Mark + Monica :: A New Leaf

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10 August 2010

When I met with Mark and Monica many months ago, I instantly knew I wanted to shoot their wedding. When I saw them again last month on their wedding day, I was quickly reminded why—I think they may be the most genuine, exuberant, and joyful couple I have had the pleasure to work with! The minute you meet either of them, they make you feel so welcome, and both have such open and authentic personalities. I just loved being around them and capturing the obvious pleasure and joy they have in each other’s company.

They had a perfect little wedding at A New Leaf on a Sunday in July. Monica’s dress was custom designed using her mother’s wedding dress, Mark’s wonderful children served as groomsmen and bridesmaids, an African musician provided such beautiful and unique processional music during the ceremony, food was plentiful and delicious, the dance floor was bustling, and the much-discussed Louboutins made it into the wedding day. It was the type of wedding I adore - personal, meaningful, unique and fun.

Dress: Custom from the Dress Doctor / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Catering: Hearty Boys / Florals, Ceremony and Reception: A New Leaf / DJ: Toast & Jam

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Jen + Brendan at A New Leaf

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12 July 2010

So many of my couples seem so obviously made for each other; Jen and Brendan are certainly one of them. They are both so smart and bright, loved by their family and friends, and brought together in an incredibly serendipitous way that one can’t help but think it’s fate. They were married in a lovely Jewish-Catholic hybrid ceremony (so nice) at A New Leaf with bikes, Bob Dylan and babies all making appearances.

Coordination: Shelly from Honeybee Weddings / Florals by A New Leaf  / Catering by Food for Thought / DJ by Cage & Aquarium

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A New Leaf wedding photos :: Autumn and Brian

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16 November 2009

On October 18, I did what might very well be the craziest thing I have done, and actually flew back from Florida on Sunday morning after shooting Matt and Wendy’s wedding, and then photographed Brian and Autumn’s stunning wedding the same afternoon (and yes, this was all with approval of them! I must have asked eight times if they were sure they wanted me to do this, but they insisted, and I am so very glad they did!). It was quite the whirlwind, but it all went off with no glitches, thankfully. Their day was a celebration of friends, family and food, and started with a stunning sunset ceremony at Promontory Point that showcased the gorgeous autumnal colours of the season. The reception was held at  one of my favourite venues, A New Leaf. Brian is the chef de cuisine at Toplobampo, one of Rick Bayless’ restaurants here in Chicago, and the buffet was catered by Frontera Grill, featuring a range of delicious options including a roasted Gunthorp Farms pig; a three-foot paella with gulf shrimp, Prince Edward Island mussels, king crab, Spanish chorizo and chicken; beet salad with local apples; and truffle oil macaroni and cheese. Dessert was provided by the always amazing Mindy Segal of HotChocolate, with a bacon brittle chocolate cake, fleur de sel shortbreads and more. As a foodie and restaurant lover, I was so excited to share in this day for the obvious reasons, but I was even more happy to be able to get to know this amazing couple! So kind and fun, they were really a joy to work with. Many thanks also to Lisa of Parties, Etc., for coordinating their day and to the darling Sam and Ben for the referral! Enjoy the photos, some of which were also shot on film (square ones). You can also view their engagement connection session here.

Please don’t repost these elsewhere without permission!

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Autumn + Brian :: Chicago Engagement Connection Session

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26 August 2009

Brian is a chef at one of the best restaurants in the city, and Autumn is a budding interior designer and also manages a bar at a fabulous hotel downtown, where she happens to work with one of my favourite clients from last year, Ben (connection session / wedding). When they contacted me about shooting their wedding this October, I was so very excited, especially given how much I loved shooting Sam and Ben’s. Autumn and Brian are such a fun and generous couple, and we had a wonderful time shooting this beautiful session. This is probably one of my favourite sessions I’ve ever done, and made me so jealous of California photographers who get this sort of light almost every day. What a treat that must be! Autumn and Brian are  planning a wonderful ceremony with a beautiful city backdrop and a reception at filled with amazing food and friends, and I can’t wait to photograph it in just a few weeks, hopefully creating some photographs that are as lovely as these.

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Sam + Ben’s Insanely Stunning Wedding :: A New Leaf, Chicago, IL

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10 November 2008

When I met Sam and Ben, I knew they’d have a great wedding. After shooting their fantastic connection session, I was even  more sure that the day would be full of beautiful details and emotions. When their wedding finally came around last month, all of my feelings were proven to be correct, as Sam and Ben had what I think is truly a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, chock full of the most stunning non-traditional details, gorgeous colours, and the most beautiful assemblage of delightful friends and family. Sam and Ben have the most palpable love I’ve ever witnessed, and I am so thrilled I was able to be able to be a part of this day.

I am posting more than usual, particularly a lot of details and couple shots, as I just couldn’t help it. This wedding was phenomenal; I hope it’s useful for a bride-to-be! Be unique and do things that are “you”—it’s so worth it.

Venue and all floral and centerpiece arrangements: A New Leaf

Makeup: MAC

Dress: Dame Couture

Hairpiece: Etsy

Catering: FIG

Everyone knows I am a sucker for feathers and hairpieces, so I was loving this:

Sam’s dress used lace from her mother’s wedding mantilla, and they also tied a bit of it around the bouquet.

Kale and peacock feathers. Most amazing bouquet ever!

More detail of Sam’s great dress from Dame Couture.

I don’t usually take or post a lot of smiling-at-the-camera shots, but come on. Ridiculous.

Ben did not skimp on the accessorizing either.

A New Leaf did a great job as usual on the decor. As favours, Sam and Ben had a box of lucky pennies. A story was told about how Sam can never be stopped from picking up a penny on the ground, so the favours were, indeed, all real lucky pennies that she had collected for years that were stamped in the machines at the Chicago museums.

I just loved this negative space as Sam was waiting to go to the ceremony.

Before the guitarist they had for the ceremony and cocktail hour left, Ben asked him to play a special song that obviously had a special meaning to the both of them. It was one of the most touching moments I’ve ever seen at a wedding.

 First dance.

Sam and Ben had great music, full of indie rock, punk and ska. Here are Sam and her mom singing along to, I believe, Punk Rock Girl. :)

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