Hi, I'm Kenny Nakai.
As a Chicago wedding photographer, I’m lucky enough to document some of the city's most beautiful love stories.
I hope you find inspiration here and connect with the feelings I had when I created each photo.
Hi, I'm Kenny Nakai.
As a Chicago wedding photographer, I’m lucky enough to document some of the city's most beautiful love stories.
I hope you find inspiration here and connect with the feelings I had when I created each photo.
Real tips on the 5th floor lobby, the Shanghai Terrace, the hidden nook most couples miss, and what makes this AAA Five Diamond hotel photograph unlike any other luxury venue in the city.
I still remember the first time I stepped off the elevator into the 5th floor Peninsula Chicago lobby. You immediately feel a sense of calm and luxury. A spacious hallway opens up into a naturally lit lobby with 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows. There's a slight hustle and bustle from the restaurant and plenty of seating for guests to lounge. The Lobby restaurant offers meals throughout the day and seasonally offers afternoon tea. It's a little oasis. A stark contrast to the busy streets of Chicago just below.
For a wedding, the hotel feels spacious and spread out. Not because everything is far away, but because they've designed the space across multiple levels connected by prominent staircases. On one end of the open lobby, a staircase leads up to the meeting rooms. On the other end, a staircase leads down to the foyer adjacent to the Grand Ballroom. It creates a sense of flow and discovery that you don't find in most hotels.
The Shanghai Terrace Restaurant sits at the bottom of that second staircase, offering outdoor seating on a spacious rooftop terrace. You can walk to the edge of the terrace and look down through the glass walls to see Michigan Avenue itself. To the left is The John Hancock. The glass walls insulate you from the noise below. You feel like you're in the heart of Michigan Avenue without actually being on it.
QUICK FACTS
Style: Modern Luxury
Capacity: 320 seated
Ballroom Size: 4,782 sq ft
Ballroom: 17-ft ceilings
Location: 108 E Superior St
Investment: $$$$
"Kenny is an artist in how he is able to capture the moment. He makes the pictures look like art — nothing looks posed or fake. He brings out the beauty of the city, the hotel, the people, and the moment."
BRIANNA & JIM
— Photographer's Note
There's no doubt The Peninsula Chicago is one of the best hotels in the city. The awards reflect it. But what the awards don't tell you is how the space actually feels once you're inside it. Calmer, warmer, and more thoughtfully laid out than most luxury hotels that rely on grandeur alone. That feeling translates directly into the photographs.
I can tell you the lobby is spacious, the ceilings are 20 feet high, and the natural light is abundant. But it really feels different than other luxury hotels in Chicago. Relaxing. Peaceful. The kind of space I could genuinely spend a full day lounging in. That calm isn't accidental. It's built into the architecture and it shows up in the photographs.
The textures and textiles throughout the suites add so much to the photos. The natural light has a glow to it. There are no obstructions outside the windows, and the sheer fabrics filter the light beautifully.
Bonus: The suites also have sliding doors that made for a fantastic bridesmaids reveal photo. The doors slide open, the bride is revealed, and everyone's genuine reaction is captured. Small architectural detail, big emotional payoff.
This isn't the case at most hotels. But The Peninsula's meeting rooms have great window light and light-filtering sheers. When these rooms have been available during weddings I've photographed, I've taken full advantage of the beautiful light and the extra space they provide.
— Photographer's Note
At most venues, meeting rooms are an afterthought. Dull, windowless, or aggressively corporate. Not here. I like to take advantage of every beautiful space in a venue, and The Peninsula gives me more to work with than most other hotels in the city.
I love the opportunity to be outside when possible and I especially love it when the outside space is private and we don't have to worry about pedestrians. The Peninsula's Shanghai Terrace is both. It's also conveniently close to the ballroom doors, so if it's hot or cold outside, we can pop in and out quickly to keep everyone comfortable between shots.
The terrace has a view of the John Hancock. It's a subtle way to include a Chicago landmark without being cliché or overly obvious about it. And the outdoor space offers one of the best first-look locations in the hotel for couples who want privacy and great light.
The foyer outside the Grand Ballroom has one side with floor-to-ceiling windows. It's a gorgeous location for portraits and one of my favorite indoor first-look spots in the city. Bright, airy, timeless. For couples doing their first look indoors, especially in winter, this space is amazing.
The Peninsula is just steps away from Michigan Avenue, which means urban portrait opportunities are built into the day. Water Tower Place is a short walk. The courtyard at Fourth Presbyterian Church is just a bit further. If you want to step outside for a few Magnificent Mile shots, it's effortless. We don't have to build a big travel block into your timeline.
I like to spread out the wedding party across the lounge pieces in the lobby. The natural light and high ceilings let us create editorial-style portraits that feel like they belong in a magazine. It's the first impression guests have when they arrive, and it makes a strong first impression in the gallery too.
The Peninsula brand is strong, and a photo under the sign is a subtle way to memorialize that your wedding took place at this exclusive hotel. You can be photographed beside a vintage vehicle or simply walking underneath. Both are clean, quick, and very Peninsula.
Of course. The Terrace is one of the best photo locations in the building. You get Chicago and the John Hancock in a single frame without ever leaving the property. Private, iconic, and unlike anything else. If the weather cooperates on your day, we're going out.
The staircases are genuinely beautiful. I like photographing couples from the top looking down, and also from the bottom looking up. Staircases add a subtle narrative element to a gallery and they're particularly beautiful for showcasing the back of a bride's gown and veil in a way most flat backdrops simply can't.
One Last Tip: There's a little nook off to the side of the lobby that's almost overlooked but it has great symmetry and photographs beautifully as a backdrop. It's one of those spots I try to squeeze in during portrait time whenever the schedule allows. Most couples don't know it exists.
There is gorgeous natural light all around. I use it in the getting-ready suites, in the ballroom foyer, and throughout the lobby. Natural light helps make the photos and moments feel real and The Peninsula helps provide that setting.
If you're willing to step off the dance floor for just a minute, you have two great options. You can head right back out onto the Shanghai Terrace, literally across the hall from the ballroom, for a few end of night shots. Or we can walk out to Michigan Avenue for urban night portraits. Chicago wedding photos at night are genuinel y romantic and often become some of the most memorable images in the entire gallery.
The Peninsula has enough variety across floors and spaces that a rainy day doesn't actually compromise your gallery. I've photographed weddings here in every kind of weather, and the architecture consistently delivers. Knowing that takes pressure off couples who've been anxiously watching the forecast for weeks leading up to the day.
The Shanghai Terrace is one of the best photo locations at the hotel, but it's also shared with the restaurant. Timing matters. Building your portrait time around when the terrace is most accessible will give you significantly more flexibility for the shots you want.
If the meeting rooms adjacent to your ceremony or reception are available during the day, they provide additional space for getting-ready moments, detail shots, or a quiet breather between events. Most couples never think to ask but the Peninsula's events team is generally accommodating when possible.
Your out-of-town guests have a lot to do within walking distance: Michigan Avenue shopping, Water Tower Place, Oak Street boutiques, 360 Chicago at the John Hancock, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and world-class dining in every direction. The Peninsula's location makes the whole weekend feel like a destination experience rather than just a wedding.
Quick Reference
CAPACITY
320 seated
STYLE
Modern Luxury
Ballroom
17-ft ceilings · 4,782 sq ft
Phone
(312) 573-6701
RECOGNITION
Forbes Five-Star · AAA Five Diamond
INVESTMENT
$$$$
ADDRESS
108 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611
If you're planning a wedding at The Peninsula Chicago and want photos that feel natural, gorgeous, and quietly luxurious — I'd love to connect and hear what you're envisioning.
I love working at this hotel with all it's beautiful features. The natural in the lobby, the sliding doors in the suites, and the terrace with the John Hancock. That knowledge translates directly into a calmer wedding day and a stronger final gallery.
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I'm Kenny Nakai, a Chicago wedding photographer creating beautiful, timeless imagery since 2007. For couples who value artistry, authenticity, and the moments that last forever.
