Zoe and Evan’s big day had finally arrived, and it began with the bride as she prepared in her hotel suite. She was surrounded by her family and friends, including her mom and all her bridesmaids. Laura Brokamp, from Avieve Salon had just finished Zoe’s hair design when I arrived. Zoe slipped into her gorgeous dress, and then her mother placed the final detail- a beautiful necklace- around the bride’s neck. With everything looking perfect, the bridesmaids huddled around and took pictures with their phones before we left the room to meet up with Evan.
Meanwhile, Rob was with Evan as he made his preparations. His groomsmen kept him company while he put on his suit and tie, and Evan looked sharp when he left the hotel room to meet Zoe for their first look.
The couple had their first look at Lincoln Park Lily Pond. Evan waited as patiently as he could for his bride to make her way up the rocks and tap on his shoulder. It was very much worth the wait, though, as Evan beamed from ear to ear once he saw her. They admired each other from head to toe for a few minutes, and then Evan showed off his wristwatch to Zoe. It was his grandfather’s watch- a meaningful addition to his wedding ensemble.
The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, so we took a few minutes to pose for portraits at the lily pond before boarding the party bus.
Zoe’s bouquet was a beautiful bunch of softly-colored flowers, designed by Ryan at Stemline Creative.
Zoe, Evan and I climbed on board the party bus, and were greeted with a champagne toast. The day was off to a fantastic start, and everyone was in great spirits as we began our pre-ceremony photo shoot.
At our next stop, the groomsmen showed off their high-fashion accessories. Zoe’s grandfather has an impressive collection of Hermès suspenders, and he lent some of his favorites out to the groomsmen to wear for the wedding. They looked great, too!
After displaying the suspenders, the coats came back on and the guys lined up along this mosaic for a group shot.
The ladies followed suit, and then Zoe and Evan posed for awhile. It’s such a colorful and fun spot for taking wedding party portraits!
Energy was high as we pulled up to the Ravenswood Event Center. Everyone finished off their drinks and assembled for one last round of pictures before heading inside for the ceremony.
Before we knew it, Zoe was being escorted down the aisle by her father and mother while Jim Perona performed on guitar. She looked so happy, and Evan couldn’t keep his eyes off of her as she joined his side. The atrium of the Ravenswood Event Center was flooded with beautiful light as the sun set. I can’t think of a better setting to say ‘I do’! Enjoy this collection of images from Zoe and Evan’s ceremony:
Evan’s father couldn’t have been more proud of his son as he watched the ceremony from the front row.
Congratulations, Evan and Zoe! After leaving the atrium, the couple snuck away to the bridal suite for a few minutes alone and a last-minute rehearsal of their first dance. I left them to it, joining the guests as they enjoyed cocktail hour on the deck. Bridget from Shannon Gail was the event coordinator for the day, and she was doing an excellent job making sure all the guests were enjoying themselves.
When guests were finished with cocktail hour, they moved down to the main floor of the center and found their seats for the reception. Not long after, the newlyweds made their entrance, met with cheers and applause from their guests. They moved right into their first dance, which the executed perfectly!
A delicious meal was served by Paramount Events, and as guests were finishing their meals, Zoe’s sister began the speeches by delivering a toast in honor of the couple. Evan’s brother, who was also the best man, also said a few words to wrap things up.
And then everyone hit the floor to dance the hora! I love the hora, and as you can probably tell by the faces of Zoe, Evan and everyone else who participated, this crowd had a lot of fun with the traditional dance.
Zoe’s mom was having a blast as she was lifted into the air.
And I love the expression on Zoe’s father’s face!
Evan’s parent’s had their turn, too, as did the Best Man and Maid of Honor.
When the hora was completed, the Matt Lewis Band invited everyone out to the floor to show off their best dance moves. And these guests did not disappoint! As you can tell from this next set of pictures, everyone partied hard!
What a party! Congratulations, Zoe and Evan!!
