CREATIVO

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outdoor wedding

Caldwell Lily Pond Wedding and Hawaiian Theme

Wedding Pictures, WeddingsWedding Creativo Photography

Amie and Dan celebrated their spring wedding at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool in Chicago's Lincoln Park.  This small city park wedding ceremony had a bold black and white color scheme.  The bride and groom and an intimate gathering of guests were surrounded by the lush nature reserve surroundings, as Rev. Marian Hale officiated the ceremony. 

The afternoon reception took a more casual tone with a Hawaiian luau theme. The outdoor tented celebration included a whole roasted kalua pig, vibrant orange, yellow and green colors, and exotic hula dancing.  Guests wore casual Hawaiian theme outfits, and the bride and groom also changed into Polynesian styles for their afternoon fun.

Wedding photography by Wedding Creativo Photography ©

Wedding Photo of the Week: Curious Kids and Vineyard Fun

Destination Weddings, Wedding Ideas, Wedding PicturesWedding Creativo Photography

This week we look back to Chris and Melinda's 2007 wedding for our Wedding Photo of the Week.  Their wedding was at Willow Harbor Vinyards in Three Oaks, Michigan.  It was a beautiful location with acres of open green space, horse barn, vineyards and private lakeside spot for the ceremony.  Southwest Michigan has many barns and vineyards available for weddings, but this was one of our favorites.  They had lovely and curious flower girls for their bridal party, and also lots of young nieces and nephews in attendance.  We love when kids are ate weddings because for us they are fun and always cute as can be!  However, we understand some couples and parents, might be apprehensive about including kids.  We think the barn, farm or vineyard wedding is the perfect solution.  At Willow Harbor the kids all had a lot of fun running around and playing all day.  We think regional locations like this are always great for weddings that have lots of children.  Outdoor games and fun activities can be set up just for them, so they can go have fun (optimally with older teens or college adults supervising), and then adults can have fun too not hearing their kids complain about being "bored" at the wedding all day.

© Wedding Creativo Photography 

Trisha and Scott Wedding at Chicago Cancer Survivors Garden

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You couldn't get more cozy than Trisha and Scott's small wedding held at their home and in their back yard.  And oh yeah, their back yard is Chicago's Millennium Park and Grant Park.

We had a great time with this fun-loving couple, and from their first playful moments and all throughout the day, the theme for their wedding was fun fun fun!  We admired the bride's "Pippa-esque" gown, vibrant orange and yellow flora, and the groom's navy blue suit with orange striped tie.

© Wedding Creativo Photography

The happy couple escorted each other, arm-in-arm, to their ceremony at the Cancer Survivors Garden in Chicago's Grant Park.  This beautiful outdoor area is a gem among Chicago Park District's special event spaces.

There, they met their closest family and friends for what was possibly the smallest wedding gathering we've ever photographed.  It was very cute with everyone, including the bride and groom's dogs, circled around the couple while they exchanged vows.

After the kiss, it was hi-fives for all around, and a first dance that literally swept the bride off her feet!

Needless to say, the portrait time for this wedding was very relaxed and accomplished rather quickly, even with different variations with everyone. One of the portraits included everyone attending the wedding ceremony in one group shot!

Then it was off to their private reception at their home, which had absolutely stunning views of the city from their high-rise balcony, where more guests joined the couple for their evening celebration.

The bride changed into a lovely cocktail dress, and nearly committed cake-a-cide!  Then after the reception dinner the gang headed out to the after-party at one of their favorite bars.

Congratulations Trisha and Scott, and thanks for showing everyone that even a small wedding can be a big celebration!

Becky and Fuad's Lakeside Wedding

Destination Weddings, Wedding Pictures, WeddingsWedding Creativo Photography

Becky and Fuad have many shared interests including music, travel and yoga (we featured their yoga engagement session a while ago), so it is no wonder they found marital bliss together.

They combined American and Indian traditions for their eclectic wedding weekend along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan.  The evening before the wedding the families gathered for a dinner that incorporated some Indian traditions, such as delicate henna paining of the hands and feet.

On the wedding day the bride had her parents help with hair and makeup. The bridesmaids dresses were vibrant orange and with accented with bouquets of purple and green by Bloomies.  Matching jewelry worn by the bride and bridesmaids was made by the bride!  In their beige summer suits, the groomsmen escorted family members while friends played a guitar and kalimba duet for a world music flavored processional.  The pavilion-covered beach ceremony provided views of the bride's favorite St. Joseph lighthouse and a majestic metal sculpture.

Coordinator Jessica Smith organized a lovely reception held at Veranda at the Witcomb.  An amazing summer sunset gave the semi-outdoor venue a golden glow and the perfect ambiance for dinner by CK Catering.  Becky is an amazing singer and Fuad a wonderful musician, and they treated their guests to a beautiful performance of classic ballads.  Fuad also took over the turntables a couple times from friend DJ Warp, keeping everyone on the dance floor with a mix of international grooves and old-school funk and soul (I remember being really happy when one of my favorites "Flashlight" came over the speakers!).   Later in the evening other talented friends from the Chicago performance group, Pyrotechniq, performed a fire dance.   All in all it was a celebration that reflected many of the bride and groom's shared passions.

© Wedding Creativo Photography

Inspired Finds:

Kalimba                                    Henna Painting Kit                  Jewel T-Strap Sandal

 


Becca and Jeff's Wedding at Cantigny Gardens

Wedding Pictures, WeddingsWedding Creativo Photography

The 250 acres of well manicured flora at Cantigny Park served as the backdrop for Becca and Jeff's outdoor summer wedding, with reception dinner inside the park's Le Jardin banquet hall that overlooks the gardens. 

The bride wore an Amsale gown that she discovered at Belle Vie Bridal.  At her side, the groom wore a beige Tommy Hilfiger suit as they exchanged Tiffany wedding rings.

The bridesmaids wore vibrant fuchsia designs by Bill Levkoff, while the entire bridal party was accentuated with vibrantly hued bouquets and boutonnieres with shocks of orange, fuchsia and violet.  Winfield Flower Shoppe also embellished the dining room with matching floral centerpieces and reception decor.

Cantingy provided the cake and catering, while Amanda Burdick of La'Di Events kept the day running smoothly, and Dena Masely from Toast and Jam DJs packed the dance floor.   Music was also shared by the bride and groom with Sappy, Sweet and Happy mix cds, which they made for guest gifts.

Becca and Jeff are teachers in "real life," and on their wedding day gave everyone a lesson in happiness and the natural beauty of true love.

© Wedding Creativo Photography

SNEAK PEEK: Congratulations Becca and Jeff!

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Becca and Jeff had a beautiful outdoor wedding over the weekend at Cantigny Park, a 500-acre park in Wheaton.  It was orignally developed as an experimental family farm in the early 1930s by Colonel Robert R. McCormick (it remains part of the McCormic Foundation) before becoming a world-class botanical garden park in the late 1960s.  It was indeed a wonderful place and a perfect day for an outdoor wedding for this happy couple.

© Wedding Creativo Photography

Wedding Creativo Daily Photo: 05.30.2010

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Nissa and Mike got married at the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens and not too long after their wedding they moved to South Korea where they are journalists and teaching! This is one of our favorite "kiss" portraits with the beautiful mansion in the background.  The estate was recently donated to my alma mater and is now part of Loyola University. 

All this month we've been looking back at some favorites from years past as we celebrate three decades in business this year.  

@ Wedding Creativo Photography

 

Wedding Creativo Daily Photo: 05.18.2010

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Willow was actually an intern at our studio, in what was a busy summer for her as she finished up school and planned TWO weddings - one here that we had the honor of photographing, and one with her family in Utah.  As a taletned and wonderful young woman, Willow really set the bar for all of our interns! We are glad that she stays in touch often so that we can keep up with this happy couple now living in Las Vegas. 

This month we are featuring favorites from past years for our studio's 30th anniversary.  

© Wedding Creativo / Giorgio Ventola Inc.