Engagement Photos & Location ideas

We booked AEphotography to shoot our wedding photography. With our package came an engagement session. I was so incredibly nervous. I am not a model! Eric (the E in AEphotography) shot our session. He told Joe to tell me things in my ear and make me laugh..and boy did Joe make me laugh. That was the key to a successful shoot.  The smiles below are real. They laughing is real. The love? Also real. haha We had such a fantastic time! I mean it had to be a great day, we did it on my birthday (April 20th)!

There were so many photos! Here are just a couple of my favorites....

Location 1: Wicker Park - We found a hidden gem behind an abandoned paper company. This was in the ally. We loved the rugged Chicago look and thought it fit in well with our urban wedding theme. The photos below were taken within a few blocks from each other! 

Location 2: Lightology! This was a last minute decision. Ok, they all were. They morning of the engagement shoot we drove all around the city looking for the best spots. I somehow bumped into this one online the day before, though. With the photographer, we decided to go here! We made it just in time. They were about to close, but let us go the their roof for a few minutes. How beautiful and diverse is this roof! It had a great view and it is so wonderful that Lightoloy lets you go up to take photos! They also have really fantastic light fixtures and lamps btw.

Location 3: Montrose Beach! This is a beach that Joe and I have great memories with! It was either this spot or the John Hancock. We were worried about traffic and that it would be overcrowded since it was Friday night. I am so glad we went here! Can I just mention that it was FREEZING! The wind was crazy and the sand was whipping at my legs. We got some amazing shots though. 

lake+wind+waves=this misty raining look. 

Our hazy city in the background. How perfect. 

Ahh, twilight. The best hour to be out taking pictures! 

I'd say that this was a successful day. A special thanks to Cristi for doing my make-up! :)

outfit post - Bridal edition

Below are details from my bridal outfit. Click on the descriptions for links to that product or website, if the exact product is no longer available. I tried my best to do everything on a budget, even though my dress was a huge splurge! 

Dress: White by Vera Wang at David's Bridal

(dress was altered)

(Veil is from the same collection...similar here)

Organza Fit and Flare Gown with Bias Flange Skirt Style VW351011

Sash: David's Bridal

shoes: Enzo Angiolini Slingbacks! Currently on sale!!!! (photo from Polyvore)

Every bride needs a pair of flats! 

N by Nicole Miller at JCP

Since I twisted my ankle a few weeks before, I wore these most of the time. 

Bracelets: Forever 21 - I purchased two and stacked them

for added bling! It looks better in person! (photo from website)

Earrings: Charming Charlie

Hair Piece: Icing (pictured in black on the website)

The one thing that took me a lot longer to find was the perfect necklace. 

I originally fell in love with Vera Wang's Big Crystal Necklace. It is no longer available, and it was not in my budget. This was the only other necklace that stole my attention from all others. The price wasn't right again. I was so annoyed. I spend months looking for a necklace. Then, this one popped up on ebay! My dad and and I waited until the last second and bid on this beautiful statement necklace by Kate Spade! 

Who doesn't love Ebay (a recent auction)

(corset is also from David's Bridal, Panties from Victoria's Secret)

A bonus picture with my husband!!!! 

Suit: rented from Formally Modern Tuxedo

Tie: Marshalls

Shoes and shirt : gift

Review = The Smitten Bride

Throughout the planning process, I kept my eye out for any great wedding deals. It's how I got my wedit cameras for less then half the price, my photo booth for $420ish. Subscribing to Groupon and The Wedding Channel deals, for example can be a huge help!

It was through wedding channel that I found The Smitten Bride. I contacted them to ask them a few questions. My biggest concern was the day of the wedding. I went through so many different vendors.  I was worried there would be nobody to guide them, and to make sure they did their task and the room change. I didn't want to ask family to do a room change. It would be too much stress on my mom and I to think about what was going where and if it would be done correctly.

I had talked to at least one other wedding coordinator in person at a bridal expo. I told her about my concerns and her response was that the caterers should take care of that. It wasn't her job. Then she suggested (because I had a two hour gap) to hire a trolly to take people around the city. I didn't like her personality or her attitude. She also didn't answer my questions the way I wanted. It felt like she only worked with high end brides.

I could not believe the difference when I talked to the smitten bride. They work with all kinds of brides (including ones on a budget) and immediately said they would help me with whatever I needed the day of! Even moving the rentals themselves to help me with the room change. I was so excited. After meeting up with them, I found that they were the sweetest ladies I've met in the wedding industry. They were so kind. I ended up working mainly with Katie who was just fabulous. I was always a nervous wreck when I  met with them, but left feeling so much better knowing that they would be there to assist.

What did they actually do?

• They, without even knowing it, calmed my mom and I down. When we booked them, my mom said she literally slept better that night. 
• They met with me three times total before the big day. The second was to talk about details. She, after looking at my confused face I'm sure, even said if I needed to we could talk some more later at another meeting 
• Katie responded to my e-mails quickly and gave me helpful suggestions when I needed another opinion. 
• I never felt judged even when I gave them my blank stares because I was stressed! Hey that's helpful right!?
• They wrote up the timeline for the day. I know that sounds easy, but I had a cocktail reception. I've never been to a wedding like that so I didn't know the order of things and when it should take place. They wrote that out. I was so relieved when I got that!
• They confirmed everything with all the vendors before the wedding! So incredibly helpful!
• They held on to all the contracts. That was also great. You never know what you might need the day of!

The day of...

• They set everything up for the ceremony.
• Helped line everybody up when it was time! 
• They did the room change! This was worth every penny in itself! Kitchen Chicago has a balcony and they brought stuff up and down the stairs! (I believe my servers that I hired also helped)
• They made sure everything went smoothly with me and the vendors. 
• Katie was there constantly checking on me. When my husband and I were going around greeting each guests, a lot of them handed me their gift. Katie would come out of nowhere to grab it and put it in safe keeping. 
• She got us drinks and food! That was great!
• They were there until the end
• They cleaned everything up and broke everything down. 
• She organized all my wedding stuff like the decorations and gifts so that it was easier for my mom and dad to take with them. 

They were fantastic. If I had to rate them I would give them a hundred stars! They were great. I literally don't know what I would have done without them there that day. I had so many different vendors. My photographer, DJ, caterer, table rentals, photo booth, servers, and bartenders where all from different companies! So you can imagine how happy I was that they were there to run everything. I would strongly recommend them to any Chicago bride! I only had them for the day of coordination and they were great!