Emma Mullins Photography

Kasia and Jonathan’s wedding day was an absolute honor to capture. From their gorgeous Bond Chapel ceremony at the University of Chicago campus to the evening reception at Lacuna Lofts, loved ones were eager to congratulate and celebrate with these two! We even had a chance to stop at some of Chicago’s most iconic photo locations in between.

Bond Chapel Wedding Ceremony

Kasia and Jonathan got ready separately that morning before their emotional first look outside the chapel. We were super lucky to see some spring blooms on campus, even in late March! Because Jonathan is a staff member at the University, the location had special meaning to both of them. Father Andrew officiated the ceremony, and once the knot was tied, these two were ALL smiles!! Their church exit says it all… I can still smell the spring air and feel the joy!

Lacuna Lofts Reception

That evening, friends and family gathered at Lacuna Lofts to celebrate Kasia and Jonathan. The space was a perfect fit for Kasia, a talented artist herself! The spring air turned moody just in time for some epic rooftop photos with the skyline – one of the best views in the city! Guests enjoyed delicious food and drink before dancing the night away. And to top it all off, we were able to step outside for a sparkler exit on the rooftop! My absolute favorite way to end a wedding day 🙂

Kasia and Jonathan: Thank you again for having us this year!! Your wedding day was a pleasure to be part of, wishing you all the happiness in the world!

In March, we kicked off 2024 wedding season with Morgan and Jarett’s LM Studio Chicago wedding! Remember their adorable Chicago engagement session last year?! I have been counting the days until their wedding ever since!

The day began with Morgan’s side getting ready at Hilton Chicago, and Jarett’s at Le Méridien down the street. After their first look on the Hilton hotel staircase, the crew took a stroll across Michigan Avenue for photos in Grant Park! The wedding party stunned in black tie attire and shades of sage, and Morgan and Jarett were all eyes on each other. Before long, it was time to head back to the studio and get these two married!!

LM Studio Chicago Wedding

That evening, Morgan and Jarett tied the knot at LM Studio surrounded by loved ones, overlooking our incredible city. Their emotional ceremony included several personal touches, such as honoring each of their mothers with a single rose. Once it was officially official, everyone was ready to PARTY… and it didn’t stop there! Guests enjoyed delicious food and drink, and the newlyweds were happy as can be. Not to mention the PARTY on the dance floor that lasted well into the night! Alexis was lucky enough to sneak them outside for a few night photos – some of our favorites from the entire day 🙂

Morgan and Jarett: Thank you again for having us this year!! It was an absolute honor to be part of your day. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to 2024! Wishing you two alllll the happiness in Marriage!!

It finally feels like SPRING here in Chicago, so I thought I’d share Megan and Eric’s sunny spring engagement session in Lincoln Park! These two are getting married in exactly ONE MONTH, which also happens to be their five-year anniversary. How great is that?! It was a pleasure hanging out with these two last year, I’m getting SO excited for wedding day!

Lincoln Park Engagement

I met up with Megan and Eric at one of our city’s most iconic locations for engagement photos, Lincoln Park. We embraced the Chicago sunshine, strolling through the Nature Boardwalk and South Pond area. These two could not have been more adorable together, making my job easy! Weather was lovely for a walk in the park – including the first sign of spring blooms. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Lincoln Park is ideal because it’s picturesque every time of year, with any kind of weather! I’m so happy we decided to take photos here 🙂

As the sun began to set, we headed to North Avenue Beach for photos with the Chicago skyline, of course! We were lucky enough to have the lakefront mostly to ourselves, a rare occurrence in the summer and fall, for sure. Eric and Megan were a breeze to photograph… and up for trying all my ideas! The double exposure from their session is one of my absolute favorites to date, tying in their wedding theme (stay tuned about that next month!).

Megan and Eric: Thanks again for having me capture these moments for you! Your Chicago spring engagement session was a dream, can’t wait to do it again very SOON!!

Caitlin and Daniel are getting married in less than two weeks!! To celebrate, I’m reminiscing on their summer Wicker Park engagement session. These two are nothing but smiles when they’re together – I have no doubt their Chicago wedding day is going to be AWESOME. See for yourself!

Wicker Park Engagement Photos

On a beautiful evening last summer, I met up with Daniel and Caitlin in their neighborhood for photos. We had the best time strolling down Milwaukee Avenue to all their favorite spots… including Wicker Park itself and The Robey Chicago, of course! Not to mention my new favorite mural, freshly painted by Lisa Wronski and a perfect representation of the neighborhood. This one is a must for any Wicker Park engagement session!

We made our way up Milwaukee for cocktails at Up Room. Caitlin and Daniel celebrated here after they got engaged – making our stop even more special! Sidenote: if you’ve never been to this iconic rooftop bar at The Robey, you ARE missing out. The views alone are worth the trip!

Chicago Lakefront Engagement Photos

As the sun began to set, we stopped back at their place for an outfit change before heading to the lakefront. By now, you probably know that North Avenue Beach is one of our favorite engagement session locations in the city… and it’s easy to see why! The sky gets especially colorful here during the summertime, and when the city lights come on I’m one happy photographer 🙂 This session was the perfect mix of romance, fun, and ideal Chicago weather.

Caitlin and Daniel: Thanks again for having me last summer! You two were a treat to spend the evening with. Can’t wait for you to tie the knot later this month!!

Last month, I got to meet up with Cynthia and Arjun in NYC during my trip to the East Coast! These two were a treat to photograph and explore the city with… oh, did I mention this was only hours after a 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit New York?! Good times! Don’t worry, guys – it was a minor quake and most locals didn’t seem bothered by it. Lucky for us, our planned photo locations remained accessible and we were able to have the DREAMIEST spring session in the city.

World Trade Center Engagement Photos

I met these two inside the Oculus building at the new World Trade Center transportation hub. This building officially opened in 2016, and was designed by architect Santiago Calatrava (who also designed the Milwaukee Art Museum, of course!). After some artsy warm-up photos (you know I love those lines!), we took a lovely evening stroll through Lower Manhattan.

Brooklyn Bridge Engagement Photos

One of the things I had most been looking forward to for this session was Brooklyn Bridge! Not only is it one of the most iconic landmarks in New York, I was eager to hang out here during golden hour and create some magic. Arjun and Cynthia were all about each other, and even got congratulations from pedestrians (and there were a LOT of pedestrians!). I’m so happy that earthquake left the bridge intact!

DUMBO Engagement Photos

Our final destination was another personal favorite, and one I’ve visited many times: DUMBO! If you’re not familiar, this neighborhood is an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It’s filled with cobblestone streets, cute restaurants, and fantastic skyline views. An ideal spot for tourists – and engagement photos! We made our way to the waterfront as the sun set over East River. Finally, we ended with a classic New York slice at Front Street Pizza!

Cynthia and Arjun: Thank you again for having me in April! This session was truly a dream, wishing you both all the happiness in the world 🙂

It’s no secret this month has been full of travel, starting with Alex & Stacey’s Jersey City engagement session! These two have been East-Coasters for a year, and I was excited to meet them for photos in their hometown 🙂

Jersey City Engagement Photos

We started with a stretch of colorful murals on 12th street, just north of downtown. Stacey and Alex were quick to warm up to the camera… and their outfits happened to perfectly coordinate with the street art! After a quick round of mural-hopping, we made our way downtown for more city vibes. We strolled Newark Avenue, and even popped into Barcade for a game of Galaga! Shout out to the staff for letting us sneak a few photos!! Of course, we couldn’t leave the neighborhood without hunting for cherry blossoms (which weren’t hard to find at all).

Liberty State Park Engagement Photos

As the sun began to set, we made our way to Liberty State Park for a killer view of Manhattan’s skyline. This was one of my favorite locations from our session – filled with iconic city views, an abandoned train station, and yes, even more spring florals! Alex and Stacey were basically pro models by this point, and up for trying all my ideas. I couldn’t have asked for a better first visit to the Garden State!

Stacey and Alex: Thank you again for having me this month! Can’t wait for you to tie the knot in Chicago this summer!!

Throwing it back to last SUMMER with Haley and Anthony’s wedding reception at Morgan’s on Fulton! As you may recall, these two eloped in Milwaukee last May with their immediate families and sweet pup, Fletcher 🙂 Since then we’d been counting down the days until they’d get to celebrate with family and friends at home in Chicago!

West Loop Wedding Photos

Haley and Anthony got ready separately at The Emily in the West Loop, surrounded by their favorite people. After their joyful first look outside the hotel entrance, we took a quick stroll around the neighborhood! Shout out to the manager at Time Out Market who invited us to take photos with the epic Rahmaan Statik mural honoring Virgil Abloh. I’m pretty sure this impromptu invitation was inspired by Anthony’s wedding shoes!

Morgan’s on Fulton Wedding Reception

That evening, we made our way to the venue in time for finishing touches before guests arrived. And when they arrived, they were ready to celebrate! Just like their marquee says: it was Party TIME. I don’t think the newlyweds stopped smiling or hugging people the entire night!

Delicious food and drinks flowed, and lots of kind words were said about the happy couple. Some highlights include their elopement photos on display for guests to see, and custom cookies to honor sweet Fletcher! We were even greeted with a little Chicago weather as dancing began, and the newlyweds were great sports about taking a night photo in the rain. It IS good luck you guys… I promise!!

Haley and Anthony: THANK YOU again for trusting me to capture both your elopement day in Milwaukee, and Chicago celebration last year! You two are an absolute delight in front of the camera, wishing you nothing but the best in your future together.

Want to see more Haley & Anthony? Check out their joyful Milwaukee elopement on the Blog!!

Last September I was lucky enough to hang out with Meggie and Caleb for their Winnemac Park engagement session! We started at their Andersonville home for photos with pup Elliott, and a lovely neighborhood stroll. We talked about wedding planning, home ownership, and Elliott, of course! These two are smitten as can be… and a treat to have in front of my lens!

Winnemac Park Engagement Photos

As golden hour approached, we headed to nearby Winnemac Park! If you live on the north side of the city and are looking for picturesque engagement session locations, I highly recommend this place. I don’t get to take photos here very often, but every time I do it’s a dream! Winnemac Park has everything, from wildflower gardens to willow trees and little woodland creatures running free. A nature lover’s delight in the big city.

We also met up with Meggie and Caleb’s family member, TK! I had such a blast exploring the park with these three – their happiness is truly contagious. This session was seriously FUN! And in a few short weeks, Caleb and Meggie will be MARRIED!!

Meggie and Caleb: Thank you again for having me capture these moments for you! Can’t wait to make it official very SOON 🙂

Allison and Matthew’s Warehouse 109 garden wedding ceremony last September was an absolute delight to capture! I first heard from these two shortly after their engagement in November 2021, and they were thrilled to be planning a wedding. When their 2023 day finally arrived, they were as excited as ever! I honestly don’t think either of them stopped smiling the entire day.

The day began with Allison and her party in the venue’s lovely bridal suite. This room is one of the venue’s most valuable features – seriously! The light is always soft and gorgeous (perfect for getting ready photos, just saying!) – and it’s a short walk to the actual venue. An ideal place to stay hidden from your guests before the ceremony! When it was time for their first look, we met Matthew in the garden for a heartfelt private vow exchange. Before we knew it, the wedding party joined us for photos in the garden before the ceremony began!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: a private vow exchange before the ceremony is one of my favorite ways to break tradition. If the thought of pouring your soul out to your partner in front of 100+ guests makes you cringe, definitely consider working this into your wedding day!!

Warehouse 109 Garden Wedding

That afternoon, Allison and Matthew were married in a stunning garden wedding ceremony surrounded by their closest people. The rain in the forecast gave us just a few drops (good luck!), and the newlyweds couldn’t have been happier! The evening continued with yard games, barbeque, flowing drinks, and LOTS of dancing. Oh – did I mention the DIY decor? Allison created the signs, seating chart and floral arrangements herself… including that bouquet! I loved the subtle nods to their cats Heihei and Lila, and will forever be impressed by that dessert table. Of course we had to take a romantic night photo in the courtyard, a perfect end to the Best Day Ever 🙂

Allison and Matt: THANK YOU again for having us last year!! Your wedding day was a dream to capture, I wish you nothing but the best in your future together!

Looking for more Warehouse 109 garden wedding inspo?! Check out the following posts on the Blog!

Caitlyn & Ray | Brittany & Dan

Layne and Rose are getting married next month (!!), and I’m starting the countdown by sharing their South Loop engagement session! These two have been enjoying Chicago life since moving here from the east coast, and will tie the knot in our city in a few short weeks 🙂

We met up at their home last spring for photos with cats Charlie and Oliver. These boys were truly a bundle of joy… and loving every minute of their photoshoot! Even though they almost stole the show, Layne and Rose couldn’t help but love on their furbabies for as long as they would allow. After a couple of beers (and lots of cat cuddles), we headed out on the town.

Windy City Engagement Photos

If you live in Chicago or have ever visited, you know our weather is… a thing. Even with a trusty weather app or detailed forecast, the actual weather can be completely unpredictable. Luckily, no matter what the weather during your engagement session, I’m confident we’ll still get awesome photos (and maybe even a fun story to tell!).

Straight up: this was probably the windiest Windy City engagement session I have ever photographed. The three of us were hilariously trying to fight the breeze while walking along the lakefront, and sometimes the breeze won! Rose and Layne were great sports about Chicago weather, and we had a blast playing with it until the end. Nevertheless, these two couldn’t stop smiling and we captured some of my favorite engagement session images to date. When the seagulls begin to stop mid-air, you know it’s a windy day in the Windy City!

Layne and Rose: I had so much fun at your South Loop engagement session last spring! Thanks again for having me – can’t wait to do it again very SOON!!