Olivia Leigh Photographie Blog :: Photos and Experiences from a Chicago Wedding Photographer » wisconsin wedding photographer

Nicole + Matt :: Lake Geneva connection session

Olivia — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:20:43 +0000

Despite living in Chicago for a very long while, I had never been up to Lake Geneva, so when Nicole and Matt asked to do their session up there, I was excited to get out of the familiar Chicago spots and shoot in some new surroundings! We started in the old-timey downtown area to help create some portraits that had the vintage feel they were after, but on my way into town I noticed so many gorgeous fields and pretty much insisted we backtrack and shoot a few there. I was so happy we did, as those were my favourites of the day. I think if I could shoot in warehouses one day and fields the next for the rest of my life, I would be a happy lady. These two are just adorable together. Some of the photos below are so almost overwhelmingly sweet, but that is just how they are as a couple! So open and affectionate. I cannot wait for their vintage-inspired winter wedding later this year at an old, magnificent theatre where they will be getting married on the stage.

Sean + Jessica :: Madison, Wisconsin Wedding Photographer

Olivia — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:33:33 +0000

Sean and Jess were married two weeks ago in Madison, where they had what was both a very fun and very emotional wedding in their home state. With a ceremony in downtown Madison and a reception on the shore of Lake Monona, it was a lovely celebration that I was honored to be a part of. I spoke to Sean and Jessica on the phone a few times before booking, and we always had such great rapport–Sean and Jessica are both fun, kind and have a great, sarcastic sense of humour, traits that I personally saw for the first time back in March when I shot their engagement session in Brooklyn, their home base now.

Thank you again for choosing me to share in your day, and to be allowed to experience two new cities as a result of being your photographer (somehow had never been to Madison or NYC before this year!). Hope you love the photos! Thanks also to Luis Bueno for driving up to Madison with me, doing a great job shooting groom’s prep and details.

Ceremony – St. Patrick’s Church

Reception – University of Wisconsin, Memorial Union

I feel like this is the only picture you need to see to know that I loved this wedding! Love all the purple.

I was curious to see what Sean would wear, not being able to picture him in a standard black suit or tux, and he definitely impressed.

Sean + Sean’s dad

Sean and Jess’s theme throughout their printed pieces was about merging the Wisconsin parts of them and their friends and family with all of those from New York, so the place cards used graphic elements from these (including things like rats and trash cans for NYC).

This is always one of my favourite moments to look for–to see who is looking at the bride or groom during a speech. To me, it implies such a sense of intimacy and care among the friend or family member that will check in on who is being toasted rather than watching the speechgiver.

So the priest (yes, the priest) and I were standing on the terrace during dinner when we saw this group of ridiculously costumed people. “Who are they,” he asked? “I think the band?” I said. “That cannot be the band.” “Oh, I think it is. Couldn’t you see Sean choosing someone like them?” “You are right,” he said. Sean had chosen this ridiculous disco band–so crazy, but it was such a fun dance floor.

Sneak :: Sean and Jess [Madison Wedding Photographer]

Olivia — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:31:26 +0000

Sean and Jess, whose engagement session I photographed in Brooklyn this spring, were married yesterday in a lovely ceremony in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. With the beautiful lakeside setting, quirky details, the tastiest kringle I’ve ever had, touching toasts, and a costumed disco band, it was an incredibly fun day to be a part of. Here is one I loved when going through a handful today.

Lots more to come…

Photoboothery at David and Aarthi’s Wedding

Olivia — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:29:48 +0000

I forgot to post these photos from the “photobooth” Joe and I did at D&A’s wedding. I had always wanted to do this but got intimidated about asking everyone to participate, but I’m so glad I got over myself! We had such a great time, and I think these photos are so much more fun than the typical cocktail hour fare. I’ll be offering photobooth services as an add-on for 2009 weddings, most likely with a slightly more sophisticated/controlled setup.

David and Aarthi :: Milwaukee, Wisc. Wedding

Olivia — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:17:05 +0000

After shooting both a save the date and engagement session for David and Aarthi earlier this year, I was finally able to shoot their beautiful dual-ceremony wedding up in Milwaukee earlier this month. Their venues were stunning, their families were delightful, and the day went off fabulously. The Christian ceremony took place at the The Cathedral of St. John, one of the most stunning churches I have seen. The Hindu ceremony and reception were both at the Intercontinental, a hotel with stunning interiors that is well worth the trip to Milwaukee. Lots of photos, so we’ll get right to it. Also be sure to check back later this week–Joe and I did an impromptu photobooth during a lull in the cocktail hour, and it is one of the most fun series of photos I’ve ever taken. I shot so many that I decided to save it for another post, but it’s well worth coming back for!

So beautiful. Thanks to Joe for nabbing this.

These are more traditional fare, but the courtyard at the church was so stunning. It reminded me of, imagine that, an Ivy League school.

Aarthi’s Hindu ceremony gown was outrageously beautiful, and custom-made in India.

Aarthi and David had about 15 attendants for the Hindu ceremony, largely as a way to involve many of their friends and family. By the time the ceremony was about to start, about 30 girls were fussing with saris in this room.

I love this, so much. Feels like a movie still to me.

Thanks again to Joe for this one. He rocked the overhead shots.