Chicago Wedding and Reception at Royal Fox Country Club – Jon and Caitlin

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We have been eagerly anticipating Jon and Caitlin’s Chicago wedding since our first meeting with them where they chose us to be their wedding photographer and described their wedding vision and some of the DIY wedding crafts they were planning.  They surpassed all of our expectations with some of the best wedding detail coordination we’ve ever seen as well as introducing us to to the most beautiful wedding reception venue in St. Charles, Illinois – Royal Fox Country Club.

To fully experience the vibe of Jon & Caitlin’s wedding day, please assemble a playlist with the following artists and/or songs:

• Kid Cudi
• Bob Dylan (anything, including ‘Stuck in the Middle With You’)
• Paperboy – Ditty
• The Black Eyed Peas
• Crazy Game of Poker – O.A.R.
• Little Lion Man – Mumford & Sons
• Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
• Red Wine – UB40
• Times Like These – Foo Fighters

Got it?  Okay, now you may hit play and continue reading.

I am so glad we got to kick off June with Jon and Caitlin’s Chicago wedding – we had so much fun that we felt like guests who got to hang out with the bride and groom all day and take awesome photos.  We will admit that Joshua’s parents are good friends with the groom’s parents and were guests at the wedding, but that definitely doesn’t change the fact that Jon & Caitlin (and friends and family) were so incredibly warm and hospitable that we felt like we’d all been best friends forever.

We started the day off with the ladies who had all assembled at bridesmaid Ashley’s house for hair and makeup.  Bridesmaid Jenifer had some awesome tunes (see above) playing on Pandora, and pops of orange peeked out from every nook and cranny in the room.  The Lipstick Squad applied touches of makeup to enhance the girls’ natural beauty while the girls took turns teasing each other’s’ curls into place and pinning on their adorable orange hair flowers.

While the ladies put their finishing touches on their wedding day attire, we made sure to capture the details that Caitlin had created.  We were absolutely blown away when we learned the she designed and assembled her entire invitation suite.  My favorite part of the collection is the main invitation piece that has a fabric backing.  The texture gives the whole set an incredible feel.  We think she definitely has a future in design if she chooses!

With help from her best girls, Caitlin slipped into her Mikaella gown and we boarded the trolley for a scenic ride over to the St. John Neumann Church in St. Charles.  After an emotional greeting from her father, Caitlin and her bridesmaids showed off their vibrant Town & Country bouquets that were wrapped with fabrics that Caitlin had coordinated with the invitation fabric.  Every single little detail was absolutely perfect.  We then headed inside to check on the guys while the girls hid away in a room overlooking the entrance where they could spy on the guests’ shenanigans as they arrived.  We found Jon and his groomsmen calm and cool, sharing jokes to ease any tension before the ceremony.

Friends and family filled the chapel, and before she knew it, it was time for Caitlin to join her father for her journey down the aisle.  Ethereal light shone down on the couple from the stained glass windows above as they exchanged vows.  They chose to keep the decorations in the church simple with the pomanders that lined the aisle, highlighting the natural beauty of the chapel and vaulted wood rafters.

After the ceremony, we gathered with the bridal party on the trolley to take some bridal party photos at the LeRoy Oaks Forest Preserve, a gorgeous place with great photo locations (and pretty joggers, wink wink).

When we arrived at the reception at Royal Fox Country Club, our jaws dropped at the display just beyond the library.  The table centerpieces were an assortment of orange flowers in vases with varied heights, creating a beautiful ombre effect that was complemented perfectly by the shimmery gray pin-tucked table linens.  Antique chairs with carved wooden backs surrounded the tables, lending an air of old-world elegance that has definitely knocked chivari chairs down to second place in my opinion. Caitlin and Jon went above and beyond the guest favors, creating these awesome activity packs for all of the children.  Oak Mill Bakery, one of our favorite cake artists, provided a ruffled confection that was topped with orange gerbera daisies.

After a few touching and amusing toasts, the staff at Royal Fox served a delectable meal that included Joshua’s favorite – sorbet.  I kid you not, he raved about the palate-cleansing effects for at least 10 minutes and I can guarantee that you will see a blog post all about sorbet coming soon.

Once our appetites were satisfied, it was time to dance, and Matt & Mike from Sounds Abound Entertainment (who also handled the up-lighting) were perfectly in tune with the energy from the crowd.  The dance floor was packed the whole night – we must admit to busting a few moves, too – and guests took breaks to cool off on the veranda between sets.

Thank you so much, Jon and Caitlin, for throwing such an incredible wedding and choosing us for your photographer while also making us feel like welcomed guests.  We had a great time, and we’re looking forward to seeing you again (Marco Island, we hope) soon!

 

If you are looking for a wedding photographer in Chicago, or Northwest Indiana, 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.