The first wedding of 2012! I had a great time photographing the wedding of Linda & Wolfgang! And like before, I had a great time working with Bambi Caicedo Rogers from BCR Events! L and W are a busy couple…and they relied on Bambi’s expertise in planning their wedding! And they were thrilled with their wedding day! They even thanked Bambi during their reception speech! That just shows how thorough and thoughtful BCR Events is at helping to plan a wedding!

Their wedding reception was held at one of my favorite venues in the Northern suburbs of Chicago…the Armour House at Lake Forest Academy!

We started the day at L’s house for her getting ready photos! A quick detail shot of her wedding shoes-

THE BIG DAY!!!

The moment I saw L’s wedding gown…I thought…”WOW…that is NICE!” And I quickly looked to see find the designer…and I was not surprised to find out that Linda had her dress made by Carla at VWIDON! L had nothing but rave reviews about Carla…how she helped her through a dress change at the last minute…and how Carla went the extra mile by making a custom jacket with the same lace that is on the dress! Great vendors never cease to amaze me…and VWIDON is definitely one of the great wedding vendors in Chicago.

A close up of the lace and the VWIDON belt – I love it!

Simply stunning! A custom dress like the ones VWIDON creates…they are truly special-

Nothing but style for this couple…a Rolls Royce pulled up to drive the bride to the wedding ceremony!

The grand entrance-

A gorgeous church!

And then we headed to the Armour House in Lake Forest for their wedding reception! I love the classic style of the Armour House – and it’s such an elegant venue for a wedding reception! Natalia from Abby Hill Flowers did a great job with the centerpieces

The centerpiece works so well with the sconces of the Armour House

Every last detail was thought of by BCR Events…the golden goblets and the little pine branch!

My favorite part of the Armour House- the grand staircase!

A creative portrait of the bride and groom.

One of my favorite photos from their wedding day!

Here I thought to incorporate some architectural details into their wedding cake photo.

Table card floral arrangement by Abby Hill Flowers.

A photo of their first dance! This room is separate from the dining area of the Armour House

I ran outside to grab this photo of L and W…a photo of them dancing through the doors. Congrats L and W! Thank you for having me as your wedding photographer! You guys were so great to work with! I hope you enjoy your wedding photos every time you look at them! =)

with love,

your wedding photographer,

Kenny

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

A Chicago Wedding on November 11th, 2011

Nina and Bruce were married in Chicago on 11/11/11! It was an amazing time with friends and family at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago! There were so many traveling internationally for their celebration! Bruce is from Canada, but since Nina grew up in Chicago they chose to celebrate here in the Windy City! One really unique part of their story: they met on a medical missions trip! And now they are making it an priority to regularly give back to those in need!

Warning: There are a TON of AMAZING WEDDING PHOTOS in this blog post. Please take the time to scroll through them all! =) You won’t be disappointed! Here’s one of this photographer’s favorites from the day:

We started their day at the Ritz Carlton Chicago. Their rooms have great window light and an amazing view of Chicago. You look out and see the famous Chicago Water Tower on Michigan Avenue.

A photo of her wedding dress-

A fun moment with her mom as the garter was going on-

Nina looked stunning! I love her hair – done by my favorite hair stylist Livia Caporale! I’ve photographed brides throughout the years…and one thing I can say…good hair and make up matter! And when it comes to hair…not many stylist stand out to me as a photographer. But I can honestly say…Livia Caporale is consistently the best hair stylist I work with. Don’t believe me? Check out her yelp reviews- I’m not the only one who thinks so!

I love this photo of Nina- simply stunning!

How about this moment on their 11-11-11 wedding day…11:11am!

We took photos at throughout the Ritz Carlton-

Bruce was all smiles when he saw his bride!

Love the Ritz Carlton decor- Makes for a ‘classic yet modern’ photo look even better!

I love their expressions. I love their gaze. I love the Ritz Carlton furniture. I LOVE these photos!

A timeless wedding photo.

Since they will be living in Canada- we wanted to grab some wedding photos throughout Chicago. But you know me…I don’t like to be cliche with my wedding photos. My fellow Chicago wedding photographers know that I am a creative wedding photographer and so I sought to find cool poses and locations for these Chicago photos!

First up: the Bean in Millennium Park! My creative take on one of the most photographed icons in Chicago

Had to incorporate these fall colors in Millennium Park into the photo session.

These metal panels are well known in Millennium Park. And they make for a great backdrop!

I love the smiles in this photo!

Nina’s wedding dress and shawl were perfect!

Downtown Chicago in the background-

Incorporating Millennium Park’s fall colors and the pavilion into this photo! The pavilion in the background lets you know this photo was in Chicago without it being cliche-

Had to take a wedding photo under the Chicago “EL” train tracks.

The most STUNNING WEDDING PHOTO from the whole shoot- They look like models! Except they are ‘normal’ people getting married on 11-11-11!

So romantic! Almost feels like a scene out of a movie! This wedding photo was taken on a Chicago bridge…just one more way to bring Chicago to Canada!

This wedding photo of Nina and Bruce almost feels like it belongs in a magazine!

This photo was requested by the groomsmen- and it turned out perfectly! Right off the pages of Vanity Fair!

After the amazing photo shoot throughout Chicago, we returned to the Ritz Carlton for their Thai traditional wedding ceremony! The Thai water ceremony is truly unique! The first Thai water ceremony I photographed was in Bangkok, Thailand earlier this year with Nina and Phil-

Nina changed into her Thai traditional wedding dress for their water ceremony.

I wonder if this was the first Thai wedding ceremony held at the Ritz Carlton. =)

And after the traditional Thai ceremony was over, Nina changed back into her wedding dress and walked down the aisle for their traditional western wedding ceremony!

After the wedding ceremony- the Ritz Carlton staff flipped the ceremony room for the reception!

A full Ritz Carlton reception room photo

Bruce’s dad played the bagpipes as they entered the room!

A traditional Thai dance performance-

First dance photo!

And then something a little more fun for their first dance! Who said wedding dances had to be serious?

And to close out the night…a wish was made by all in attendance…at 11:11pm and 11 seconds! What a great way to cap off a wonderful night!

Thank you Jintana and Bruce for having me as your wedding photographer! I truly hope…with all that you went through looking for a wedding photographer…that your wedding photos blow you out of the water! I can’t wait to make your wedding album! Merry Christmas you guys!

with love,

your Chicago wedding photographer,

Kenny

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

If you are living in Chicago – happy cold season! As the winter holidays descend upon us, I wanted to share a wedding from early November! Though most of the fall leaves shed…I managed to find a few trees with amazing color! I really enjoyed working with Ro + Josh as they were so willing to travel all over Chicago for their creative portraits!

There are plenty more creative photos in this wedding blog post- but here’s one of my favorites up first! We took this photo in Millennium Park – and as a Chicago wedding photographer, I don’t want a ‘cliche’ photo of Millennium Park…I want to do something creative and different. And I love the little added dimension the bicyclist added to the photo!

We started their wedding day at their condo- I saw this cool bulletin board on their wall and I thought to incorporate it into their ring photo!

Ro’s wedding shoes by Badgley Mischka

I LOVED this belt that Ro added to her Oscar de la Renta wedding dress! The belt was made by Maria Elena Headpieces.

And um…wow…an Oscar de la Renta wedding dress? Yes please!!!!

Ro having assistance with her garter- kudos to bridesmaid Stephanie for stepping up to the task!

Some last touches from her hair stylist

A gorgeous bride-

Wedding bouquet and flowers done by Yanni Design Studio

Their wedding ceremony was held at Chicago’s famous Holy Name Cathedral!

A photo of Josh getting helped by his brother-

A groom’s portrait!

The bride walking down the Holy Name Cathedral aisle wearing her Oscar de la Renta wedding dress…an epic moment!

Holy Name Cathedral is so photogenic. I had to post another wedding photo from the rear of the church!

Lighting of the unity candle photo-

After finishing up at Holy Name Cathedral, we headed around Chicago for their creative wedding photos! I love their smiles and laughs in this photo-

I got a little elevation for a unique perspective –

A cool photo of the groomsmen in Chicago’s financial district

The bridesmaids- The car in the foreground adds that little ‘extra something special’

After the financial district, we headed to Millennium Park where there were some amazing red leaves! I really enjoy ‘stepping back’ from the moment to capture something larger…more dramatic!

The happy bride!

Love this photo of the groomsmen and the colors behind them!

Another famous part of Millennium Park…the bridgeway to the Art Institute!

And not only did we find red trees in Chicago- we found yellow ones! I LOVE the color combination with the bridesmaid’s dresses and bouquets!

Another groomsmen photo

A creative crop for a different emphasis

Their wedding reception was held at the Schaumburg Renaissance Convention Center! A large venue with great decor! Here’s another piece by Yanni Design Studio.

As I mentioned, the Schaumburg Renaissance has some great interior decor…which makes for some great wedding photos!

A relaxed wedding portrait before their reception starts!

I love the colors I found in a corner at the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel-

Gigantic centerpieces by Yanni Design Studios-

A wider shot of the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center room

Their wedding cake!

Their grand entrance!

First Dance photo!

Don’t ask me what’s going on in this photo- something about a Heisman Trophy pose/dance?

The dessert table put out by the Renaissance staff- yum!

Thanks Ro & Josh for a great time! We came up with some AMAZING photos! Thanks to an awesome bridal party for being willing to walk around for all these photos! They were epic! It was my privilege to be apart of a wonderful celebration! Enjoy these photos over the holidays!

with love,

your wedding photographer,

Kenny

And for good measure: One last shot of the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center!

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

Carina + Jeff’s Wedding Photos!

A Wedding Photographer’s Compliment

One of the best compliments I receive as a wedding photographer is when a past couple refers their friends and family to me for my wedding photography services. And I have no doubt that my past groom, Jeremy, helped to refer me to his sister, Carina for their wedding…but I received an even better compliment. Jeremy’s parents. They loved the job I did for their son…and they specifially wanted me to photograph their daughter’s wedding too! That was a first! So needless to say, I was truly honored that the Chen’s would purposefully seek out my wedding photography services! In case you missed Jeremy + Jo’s wedding from 2009 – check out their wedding photography blog post here!

High Expectations for this Chicago Wedding Photographer!

With such trust given to me, I really wanted to do a great job for Carina & Jeff! I was thankful they wanted to do an engagement photo session with me…it really gave us an opportunity to get to know each other and get the jitters out before their wedding day! Their engagement photos were really fun and allowed me to see them in a more comfortable/relaxed atmosphere!

We started at the Chen’s residence for some detail photos of the wedding dress. I love incorporating different elements into my photos…here we utilized some decor which also shed light to Carina’s heritage-

It took me awhile to find a cool spot to photograph her pink wedding shoes…but I finally found my shot! I love how the light in the background brings attention to the shoes!

Carina was at Mario Tricoci for her hair and makeup

The wedding ceremony was held at Trinity Lutheran Church – where Carina’s mom helped with some final touches!

The gorgeous bride!

A moment of prayer before the wedding ceremony-

I love the two expression in this photo- If only I could read their minds…

She was having a good time!

Trinity Lutheran Church in Woodridge, IL has a great sanctuary

Enjoying a laugh during the ceremony- Notice the amazing bouquet by Vale of Enna. I love their floral work- in fact I’m using them for my upcoming wedding!

Then we headed across the street to the Seven Bridges Golf Course in Woodridge, IL! Their wedding cake!

Handmade table settings. You can’t see it here…but Jeff hand inscribed all these rocks with their names and dates! If you want to see a photo of his handiwork- I’ll post it on my facebook page soon!

I wasn’t the only one taking a first dance photo. =)

Dancing in the sunlight at the Seven Bridges

Love this moment when Jeff’s mom became a little emotional during her dance

After the reception was over, we were able to take our time with their creative portrait session!

We headed to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. Some gorgeous fall foliage made for a great background!

I love their smiles and the moment in this wedding photo!

This groomsmen photo was inspired by one of my favorite band photos in the 90s. =)

Bridesmaid photo! Pink Bouquets by Vale of Enna

Full wedding bridal party photo!

I found this great prairie in the Morton Arboretum…and the grass was just the PERFECT color!

You would have thought we were in Nebraska or something…nope…just the Morton Arboretum in good ol Lisle, IL

The red and orange leaves in the background are HOT!

Another epic bridal party photo!

The ladies with their pink dresses contrast nicely against the green!

I loved this photo of the guys-

Beautiful. I saw this sign and we HAD to incorporate it into a photo somehow!

One of my favorite Morton Arboretum structures…the white pillars!

Another photo with the pillars highlighting her pink shoes!

We ended the night with a photo session at their hotel!

Loved the reflection and the crop that the centerpiece provided-

Carina looks pretty amazing…and I KNOW Jeff agrees! =)

One last photo of the bride and groom before we ended the night!

Rocks on rocks- Wedding rings on rocks from Brazil!

Thanks so much Carina + Jeff…as well as the whole bridal party for trekking all over the Morton Arboretum for these photos! So many amazing shots! It was an honor to be apart of two Chen’s weddings! And thank you to the Chen’s for entrusting me with your children’s wedding photos- it is one of the best compliments I have ever received as a wedding photographer! Carina & Jeff: May He continue to lead and guide you as you grow in your love for one another!

with love,

Your Wedding Photographer,

Kenny

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

These two knew of each other back in the day. And while they were ‘just friends’…somewhere down the line…Joe realized he ‘liked’ Grace. =) And while it may have taken some time for her to realize the ‘awesomeness’ of Joe…they are now happily married and in the same city (down south in Atlanta)!

Georgia on my mind? Definitely not! It’s Chicago all the way in these wedding photos! We started out at the Hilton Ohare – the hotel that is located in Chicago’s Ohare Airport- We grabbed some photos of Joe and the groomsmen-

The groomsmen looking sharp-

A little more creative with this photo- Gotta love the groom’s smile-

We headed down to Chicago’s West Loop to where Grace was getting ready-

The bridal party gift? TOMS shoes! And if you’ve never heard of these- check them out- a great way to get a pair of trendy shoes and help the others in need!

A photo of the wedding shoes!

Grace’s wedding dress!

The beautiful bride!

The bridesmaids wearing navy blue with their bouquets made by Flor Del Monte!

We took photos before the ceremony- and we started at a local park in Chicago’s West Loop!

An epic bridal party photo with Chicago’s Skyline in the background!

A little Chicago West Loop Industrial in the background-

We headed out to grab another photo with the Chicago Skyline in the background-

A wedding photo to remind them of Sweet Home Chicago – while they are living in Atlanta

Getting a little creative with this bridal party photo

Another fun urban bridal party photo!

Definitely went creative with this wedding photo!

The bridesmaids-

The groomsmen

A timeless wedding photo of the bride and groom!

They look so happy! =)

We headed to the Salvation Army Church for their wedding ceremony and reception!

Her grand entrance!

I love my job as a wedding photographer- I get the best seat in the house to see the ‘real emotions’

Went upstairs to take a photo from the Salvation Army Church balcony

One of the most memorable first kisses – EVER!

Afterwards- their prayer time together was such a special moment-

Loved these aprons!

The wedding reception!

Congrats to Grace + Joe! May your lights shine brighter as you support and love one another as ONE! May your strength and humility towards one another always be rooted in Christ.

With love,

Your wedding photographer,

Kenny

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

Janice + Peter are now living in Seattle…but they miss their friends and family in Chicago! A week before their big day- we had a great time during their Chicago engagement session photoshoot- You can see their engagement photos at this blog post!

Fast forward to their wedding day…We started at the Chicago Intercontinental Ohare…and I knew the day would be great when I found out that Janice used an amazing wedding gown designer for her wedding dress! Vwidon! Carla & Kenneth from Vwidon are Chicagoans who make all their dresses in Chicago! When you go in for a consult with Vwidon…they consider your body and make recommendations on gowns. Janice loved so many dresses at Vwidon…it was just a matter of picking one! If you are a bride looking for a wedding dress…I HIGHLY…HIGHLY recommend checking out Carla at Vwidon. I’ve met Carla personally and I know from personal experience as well as from other brides that Vwidon will treat you right and make your dress shopping experience a great one!

I wanted to create a unique photo for her wedding dress picture. I had a lot of time to get creative…and then I thought of this for my creative wedding dress photo-

Titled: Wedding Dress Kaleidoscope =)

Another photo of Carla’s Vwidon wedding dress-

a photo of Janice’s wedding shoes!

Wedding jewelry…something blue!

Wedding bouquet photo

Her matron of honor helping to put on her wedding shoes.

A beautiful portrait of the bride in her Vwidon wedding gown!

Love the simplicity and beauty in this photo!

The bride enjoying a laugh before the day begins!

Peter cleaned up well too in his custom suit-

An awesome photo of the guys- The Chicago Intercontinental Hotel Ohare has great interior design- which lends itself to creative pictures like this one!

Another creative photo- Thanks to Best Man, Mark, for having lending us his good looks to help ‘make’ the photo!

A good looking bride and groom!

Groomsmen photo-

Bridesmaids photo-

The groomsmen look like they belong in a spread in GQ magazine-

The bridesmaids belong in Vogue Magazine-

And together? I’d put them in Vanity Fair-

Another creative photo utilizing the Intercontinental Hotel Ohare’s modern art into their wedding photos!

They almost look like an art exhibit at the Intercontinental Ohare!

We headed out to Lombard, IL for some photos outside!

I found this cool nature preserve in Lombard that had some changing colors and a cool bridge!

I thought the leafless trees made or a cool juxtaposition with the bridal party

It was a gorgeous fall day to get married!

The wonderful fall palette!

Their wedding ceremony was held at the First United Methodist Church in Lombard, IL

Janice was a little emotional at the altar-

Hugging her mom-

Then back to the Chicago Intercontinental Hotel Ohare for their reception! A room photo at the Intercontinental Ohare. A shout out to Vasso (Catering Manager) for a great job in pulling this all together!

A wedding cake photo incorporating the unique Intercontinental Ohare modern interior architecture.

The first dance at their wedding!

Best man toast-

An exterior photograph of the Chicago Intercontinental Hotel Ohare

And one party photo!

Thanks Janice + Peter for having me as your wedding photographer! And thank you for taking the time and being willing to take all these photos! We were able to come up with some creative & timeless imagery! Enjoy the photos!

with love,

your wedding photographer,

Kenny Nakai

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

Connecting the Dots

Oh the power of word of mouth marketing. I can’t say I’m the best marketer or advertiser…I am a photographer and a relational person. And so I am always thankful for my past couples who support me and pass my name along to friends and family who are getting married!

In 2009 I met Inga and Jeff…I photographed their wedding- where Vaido, Inga’s brother was a groomsman.
Inga & Jeff’s Wedding Photography Blog Post!

In 2011 I photographed Vaido’s wedding in Cabo, Mexico…where I met Maureen, who was a reader for their wedding!
Brittany & Vaido’s Destination Wedding Photograph Blog Post!

Which brings us to this month…when I photographed Maureen & Marty’s wedding in Oak Park, IL! I love how all dots connect! From the moment we started talking about their wedding during their first consult…I could that Maureen was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met with! And I so thankful to be their wedding photographer!

We headed out to Oak Park, IL where Maureen & Marty grew up! And in case you didn’t know…Oak Park is beautiful. It is a well known tourist destination for Frankin Lloyd Wright fans. There are people walking around all over town listening to tours on their headphones!

And before we start, a shout out to Jean from Just Imagine Events who coordinated a fabulous day!

Oak Park Wedding Photography!

We started at Maureen’s Oak Park residence. I wanted to capture a unique and creative wedding ring photo, so I found this antique candelabra in the front room!

A chic tray to pair with her Ippolita earrings!

A meaningful photo for Maureen’s family…placed on her bouquet. Though he wasn’t physically there…his presence was felt.

A photo at the hair salon before the bride headed home to get dressed!

The wedding dress…incorporating the architecture of their Oak Park home…

A personal touch on this wedding hanger…I was impressed!

And the last piece- the wedding shoes!

A moment in her Oak Park home before it all begins!

A photograph of the wedding bouquet – wedding flowers all done by Kehoe Designs

I love this wedding portrait of Maureen!

The happy bridesmaids in their Bella Bridesmaid dresses!

We took a few creative portraits before we headed to the wedding ceremony

A gorgeous bride- almost out of a magazine ad!

The wedding ceremony was in Oak Park at St. Catherine of Sienna-St. Lucy Parrish of Oak Park. A moment Maureen will never forget…walking down the aisle with her parents arm in arm. =)

The view from the back of St. Catherine of Sienna

A creative photo incorporating the candles in the foreground-

Love this photo of their wedding ceremony…

Oak Park is such a photogenic community- but we opted to take their photos at the Oak Park Country Club – where they were having their wedding reception!

Bridesmaid photo!

Groomsmen Photo!

Love this photo of the newly weds!

A more dramatic landscape photo – Loved the landscape of Oak Park Country Club!

Bridal Party

Wedding Cake Photo

Room set up at the Oak Park Country Club

First dance photo

A great finish to their first dance!

Party!

Thanks Maureen & Marty for having me as your wedding photographer! It was such a relaxing day and the weather was just phenomenal! I wish you the best as you now get to be in the same STATE together! =)

with love,

Your wedding photographer,

Kenny

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

I was so excited for Anastasia and Patrick’s wedding earlier this month! We had a great time with their engagement session and I was looking forward to capturing all their special moments during their wedding! As I tell all my clients…the people you see on my blog and my website are normal people. People who feel uncomfortable in front of the camera. People who may not have the best photos of themselves. Anastasia and Patrick are ‘normal’ people…just like most of you reading this wedding blog. And their engagement photo session was an opportunity to break through and capture the ‘real’ them! Here’s one of my favorites from their photo shoot! You can see the rest of their engagement photos at this blog post!

A Chicago Wedding!

Anastasia and Patrick…differences in style…but perfect for each other! The Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel on Michigan Ave in the South Loop of Chicago was a perfect venue for them! Anastasia prepped herself in the penthouse suite of the Blackstone…a modern aesthetic. Clean lines and shapes…filled with natural light (which is great for wedding photos!). Patrick got dressed in a historic suite filled with elegance and luxury…perfect for his aesthetic! The historic suite is a reminder of the Blackstone’s historical status in Chicago. A shout out to Ashley- Catering manager from the Blackstone…she’s great to work with and she pulled it all together for Anastasia and Patrick! If you happen to visit the Blackstone for your wedding plans…say ‘hi’ to Ashley for me!

Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel
636 S Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605

Custom wedding invitations, programs and other stationary done by Courtney Callahan Paper!

A different type of wedding gown photo featuring her gorgeous Melissa Sweet dress from Priscilla of Boston. For this wedding dress photo, we took advantage of the modern penthouse design in the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel.

Lovely matching wedding veil

Her wedding shoes!

Anastasia’s ‘something blue’ was her grandmother’s ring! Her ring was from Zack Sigal

Hair and make up were done by Bridal Beauty Chicago!

After being in the room with the two of them…it was obvious…these two sisters are close. And I love this photo of the two of them sharing a fun moment before it all begins!

The beautiful bride!

Another stunning portrait-

Flowers and wedding bouquets done by Stems Chicago!

A more classic portrait in the historic suite at the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago!

A more fun and creative wedding photo!

She looks beautiful! Jewelry by The Left Bank Jewelry in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood

Patrick looks sharp in his portrait-

Beautiful bouquet from Stems Chicago

My favorite photo of Anastasia! Everything coming together in one photo! The Melissa Sweet dress, the Stems Chicago bouquet, the Bridal Beauty Chicago hair/makeup, and the jewelry from Left Bank Jewelry. And of course…a beautiful bride!

I LOVE their REAL smiles in this photo!

A more creative wedding party photo

A photo of the bridesmaids!

The groomsmen doing pretty well themselves!

The whole bridal party! I love the ring bearer and flower girl holding their pose so perfectly!

A photo in front of the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel!

For their wedding ceremony we headed out to Lansing, IL to St Archangel Michael Church!

You have to appreciate all the paintings and frescos on the walls of St Archangel Michael…8 years and counting of painting…

I knew they were going to put crowns on them…and I wanted to get a ‘cool’ shot of it…I LOVE this photo from a photojournalistic perspective! Not an easy capture by any means!

After leaving St Archangel Church – we headed back to Chicago for their wedding reception at the Blackstone!

The Crystal ballroom at the Blackstone!

Wedding cake by Take the Cake

First dance photo in the Blackstone Crystal Ballroom-

I ran up stairs to grab this shot! LOVE!

Blackstone entrance on Michigan Ave-

Fun times – I was truly scared in this moment. I thought I was going to be trampled like a participant in the running of the bulls!

Gotta love family wedding traditions!

Congratulations again to Anastasia and Patrick! It was a wonderful wedding! Thank you for having me as your wedding photographer! Anastasia: Who would have thought Patrick could be picked up and run around so easily by your brothers! lol…goodtimes!

with love,

Your wedding photographer,

Kenny

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

Jenny is from Chicago.
Mike is from Green Bay.

Now if you are a typical Chicago native…you may wonder how such a pair could ever get together. =) Jenny is a Chicago Bears fan…Mike is a Green Bay Packers fan. For some that is like mixing oil and water. And yet these two were able to see through their football allegiances to developed a relationship here in Chicago.

We had a great time at their engagement session this past summer. If you haven’t seen their engagement photos, be sure to check them out at this blog post!

The American Club: Kohler, WI

Kohler, WI is conveniently located between Chicago and Green Bay. And so Jenny + Mike found a gorgeous venue with The American Club for their wedding ceremony and reception! Though a renowned Golf resort in its own right, The American Club, was a perfect choice for their wedding! We started in the bridal suite taking photos of Jenny’s details

A photo of her Enzonai wedding dress-

Her wedding shoes –

I went over to take a portrait of Mike getting ready…this was my favorite photo of him all ready to go-

Tania & Nevsy from Custom Hair Lounge came all the way from Chicago for their hair and makeup!

A creative photo with her wedding bouquet

A photo of the beautiful bride!

Had to take picture of this belt that added so much to her wedding dress!

Another photo of the bride in B&W

A lovely photo of the soon to be newlyweds!

Looking good! A classic photo and pose

Bridal Party Photo!

All the bridesmaids in their LulaKate navy blue dresses from Bella Bridesmaid

Groomsmen in their tuxedos

Love the moment!

The American Club in Kohler, WI

The wedding ceremony was held in one of the courtyards of the American Club resort- The wedding invitations, programs and other paper items were done by Jessica Creter from Tulaloo.com

A moment that Jenny and her dad will never forget- =)

The American Club courtyards gazebo all set up for the wedding ceremony!

Nothing says love like a little emotion-

A photo of the bridesmaids bracelets –

After the ceremony we skipped out to take a few more photos of the new bride and groom!

Since we were in Kohler, WI, we decided to take a few photos in front of the Kohler factory!

The Kohler factory was a perfect backdrop!

A water fountain at the American Club

And one last moment together before the reception starts!

Reception centerpieces

The wedding cake in one of the many American Club reception rooms.

I took so many photos of the first dance…here’s one with a different point of view-

Father of the bride giving his toast-

As the evening wore on…Jenny put on her party dress! Time to have fun w/her girls! Thanks to Eddie Butts Band for the great music!

And one last fun shot of the bride and groom dancing/jump roping! =)

Thanks Jenny + Mike for the privilege of photographing your wedding! As I said to you throughout the day- there were so many moments I will never forget! The weather was perfect and the vows…so memorable! Congratulations to you both!

with love,

your wedding photographer…

Kenny Nakai

Contact – Portfolio – Facebook – Twitter
New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*

Photos from my first Chicago Pakistani Wedding!

Anisa and Imran flew my out to San Francisco, CA for their engagement photos earlier this year. It was the city of their first date! =) If you missed out our killer SF MOMA engagement session, be sure to check the photos out! And since we spent a good amount of time together out in California, spending time with them during their multi-day wedding festivities was a lot of fun!

They had small party at the swank Galleria Marchetti- a really cool venue that is really close to my photography studio!

The patio area of Galleria Marchetti

We took a few photos in their garden area- I loved this moment between them-

The following day- they had two Pakistani wedding celebrations going on at the same time- I was with Anisa taking photos at her party, and I had Robb come out to help cover Imran’s party!

A fun photo!

The same Pakistani ceremony at Imran’s party!

Fast forward to her wedding day- a detail photo of Anisa’s wedding sari-

And with most saris, it takes careful effort and measurements to get it ‘just right’. This little guy is checking out the folds to make sure they are done ‘just right’ =)

Anisa was AMAZING to photograph. She blew me away throughout the day. Thank you Anisa for your confidence and trust in me as your wedding photographer!

I LOVE THIS PORTRAIT of Anisa. Amazing. Stunning. Beautiful. Something about this photo…I love my job as a wedding photographer to capture an amazing portrait a bride on her wedding day.

Definitely have to have a photo of their Pakistani milk ceremony

Anisa waving goodbye to her parents as she leaves their home as a single woman for the last time!

The wedding ceremony was held at the Ismaili Center in Chicago. As it was a Pakistani Muslim wedding ceremony, there were no photographs allowed. So once they came back downstairs, I was able continue my wedding coverage- Here the groom needs to bribe these two girls…and that would be a nice fat bill in Imran’s hand-

After leaving the Ismaili Center- we headed to nearby park in Chicago for their creative wedding photos-

I really enjoy the simplicity and colors of this photograph

And one thing…Imran is great at making his bride smile. =)

Another amazing photo of Anisa.

Love this moment-

The stunning newly weds-

Anisa almost seems like she belongs in Pakistani Wedding magazine!

My favorite portrait of Imran-

What a good looking couple-

…and yet the know how to laugh and have fun!

Their wedding reception was held at The Stonegate in Hoffman Estates.

A photo of their wedding cake

A Stonegate room shot-

The sun was setting…we had to go outside to grab a couple photographs after Anisa changed outfits!

A totally different hairstyle- a nice evening look-

A Pakistani wedding tradition of crushing ceramic discs-

First dance photos!

I turned off my flashes to grab an ambient light photo-

Anisa dancing with her niece!

And one last photo of the newlyweds!

Thank you Anisa and Imran for having me as your wedding photographer! It was truly an honor to celebrate with you over the course of four days! My only wish…I wish you guys weren’t in SF! Well…I guess I have friends to visit when I had out there!

Congrats again!

with love,

your wedding photographer, Kenny Nakai

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New Chicago Studio in Lincoln Park: 855 W. Blackhawk Chicago, IL 60642 *by appointment only*