Lauren and Todd’s Chicago Yacht Club Wedding

wedding portrait in old Rolls RoyceChicago Yacht Club Wedding

I’ve known Lauren for 34 years, so when she called me to ask if I would shoot their wedding, I was honored, excited and nervous. She and Todd are definitely the yin to each other’s yang. When she’s loud, he’s quiet; when he’s stoic, she lights the fire.

They have a lot of great memories on Lake Michigan, so it made a lot of sense to have a Chicago Yacht Club wedding. The views of Lake Michigan, the serenity in the middle of downtown Chicago and the backdrop of the Chicago skyline made it a winner.

Chubbs, Lauren and Todd’s cute bulldog, met me at the door panting like he’d just run the Chicago marathon. How can you not love that face?

 

bulldog portrait at wedding

Chicago Yacht Club Wedding

chicago wedding photos

fun Chicago wedding photographs

bridal portrait in Chicago

denver wedding photography

denver wedding photographer

They had some distinct ideas for their wedding, but otherwise let me run with it. Number one priority was they wanted some great portraits of the two of them.

Their first look was on a pier in Lake Michigan. I was only slightly nervous that I was going to fall in the water… ok, honestly I was a lot nervous. Lauren made her way down the pier in heels. She’s a trooper!

first look on pier in Lake Michigan

First Look at Chicago Yacht Club

We made some fun portraits with the background full of skyscrapers, and then took everyone up on the roof at sunset to take advantage of the awesome light and views. It’s a treat to have a lot of time for portraits – hello creativity without a time crunch!

 

Lake Michigan wedding

downtown Chicago wedding

groom portrait in Denver

Chicago Bridal Portrait on Lake Michigan

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ring bearer sticks out tongue

flower girls in chicago

bride kisses grandma as she walks down the aisle

groomsmen at chicago wedding

wedding ceremony on lake michigan in Chicago

Chicago wedding

Their ceremony was along the water, as boats came in and out of the harbor. It was really pretty and serene. The reception got cranked up with a live band that Lauren’s dad scoured the city for. It was well worth his effort because they killed it.

Chicago Yacht Club roof wedding portraits

wedding portraits on Chicago Yacht Club roof

 

wedding party portrait in Chicago

sunset portraits in Chicago

sunset portraits on Lake Michigan

wedding veil blowing

dramatic kiss in Chicago

chicago wedding portraits

flower girl in bride's shoes

cake topper with a bulldog

cake cutting in Chicago

groomsman toast at Chicago Yacht Club

Later, we escaped the heat of the dance floor to take advantage of the city lights in some nighttime portraits. Chicago has such a beautiful, iconic skyline. What a treat it was to photograph this wedding!

nighttime wedding portraits in Chicago

dance reception

wedding reception at Chicago Yacht Club

chicago wedding reception

fun wedding photographs in Chicago

Thanks to Eddie for second shooting with me, and to City Girl Events for a beautiful event!

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