Amanda and Brian’s love story began in high school, and with Brian’s teddy-bear heart and Amanda’s genuine and warm soul, it didn’t take them long to realize they were a perfect match! From the moment I met them, I was drawn to the way they wear their hearts on their sleeves, openly sharing their sincere emotions with each other and with me! I had a feeling right away that their Bridgeport Art Center wedding day was going to be filled with moments I’d never forget!

That feeling only grew when I finally met them in person at their engagement session a few months before the wedding. They leaned into every prompt, laughing easily and taking any chance for a kiss! Their adorable golden retriever, Charlie, smiled for the camera along with them (which made the session an absolute blast for this dog lover!). And as the Chicago skyline glittered behind them during our session, I couldn’t wait for their fast-approaching wedding day!

The morning of the September wedding began in the bridal suite of the JW Marriott with a gift exchange. Amanda gave gifts to her “three moms”—her mom, stepmom, and new mother-in-law. Then, Amanda opened her gift from Brian: a wow-worthy Tiffany and Co. pearl jewelry set! Yeah, we all turned into that heart-eyes emoji the second she opened the jewelry box! As she fastened her pearl necklace, bracelet, and earrings, Brian opened his gift from Amanda—a dapper Rolex watch—in the other room. After everyone in the groomsmens’ suite took a turn fumbling around to figure out how to undo the clasp, Brian slipped the watch on his wrist. Looking all the part of an elegant bride and groom, Amanda and Brian headed down to the Riverwalk for the first look.

The couple rushed to each other and embraced when they saw each other in their wedding finery for the first time. Standing by the water, Amanda’s form-fitting V-neck gown from Genevieve’s Bridal Couture paired exquisitely with Brian’s simple black tux. Next, the wedding party joined us for group photos, and we moved to Milton Lee Olive Park. The bridesmaids wore rose-colored dresses that complemented their bouquets of deep maroon and light pink flowers from Lavender Fields Florist. The Windy City certainly lived up to its name that day—wind whipped through the riverwalk while I snapped photos of the lovely couple and their friends from high school, college, and beyond. But it only added to the joyful energy of the day!

While we finished up portraits, we started to notice a suspiciously large number of people gathering at the park. We didn’t think too much of it…until the orchestral music began to play. Then, it clicked: we were crashing a wedding! Oops! Guess it was the perfect day to say, “I do!” We did our best to muffle our uncontainable laughter as we snuck away from the scene to jump in the trolley. We cranked up the music, and off we headed toward the Bridgeport Art Center for the ceremony!

With string quartet music drifting through the air and greenery decorating the venue, Amanda and Brian’s ceremony was intimate and moving. Bright late-summer sunlight glittered on the couple while they read their vows. And when they kissed, Brian dramatically dipped Amanda, which drew loud cheers from the crowd.

Their reception in the warmly-lit event space of the Bridgeport Art Center was absolutely beautiful. Complete with exposed brick, wooden floors, and elegant string lights hung everywhere, it was everything Amanda had been dreaming of. “I imagine romantic lighting and greenery,” Amanda said before the wedding. And that’s exactly what she got!

While they had their first dance to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, guests wiped their eyes and smiled. You couldn’t help but notice how well-loved these two are by their friends and family. It was amazing to see people from every era of Amanda and Brian’s relationship all coming together to celebrate it as one. It was definitely the most fun party of the year!

To learn more about the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago, a stellar place to hold your Chicago wedding, check out this link. And if you’re interested in reading about the wedding packages I offer, visit my experience page. Amanda and Brian’s wedding is undoubtedly an excellent place to start drawing inspiration from!