Chicago Wedding Photography at Armour House in Lake Forest, IL – Kevin & Chiara

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We have heard that soldiers in combat feel a special camaraderie with fellow soldiers after encountering life-threatening experiences together, and we have to say that we feel the same type of camaraderie with Chiara and Kevin after photographing their engagement session in the post-apocalyptic City Methodist Church in Gary, IN.  Which is why we were so excited to meet up again with them for their beautiful wedding at the Armour House in Lake Forest, IL.  This wasn’t our first time photographing a wedding at the Armour House, but with such a large estate and adventurous couple, we were able to discover a few new locations for amazing wedding photography.

We arrived at the Armour House on a bright and cheerful Saturday in June.  We found Chiara and her bridesmaids in the Pink Room, taking breaks from their preparations to enjoy the room’s balcony that overlooked the grounds.  Chiara chose to rely on her personal expertise and did her own hair and makeup – an excellent choice, considering the fabulous job she did for her engagement photos.  Once every curl was perfectly pinned and sprayed into place, she slipped into her exquisite lace Enzoani gown – a breathtaking bride

Down the hall in the oh-so-appropriate Blue Room, Kevin and his best man were adjusting their vests and ties, and doing their best to refrain from peeking out the window to see the ladies on the balcony.  Kevin and Chiara exchanged gifts on their wedding day, and Kevin was speechless when he opened his gift to find an elegant Rolodex watch – the perfect finishing touch for his wedding attire.  Kevin gifted his bride with a touching charm bracelet and several tiny charms that represented significant points in their relationship.

With their preparations complete, it was time for Kevin and Chiara’s first look.  Chiara found Kevin waiting patiently on the grand staircase, enjoying the view of the estate.  She glided down the marble steps and gently tapped him on the shoulder.  Kevin’s eyes lit up as he turned around to see Chiara in her wedding dress and she spun around so he could get the full effect.  They admired each other’s’ finery and shared a quiet moment together before the wedding festivities began.

Like we said before, we were blessed with an adventurous couple, so we decided to explore beyond the gardens and ruins surrounding the Armour House and were rewarded with the discovery of this scenic pond in the back fields.  Kevin and Chiara confessed to being ‘architecture buffs’ during our engagement shoot, so we also made sure to capture some stunning images of them in the ruins before joining up with the bridal party for some fun shenanigans.  The team from Eventfully Entwined did a superb job with ladies’ bouquets – love, love, love the puffy hydrangeas!

As the sun dipped lower into the sky, guests began to fill the gardens for the ceremony.  Chiara watched as each of her bridesmaids departed down the lush, grassy aisle and took her father’s arm to guide her on her journey to Kevin who was waiting with eyes only for her.  Kevin and Chiara were joined together in a sweet ceremony that incorporated humorous sports analogies.

While the guests were enjoying the cocktail hour on the terrace, Chiara’s wedding coordinator – Debbie from Chameleon Interiors – was putting the finishing touches on the centerpieces and making sure every last detail was perfect.  The centerpieces were unique arrangements of vintage books and delicate flowers accented with lace and softly illuminated globes – absolutely beautiful.  Deerfields Bakery provided an elegant 3-tiered cake decorated with peal accents that tasted as good as it looked.

Kevin and Chiara descended the grand staircase and kicked off the reception with speeches from their family and friends.  After guests enjoyed a delicious dinner, Dan from I Wed Solutions opened up the floor for dancing.  Kevin had planned a special surprise for the garter toss, delighting everyone with his masked-Zorro entrance and flashlight for his undergarment search.

Kevin and Chiara, your sense of adventure and love for each other is inspiring and we had so much fun with you at your wedding– we can’t wait to see you soon!

If you are looking for a wedding photographer in Chicago to capture the memorable moments at your wedding, and interested in our availability and pricing, please drop us a line using the online inquiry form here.