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

Modern Wing Wedding :: Erik + Katie at the Art Institute

Olivia — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:28:17 +0000

At each wedding, I am always trying to observe while shooting. One would think that those would be the same thing, but it can be so easy to just get wrapped up in the moment that you can forget to really observe and witness what is actually happening. My goal is always to try and find the unique characteristic or emotion that represents the couple. For Erik and Katie, it was this truly lovely tenderness and admiration that really stood out to me. It was really so beautiful, and I just loved watching them together. There are many portraits below that I just love, but the one on the beigey-purpley wall is what feels so much like them to me: so soft, connected, and so full of respect and love for each other.

Katie and Erik are also a couple that have a great love for architecture, art and culture, and so it made perfect sense that they chose the glorious Modern Wing to host their wedding celebration. This was my second time shooting here, and it is always a treat. It is so ripe with inspiration, and there is something quite incredible about being able to create wedding portraits with paintings by Degas and Monet in the background. It was such a beautiful wedding, and it was such a pleasure to be a part of it.

Kristin + Chris :: Morton Arboretum Wedding

Olivia — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:03:47 +0000

Kristin and Chris are a sweet couple who met in college at U of I, now live downstate, and came back to Kristin’s hometown area for a beautiful, intimate wedding at Morton Arboretum. This is a venue I shot at several times last year and still love to shoot at, if only because it allows for outdoor ceremonies! It is so extremely rare in Chicago to be able to married outside, that I feel like I hit the photography jackpot anytime I am able to shoot one. We were blessed with stunning weather on their wedding day, and as the sun set behind their large ceremony tree, the colours and light just became resplendent. Kristin and Chris also decided to do “private vows,” as a part of their first look. I had never heard of or seen a couple do this before, and I thought it was the perfect touch. I love personal vows during the ceremony but understand several reasons why a couple might opt for traditional vows; Kristin and Chris still wrote out their private l vows and just shared them privately with each other when they first saw each other. It was a touching, personal and emotional moment that really added some extra depth, meaning and almost “sacredness” to the first time they saw each other.

Venue + Catering: Morton Arboretum | Dress: Pronovias | Florals: Elizabeth Wray Designs | DJ: Toast & Jam

Mark + Monica :: A New Leaf

Olivia — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:23:02 +0000

When I met with Mark and Monica many months ago, I instantly knew I wanted to shoot their wedding. When I saw them again last month on their wedding day, I was quickly reminded why — I think they may be the most genuine, exuberant, and joyful couple I have had the pleasure to work with! The minute you meet either of them, they make you feel so welcome, and both have such open and authentic personalities. I just loved being around them and capturing the obvious pleasure and joy they have in each other’s company.

They had a perfect little wedding at A New Leaf on a Sunday in July. Monica’s dress was custom designed using her mother’s wedding dress, Mark’s wonderful children served as groomsmen and bridesmaids, an African musician provided such beautiful and unique processional music during the ceremony, food was plentiful and delicious, the dance floor was bustling, and the much-discussed Louboutins made it into the wedding day. It was the type of wedding I adore – personal, meaningful, unique and fun.

Dress: Custom from the Dress Doctor / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Catering: Hearty Boys / Florals, Ceremony and Reception: A New Leaf / DJ: Toast & Jam

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.

A wedding at Architectural Artifacts :: Kellie + Eric

Olivia — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:34:53 +0000

After a wedding at Architectural Artifacts last fall, I could not wait to shoot there again. Eric and Kellie fortunately contacted me about shooting their wedding at the space. I was also so pleasantly surprised to find out that there were being married on the outdoor patio; I have never seen any photos of a ceremony outdoor there and didn’t even know it was a possibility. Venues with an outdoor ceremony option in Chicago-proper are almost non-existent, so needless to say it was a rare treat to photograph in the daylight. Eric and Kellie also had a relaxed Jewish ceremony, with four of their friends holding up the chuppah; it was such a nice touch, and I really loved the idea of your friends surrounding and covering you as you take the vows. There were so many other things I loved about this wedding: Kellie’s beautiful gown that she accessorized herself with a little belt, a brooch in the back, and a beautiful feather and gold hairpin; Eric shoes and purple socks; our fabulous portrait locations (so happy with these); and their wonderful families (both so kind and so funny).

Please do not repost these on another wedding blog just yet. If you are interested in running or using them please just drop me a note! – O

Jen + Brendan at A New Leaf

Olivia — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:48:51 +0000

So many of my couples seem so obviously made for each other; Jen and Brendan are certainly one of them. They are both so smart and bright, loved by their family and friends, and brought together in an incredibly serendipitous way that one can’t help but think it’s fate. They were married in a lovely Jewish-Catholic hybrid ceremony (so nice) at A New Leaf with bikes, Bob Dylan and babies all making appearances.

Coordination: Shelly from Honeybee Weddings / Florals by A New Leaf / Catering by Food for Thought / DJ by Cage & Aquarium