We met Allison and Aaron when we photographed their engagement last year. We chose North Avenue Beach, and it turned out to be a great choice. At the time, they wanted to include their dog in the photos—a lovely little gray dog they’re very attached to. I saw just how much he means to them later, when I photographed their wedding—their apartment is filled with his photos. They are a beautiful couple. We spent quite some time planning the locations for their couple and wedding party photos. They had a large wedding party, and when that’s the case, it’s always important to have a solid plan for choosing locations—especially since Chicago is always full of tourists.Allison got ready at their apartment in West Loop, while Aaron got ready at the Kimpton Gray Hotel. Allison was very excited, and we captured some beautiful moments during the prep. Her bridal party was cheerful and full of energy. We also took a few stunning portraits of Allison—her eyes have the most incredible color, and we really wanted to highlight that, which we managed to do perfectly. Aaron was also having a great time at the hotel with his groomsmen.
FIRST LOOK IN THE ICONIC ROOKERY BUILDING
Anyone who knows Chicago, even just a little, has heard of the Rookery Building—a place with the most beautiful spiral staircase in the city.They wanted something special for their first look, and they chose this historic location. We planned carefully to decide where exactly everything should happen. First came the first look with her father, followed by the one with the groom. It was an emotional experience, and we picked two different spots—one for her father and another for the groom. After the first look, they read their vows to each other, which was incredibly touching. They didn’t have a videographer, but one of the photographers recorded it on a phone so they could have this beautiful moment captured on video as well.We love this location, and after the first look, we took some stunning photos on the beautiful staircase of the Rookery Building. The wedding party was waiting for us outside the building, right in front of the Board of Trade, where we continued our photography with them and the bridal party. The Board of Trade is always an inspiring backdrop for us. There was one moment when Allison’s veil blew away, and we managed to capture it perfectly. You can see that photo in the gallery below.Another iconic location we stopped by on our way to the venue was LaSalle Bridge, which provided us with some amazing photo opportunities. The sun was shining brightly, and we took full advantage of it. We love working with the sun, even though many photographers shy away from it and prefer shooting in the shade. The light added something special to the photos, making them even more beautiful.
CEREMONY AND RECEPTION AT FAIRLIE
Fairlie is a relatively new event space located in the industrial area just behind the Fulton Market District. The neighborhood has seen a rise in new venues recently, and Fairlie fits right in with its industrial design—brick walls and iron details. One practical advantage is that it has its own large parking lot. Allison and Aaron chose to have everything in one place, something Fairlie easily accommodates. That decision made the whole day feel more relaxed, with less time spent in transit and more time to enjoy the moments. A big part of the work was handled by the team of planners from Ohana Events. Everything went according to plan. There were so many details, and the couple truly put in a lot of effort to make sure everything was perfect. The ceremony was very emotional, with several speakers adding personal and touching moments. After the ceremony, guests moved on to cocktail hour while the team at Fairlie worked on setting up the space for the reception. The venue is spacious and well-suited for large celebrations, but from a photographer’s perspective, it’s quite challenging—it’s a very dark space and requires a strong command of additional lighting techniques to capture it well.Since that’s our specialty, you can see the results clearly in the photos in the gallery. After dinner, the live band—Bluewater Kings Band—took the stage, and they were absolutely fantastic. In our experience, a live band is always the best choice for wedding music. It may be more demanding and more expensive, but it’s truly worth it. And then—the party really started!
After we sent them their photos, we received these kind Google review, and we want to share them with you in this post.
“Choosing WS Photography as our wedding photographer was one of the best decisions we made for our special day! From start to finish, they demonstrated professionalism, talent, and an incredible eye for detail. They took the time to understand our vision and preferences during the planning phase, ensuring they captured every important moment. On the day of the wedding, they arrived promptly and coordinated seamlessly with our wedding planner and other vendors.
The team’s talent behind the lens is unlike any other photographer I’ve seen. They have such a remarkable ability to capture not only beautiful posed shots but also candid moments filled with genuine emotion. Looking through our wedding album, we were amazed at how they managed to encapsulate the joy and love of the day in every photograph.
Our entire experience with WS Photography was stress-free. Their communication was clear and prompt throughout the entire planning process, and they made us feel comfortable and relaxed during both the engagement shoot and the wedding day. If you’re searching for a photography team that will not only meet but exceed your expectations for such a momentous occasion, look no further than WS Photography. You will not regret it!!. “
Allison
If you would like to see the entire wedding and more similar ones, feel free to contact us.
Vendor Team
Venue: Fairlie Chicago Planer : Ohana Events Photographer: WS Photography Music : Bluewater Kings Band Makeup : Tamaramakeup Catering : Hearty Boys
