Annie Steele Photography » Wedding Photography, Chicago, Illinois

When they were introduced several years back, Summer remembers a visible spark.  Granted it was a celebratory day full of spirits and cocktails, while she celebrated her 21st Birthday.  Shortly after and excited to go on their first date, she was skeptically hopeful the same connection would be there.  After a first, second and a third date of easy conversation, so much in common, and Joe keeping a smile on Summer’s face; she introduced him to her family as her boyfriend at a family wedding.  Romantic dinners in the city, laid back dates at home, and friendship that led to love is the story they get to tell for generations to come.

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful pair at Burnham Harbor in Chicago!  The summer evening had magical light, and their love shines bright through all of it.  I am so excited to capture their Wedding next month, and I hope you enjoy a few of my favorites from their engagement session!

 

Summer has the most beautiful, and contagious laugh!

Oh, and when I grow up… I want Summer’s hair.

Magical love and light!

I may be biased, but I adore 3 stone engagement rings <3

We decided to end their session, at Burnham Harbor…

<3

I will end with this picture because I think it sums their love up perfect!

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When Jon applied to college, he never would have imagined marrying the little sister of his soon-to-be fraternity brother and best friend.  Jon grew up in Florida, but chose a smaller midwest University to attend.  Going home for the Holidays was too far of a distance, so he always was invited and spent countless holiday dinners and weekends at Dave’s families home just outside of Chicago.  That’s were he met Dave’s little sister, Jenny.  Over the years, Jon and Jenny became friends; Jon helping Jenny move, running 5k races together and regularly talking about life and life’s hurdles.  Friendship turned into love, and love turned into planning the rest of their lives together.

I just adore this love story and the beautiful wedding they are planning this summer.  Surrounded by family and friends; I am truly honored to be documenting this special couple and their romantic story.  I hope you enjoy some of my favorites from a park nearby their home in St. Charles, IL.

Couples who dance together…

These two!

Jon looking dapper, and Jenny simply beautiful!

<3

Happy Thursday!

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Our lovely friends from Borrowed & Blue featured Kelly and Chris’s Wedding yesterday and we couldn’t be more excited!  This winter wedding was flawlessly planned with the most perfect, varying shades of pinks, classic lace and modern love.

To see more of this wedding, you can view it HERE and be sure to subscribe to the weekly wedding press to see it featured on the weekly edition! <3

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Filed in:FEATURED! | Weddings
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In March, I was invited and attended an intimate dinner to celebrate Chicago’s Wedding Visionaries with the founders and leadership team of Borrowed & Blue.  The event was held at the fabulous City Winery in the West Loop and I had the privilege of meeting other Chicago creatives in the wedding industry for dinner and spirits.  And if you haven’t heard– Borrowed & Blue, is a fantastic company in the business to help couples plan their perfect wedding day.

To get inspired, plan colors and wedding day style, look up vendors in Chicago (and other parts of the US), visit the site and be sure to download the FREE APP HERE!  There are so many details that go into planning a wedding, so make sure you got it all covered;)

Today, Kayleigh and Nathan’s Schaumburg Golf Course Wedding is Featured on Borrowed & Blue and I couldn’t be more thrilled!  To see more of their lovely day; you can see the feature HERE!

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Happy Friday and weekend, friends!! xo

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Every bridesmaid was all smiles, clicking every single picture they could take on their phone as the Bride was almost glammed up and ready.  Kelly sat in the hotel suite calm, excited and glowed as she went from a fiancé to a Bride.  It was a mild Winter day, and a day where Kelly and Chris vowed their lives together in front of family and close friends and celebrated the night away.

Kelly and Chris were one of the many lucky people to have met on eHarmony.  As fate would have it, they started talking in December of 2012 and after a month of friendly conversations, Chris asked Kelly on their first date.  They met at Yard House, and described that date as a night full of laughter, friendship and relief.  Soon after that, they became best friends and fell in love.

I hope you enjoy some of my favorites of this modernly classic and stunning, Winter Wedding in Chicago.  XO

This is what a best friend looks like…

Besides being a gorgeous bride, Kelly surrounded herself with her favorite girls while getting ready and pictures throughout her childhood.  One of the pictures was her dad holding her after coming home from the hospital after she was born.  I couldn’t resist a picture of her dad holding the picture on the day he was about to walk his only daughter down the aisle.

Also, Kelly holding the ring bearer pillow made of 3 generations of her families wedding dresses

A card from Chris…

A stunning Bride… inside and out.

These colors, flowers, wraps and different dresses were an absolute dream to photograph

While the girls were getting dressed, Chris was getting ready with his groomsman

Chris looking dapper as ever

Kelly walked down the aisle to meet her groom at 2pm…

MARRIED!

After a few pictures at the church, we went to Evanston for a few pictures exactly where Chris proposed

LOVE this Bridal Party!

On the rock in Evanston exactly where Chris proposed…

One last stop to the Firehouse in Evanston where Chris works

Oh hey, gorgeous bridal party! 

Arriving to the reception

The couple opted to have a sweetheart table where their parents sat with them…. I just adore this idea (and the special toasts that ensued during the night)

A special first dance with her dad

And this is exactly why I believe in second shooters…

Grandma (and one of my favorite Wedding guests)

After special dances, Average Joe Band played the night away…

I’ll end with this because I just adore how they are holding on to the people that have influenced their lives so much, that led them to this day…. <3

A special Thank You to all the creatives that made this day even more beautiful…

Church | St. Athanasius Church

Venue | Hilton Skokie

Hair | Diana Giacolone

Makeup | Sonia Roselli Salon

Bride’s Gown | Volles Bridal

Bridesmaid Gowns | Various Designers

Shoes | Badgley Mischka

Grooms Tux | Savvi Formalwear

Invitations | Minted

Bakery | Oak Mill Bakery

Florist | Kristen James for Kio Kreations

DJ | Spinnin Discs

Band | Average Joe Band

Video | Bella Photo Video

Photobooth | Moments to Memories

 Photography | Annie Steele Photography

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After years of traveling for work, Steve moved and started a life in downtown Chicago and a couple years later, his future wife whom he had not yet met, put down roots in the same city.
 –
Both big country music fans, it only seems fitting that they met for the very first time at Old Crow, a country bar in Steve’s favorite neighborhood– Wrigleyville.  Nicole was celebrating St.Patrick’s day with friends at Old Crow and Steve was there for a friend’s birthday. At some point, Steve who had noticed Nicole several times through out the night approached Nicole, and the two groups merged.  They talked and laughed for a couple hours and  seemed to have an immediate connection as both groups left without even saying goodbye or letting them know.  Eventually later that night, the two said goodbye, but not before exchanging numbers. The very next morning, Nicole woke up to a text from Steve.
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Nicole was skeptical to accept a first date from a guy she randomly met at a bar.  They spent about three weeks texting back and forth before Steve suggested they meet for an official first real date. Still unsure and even considered backing out of the date, Nicole’s roommate encouraged her to go on one date “since he might be the one.”  Well he was the one, and I couldn’t be more honored to be photographing their upcoming wedding this summer.  For their Engagement Session, it only seemed fitting to go back where it all began– Old Crow and the streets of Wrigleyville!   I hope you enjoy some of my favorites…
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I just adore these two…
Besides being the neighborhood where the Chicago Cubs call home, this ‘hood has amazing spots to photograph!
Where it all began <3
You two…
The stadium has been under construction prepping for opening day (that is TODAY), but that didn’t stop these two from showing off their Cubs (and Sox) love;)
Nicole, you are gorg!
<3
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
Let’s get some runs! <3 Happy Opening Day, friends!
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Every once in a while, we have the privilege of photographing weddings that are different than the rest.  Kathryn and Michael were that couple last May at Hoosier Grove Barn.  Besides the barn having a beautiful, intimate-rustic feel, they chose to get married and celebrate in the same beautiful place because they could personalize their day to what they wanted.  They wanted their day to be a reflection of them as a couple and for their closest friends and family to have a wonderful time.

The Bride chose a cream Bridesmaid dress from Nordstroms and personalized it with a beautiful capelet. The groom, who is a drummer, played for his bride walking down the aisle. Where they stood and were married was decorated with the Bride’s old prom dresses of blues.  Their attendants were the Bride’s 3 brothers, and the groom’s 3 sisters.  And, the craft brews they danced the night away with came from their favorite Brewery in Indiana.

I was honored to see Glamour and Grace loved this wedding just as much as I did!  We were honored to see it featured and you can see the full feature HERE!

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Oh happy day, friends!  P.S. If you missed this wedding and all it’s homemade glory, you can visit the Blog post HERE!

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People always would say to me, just wait until you have a baby.  I would softly smile, nod pretending to agree.  What they were referring to was the love I have for my dog would never compare to love that I would have for my daughter once she was born.

The love for a child is undeniably the strongest love you can ever give.  It’s right up there with olive garden dressing now being sold at grocery stores, fresh cut grass in the summer and sleeping in on the weekends.  I’m kind of kidding, but those things are pretty fantastic in my book.

At the end of a given day, she is more tired than even I am.  She has followed me to every diaper changing, napped beside her sister after busy mornings and afternoons of playing & learning, and stood guard at the window when she thought she needed to serve and protect.  The love I have for my first baby is undeniable.  As she watches TV at the end of the day sitting beside me with her paw on my leg; she sighs in relief.  Happy 9th Birthday to my sweet Ellie; I’ve never appreciated her love more.

This morning we took some time to celebrate with party hats and balloons.

<3

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