Now How’s that for a ceremony spot?

Steve + Emily were really involved in designing their menu for their wedding day. They had lots of influences (trips to Italy, etc.) and one of Steve’s recipes even made it in for the passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour (it was reallllyy good….I may have snagged one)  
(You can find another menu crafted by Steve at his restaurant downtown Chicago!)

One last tidbit!
I was obsessed with Steve and Emily’s venue choice from the beginning. I hadn’t shot there before but had seen pictures. I knew the name of the place sounded familiar, but I wasn’t sure if it was just because I knew friends who had shot there before. I was chatting with my mom the next day and she asked how the wedding had gone and asked where it was held. I told her the name and I immediately realized there was a really obvious reason why I would know that day. 
My whole life I’ve known the story of the pier mirror that sat in our entry. My parent’s had planned on buying a snowblower for their anniversary (Since they had just moved into a house on a corner lot) But one day they walked into a place called Architectural Artifacts in Chicago to just walk around. They walked around the whole place, looking at all the unique pieces they had and were about to walk out empty handed, but then as they were walking out they spotted a beautiful pier mirror. They decided to ask about it and found out that it was taken out of a mansion in New Jersey. My parents decided that the snowblower could wait because they fell in love with this mirror. 
Growing up, when people would visit our house for the first time, there were two things that we were almost guaranteed to hear from our guests. The first was in reference to our cat, Chelsea, who had a bit of a weight issue….She may have had a few extra pounds…Chelsea would always stand meowing for guests to pet her at the front door as soon as they arrived. “That’s a fat cat!” Then guests would round the corner and see the mirror. “That’s a big mirror!” Eventually it became a bit of a game for us, we would hear the comment about the cat, and glance over at each other, acknowledging that there was the first cue, then we would wait for the second. 
I’ve heard the story so many times, I wish I had remembered the name of the store they got the mirror from so I could have kept it in mind while I was shooting! 

Venue: Artifact Events | Hair + Makeup: Liz + Rachel @ Blush Beauty | Florist: Studio AG | Catering: Hearty Boys Catering | Cake Artist: Lutz Cafe & Pastry Shop | Dress: BHLDN | Tux: Ted Baker | Bride’s Shoes: Keds x Kate Spade | Groom’s Shoes: Johnston & Murphy | Groom’s Watch: Tayroc | Tie Clip: J Crew | Associate Photographer: Aysha Gerald