Nathalie and Andrei held their winter Chicago wedding at the amazing Greenhouse Loft in the up-and-coming Avondale neighborhood. Weddings in December make me a little anxious because the weather can be extremely unpredictable, but on this day, the sun was shining bright with no snow. I began photographing at the couple’s apartment where Nathalie was getting ready with the rest of the bridesmaids. I got a hint of what kind of day it was going to be when I saw the bride’s white Converse shoes and black leather jacket. After the ladies were ready to go, we headed down the street to Greenhouse for the ceremony. Nathalie and Andrei were married in front of the venue's massive windows and the amount of natural light pouring into this place was just awesome. It was a pleasure to get to capture their sentimental ceremony filled with song and prayer. After the ceremony, we took some portraits outside in the venue’s spacious courtyard - The perfect location for us to use in 30 degree temperatures. During cocktails, I took some photos of the reception details, which were filled with personal touches from bride and groom. Once the reception started, the celebrating kicked off immediately and the guests were treated to some entertainment by traditional Armenian dancers with the bridal party joining in. I was a great opportunity to get some fun images of the couple on the dance floor. With dinner came some heartfelt speeches by family and friends. This is always a nice chance to capture some raw, candid emotions and this was no exception. The speeches made it clear how important Nathalie and Andrei were in so many lives. I’m truly lucky to get to work with so many incredible people and I wish these two a lifetime of happiness!
