Emma Mullins Photography

Erica and Eric’s Chicago River Roast Wedding was such a blast! It was a hot, July day in the city… exactly what you hope for when planning a summer wedding. Family and friends traveled from near and far to witness their union, and believe me, the celebration did not disappoint!

The day began with Erica and Eric getting ready separately at The Westin River North. After their happy first look on the Riverwalk, these two were eager to get the party started! We toured the city with the wedding party and got to visit some iconic locations, such as Buckingham Fountain and the skyline view outside Adler Planetarium. They even had custom drink coozies for each member of the party!

River Roast Wedding

Early that evening, Eric and Erica said I Do in the Monarch Room surrounded by loved ones. Their ceremony was classic, elegant, and SO full of joy – in fact, some of my favorite ceremony photos of all time are from this day!

Once the knot was tied, guests enjoyed gorgeous weather while sipping cocktails along the Chicago River. The night continued with delicious food, dancing, and the biggest Newlywed SMILES!! Eric and Erica wanted a classic Chicago wedding, and I’d say it came together perfectly. I was even lucky enough to capture their first piggy-back ride as husband and wife 🙂

Erica and Eric: Thank you again for having me in July!! This was such a fun day to capture, wishing you both all the happiness in the world.

Vendor Team

Venue: River Roast Chicago/Hotel: The Westin River North/Bride’s dress: Madeline Gardner/Bride’s shoes: Nina/Groom’s suit: Alexandre of England/Florals: Florist and Hound Design/Hair Stylist: Joey Zaprzal, Hairchology/Makeup Artist: Angela Makeup/Invitation: XOXO Invites/Rings: Imperial Jewelry Company/DJ: O’Dea Entertainment/Caterer: River Roast/Cake: Bittersweet Pastry Shop

Want to see more Erica & Eric? Check out their spring engagement session with surprise Chicago fog!

Last month I was lucky enough to meet up with Mahala and Marla for their Valentine’s Day engagement session in Chicago! Because we all live in different parts of the country, this was the first time I’d met either of them in person. Wouldn’t you know: they are adorable as can be! We had a blast exploring some favorite spots in the neighborhood… and ducking inside to stay warm once in a while 🙂

We started our session at Cafe Mustache in Logan Square. Reminiscent of their first date (which was a “coffee shop crawl” – how great is that?!), Marla and Mahala loved the color and personality of this place. I couldn’t agree more! Once we were sufficiently caffeinated, we hopped on the blue line to Wicker Park for an afternoon of bookstores, donuts, and watching the sun set. Shout out to the staff at Quimby’s and Cafe Mustache for allowing us to take photos in your space!

Mahala and Marla: Thanks for spending your Valentine’s Day with me!! I’m so excited for your wedding day and all the joy it will bring!

Amanda and Jon’s Destihl Brewery wedding last summer was one I’ll never forget! As fellow beer nerds AND cat lovers, we got along right off the bat. Remember their snowy winter engagement session?? It was a perfect contrast to what Mother Nature would bring on wedding day.

Amanda and Jon chose to tie the knot at one of their favorite Illinois breweries surrounded by their favorite people. Although it rained all morning in Normal (yes it IS good luck…), the clouds parted in time for some stunning outdoor photos at a nearby forest preserve. I loved the wedding party fashion and mismatched bridesmaids dresses (note Amanda’s Maid of Honor in floral print!). These two exchanged vows on the brewery’s lawn, officiated by a longtime family friend. You could just feel the joy surrounding them 🙂

I loved how much personalization went into this wedding. The majority of decor items (including those bouquets!) were handmade by Amanda with the help of family and friends. In addition, many food items were DIY (and secret family recipes!). The made-from-scratch dessert spread was definitely a highlight of the evening!

Amanda and Jon: THANK YOU again for having us in August! Wishing you a future full of love, delicious beer, and cute cats forever.

Vendor Team

Venue: Destihl Brewery/Hotel: Hyatt Place Bloomington Normal/Bride’s dress: Jade Bridal/Bride’s shoes: Abound/Groom’s suit: Men’s Wearhouse/Personal Florals: family friend/Ceremony Florals: Vera & Buck/Rentals: Spruce Rentals/Hair & Makeup: Fox & Hounds Day Spa/Save the Date coaster: Nesting Project Paper/Bride’s rings: Slowack Jewelry/Groom’s ring: Black Badger/DJ: Ryan Nolan/Caterer: Destihl Brewery/Dessert: Bride’s mother, uncle, grandmother/2nd shooter: Jeremy

Brittany and Dan’s Warehouse 109 wedding last fall was a big, lively, family affair. These two met while working in the hospitality industry, and Brittany’s background in event planning made the pre-wedding process a breeze! By the time we met, these two already had a clear vision for the day. Mostly, they wanted to celebrate in style with family and friends… and dance the night away!

The day was filled with personal touches that were truly unique to them. Brittany and Dan chose to exchange vows privately before their ceremony – something I always recommend to couples seeking a more intimate vibe. Their seasonable October ceremony in the garden could not have been more lovely, and they even had a hot beverage bar set up with coffee and apple cider!

Flower Gram led the way with Brittany’s daughter, who waited midway to escort her mother down the aisle. Dan recited separate vows to his new daughter, and I know there wasn’t a dry eye in the place! The newlyweds rode across the parking lot on their Just Married scooter to get the party started 🙂

This was such a fun fall wedding to capture in one of my favorite venues! Shout out to Gina for helping make it all happen.

CONGRATS again, Brittany and Dan!! Thanks so much for having me in October! All the best to you and your family.

Vendor Team

Venue: Warehouse 109/Hotel: Aloft Bolingbrook/Wedding Planner: Gina Polcaster/Bride’s dress: Sarah Seven/Bride’s shoes: Valentino/Groom’s suit: The Groomsman Suit/Groom’s tie: The Tie Bar/Florals: family member/Hair Stylist: Diem Angie/Makeup Artist: Michelle Finch/Rings: Kendra Scott/DJ: DJ Outta Control/Vintage furniture: Joe’s Live, originally purchased from Restoration Hardware/Caterer: Bub City/Dessert: Cinnabon, Morris Bakery, Hub 51

No two Chicago home engagement sessions will ever look the same, which is precisely why I love them so much! I often recommend starting a session at home, especially in the winter months (and if you have pets!). For Victoria and Sam, we concluded our session at their home after catching the morning light at Garfield Park Conservatory.

These two are as adorable as can be – look how they glow! We had a blast walking through all things green together. For obvious reasons, this is one of my top location choices for winter engagement photos in Chicago. Sam and Victoria seemed to agree – when they weren’t too busy checking each other out! They even joined me outside for a few photos in the snow, making me one very happy photographer 🙂

After a healthy dose of romance and tropical plant life, it was time to meet Meatball. To clarify: Meatball is Victoria and Sam’s super-cute-is-an-understatement, camera-loving, green-eyed fur baby. I couldn’t get enough of this guy, and he continued to pose for my camera without much prompting at all! I mean, I’m pretty sure he was born to be a kitty model. Just saying…

Victoria and Sam: I had an awesome time with you two, thanks again for having me! Your June wedding day will be here before we know it and I absolutely can not wait!!

To say Humboldt Park is in my backyard is… not an exaggeration at all! You can find me there on a weekly basis either running, bicycling, or chasing alligators (what’s up, Chance?). So, when Amrita and Patrick told me about their Indian fusion wedding in the park, my head filled with ideas!

Because they had already officially tied the knot, all these two wanted was to celebrate. Amrita designed and created the decor herself, and even made personal gifts for their family! One of the many ways she chose to honor her late father was by repurposing his wedding band as her own.

Humboldt Park Wedding

Something I truly love about wedding days is the unexpected, and this is one I’ll never forget. Just as the outdoor ceremony was about to begin, Mother Nature decided to join us! The sky burst open, rain fell down, and guests raced inside to take cover. As a result, Amrita and Pat exchanged vows under a tent to the romantic sound of summer rain. Kudos to planner Rachel from Ohana Events for making it happen!!

Guests celebrated all night with food, drink, dance, and so much love. I’m lucky I got to steal them away for a few newlywed photos in the park before dark! Pat and Amrita were on cloud nine through it all… I mean, what’s not to smile about?!

Amrita and Pat: Thanks again for having us in July! Your wedding day was a blast to capture, we wish you all the BEST 🙂

Vendor Team

Venue: National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture/Wedding Planner: Ohana Events/Bride’s Lehenga and Groom’s Indian attire: Bejee Collections/Bride’s dress: David’s Bridal/Florals: Stephanie Treppler/Hair & Makeup: Danyel Nicole Beauty/Invitation: Paper Source/Bride’s Engagement ring: Mociun/Bride’s wedding band: Family heirloom/Groom’s ring: Fiancée Jewellers/Dhol player: Noah Nellore/DJ: Dream House Productions/Videographer: Brian and Jeremy for EMP/Caterer: D’Absolute Events

Want to see more Amrita & Pat? Check out their Highlight Film below!

Sausha and Jose’s Chicago winter engagement session was a long time coming. I first heard from these two last fall after Amanda & Jon’s snowy engagement session (fun fact: Sausha and Jon are former schoolmates!), saying that was EXACTLY what they had in mind for their own engagement photos! Because Jose and Sausha will tie the knot in their hometown Los Angeles, it was important to showcase their current city for their engagement photos. These two LOVE Chicago and have no intention of leaving any time soon.

We watched the weather for weeks, and if you know Chicago weather, you know how exciting that can be! Finally, one Saturday looked promising, so we decided to go for it. We started at Lincoln Park (where Jose almost proposed many moons ago) for some photos with the skyline and Nature Boardwalk. Just as it looked like the precipitation was letting up, the sky let out these big, fluffy snowflakes! It was a Chicago winter miracle!! Our timing could not have been more perfect 🙂

Toward dusk we headed downtown for a much-needed warm up and more iconic Chicago locations. The snow turned to a “wintry mix” and gave us the most romantic, city night photos. Sausha even brought some twinkle lights we got to play with… it was so much fun!

Sausha and Jose: Thanks again for having me capture your Chicago winter engagement photos! I know your California wedding this fall will be an absolute dream. Congrats again to you both!!

Patricia and Tony tied the knot at St. George Greek Orthodox Church last June, with a wedding reception to follow at Loews Chicago O’Hare. Their traditional ceremony in Lincoln Park was an honor to witness as they joined together surrounded by loved ones. Tony and Patricia have known each other for many years, and their wedding was was much anticipated by all!

One of my favorite things about these two is their energy together. There just always seems to be romance in the air with these two… they can’t keep their eyes off each other! And looking back at their engagement session, this seems to be the running theme (remember the RAINBOW?!). Tony even proposed at the Pickwick Theatre where they first met in high school… and of course we had to stop there on wedding day. Check out the custom marquee!

Celebration continued into the night with dancing (LOTS of dancing), champagne flowing, and even a late night Super Dawg delivery. I couldn’t be more honored to have been a part of this day!

Patricia and Tony: Thank you again for having us last year!! Best wishes for a long and happy future together 🙂

Vendor Team

Church: St. George/Reception Venue: Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel/Bride’s dress: Enzoani/Bride’s shoes: Nina/Groom’s suit: Ike Behar/Florals: Accents by Jenny/Hair Stylist: Adam and Eve Salon & Spa/Makeup Artist: Elena Arustamyan/Invitation: Amore Creative/Bride’s rings: Blue Nile/Groom’s ring: Jan Dee Custom Jewelers/DJ: Alli from Toast & Jam/Videographer: Elegante Media/Caterer: Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel/Cake: House of Cakes/2nd shooter: Jeremy

Jenn and TJ’s Chicago Galleria Marchetti wedding was a much anticipated event. After a year-plus engagement, these two were ready to tie the knot and celebrate! TJ proposed on a private Chicago River cruise, and I met these two shortly after. Check out their unique 2018 Engagement Session commemorating that day!

Wedding day was filled with joy and support from friends, family and loved ones. Jenn and TJ’s first look took place down the street from their home, with their adorable pup Sunny, of course! We traveled to a few iconic locations (including my fave, Garfield Park Conservatory) before heading to the ceremony. I’m sure you can tell from the photos, but their hilarious wedding party was one for the books!

Overcast skies opened up like clockwork for their outdoor ceremony at La Pergola. The space looked incredible with hanging greenery and candlelight. Champagne was flowing and guests celebrated with the newlyweds into the night 🙂

TJ and Jenn: Thanks again for having us in September!! Your day was a joy to capture and we wish you both nothing but happiness.

Vendor Team

Venue: La Pergola at Galleria Marchetti/Hotel: Aloft River North/Wedding Planner: Grace from Lionhearted Events/Bride’s dress: BHLDN/Bride’s shoes: J Crew/Groom’s suit: Men’s Wearhouse/Florals: Steve’s Flower Market/Hair & Makeup: Zea Salon/Invitation: Minted/Rings: Ethan Lord Jewelers/Ceremony musicians: Signature Ensemble/DJ: Music by Design/Videographer: Paul for EMP/Cake: Mariano’s/Cupcakes: Nothing Bundt Cakes

See more from Jenn & TJ’s wedding day in their Highlight Film!

When I first heard from Brittany and Jonathan about their Museum of Surgical Science wedding, I was immediately intrigued. They had been together for several years, and were even technically married by the time we met! It’s true… these two made it official in October 2018 so that Brittany could follow Jon to Switzerland for work. They still wished to celebrate with friends and family in Chicago, on what would be a perfect fall evening. And – guess what? It just so happened to fall on their one year anniversary!

Brittany and Jon planned much of their wedding from overseas. Brittany crafted much of the DIY decor, including the florals and table centerpieces. One of my favorite details were Jon’s T-Rex cuff links, reminiscent of their Field Museum engagement session earlier that week! Their “Books and Space” theme grew from Brittany’s love of Medieval literature and Jon’s dream of becoming an astronaut 🙂

This day was such a pleasure to be a part of. From the friends and family in attendance to the unique decor, the day was so full of love. Brittany and Jonathan just radiate when they’re together… making my job easy! I don’t think there was a dry eye during their ceremony.

Thanks again for having me, you two!! Cheers to a lifetime of happiness and adventure together.

Vendor Team

Venue: International Museum of Surgical Science/Hotel: Claridge House/Bride’s dress: Morilee Madeline Gardner/Bride’s shoes: Steve Madden/Groom’s suit: The Black Tux/Cuff Links: The Tie Bar/Florals: DIY/Hair & Makeup: Pin Me Up Chicago/Invitation: Minted/Rings: AAA Jewelry and Diamond Exchange/Caterer: Beyond Catering