When a couple meets you downtown for lunch, sits with you alongside the Chicago River over bbq, wants to know as much about you as you want to know about them, knows you’re moving to another state, and still feels confident enough to ask about contracts and next steps, it’s starts everything off on such a sweet note…

Kimmi and Dima have been the sweetest, kindest couple from day one. From the day we met along the river, chatting about their locations and hopes for their wedding day; describing it as “just a big party” I knew it was a wedding I’d never forget. And it was just that. Their DJ came to party, they had multiple people they love give toasts, had a video made for the wedding, and found the most unique ways to blend both of their background and beliefs having both a rabbi and priest present during the ceremony. It felt like a dream come true for these two.

During their reception, Dima thanked everyone for coming and introduced a new tradition: when you’d like the couple to kiss, you had to hula hoop. YEP. I was laughing throughout the entire reception every time someone picked it up. At one point in the night, separately, Kim and Dima asked both me and my second shooter if we’d eaten dinner and if were enjoying ourselves. And that friends, showcases just the kind of people the are.

2016-08-08_0002 2016-08-08_00012016-08-08_0003 2016-08-08_0004 2016-08-08_0005 2016-08-08_00082016-08-08_0009 2016-08-08_00062016-08-08_00072016-08-08_0010 2016-08-08_0011 2016-08-08_0012 2016-08-08_0015 2016-08-08_00132016-08-08_00142016-08-08_0016 2016-08-08_0017 2016-08-08_0018 2016-08-08_0019 2016-08-08_0020 2016-08-08_0021 2016-08-08_0022 2016-08-08_0023 2016-08-08_0025 2016-08-08_00242016-08-08_0026 2016-08-08_00282016-08-08_0030 2016-08-08_00292016-08-08_00312016-08-08_00322016-08-08_00332016-08-08_0034 2016-08-08_00272016-08-08_0035 2016-08-08_0036 2016-08-08_0037 2016-08-08_0038 2016-08-08_00432016-08-08_0044 2016-08-08_00392016-08-08_00402016-08-08_00412016-08-08_00422016-08-08_0045 2016-08-08_0046 2016-08-08_0047 2016-08-08_0048 2016-08-08_0051 2016-08-08_00492016-08-08_00502016-08-08_0052 2016-08-08_0053 2016-08-08_0066 2016-08-08_00542016-08-08_00552016-08-08_00562016-08-08_0057 2016-08-08_00592016-08-08_00582016-08-08_00602016-08-08_00712016-08-08_00612016-08-08_00722016-08-08_00732016-08-08_00632016-08-08_00742016-08-08_00642016-08-08_00652016-08-08_00672016-08-08_0082 2016-08-08_00682016-08-08_00692016-08-08_00702016-08-08_00762016-08-08_00772016-08-08_00782016-08-08_00792016-08-08_00802016-08-08_00812016-08-08_00852016-08-08_00862016-08-08_00872016-08-08_00832016-08-08_0090 2016-08-08_00842016-08-08_0091 2016-08-08_0092 2016-08-08_0093 2016-08-08_0094 2016-08-08_0095 2016-08-08_0096 2016-08-08_0098 2016-08-08_0099 2016-08-08_0100 2016-08-08_0101 2016-08-08_0103 2016-08-08_0108 2016-08-08_01052016-08-08_01062016-08-08_0109

Ceremony: Armour House | Reception: Armour House | Coordinator: Dean Dutko | Caterer: Sodexo | Cake Artist: Deerfield Bakery | Photographer: markit photography | Invitations: Momental Designs | Florist: Ashland Addison | Makeup Artist: Laura Black | Hair Stylist: Livia Caporale  | Wedding Dress: Edens Bridals | Wedding Shoes: BP Nordstrom | Men’s Tuxes: Mens Warehouse | DJ: DJ KGBeat | Rings: Eve J Alfiille Gallery | String Quartet: Beautiful Strings | Spanish Guitarist: David Chiriboga