Illinois Elopement Photo
Before Tina and Michael went to their intimate courthouse ceremony with a few family members, they decided they wanted to celebrate the occasion with photos along the Chicago museum campus lakefront. They live just a short walk away from the museum campus and so for their photos we stopped at many of their favorite spots. We also had to incorporate their deep love for ducks along the way!
I had such a sweet time with these two, and I’m excited to share a few from our time together here.
I met Hana and Chris in Millennium Park on a crisp Fall day this past year. They planned to have their wedding ceremony in Southern IL in December, however, they still wanted to capture the beauty of the city of Chicago and so they decided to take their bridal portraits beforehand.
My time with them spent exploring Millennium Park and then Union Station was filled with such sweet love and laughter. Thankful to have played a small roll in their wedding celebrations.
And now, a thoughtful and much appreciated review from the bride:
We planned an elopement photoshoot in Chicago and loved working with Erika. She was not only professional but super easy and fun to work with especially during these stressful times. We also had to change locations a couple of times and every time she was helpful nailing down details. We also loved how she always came prepared and full of ideas — really, her optimistic and positive attitude helped get us through 30 degrees chilly Chicago winds.
The photos came out beautifully and couldn't have asked for more!
-Hana
Shelly and Wyatt had plans to get married this past May. Things happened… but rather than wait a full year to get married, they decided to elope at the Indiana Dunes National Park. They had a ceremony on top of a dune with their family present. It wasn’t what they planned but still beautiful and full of sweet love.
Rob and Nora met in Boston and moved to Chicago right at the beginning of the pandemic. They had plans to have a wedding in Puerto Rico with friends and family; however, well you know… So rather than wait to get married they put together this elaborate virtual wedding within just one week! They had a slideshow for guests that showcased the history of their relationship, family and friends did readings and made speeches, all were able to watch their ceremony and hear their sweet vows to each other, AND they cut cake and drank Champagne to celebrate it all!
While this day was planned rather quickly, it did not fall short in any way. It was filled to the brim with thoughtful touches, happiness, and love.
Last thing - Quick vendor shoutout: Nora found her hair and makeup team just days before the big day. Kiss This Makeup did such an amazing job!
The 2020 global pandemic has altered plans for many. Kate and Paul plan to have a large wedding in 2021, but rather than wait and see if their plans will remain the same, they decided to tie the knot a year earlier with a few friends in the Chicago area and many more loved ones via video chat.
I met up with them outside their apartment in Hyde Park as they helped each other put on their finishing touches. Side note - Paul actually did Kate’s hair! He gets two thumbs up from me. ;) We then walked along the path they take each day together to The University of Chicago - were they met. We took photos along the way and then at many personally significant spots on campus.
After photos we made our way to the Ida Noyes Hall Courtyard were their ceremony took place. Friends gathered around on blankets and more watched virtually as they exchanged their vows to each other. It was sweet and full of so much love.
Thankful to have been apart of this special day for Kate and Paul.
Each time I do a styled shoot I am always amazed by the beauty that creatives can create. Anna Deblecourt reached out to me a few weeks ago looking to do a styled shoot at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Lemont, IL. With the help of some crazy talented vendors, we were able to create something truly amazing.
Sarah Viktoria and Amelia C & Co did Anna's hair and makeup - Anna lip color even matched Gromeza Designs gorgeous florals! Mignonette Bridal contributed a stunning gown that flowed wildly throughout the shoot, and CharmCat provided an invitation suite that brought the whole shoot together. And then of course, Anna Deblecourt made this rather hot day look like a total breeze - let me tell ya, she makes a stunning bride. Enjoy!
UPDATE: This shoot has been featured on Planning for Paradise!
Vendors:
Photo - Erika Mattingly Photography
Model - Anna Deblecourt
Makeup - Amelia C & Co
Hair - Sarah Viktoria
Gown - Mignonette Bridal
Calligraphy - CharmCat
Florist - Gromeza Designs
Wedding Inspiration comes in many forms, and often in the unlikeliest of places. When I met with Abby of Heirloom Event Co. to dream up a new form of inspiration, we knew they wanted a location that was unexpected and captivating. City Methodist Church of Gary, IN was the perfect setting for this unique shoot. These cathedral building ruins, echoing with the love stories of the many couples who had passed through its altar, now stand in crumbling decay covering the beauty just beneath the surface.
Planning in unusual locations can be a challenge and this inspiration was not short on challenges. Abby did an incredible job of finding the balance between the soft and delicate details of a wedding day with an urban location, all while creating the intimate feeling of a wedding. Couples looking for unique settings for portraits or elopement ceremonies can look beyond the traditional venues and reimagine even the most unlikely of spaces.
This inspirational wedding shoot is was filled with so many incredible and breathtaking details. Be sure to see below for the full list of this creative team that made this shoot possible.
UPDATE: This shoot was recently published in Green Wedding Shoes & WeddingDay Magazine!
Video by Brandon Mattingly (aka my husband)
Creative Team:
Photography - Erika Mattingly Photography
Event Planning & Design - Heirloom Event Co.
Invitations - Four Hats Press
Florals - Fleur, Inc.
Furniture Rentals - Strangelovely
Dress - Alyssa Kristin
Menswear - Richards Fabulous Finds
Hair/Makeup - Bianca Sansosti Artistry
Cake/Sweets - Sweet Melissa Desserts
Jewelry - Katie Carder Fine Jewelry
Videography - Brandon Mattingly
Venue - City Methodist Church, Gary IN
Earlier this year I flew out to Georgia to meet with Christine and Tom to capture their elopement. I had never met them before but after we went out to dinner for my first night in town, I felt I had known them for years. I caught on to Tom's sense of humor rather quickly, and Christine and I bonded instantly over our love of Grey's Anatomy and mystery podcasts. They are both into creative writing so they even bought me some good reads as a thank you! They are truly some of the kindest and most thoughtful people I've gotten to know through my photography business.
The next morning they went to the courthouse to legally tie the knot and then that afternoon they decided to have a more intimate ceremony with just the two of them, their good friend and their sweet pup, Molly. Molly also served as their ring bearer and she was the most adorable ring bearer I've seen. Christine and Tom eloped in Amerson River Park in Macon, Georgia. They exchanged their vows just as the sun was setting and all the Fall colors created such a gorgeous backdrop. Christine wore a dress from ASOS and flower crown from Mulberry Weddings & Events, and Tom wore a suit from Hagger with an awesome handmade tie from QP Collections. With these gorgeous details, the beauty of Amerson River Park, their personal vows, their adorable pup, and the clear love and passion these two have for one another, their day was beautifully simple, meaningful and love-filled. So thankful to have been apart of it all.
UPDATE: This elopement has been featured on Borrowed & Blue!
