I really enjoy being a Ravisloe Wedding Photographer and was super excited for Katie and Mike’s romantic June wedding as I knew it was going to be EPIC! I started the day off with Katie and her family and bridesmaids at her beautiful parent’s home. Everything was perfect, soft metallic sparkly dresses for all the ladies, and a pleasant overcast afternoon for pictures. Katie got dressed with her Mother and Yiayia, her dad sneaking in for a peek of his beautiful daughter on the day of her wedding. Once dressed, we did some pictures outside with the Bridesmaid and family. Katie later told me that this was one of her favorite parts of the day. “Surrounded by my favorite ladies and family as I was getting ready to the nice quiet car ride to the church with my dad and sharing stories when I was a little girl.”
It’s always much more low key with the groom, and check out that adorable doggie in his little matching Tux. LOVE!
Before we knew it the time had come to depart for the wedding ceremony at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. I LOVE Greek Orthodox weddings, the churches are always beautiful and I think the traditions are so special. I particularly like the first steps the bride and groom take around the altar together. This was another favorite moment for Kaite. She told me these were the favorite parts of the ceremony for her. “The walk down the aisle as my dad gave me away to Mike and saying “I do”. The priest explained that the church service has a lot of elements, so he whispered to us when we were engaged and when we were married. Our mothers throwing flower petals on us as we took our first steps together as husband and wife.”
After the ceremony and some family portraits, it was time to depart for the party!! Petals were thrown for the second time at the happy couple and they were whisked away in the vintage Rolls-Royce. Katie said that she really enjoyed the time together alone in a nice breezy car ride on their way to Ravisloe Country Club.
As Ravisloe Country Club Wedding Photographer who has captured many weddings over the years at this hidden gem of the South Chicago Suburbs, I knew some great locations for a few pictures of the happy couple. We only had 20 minutes until it was time to get ready for the dinner party and celebration, so this came in handy as I knew some great locations close to the club for pictures! The architecture, floral and greenery are so pretty during the summer months at Ravisloe County Club! Given all the rain we had this past spring, everything was lush and full! Picture perfect!
WOW is an understatement at what the floral team at Monarch Florist and Events did to the dining room at Ravisloe Country Club. This was a fairytale romantic dream come true! It was such a surprise for Katie and Mike. Katie’s mother had orchestrated with Monarch to create a picture-perfect vision of class and romance for her only daughter’s wedding. Katie shared with me “I do regret not being more involved in the planning process, as I had left a majority of it up to my mom. But, I loved the element of surprise and knew everything would be exquisite.” It certainly was just that, exquisite!
Katie shared more of her favorite moments with me as she had so many. “Being announced as Mr. & Mrs. and seeing my dad tear up as we walked past him. Feeling accomplished that the 5 dance lessons we took paid off and didn’t do the high-school sway for it and enjoying our only bite of wedding cake that evening when we cut the cake together. I can go on and on”. In fact, she later said that “Literally, every minute of Saturday was my favorite part. The day was just that spectacular.”
My favorite parts of the wedding day, as it was hard there were so many great moments, would be the fact that I got to unleash my inner photojournalist and capture some fun pictures of so many great events. I had never seen a money dance like this. The brother of the bride had a “money gun” that launch dollar bills out in a fury of fun! I really enjoyed working with 27 Entertainment. Wade was very professional and fun, he helps orchestrate some of the fun events and really helped with announcing the final event for us, the sparkler send off. Shane and John were wonderful video team, easy to work with together as a team. I hope to work with 27 Entertainment again!! You can view the highlight of Katie and Mike’s wedding here!!
