I met Peter and Allison a few months ago at their engagement session. Since that time, I’ve been looking forward to their wedding.

They planned a beautiful wedding at the amazing Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. While talking through the wedding details beforehand, Peter and Allison explained a bit about the rich history of the hotel because they wanted it to be evident in their photos.

Potter Palmer was a well-known Chicago businessman. Bertha Honoré was a socialite and philanthropist. After they were introduced by his former business partner, Marshall Fields, they fell in love and married. Palmer built the hotel as a wedding present for his bride. The hotel opened on September 26, 1871, but burned down just thirteen days later in the Great Chicago Fire! Interestingly, Palmer immediately rebuilt the hotel and today, it’s the nation’s oldest continually operating hotel.

Bertha Palmer decorated her Palmer House hotel with treasures inspired by her French heritage and her friendship with Claude Monet. Chandeliers, Tiffany masterpieces, and a ceiling fresco by French painter Louis Pierre Rigal all contributed to its opulence.

On this day we wanted to celebrate that history….

and opulence…

and love.

Allison.



and Peter.



Like always, I’m thrilled when a couple opts for a First Look. Peter and Allison wanted plenty of time for photos and to enjoy their day, so they saw each other before the wedding ceremony.


As you enter the hotel from the North, a beautiful, ornate door greets you. I knew immediately it would be the perfect spot for photographs. A plaque next to the door explains a bit more about it:

“This world renowned door, actually a piece of unusual real estate art, is one of three in creation called ‘Peacock Doors…’ The design is that of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Each of the doors weigh more that a half-ton and all are valued at more than a million dollars…This famed Peacock door is just the beginning…”

I think this photo holds a lot of meaning. It IS “just the beginning.” The beginning of their day. The beginning of their life together!

Peter and Allison were a photographer’s dream. They understood the value of good light and were willing to try “just a few more” all in the name of good pictures! I MUST give props to my excellent second shooter, Molly Bea Photography. Peter and Allison requested a second shooter, and I think it’s invaluable. She took some amazing photos throughout the day. When I’m in my zone of keeping on schedule and making sure to get all requested/necessary pictures, it’s helpful to have someone who can just be creative.


We shot plenty of family shots, but these stood out to me. What a whirlwind of emotions.
Peter comes from a large Italian family. I felt right at home. If they would have pulled out the wedding soup and rigatoni, I may have pulled up a seat and joined the festivities.




Peter and Allison had a delightful, intimate ceremony in the Honoré Ballroom. Bertha Honoré Palmer’s wedding portrait stands tall above the fireplace where they exchanged vows.

Allison’s childhood friend officiated the ceremony so we all had a few good laughs and were endeared to them as they publicly joined their lives…something about Little Mermaid and Uncle Jesse from Full House… yeah, I won’t let that cat out of the bag!

Let the party begin!


Peter and Allison…I hope you enjoyed every last minute of your time in Italy! Blessings to you both!

It was a celebration of family. It wasn’t just the joining together of “this man” and “this woman,” but this new family.

When Tom and Annie met they quickly became best friends. They shared a lot of personal things with each other and would talk till 4 a.m. because they just felt so comfortable around each other.

He loved her boy, Zach, and Zach loved him. They were instant best buddies.

She knew that he would always be there for them–  no matter what.  He was her Prince Charming.

Their fairy tale continued at The Columbus Athenaeum.

Oh, STOP IT, Annie. You’re stunning.


When sweet Zach saw his mom for the first time I had a little trouble holding back the tears!

Three generations! Family pictures were important to Tom and Annie so capturing authentic relationships were important to me.


The bridal party got ready at The Renaissance Hotel in downtown Columbus. Their rooftop pool deck was the perfect place for bridal party shots.

My favorite shot of the day:

Someone was all smiles, waiting for the ceremony to begin:

Tom and Annie…it was a privilege to document your wedding day. Blessings to you!

They grew up about ten minutes from each other but never met. He was five years older and went to the catholic school so their paths never crossed. After high school, he went to Northwestern on a football scholarship and then got drafted by the NFL, living in New York and Scotland before eventually landing in Chicago. She went to college in Florida followed by Northern Illinois University and then moved to Naperville.

A few years later, they were in their hometowns, spending Christmas with their families. After extended family time, they ended up at the same local bar with friends. He caught her attention immediately because he was:
a) tall
b) wearing a white cashmere scarf over a topcoat
and
c) very loud

If truth be told, it wasn’t love at first sight. . . . but it was memorable.

So although they knew a lot of the same people, and grew up very close to each other, they met at a bar on Christmas

Their first date was at Sullivan’s Steak House in Naperville– the site of their dinner reception. Once they started dating, they didn’t get serious for a while. He was still wild, and she didn’t have the patience for him or his behavior. But she kept him as the benchmark standard that she compared all other men, knowing they would eventually end up together. She let him change on his own and realize all the things she already knew. And he did.

Audra and Tim… you’re the best. Your wedding was fun and beautiful. Thank you for being so kind and lovely. I wish you the best as you create a life full of happiness and joy!

I loved working with this bridal party!

Jay and Cristin are currently living in Alaska.

She’s from Florida.

They met while interning in Washington, D.C.

So how does this add up to a wedding in Indiana?!

Jay was raised on a beautiful farm just outside of Lafayette. They had a picturesque wedding amongst the corn. It made me proud to be a Hoosier!

Can you say GORGEOUS?

I loved all the details that were a part of this farm wedding:

Waiting for the ceremony to begin…

The sun shown brightly for the kiss!

There was a surprise for the newly married couple just as the ceremony was ending. Check out this sequence of pictures:

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Baer! You, your families, and your bridal party were beyond gracious to me. Thank you !

Robb and Melissa met in school. He was a young high school teacher. She was student teaching across the hall. As a former high school teacher I loved hearing their story; I can only imagine how much fun their students had playing matchmaker with the two of them during that time!

Fast forward to their wedding day.

It was perfect.

Fluffy clouds. A blue sky. A happy couple.

Melissa and Robb opted for a First Look before their wedding ceremony, allowing plenty of time for pictures around the Lakeside Rose Garden. Here’s what Robb saw as she walked toward him…
And here’s what I was able to capture just seconds later… my favorite shot of the day.

Melissa relaxed in the car while guests arrived.
A sweet look from a mother whose daughter is about to walk down the aisle…

I loved working with this bridal party… and I loved that we were able to get this shot– one of my favorites of the day!

Could she be more stunning?
Yep. She can.


We headed to the reception at Baker Street Train Station.



Thanks, guys, for the privilege of documenting your wedding day! I wish you all the best!

They met when they were college students at Anderson University. They were just aquaintances at that time, having several friends in common. She always thought he was cute, but he had really long hair and wore nothing but t-shirts and sandals. She was the “preppie” girl and thought a “hippie” wasn’t her style– so her crush remained a crush.

They graduated and went their seperate ways to pursue their careers but reconnected at a friend’s wedding several years later. They exchanged emails and after dating for a few years (along with a haircut for Nate ) they decided to tie the knot!

They got married at Laurel Hall in Indianapolis. Here’s what Julia had to say about the venue:

“When we found Laurel Hall we knew it was the perfect venue for us. There is no other venue like it in Indianapolis, and we took advantage of providing an environment where our guests were free to enjoy each room and the beauty of the spaces outside. We loved being able to have special details for the day such as vintage radios in each of the rooms that played the music from our DJ and wedding photos of all our family members in the main foyer. What a special time using the Presidential Suite for getting ready with my bridesmaids and my niece who served as the flower girl. The icing on the cake was the beautiful flower arrangements that a close friend created specifically for Laurel Hall. It was truly an unforgettable day!”

I’m in love with Julia’s makeup. Kathy of Faces by KLM outdid herself!


Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Seriously, Julia? You’re stunning!!

I had the privilege of using Molly Bea Photography as my second shooter. We were a bit behind schedule so Molly took these great pictures of Nate and his guys.



Like always, I’m thrilled when a couple opts for a First Look. Nate and Julia wanted plenty of time for photos and to enjoy their day, so they saw each other before the wedding ceremony.
Shedding a few tears always makes me emotional too!

Having a second shooter is so helpful during the ceremony. I was shooting this…


…while Molly was shooting this…





Nate is a chemistry professor. This was evident in some of their details– specifically, their table seating.


First Dance.
I wish everyone could have seen this fun bride dance to Beyonce’s “All the Single Ladies!” I wanted to get up and dance with her! Seriously. I had problems containing myself.

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Tice! Thank for you for choosing me to be a part of your special day!

Travis and Carly were married last weekend in the heat of Columbus, Ohio on her aunt and uncle’s property. Their vision for the wedding was for it to be a relaxed, fun party. That’s exactly what it was! It was so easy to work with them and their wedding party. Thanks for making my job easy, guys!

My favorite shot of the day!

Congratulations! It was an honor to be a part of your big day!

There’s a watercolor painting displayed in my living room. It sits proudly on top of the mantle. It was the inspiration piece for decorating my home although I never knew much about it.

My in-laws are deceased, and the painting used to hang in their home. It’s a picture of the brickyard that my husband’s grandfather used to own.

A few months ago my husband’s cousin contacted me about shooting his wedding. Imagine my joy when I discovered the wedding would take place at the family brickyard.

The Moses King Brick and Tile Works is now on the National Register of Historic Places and the Top Ten Most Endangered List of the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois. Spending time on site allowed my husband a glimpse into his heritage– a heritage that he can pass along to our kids.

Justin and Heidi carried the heritage theme into their wedding day. Heidi’s dress was from 1948 and has been worn by multiple women in her family– including her mother.







And then the rains came. And they didn’t stop. Heidi was admirably composed.

They postponed the wedding a bit and after about an hour, the skies cleared. I think Justin was excited to finally see his bride!








I loved all the details of the place.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Brooks!

I don’t think working is supposed to be this much fun. I tagged along with my good friend Molly of MollyBea Photography on one of her recent weddings in Michigan.

After checking out the wedding location, Molly and I asked the hotel clerk for eating recommendations. He confidently told us of the menu options available in the hotel, but that wasn’t really what we had in mind. When we looked at him with blank stares, he suggested a buffet near Wal-Mart. Yeah, that wasn’t really what we had in mind either!!! Fortunately, a hotel guest overheard his lame suggestions and interrupted to tell us of a “mom and pop” place about five minutes down the road. Any place that serves iced tea out of glass boot MUST be a tasty treat!

Anyway– on to the wedding. A few weeks ago, Molly served as my second shooter. Now it was my turn to return the favor. On this day, she was the photographer in charge and the brains behind the primary pictures. It was my job to find the unexpected angle. We had a beautiful day at Houghton Lake and the privilege of working with a very fun, relaxed bride and groom. Here’s a few of my favorites from the day: