask the couple to turn and face their guests… You guys. I couldn’t have handled that like an adult. If our officiant had asked us to do that, you know it would have taken all but 5 seconds before I was like “Hhheeeyyyy!!” and waving like an idiot. Thankfully other people can handle these kinds of situations better than I would have.
You can’t beat a nice bubble exit.
So that this point, we hopped aboard the party bus for a long, long journey to the heart of downtown Chicago. Normally, Zac and I follow along in our own car. We aren’t anti-social…it’s just that we’re working a 10 hour day and it we like to use those spare minutes to chug water, devour cheese sticks and wheat thins and complain about how bad our feet hurt. But on this day… We weren’t about to try to follow a bus through midday Saturday traffic. During the Taste of Chicago. On a day the Cubs played the Sox. So we got on board! The resulting images are a riot. I’ll just share a few. Suffice to say there was a lot of dancing, selfie-taking and toasting.
Best bridal party of the year is going to this team. Here’s what happened when we parked the bus and jumped out…
Rain.
We’d just spent nearly two hours fighting traffic to get downtown and as we stepped off the bus the sky opened up.
But they rallied man, they rallied hard. Umbrellas were purchased and these people cheered on their bride and groom, held their umbrellas, kept them dry – hell they actually held umbrellas over Zac and I at several points. They were literally the most helpful, thoughtful bridal party we’ve ever worked with and on top of that, they whipped and neigh neighed like bosses. So there ya go. Bridal party award issued. (Runner up is going to the bridal party that actually jumped off their party bus in the middle of the damn road for a 10th grade style fire drill. But that’s another blog.)
Ready to see how this turned out?
Boom!!! Win.
These two are freaking rock stars!! Do they care that they are being rained on? No. They do not. They are owning it.
Also, basically all of these photo pairings are proof that you want this wife-husband duo taking your photos because they are all hers/his takes on the same moment.
Please brace yourselves for my favorites. Like, my heart rate increases when I look at them…
Gah!! I’m pretty sure I jumped up and down after I took those. Michelle and Chris wanted photos that were very Chicago, very city-like. I think the passing crowds of people capture that way better than the skyline and other iconic structures and locations. Those shots look like Chicago, but theses ones feel like Chicago.
When the rain picked up a bit more we headed under the bridge for cover and some rusty goodness.
When our time was up, we all hustled the few blocks back to the waiting bus – but just as we were about to cross Michigan Ave. these two turn and yell, “Can we stand in the median?!”
Um, yes. Yes you can.
Back at the reception location, where it was nice and dry, we wrapped up with our bridal party and then it was time for a beautiful party!
Not sure which I liked more – the kiddie table or the dessert table. That’s not true. We all know which one I liked better.
High fives to Michelle and Chris and their fabulous bridal party. We’re so glad we got the enjoy and capture your ridiculously fun wedding day!