Marjorie & Brian were married at First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn. I started the day with the girls at Linea Hair Salon, which was conveniently about a block away from the church. My friend, Denver photojournalist Justin Edmonds, was in town to help me document the day, starting with Brian and his guys getting ready. I always love working with a second photographer to help expand coverage and make everything smoother.

After the ceremony, we headed to Morton Arboretum in Lisle for wedding party portraits. A hedge maze, pine forest and blooming flowers provided great opportunities for the portraiture.

The reception was at Venuti’s Ristorante & Banquet Hall in Addison. Justin and I setup The Photobooth during the cocktail hour. Brian’s family brought a giant tub of props and everyone had great time wearing crazy hats and glasses and rocking out with the blowup instruments!

1 Comment » Posted by travis on May 10th 2013 / Weddings

Celina & Eddie were married at The Onion Pub & Brewery in Barrington, Illinois. With rain in the forecast, Celina & Eddie did their homework the night before. They found a nice park (with a sheltered pavilion!) across the street from the hotel they were getting ready at for a first look and pre-ceremony portraits. Luckily, the rain paused just long enough to avoid the shelter.

The entire day was filled with laughter, which started as soon I got to the salon. I was seriously entertained all day!

I loved their ring-warming ceremony – the parents and grandparents each held the rings for a moment, saying a silent prayer for the couple. I also enjoyed the song played by Eddie’s brothers (and groomsmen) during the ceremony. After the ceremony, we got another short break in the rain to fit in a few portraits of Celina & Eddie.

Celina’s dad gave one of the funniest father-of-the-bride speeches I’ve heard. Then everybody got on the dance floor to rock out to music by Toast & Jam (who get my vote for Best DJs in Chicago!)

No Comments » Posted by travis on Oct 21st 2012 / Weddings

Anna & Kevin returned to their hometown of Crookston, Minnesota (where they first met and started dating in high school!) for their wedding. One of my favorite moments of the day was Kevin noticing Anna’s bracelet – the first gift he gave her when they were 16.

The ceremony took place at Trinity Point on the shore of Maple Lake in Mentor, Minnesota. The lake provided a beautiful backdrop for both the ceremony and some portraits afterward.

The reception, which was at the Bede Ballroom on the University of Minnesota-Crookston campus, featured some pretty unique things. An adorable toast by the flower girl, a projector showing tweets with a custom hashtag and an a capella performance by Kevin onstage with some of his friends. Here’s a few of my favorite moments from the day.

No Comments » Posted by travis on Sep 27th 2012 / Weddings

Christina & Bart held a very intimate wedding with their immediate family. I’ve photographed lots of different types of weddings (it’s one of my favorite parts of the job) so I was excited to document a wedding with such a close-knit group.

I started off the day with Christina while she got ready at a nearby salon. She finished getting ready at Bart’s parents home in Lockport, Illinois. After a blessing ceremony by Christina & Bart’s parents we all loaded into a limousine for the drive to St. John Vianney Church. We were met by a few more family members at the church for the ceremony.

After the ceremony, there was a dove release and then we headed to a park for some portraits. My day was officially finished after portraits, but Christina & Bart invited me to stay for dinner and drinks with their family. It was such an honor to be part of the day, thanks for sharing it with me!

No Comments » Posted by travis on Sep 4th 2012 / Weddings

Natasha & Danny were married at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Chicago. My friend, and fellow photojournalist Lauren M Anderson helped me document the day. Lauren and I worked together as staff photographers at the Herald.

I started the day with Natasha and a room full of girls getting ready in the top floor corner suite. Awesome views of the city from up there! Lauren hung out with Danny and the boys while they put on their suspenders and bow ties. Check out Danny’s patent leather Air Jordan 11s! It’s not often that the groom get’s more compliments on his shoes than the bride.

The ceremony took place in the Crystal Ballroom, which looks out to the Chicago River. The rain held off just long enough for us to head across the street and down to the riverwalk for some portraits. The reception featured some beautiful toasts, and a few different rap performances including Danny on the mic himself.

Lauren and I had a great time with Natasha & Danny, and all their guests. Here’s a few of my favorite’s from the day…

No Comments » Posted by travis on Aug 12th 2012 / Weddings

Avani and Puneet had two ceremonies on Saturday and a reception on Sunday. The first ceremony took place at the Sikh Religious Society of Chicago. The second ceremony took place outside (on what was easily the most humid day I can remember) at Danada House in Naperville. I started the morning with Avani, while she got ready at her house. My friend, Justin, started at Puneet’s house while he prepared for the day.

There’s a lot of interesting little moments that happen at Indian weddings that I love. First, the Baraat, which is a procession of the groom with his friends and family. There’s music with a drummer, and the groom rides in on a horse while his friends and family dance their way to the ceremony site. After that, the two families come together and the bride’s mother greets the groom. There’s some ceremonial exchanges, and, at some point, she tries to pinch his nose. Puneet’s friends tried to block the nose pinch attempt but mostly failed.

Several times, Puneet had to negotiate with the bride’s family. To get into the Sikh temple, to get back into his house after the ceremony, and, my personal favorite, to get back a shoe. Traditionally, the bride’s female cousins try to steal the groom’s shoes while they’re off during the ceremony. Avani’s cousins only managed to snag one shoe, but still Puneet had to barter to get it back. It’s all playful, and part of the fun.

After the wedding ceremony, we did a few quick portraits before an emotional send off by the newlyweds’ family. As the limo pulled away, Puneet’s father threw handfulls of cash at the vehicle!

Sunday’s reception took place at White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville. Justin and I took a few pictures while Puneet and Avani got ready, then we headed to the venue. We started off with some portraits around the golf course and then got underway with dinner, toasts, and dancing. Avani & Puneet’s families closed out the night with an epic dance battle!

No Comments » Posted by travis on Aug 12th 2012 / Weddings

Day 3 of Avani & Puneet’s celebration featured the most intimidate events of the wedding week. Avani & Puneet each held individual Vidhi ceremonies at their own homes with close friends and family. These pre-wedding ceremonies are full of traditional religious rituals including Pithi or Haldi, including a cleansing and purification ritual where friends and family rub a yellow turmeric paste on the skin of the bride and groom. This made for some very funny moments.

Avani (and her family’s) emotion as her uncle read a traditional Indian wedding story was one of the most touching moments from the whole weekend.

1 Comment » Posted by travis on Aug 11th 2012 / Weddings

I photographed my first Indian Wedding last spring, and it was such a different experience that I’d been hoping to have the opportunity again soon. So I was thrilled when Avani & Puneet contacted me.

Indian Weddings are filled with gorgeous details, beautiful (and totally awesome!) traditions, vibrant colors and non-stop dancing. Avani & Puneet’s celebrations kicked off on Wednesday with a Mehndi party where the girls had the traditional henna tattoos applied. The event also featured some singing and a few skits followed by dancing.

Thursday, the Sangeet, featured a ring ceremony and whole lot more dancing. My friend Justin, joined me on Thursday for the event so you’ll notice his photo credits on some in the watermark. By the end of the night, we couldn’t believe that things were just getting started. Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s events will be posted shortly!

1 Comment » Posted by travis on Aug 7th 2012 / Weddings

Melissa & Justin were married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Stafford’s Bay View Inn in Petoskey, Mich. I started the day with the girls at a salon in downtown Petoskey. Once the hair and makeup were done, we headed back to the Bay View Inn where everybody finished getting ready.

The ceremony site provided guests a great view out to Little Traverse Bay and made for a great backdrop. After the ceremony we went to a few nearby public spaces and out onto the pier for some portraits. The reception was also back at the Inn.

Melissa’s sisters’ toast was one of the funniest speeches I’ve heard, so the time practicing in the hotel room earlier was worth it. Melissa’s dad made sure I knew to be ready for the Blues Brothers portion of the evening when they distributed sunglasses to everybody and got down with some of the craziest moves I’ve seen on a dance floor. Melissa & Justin, I had a blast with you and your families, thanks for letting me document your day!

No Comments » Posted by travis on Jul 18th 2012 / Weddings

After Kinzie and Donnie’s Champaign, Illinois engagement session last fall, I had the chance to hang out afterward for the family’s Sunday dinner. It was great to see so many familiar faces when I arrived for their wedding weekend. I love working with couples that go out of their way to make me feel welcome. So thank you to both Kinzie & Donnie (and their families!) for such a great weekend!

I started out with the couple and their wedding party while they got ready at their home in Champaign. The girls left the house first, so Donnie wouldn’t get a chance to see his bride until we met up at West Side Park for some formal portraits. Donnie’s groomspeople walked him in, blindfolded, which made for a pretty funny first look.

The ceremony was inside the Art Theater, which was a first for the venue. The couple definitely put some time into the ceremony planning. They made full use of the big screen starting with a pre-ceremony video (starring their cats) asking guests to turn off phones and put away cameras. Yay for unplugged weddings!

We had time for a few more portraits with just the two of them, before heading to the reception at Westminster Hall on the University of Illinois campus. After toasts and a super tasty dinner, with tons of vegetarian things, it was time for the dancing! After Kinzie & Donnie’s first dance, they danced with their parents and then everybody!

People also seemed to enjoy the photobooth, and Kinzie & Donnie even provided their own background fabric.

No Comments » Posted by travis on Jun 27th 2012 / Weddings