Jillian and Jon started our Chicago engagement photography session with the baking of their favorite goodies. These two met each other early in their years of law school and grew to be best friends. Their sense of humor really made this time enjoyable for me as we made our way to the Grant Park ice skating rink, a location dear to Jillian and Jon as they had a few of their first dates there back in the day. Decidedly, this winter has been full of inconsistencies, so what we thought might be a mild winter day turned out to be pretty cold, even for a winter engagement photography session. Still, the couple was good natured and had fun which you can tell by looking at the photographs. I can’t wait to document their wedding in the spring!
Heritage Prairie Farm charmed us yet again with its first winter wedding, offering unique opportunities in its rustic barn and cozy greenhouse for a creative wedding photographer. While I had expected a blanket of snow, characteristic of most December weddings in Chicago, the weather felt more like a rainy, foggy day in March.
Early in the morning, busy worker bees had begun preparation on the farm for Zac and Joy’s celebration: artful flower arrangements in the farm house kitchen, ceremony set-up in the back of the barn, table setting in the greenhouse (complete with miniature honey gifts), and dinner preparation in Chef Jeremy’s kitchen.
The couple was such a pleasure to work with, very friendly and free-spirited. Zac and Joy had traveled from Alaska to share their wedding day with close family and friends. When I learned that their plan for a honeymoon was to begin at the southernmost tip of the continent, drive up the coast, and eventually make their home in a favorite location, I wanted to meet them.
By the way, Chef Jeremy out-did himself again. I even heard one guest murmur to himself in delight, “I want to bathe in this sauce!” And, the unthinkable, someone asking for more Brussels sprouts. To check out pictures of his organic natural foods, visit our behind-the-scenes blog post. Warning: this is guaranteed to make your mouth water.
