The first time I spoke to Natalie, I felt an immediate “click” with her laid-back nature and creative personality. I learned that she’d found my site through my Facebook Page, and that she was located in Bourbonnais, a tiny town about an hour outside of Chicago. And she wanted me do her wedding pictures. “You realize I’m in South Florida?” I asked her, and she emphatically responded that yes, she knew, and she still wanted to have me, and was wondering if she could fly me out to take her photos! Was I ever flattered!! Adrian and I have done a few weddings out of state, but it is always an enormous compliment when a couple loves your work so much that they want you to come and create images for them more than anyone that they could find locally.
So, we made the arrangements, and in the middle of June, when it was just starting to get warm here in South Florida, we blissfully flew out to the cool Midwestern United States to photograph Natalie and Joe’s wedding! Their ceremony was at the incredibly beautiful Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, and the reception was at the Elks Country club, which was on a lovely piece of property with lots of greenery, trees, and sunshine. We were able to create gorgeous images everywhere we photographed!
The church that they were married in was very special to them – the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was the same one that Natalie’s parents were married in. We got many beautiful photos during the ceremony, and it was our first time organizing a flower petal throw as the couple left the building, which we absolutely loved!
Being artists themselves (Natalie draws and paints, and Joe is a photographer, too), the couple made it a point to set aside PLENTY of time during their wedding day to take portraits. Sure, it extended their coverage, but they were able to get INCREDIBLE images made on their actual wedding day when their emotions were still running high – there is just nothing better than that!!! Natalie & Joe left me with about 2 hours (yes, two HOURS) to create images for them beginning with the cemetery attached to the church they were married in to stopping at a gas station for refreshments (fun!!!) to going to a neighboring town where they love to do shopping and antiquing. They made it personal, which I love.
I hope you like their photos as much as I do and definitely as much as I know they do. I couldn’t resist posting lots of favorite shots, so please enjoy the collage and feel free to leave a comment if you do!
by karen lisa
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