A Wedding at Spiaggia : Chicago Wedding Photographer

Posted by Steve Koo in Weddings on March 29th, 2010

You may remember Ali and Bryan from their engagement session at Promontory Point a few weeks ago. They were so much fun to work with during their e-session that I knew their wedding would be a blast! Ali and Bryan’s fun, easy-going personalities and their love for each other were evident to everyone. In the days leading up to their wedding, Chicago was experiencing its first days of spring – mild temperatures near 60 and sunny skies. But unpredictable Chicago weather struck on their wedding day, giving them howling winds, rain, and snow. Some brides would have been visibly devastated by this. Others would have been distraught but kept it to themselves. But I never once thought that Ali and Bryan were concerned about the weather. In Bryan’s words, “It’s not like we’re getting married outside.” Ali, Bryan, and I even ran outside to do some portraits after the ceremony, braving the rain, snow, and cold!

Ali got ready at the Sinai Temple, the site of the wedding ceremony. The temple restricted photography from the sanctuary floor during the ceremony, so my second shooter Maggie and I spent most of our time in the balcony. No one said anything about taking pictures from right outside sanctuary doors, so I shot from there as well! After the ceremony, we were off to Spiaggia for the reception. This was my second time shooting a wedding at Spiaggia, and once again, the food did not disappoint!

I was so thrilled to be a part of Ali and Bryan’s wedding day. Ali and Bryan’s friends and family were so much fun to talk to and be around. Ali’s vintage 1950s style wedding dress was fabricated by her extremely talented mother, and her cousins did a fantastic job with her makeup. Sarah’s Candies did an amazing job with the cake; being married to an aspiring pastry chef, I know how hard it is to do such a good job with buttercream! I was also happy to be able to work with Fleur and Toast & Jam – two of my favorite vendors. Ali took on the role of wedding planner herself, making sure that everything would run smoothly! Thank you, Ali and Bryan, for letting me be a part of your wedding day!

Shout-outs!
Venues: Chicago Sinai Temple (ceremony) and Spiaggia (reception)
Hair: Susan Flaga of Sparrow
Makeup: Sarah Scharf and Jessica Schultz
Flowers: Fleur
Cake: Sarah’s Candies
DJ: Dena from Toast and Jam