Chicago Wedding Photography featuring Cambodian, Filipino, and El Salvadorian traditions – Mario & Kannitha Part 2

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Yesterday we brought you Part 1 of Mario and Kannitha’s cultural wedding extravaganza that combined elements from Cambodian, Filipino, and El Salvadorian traditions.  Today’s Part 2 features photography from their Saturday celebration, a more Western/American wedding ceremony in downtown Chicago and reception at The Seville in Streamwood, IL.  And don’t worry – they still managed to pack a major punch of color as well as a few more fantastic outfit changes!

It was a beautiful Saturday morning when we met up with Kannitha at the home she shares with Mario.  Heather Lim was putting the final touches on Kannitha’s wedding day makeup look, and Kannitha’s stunning San Patrick gown and accessories were laid out and ready.  In the morning light, her dress looked like the lightest and fluffiest icing imaginable.  The couple exchanged gifts, and Kannitha was very touched with the diamond earrings Mario had selected for her.  Her parents clasped two bracelets around her wrist – a gold one from her late grandmother and a silver and diamond one that they had custom designed for her – completing an ensemble that represented her past, present, and future.

Over at Mario’s mother’s home, we found the guys relaxing before the festivities began.  Their perfectly purple socks and shoes were all lined up and ready for dancing, and their watches and sunglasses added an extra touch of super-cool.  Mario was delighted by his gift from Kannitha. In addition to some awesome Nike dunks (perfect match for the groomsmen’s purple Vans), she had given him a Nissan 240 car a few days before and the piggy bank included a contribution to his savings for the project car– we thought the pig was pretty cute, too.

By far the best result of the combination of Mario and Kannitha’s cultures is this handsome little man, their son Mason, who was the Ring Bearer for his parents’ ceremony.

As the sun stretched overhead, the time drew near for Kannitha to get dressed and finish her wedding day preparations.  She slid into her gown as friends and family surrounded her to help with the buttons.  Her proud father watched on as she clasped on her jewelry and picked up her magnificent bouquet from Evanston Flowers.  We stepped out to capture some bridal portraits as well as some fun photos of her ‘I Do’ shoe decals.  So fun!  Before we knew it, it was time to head to the West Ridge Community United Methodist Church where her groom was waiting.

Escorted by her father, Kannitha made her way down the aisle to Mario, whose smile shone like a beacon at the altar.  The love and emotion felt by the couple and their guests was evident throughout the touching ceremony.

After Mario and Kannitha were pronounced husband and wife, we gathered up the bridal party for a photo walk through downtown Chicago, stopping at some iconic spots and getting crazy with the groomsmen.  We can’t get over how awesome Mario’s shoes were – we swear the song ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ was written specifically for him.

While we were finishing up our Chicago photo walk, Mario and Kannitha’s wedding coordinator, Jane Allen, was at The Seville making sure every last detail was absolutely perfect.  The reception décor reflected their peacock feather theme, with accents of turquoise and purple on everything from the paper products designed and arranged by their aunt, Grace Terry, to the decadent cake with flowers cascading down the tiers.

Mario and Kannitha greeted and thanked each of their guests as they entered the reception, then kicked off the party with their First Dance.  After Kannitha quickly changed into an exquisite silver Cambodian dress and Mario into a traditional Filipino tunic, Kannitha joined her father on the dance floor before opening it up to the rest of the guests.  DJ Rex from MixMedia Group did a fantastic job keeping the beats flowing and toes tapping.

Mario and Kannitha, we are so thankful that you chose us to photograph your wedding and take part in your Cambodian, Filipino, and El Slavadorian customs.  We had an absolute blast and we still can’t get over how beautiful everything was, from the ceremony to your stunning outfits.  We can’t wait to see you again 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.