Emma Mullins Photography

Today I’m excited to share Rose and Jack’s Morton Arboretum engagement session from October! These two had been dreaming off fall colors for their engagement photos, and we got so lucky with gorgeous weather and fall foliage. I always enjoy when couples choose different seasons for their wedding and engagement photos… and with a June wedding (in less than 10 days!!), it couldn’t have worked out more perfectly!

Morton Arboretum Engagement Session

We started our session near Meadow Lake, taking in all the colorful scenery. If you haven’t visited the arboretum this time of year, you are missing out! As golden hour neared, we explored more of the East Side and all it had to offer. Rose and Jack were up for anything, and I absolutely love how this session turned out!

Rose and Jack: Thank you again for having me capture these moments for you! Can’t wait to do it again very SOON 🙂

When I first met Marissa and Noah, they were planning a Chicago History Museum wedding while living in sunny Los Angeles. They were excited as any engaged couple, but also really looking forward to celebrating with family and friends! I learned about their serendipitous meeting, four-hour first date, and wedding day vision (which may or may not have included a larger-than-life sized Chicago hot dog!). Spoiler alert: the Chicago dog did not make the cut!

Marissa and Noah got ready together with their parties at iconic Hotel Lincoln down the street. Their sweet first look on the staircase was one for the books! I love that these two had a vision for photos here… particularly with the quirky stairwell. The wedding party joined shortly after, and then it was time to walk to the venue! Noah and Marissa made sure to bring California weather with them, which made for a perfect day to walk in the park 🙂

Chicago History Museum Wedding

The venue choice was an easy one: having grown up in the Chicago area, Marissa had always wanted to get married at the History Museum. In addition, most of their friends and family had never been there before! Marissa and Noah were married in an emotional ceremony surrounded by loved ones in the Morse Genius Chicago Room. After the knot was tied, the party was ON!! Guests enjoyed delicious food and drink and lots of dancing throughout the night. We even got to capture Marissa’s reception outfit before saying goodbye!

Marissa and Noah: Thank you again for having us in October!! It has been such a pleasure collaborating with you two, wishing you all the best in your future together!

Mary and Wyatt’s Chicago engagement session last year was one for the books! I met these two in late October at one of my favorite locations in the city, the Garfield Park Conservatory. Turns out it was only a few days before their Engagement-iversary: Wyatt proposed to Mary the previous Halloween! And in exactly ONE MONTH, they will officially be married. Let the countdown begin!

Lucky for us, Chicago weather allowed for photos both inside and outside the conservatory that day. We got to browse lush ferns and desert plants, and Mary and Wyatt were smitten as can be! When the sun began to set, we headed to North Avenue Beach for some iconic Chicago engagement photos with the skyline. I love that this location was personal to them as well… it’s where they first met years before! The colorful sunset was icing on the cake 🙂

Mary and Wyatt: I had so much fun at your Chicago engagement session last year!! Your wedding day is going to be absolutely beautiful, I can’t wait!

Last September, I had the pleasure of kicking off Labor Day weekend with Lily and Nick’s Bottom Lounge wedding! These two have been such a joy to hang with, and really wanted their wedding day to feel intimate, relaxed, and FUN 🙂 Not only did it totally match this vibe… their day was also filled with unique, stylish details!

Wedding day began at The Emily in Chicago’s West Loop, with Nick and Lily getting ready separately. After their emotional first look in front of Fora, it was time to tour the city with the wedding party! We stopped at two of my favorite iconic Chicago locations: Olive Park and the Kinzie bridge. This crew was a blast to hang with… and Lily and Nick were ALL smiles!

Bottom Lounge Wedding

Bottom Lounge is one of my favorite wedding venues in Chicago. It has that fun, live music atmosphere, as well as exposed brick and gorgeous natural light. Lily and Nick tied the knot surrounded by loved ones, and then it was time to celebrate!! Some highlights include a Polaroid guest book, custom neon sign, and moody, romantic details. Of course, we ended the evening by popping a bottle of bubbly on the rooftop… because why not?!

Lily and Nick: Thank you again for having us in September!! Your wedding was so much fun to be part of, wishing you the happiest marriage and future together!

February is not the most popular month to get married in Chicago, but for some couples, it makes sense! Emily and Justin are one of those couples, and I’m so glad I got to kick off my 2023 season with their winter wedding at The Arbory 🙂

Wicker Park Wedding Photos

Our day began at one of my favorite Chicago hotels, The Robey in Wicker Park. Emily and Justin got ready with their wedding party before heading to Up Room for their first look! We got so lucky with a sunshine-filled winter day, which made the view from the rooftop extra awesome. After a few photos with the skyline, it was time to hit the town!

We made our way to the venue with a few key photo stops. Ever since their June engagement session, I knew that Emily and Justin were big music fans (their pup is named after Huey Lewis!). Naturally, we decided to stop at the Milwaukee/Honore intersection where the 2000 movie High Fidelity was filmed… and even had time to browse records at Reckless! This was one of the most fun wedding afternoons I’ve had in a while – and these two were ALL smiles!!

The Arbory Chicago

That evening, Emily and Justin were married at The Arbory surrounded by so much love. Their ceremony was officiated by a dear friend, and guests were eager to celebrate once the knot was tied! Some of my favorite details include various nods to Huey, their Parks and Recreation-themed cake, and Nike reception sneakers!! I had such a blast capturing these two and their crew… it was truly an unforgettable day from beginning to end.

Emily and Justin: Thank you again for having us in February!!! Wishing you all the happiness in your marriage and future together!

Annie and Luke’s fall wedding at Independence Grove has a special place in my heart. Not only was it my final wedding of 2022, I was so excited for these two to tie the knot! This day had been a long time coming (they’ve known each other since high school!), and I knew it was going to be good 🙂

Wedding day began at the Hilton in Lake Forest, with Annie and Luke getting ready separately with their parties. As a former October bride, I always love seeing fall wedding details and decor come together! The wedding party fashion was on point, not to mention the gorgeous bride and handsome groom. One of my favorite parts of their day was their emotional first look at home, surrounded by fall foliage. Of course, we made sure to take some family photos with pups Kain and Ava – who you may remember from their spring engagement session!

Independence Grove Wedding

Truly, Independence Grove couldn’t have been a more perfect location for Annie and Luke to tie the knot. When I first heard from these two, Annie described it like this:

“We are so excited to get married at a beautiful county forest preserve that is super close to us and our parents’ homes. We love going for walks there and it’s absolutely gorgeous in the fall… There are ponds all over and tons of trails and you can ride boats on the water. We love the outdoors, and wanted this wedding to be as easy as possible for our families, so we are thrilled about this location!”

Highlights from the day include perfect fall foliage, an arcade-themed wedding cake, and specialty cocktails in honor of their pets! This entire day was truly one to remember, and I’m so happy to have been a part of it.

Annie and Luke: Thank you again for having us in October!! It has been such a joy getting to know you both, wishing you all the best in your future together.

I absolutely loved being part of Rachel and Joe’s September wedding at City Winery Chicago. You may recall from their University of Illinois engagement session that they’ve known each other since pre-school… Needless to say, the day had been much anticipated! Originally from Illinois, these two traveled from New Jersey to tie the knot in our awesome city.

The day began with Rachel and Joe getting ready separately at Hyatt House in the West Loop. After their romantic first look on the hotel terrace, we headed out for a downtown adventure! I’m so happy these two wanted photos in some of my favorite Chicago locations – in particular LaSalle Street bridge and the gardens at Art Institute of Chicago.

City Winery Chicago Wedding

That evening, family and friends gathered in the stunning outdoor garden area at City Winery Chicago. Rachel and Joe said I Do in warm, golden light, in a ceremony officiated by a friend. Guests enjoyed cocktails and local wine in the garden followed by dinner and (lots of) dancing in the Barrel Room! One thing I love about City Winery is the variety of swoon-worthy photo locations. We made sure to take advantage of our surroundings for plenty of Newlywed photos, including champagne to end the evening!

Rachel and Joe: Thank you again for having us in September!! It’s been a delight getting to know you two these past years. Wishing you nothing but the best in Married Life 🙂

It’s starting to feel like springtime in Chicago, which means more and more couples are planning engagement photos! Sara and Brian’s Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool engagement session last year was one of my favorite sessions ever – and it’s not hard to see why. Besides being totally over the moon with each other, their location ideas did not disappoint! Put that together with perfect Chicago weather, and we have the stuff engagement session dreams are made of 🙂

We arrived at Lincoln Park during golden hour, my favorite time to visit the Lily Pool. It was the perfect evening for a stroll around the pond! Sara and Brian were a delight to hang with – I don’t think either of them stopped smiling the entire session. I loved hearing their sweet engagement story and learning about their plans to wed in New Jersey this fall!

As the sun began to set, we made our way to the lakefront for iconic photos with the Chicago skyline. Seriously – we could not have asked for better weather, and these two were a dream in front of the camera! Thanks again for having me, Sara and Brian!! All my best to you both!

Thinking about your own Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool engagement session?

That’s awesome! This hidden gem location is one of Chicago’s finest. Some things you should know:

• A photography permit is required for this location. You can find more information and secure your permit here!
• If you can, schedule your session a couple hours before sunset to take advantage of golden hour light! Photographers love this time of day because light is warm, romantic, and the most flattering.
• Because it’s so unique and beautiful, the lily pool is also popular. It’s possible you may have to wait your turn for some of the most picturesque areas. Nothing to be discouraged by! This place is full of photo-worthy locations.

Last June, I had the honor of capturing Liz and Christian’s Lincoln Park wedding at Cafe Brauer! These two traveled from Michigan to celebrate in our city, and many of their guests traveled from even farther. Though they were planning a second ceremony in Christian’s home country Brazil, many friends and family from South America were able to join us in Chicago. With the addition of guests from Europe and the United States, there was no shortage of love and support for these two!

Wedding day began at Hotel Lincoln with Christian and Liz getting ready separately with their families. After their first look at North Avenue Beach, these two were all smiles! We headed to Lincoln Park for photos at the Nature Boardwalk, and then met up with family and friends. Their joyful ceremony under the Lincoln Park Honeycomb was full of laughs and happy tears 🙂

Cafe Brauer Wedding Reception

Once the knot was tied, it was time to celebrate! An iconic Chicago wedding venue, Cafe Brauer looked stunning as always as the day turned into night. I loved the variety of DIY details included in their reception, including Liz’s 3D-printed escort card holders in honor of their cats! Guests enjoyed delicious dinner, custom Caipirinhas, Brazilian Brigadeiro, and dancing into the night. I’m so happy we got to steal the newlyweds away for a few night photos during the reception!

Liz and Christian: Thank you again for having us in June!! Your Chicago wedding day was truly one to remember, wishing you the very best in your future together.

Want to see more from Liz & Christian’s Day? Check out their gorgeous Highlight Film by Vlad!

Last fall, I had the honor of capturing Nikki and Danny’s gorgeous Morton Arboretum wedding at Meadow Lake! The weather could not have been more beautiful, and the fall colors were just beginning to show. It was everything you could possibly want for a late September wedding!

These two have a particularly unique love story that was shared throughout the day. In their own words:

“We met in November of 2020 during the crazy COVID-19 year… and really got to know each other because there was nothing open, and no activities to do! We love this part of our story because it’s a testament to how we took a potentially rough time period and turned it into something positive and amazing.”

On wedding day, Nikki and Danny got ready separately before their sweet first look at the Arboretum. After that, these two were all smiles! We had a blast exploring the property with their stylish wedding party before heading to the lake for the ceremony.

Morton Arboretum Wedding

As the sun began to set, Nikki and Danny were married in an outdoor ceremony underneath the iconic Oak tree. One of my favorite details was the sand ceremony with Nikki’s daughters, symbolizing their unity as a family. Once the knot was tied, guests were ready to celebrate with the newlyweds! Food, drinks, and dancing in the Ginkgo Room did not disappoint 🙂

Nikki and Danny: Thank you again for having me in September!! I’m so happy to have been a part of your wedding day, all my best to you both!