Winter Wedding at Salvatore’s Wedding and Events Venue in Chicago | Julia and Joey
When Joey asked Julia to marry him and the wedding planning kicked into full swing, they had many decisions to make. What gown should she buy? What colors should they choose? Who should they ask to be in the wedding party? Anyone who’s gotten married knows how long that to-do list is! But luckily for them, there was one decision that couldn’t have come more easily: where to host the celebration. While most couples have to explore endless options, this couple knew exactly where they wanted to say “I do.” Salvatore’s Wedding and Events Venue in Chicago has been the home of many of Julia’s family’s special moments, and now it was going to be the home of one more!
Joey and Julia met in New York City, and Joey chose to have their first date where else but Joe’s Pizza and Joe’s Coffee. His sense of humor immediately captivated Julia, and after years of dating, Joey proposed to Julia on a balcony while on vacation in Las Vegas. Julia had gotten to design the ring with Joey, but he’d hid it after that. Before the proposal, Joey said he felt nervous, but of course, Julia said yes!
I first met Joey and Julia at a brewery in Colorado for their engagement session. This is where I learned about their love for documentary photography, which made us a perfect match! I love approaching wedding celebrations like a fly on the wall, capturing moments others might miss and candids that will bring genuine emotion flooding right back. It’s not a style for everyone, but for those who love it, it’s the only way to go on a wedding day!
The big day started with Julia getting ready in the Hotel Lincoln with her bridal party. She slipped into her simple satin v-neck gown from Oliva Bottega and her blue La Duca bridal shoes. As the bridal party got their makeup done and prepared for the big day ahead, they noticed that there were many funky statues hidden around the room…so you know we had to incorporate them into the photos! A goofy frog statue absolutely made our morning! Then, we headed out for the first look!
The venue wasn’t the only bit of family history that featured on their wedding day, as the couple chose to have their first look on the steps of Julia’s childhood home! It had just snowed, so it was a brisk, chilly day. Julia was wrapped up in a white fur wrap from Alex Bridal to keep her cozy during the photos. Now, Joey doesn’t exactly love having his picture taken, so I took a unique approach to their bridal portraits. Instead of asking them to pose for the camera, I employed my signature documentary style to get great photos of the two interacting naturally. Because of my degree in photojournalism, I’m happy to accommodate couples who would rather not know their picture is being snapped!
This wasn’t the only unique photography request the pair had. Julia really values photography, and remembered looking through her parents’ albums as a little girl. So, she asked to recreate an image of her standing inside a cut-out silhouette of Joey—which got a lot of giggles out of her! I positioned her in the correct place, then created the cut-out afterward. I love helping couples take unique approaches to their photography, and I always encourage them to get creative!
After the first look and front-step photos, it was time for the ceremony. The bridal party walked down the aisle wearing navy blue satin gowns from BHLDN to reflect the navy blue and white color palette of the day, while the groomsmen walked down wearing gray suits. The ceremony was held in a beautiful wood-paneled room, with white flowers from Bunches Chicago everywhere.
After the ceremony, we took family formals and then were off to cocktail hour and the reception. This reception was particularly fun because DJ Chicago kept everyone on their feet all night long! Joey even treated us to a performance of Eminem’s “Without Me,” which Julia calls his “party trick.” The response from the guests made me so grateful the couple had chosen to book all-day photography coverage. I would have hated to miss that moment because they are going to treasure those photos until they are old and gray!
Julia and Joey’s wedding celebration definitely highlighted the way a wedding day is a piece of family legacy, making photography that documents it to the fullest absolutely essential. If you’re looking for all-day wedding photography and a documentary-style wedding photography experience, let’s get in touch!
Venue : Salvatore's Wedding and Event Venue
Invites : Minted
Getting Ready Hotel : Hotel Lincoln
MUAH : Blush and Braids Beauty Bar
Bridal Boutique : Olivia Bottega
Bridal Shoes : LaDuca
Bridal Alterations : Weddings 826
Bridal Cape : Noon on the Moon
Bridal Jewelry : Miss Audrey Jewellery
Faux Fur Wrap : Alex Bridal
Floral Design : Bunches (a flower shop)
Groom Attire : J Crew
Wedding Party Attire : BHLDN
DJ : DJ-Chicago
I loved documenting these two and their incredible photojournalistic-centric day! The winter vibes were also a beautiful touch. Check out a few more winter sessions below!
xx,
Jennifer Lourie
