It was James and Sarah’s wedding day, and it kicked off with Sarah receiving some sage advice from her friends. The bride was glad to know that she had options, but was pretty much set on marrying James.
Sarah was getting ready in a suite at the Conrad Hotel, where her hair and makeup had just been styled by Kaitlin of Ethan James Salon. Her mom was there, too, beaming as she brought her daughter’s dress out to be put on.
Sarah’s dad came into the room to take some pictures, but decided instead to help with the dress. He’s a jack of all trades!
James had left some gifts for Sarah to open before leaving for the day. I see some great meals coming in this couple’s future!
Finally, before leaving the room, Sarah read a wedding-day letter written by James.
And here’s the man himself! James was in his room with some friends getting ready as well.
It was a lively group- a good sign for the party to come!
The couple’s first look was on the balcony of the bride’s suite. The view was fantastic, and it was made even better with friends and family around to share in the moment.
James and Sarah gathered up their wedding party, which consisted of his brother and her best friend, and headed into the city for some pre-ceremony portraits. We hit some of Chicago’s best photo spots, like the Art Institute Gardens, an El stop and the LaSalle Street Bridge as we made our way to the west side.
After shooting at the West Side rail yard, we traveled to Salvage One, where the ceremony and reception were held, with just enough time to put our feet up and get a moment’s rest before taking more photos.
I love taking portraits at Salvage One. Check out some of their awesome backdrops in the pictures below:
Our last item of business before the ceremony was taking family portraits, and the gang arrived right on time, smiles in place and ready for pictures.
Soon after, Sarah’s father was giving her a kiss before she joined James for the ceremony. A dear friend of the couple presided over the service, which included a reading given by Sarah’s grandparents. It was a wonderful ceremony, full of meaning and love, and some of my favorite pictures from this celebration are included below:
After exchanging vows and rings, the two were pronounced husband and wife. Congratulations, Sarah and James!!
While guests enjoyed cocktail hour, I snuck inside the reception hall to take pictures of details. The tables featured floral arrangements designed by Kate at Fleur Du Jour. Place settings were meticulously arranged, ready to serve the delicious dinner prepared by Hearty Boys.
This is a fantastic idea- guests were encouraged to use this globe as a guests book, writing their names on their favorite corner of the world.
Their signature drink was a Guinness Beer Float- a fantastic treat for a summer wedding.
And for dessert there was pie. As always, Hoosier Mama Pie Company had an amazing variety of mouth-watering treats for guests to choose from.
The newlyweds signed on the line to make the marriage legal…
…and then made their grand entrance into the reception.
Sarah’s dad kicked off the speeches, with friends and family following suit, offering up words of love and advice to the newlyweds.
James and Sarah were the last ones to give a speech, and thanked everyone for sharing the day with them.
Then it was time for the pie tasting!
All eyes were on the newlyweds as they took to the floor for their first dance.
Next up, the parents had their turn, sharing dancings with their children.
Then DJ Dustin from Style Matters cranked up the dance tunes and guests began to tear up the floor.
What a party!
Our bride and groom were exhausted and happy at the end of it all. You can tell by looking at their faces as they posed for one last picture outside of Salvage One before I left for the evening.
Congratulations, Sarah and James! Thank-you for sharing your day with me!