Located in downtown Chicago, right next door to the Water Tower, The Westin on Michigan Avenue whispers history and opulence as guests are met through the revolving doors by a grand mahogany spiral staircase.  With the right kind of planning (i.e. closing and curtaining FedEx), the only indication of being in a hotel was the attentive wait staff.

The Cotillion Ballroom at the Westin was made over into a purple and silver dreamland with chivari chairs and a lush chuppah for the ceremony.  During the Cocktail Hour in the Windsor Room, Westin staff switched out the Ballroom décor, adding a swanky lounge and clearing space for the reception tables and dance floor.

The Westin provided an incredible space for a high-end downtown Chicago wedding, and we can wait to bring Joshua Albanese Photography back again soon!

Contact Information:

The Westin Michigan Avenue

909 N. Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL 60611

312-943-7200

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1030

I’m so excited to start our new Vendor Spotlight with Carla Abruzzo, Makeup Artist!  She is a person who is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside (and she is really gorgeous).  Our headshot clients absolutely love her and rave about her – they’ve even been known to contact her after shoots for makeup lessons.  She is one of the hardest working ladies in Chicago and you might recognize her from a range of media/advertisement sources since she’s not just a vendor, she’s talent, too.

 Name: Carla Abruzzo

Location: Chicago, IL

Company Name: Carlucce Inc.

Website: www.carlucce.com

Tell us a little about what you do.

I am a jack of all trades and a workaholic. The most enjoyable occupation i have is enhancing an individual’s natural beauty with the combination of art and makeup.

How long have you been in business?

I have been in this business for nearly 10 years.  Between modeling, getting my bachelors in fine arts, and becoming an artist at MAC Cosmetics, I have collaborated all I have learned to start a business.

What inspired you to start your business?

My business as a freelance artist is a near shadow of my future aspirations of starting a mineral-free cosmetic line that will target various markets and educating the importance of skin care at all ages.

What is your favorite thing about your business?

When I finish an application and the customer looks in the mirror with pure satisfaction.  Never applying an abundance of makeup, I show them how with minimal product and the right placement they can achieve a completely fresh everyday look.

Was there a defining moment when you knew you picked the right career path?

Never.  It was second nature or even just expected [from friends and family] that I would do everyone’s makeup for the high-school dances, or even for my mother on a night out.

When you built your business what style would you say you built it around? (i.e. classic, modern, vintage)

As I put together my inspirations for the cosmetic line, I think classic.  I refuse to ever go out of style.

Where do you go for inspiration? (i.e. blogs, magazines)

museums, exterior architecture and magazines

Is there anything else you want people to know about you and your business?

From her webpage bio:

Carla has always thought of herself as free-spirited, artsy and vocal but has one continuous way of expressing it…makeup.

Carla, like many young girls, admired the glamorous life on the silver screen.  She looked forward to being in the entertainment industry as a teen for many years.  As she participated in modeling, acting and beauty pageants, Carla worked with artists from around the globe.  Taking from each of these experiences, dabbling into her makeup at home and practicing on friends proved her talent was apparent. Carla knew makeup artistry was the next step in her career.

“Faces are like a blank canvas.  With different brushes, colors and techniques, a face can be turned into a masterpiece, just like art on a wall.”

Carla attended Columbia College in Chicago, IL.  While pursuing a degree in Fine Arts and working at MAC Cosmetics, she combined ideas from one place to another to form her vision.  As Carla describes her influences, she reviles that creating depth and illusions on paper can just as easily be executed with makeup on the face and body.

To check out more of our headshot photography, please visit our Men, Women, and Corporate headshot galleries.

Seeing these special moments are what make working at Joshua Albanese Photography one of the most awesome jobs ever.

Dinner and dancing were held in the Savoy Grand Ballroom.  Pink up-lighting bathed the room in a soft glow, accented by the chandeliers over the dance floor.  All 250 guests fit easily in the ballroom with room to spare.  The simple white linens and chair covers provided a calm backdrop for the elaborate manzanita branch centerpieces.

The Wyndham in Lisle provided plenty of space, great food, and the perfect atmosphere for a great wedding reception.  We hope to bring Joshua Albanese Photography back again soon!

Contact Information:

The Wyndham Lisle-Chicago

3000 Warrenville Road

Lisle, IL 60532

630-505-1000

www.wyndham.com

The outdoor balcony provided plenty of space for plenty of friends and family to surround the bride and groom during the ceremony, and they were perfectly framed for the photos by the towering 24-foot windows.

Inside, the Grand Ballroom set the scene for class and elegance, mixed with nostalgia and beauty.  Crystal chandeliers reflected softly off marble floors, highlighting historic details of railway travel.  Guests enjoyed a spacious area and dance floor, and there were even some nice alcoves for the extras like a bar or candy buffet.

We also discovered some great locations around the train station for bridal party photos, as well as an awesome mural located in the lower level of the station.

An extra benefit that’s not necessarily photography-related was the great acoustics of the ballroom, which we discovered during Dan & Keri’s jaw-dropping serenade during the reception.

Joliet Union Station is the perfect venue for the vintage-travel enthusiast, or any couple looking for an elegant space for their celebration.

Contact Information:

Joliet Union Station

50 East Jefferson Street

Joliet, IL 60432

www.jolietunionstation.com

(815) 727-1200

Wheat fields and amazing shoes and scooters – oh my!  I love the attention to detail.  Thank you so much, Carrie and Joe, for letting us capture the love you share for each other.  We wish you all the best!

The outside of the church was very picturesque, providing plenty of great backgrounds for photos.  Through the heavy doors lies a cathedral with soaring ceilings and filled with light streaming in through the stained-glass windows.  There was plenty of space for Rob and Patty’s friends and family to fill the aisles, and Patty had a huge area downstairs to do touchups and wait for the ceremony to begin.  Even though Rob and Patty chose to have their reception at The Wyndham in Lisle, this downstairs space would also be perfect for a wedding reception.

The Our Lady of Victory Church was also in a great central location to other spaces to take bridal party photos, including the Morton Arboretum.

We had a great time shooting at this church and hope to bring Joshua Albanese Photography back for another wedding again soon!

My favorite image from Tony and Rose’s wedding is from the park across the street from the Phoenix Restaurant in Chinatown, where their reception was held.  It was my first time in Chicago’s Chinatown and we got to do a little exploring during a break at dinner.  While enjoying our bubble tea, we found these awesome sculptures.  Although it wasn’t their birthday, Rose and Tony were married in the Chinese Year of the Metal Hare, and I’m so glad we got to capture this significant artwork on their special day.

So much time and effort is put into the bride’s preparation for the wedding day, and generally it seems that the grooms get a little….neglected.  I mean, there’s no makeup or hair artist there to transform them, they’re not putting on the tuxedo they’ve dreamed of since little boys.  There seems to be so little preparation and excitement surrounding the groom, at least compared to brides.  The reason I love this image is because the guys who were there to stand by Mike helped him to create those special moments.  Seeing the groom help this little ring bearer with his socks and shoes almost makes my ovaries explode.  And it certainly doesn’t hurt that Mike is rocking the open shirt look with those washboard abs.  Rawr.

When we arrived at Kathy’s parent’s house – which was filled with some amazing artwork – the action was in full swing.  The ladies from Leesi B Cosmetics had set up shop in the back of the house, taking advantage of the light coming through the full wall of windows.  Laughter and a slight peppery smell (from the bloody marys) added to excited atmosphere.

We planned to surprise Jason with their first look, so Kathy quickly slipped into her Liz Fields dress with some help from her mother.  Their wedding banner provided the perfect accessory for some cute images.

Since we were so close to the Evanston coastline of Lake Michigan, we decided to head over to the shore and cool off with the breeze.

Both the ceremony and the reception were held at the Skokie Valley Agvdath Jacob Synagogue.  Jason and Kathy had a Jewish Orthodox wedding, and the synagogue provided the perfect setting.

Now, I have to say that one of the best parts of this job is being able to learn all the ways that different cultures and religion celebrate marriage.  Jason & Kathy’s ceremony was rich with tradition, beginning with the Kabbalat Panim, the pre-nuptial receptions for men and women.  Jason joined the men for the signing and reading of the tena’im, which was celebrated by toasts and singing and the mothers breaking a plate (representing the finality of the tena’im).

The men then proceeded down the hall for the Badeken, led by Jason and the fathers and singing joyously the whole way.  Jason made his way to Kathy, who was seated on an ivory throne and surrounded by her mothers and grandmothers.  Jason placed the veil over a very happy blue-eyed bride.

The ceremony was kicked off by the entrance of these two adorable flower girls.  Kathy followed down the aisle to meet her parents and move forward to Jason, waiting patiently in his kittel under the chuppah.  Once she reached him, she circled him several times, creating a symbolic wall around him and then joining him inside.

At the conclusion of the kiddushin and nisu’in, Jason stomped and shattered the glass to the many well wishes of Mazal Tov!

This pogo stick is only a small hint of the celebration and shenanigans to come.

While Jason and Kathy were in the Yichud Room taking a moment alone together, the teams from Danziger Kosher Catering and ArtQuest LTD were putting the finishing touches on these beautiful tables. The combination of the lace tablecloths, colorful plates, and beautiful centerpieces took my breath away.  Stunning!

Jason and Kathy entered the reception to what I can only describe as merry chaos.  I have never seen such revelry and dancing in my whole time at Joshua Albanese Photography.  The dance floor was separated into men and women by the mechitzah and was so packed you could barely see the tops of the divider.

There were props, pyramids, 4-man push-ups, and the most amazing sight ever – a guest handed Jason and Kathy mini-marshmallows on sticks, lit a fire in his hat, and invited them to roast their marshmallows out of his hat.  Incredible.

Words cannot describe how crazy fun this reception was – and I’m sure some of those funky glasses, leis, and sparkle-wands made it into the guests’ photo booth strips, courtesy of Shurtterbooth.  Good times were most certainly had by all.

Kathy & Jason, thank you so much for letting us be a part of your wedding celebration.  Your families kept us giggling throughout the day with their hilarious sense of humor and we can’t wait to hang out with you again!