chicago wedding photography Archives - Emily Gualdoni Photography

November 24, 2014November 24, 2014

Beach Wedding In Santa Monica | Christina + Anouh | Destination Wedding Photographer

Early this November I did a beach wedding in Santa Monica, a complete dream come true. California gave us a beautiful day to celebrate Christina and Anouh’s wedding. Get a glimpse of the event with this Video Montage.

Christina and Anouh have incredible chemistry. You only need to take a quick glance at them to know they’re utterly and unbelievably in love. It helped that I knew a lot about them as Christina and I are actually old childhood friends. I hadn’t seen her in 10 years until her wedding, and it was a a really fun way to have a small reunion. Several of our other grade school friends were there as well. It was so nice to see everyone! You can see an image of us all the way at the end of this blog post.

They rented a house to get ready in (and for the couple to stay in of course) to give us a nice homey start to the day. When we made our way over to the venue, Annenberg Community Beach House providing us a gorgeous backdrop for such a meaningful affair. The sun shone down on a stunning porch ceremony followed by a reception in the Beach House. As great as the location was, nothing could compare to the atmosphere created by the couple and their families and friends. They were an incredibly welcoming group with a ton of energy, you could feel the love in the air!

I couldn’t be happier for Christina and Anouh, they deserve the best and I think they got it on their special day. Please scroll down to see some of the images from their beautiful California wedding, or go back to the top of this blog post to see even more images wrapped into a video.

Thanks Vanessa Knapp for second shooting and doing a wonderful job!

Here were are! 6 old friends from grammar school days.

Of course we had to rent a convertible when we were out in California. (That’s the only way to do it) Having the car allowed us to really explore the area. Without any set plans, Vanessa and I ventured over to Venice Beach, Santa Monica, the Hollywood sign, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Mulholland Drive and even took the convertible down to San Diego for a day. We created memories that I will never forget. Below are some quick snapshots that I took with my Iphone.

Here’s me in our hot ride (mustang convertible) . . . .

Amazing views at sunset on Mulholland Drive

Our hotel was in Venice Beach and the first day we took a walk along the boardwalk and pier. This shot took took me several attempts of sneaking up on random seagulls and trying to capture the perfect moment of them taking off. It was a pretty funny sight to see.

Watching these surfers in Venice Beach was quite inspiring and makes me really want to try it sometime. When I took this photo of people enjoying the sunshine, it was snowing for the first time back in Chicago.

Here is Vanessa and I at Venice Beach. She was my second photographer for the trip as well as a good friend of mine.

We spent a day in Hollywood and checked out the sign as well as randomly finding this observatory that overlooked the whole city.

Vanessa and I both had never been to San Diego but have heard wonderful things so we spent an entire day driving south and experiencing it for ourselves. With the help of my friends from social media, we checked out all the places that they suggested and loved it.

The last day we were in California we rented a tandem bike and rode it along the Venice Beach boardwalk down to the Santa Monica Pier. We only wiped out once. . maybe 🙂

As I am typing this, it’s 30 degrees and snowing in Chicago. Can I go back to this happy place, please???

November 14, 2014November 14, 2014

Beautiful Fall Wedding | Melissa + Josh | Chicago Wedding Photography

fall wedding photography at mickey finns in libertyville photo

I had the pleasure of shooting a beautiful fall wedding with a brewery reception at Mickey Finn’s. Melissa and Josh are parents and have a lot of responsiblity taking care of their son but that didn’t stop them from hosting an incredibly laid back, lively, and exiting event. From the very beginning of the ceremony the tone was set as effortlessly elegant, and that vibe carried on all night to create a really lovely evening.
Melissa and Josh met during their first year at the University of Toledo. As their love grew, so did their family. Both are lovers of art and love to relax with some wine and craft beer. Their family started with their dog, Oliver, and if you ask any of their close friends they will call Oliver Melissa and Josh’s first child. Harrison entered the picture less than a year before the wedding, and they have all been the perfect example of a happy, responsible, and even outgoing family since. They surrounded by an incredibly close and supportive group of family and friends. One of the highlights for the wedding for me as a photographer was to be trusted with the task of including everyone in attendance at the reception in one photo. The shot was really important to them, and I was happy to oblige, standing on the bar to make sure I could get the whole room in the frame.

I was also really excited to learn about the sentimental jewelry involved in the celebration. Melissa’s pearls were once her grandmother’s and every woman in her family has worth them for their weddings. Josh’s ring was also his father’s. It no longer fit him, so he was excited to pass it down a generation to Josh.

There wasn’t a single person in attendance who didn’t enjoy themselves, and I think it’s obvious in all of the photos. Infectious smiles were everywhere. (With the exception of people making jokes about missing the season premier of the, “The Walking Dead” to be at the wedding. It was ironic because it’s the couple’s favorite television series. Take a look below for a selection of pictures from the event.

Thanks Kaitlyn Polles for second shooting!

November 8, 2014November 8, 2014

Destination Wedding in Canada | Julie + Dan | Chicago Wedding Photographer

chicago destination photographer canada vintage farm photo

Part of the reason why I love my job so much is that it brings me amazing and unique opportunities when I least expect it. This destination wedding in Canada was fairly impromptu. I had visited my friend in Calgary a month prior to this wedding. While I was there, my friend started talking to me about how she wanted to gather money from the wedding party to fly me back up in a month to photograph their friend’s wedding on a Vegan farm. I would be their gift to their friend. Shortly later, I got a call that they were able to gather enough money to fund their gift idea.

I flew into Calgary and stayed with my friend for a night, from there we ventured off on an eight hour drive towards Vancuver. On the way we stopped at a modern hostel. I felt like I was staying in a dorm room again. None the less, it was fun and a new experience for me. I also started noticing how much nicer people are there compared to some in Chicago.

We arrived to Little Creek Farm the next day where the couple was hosting all the festivities. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, the farm overlooked the mountains and was located right next to a giant lake. I spent three great days with this couple and their loving family and friends, while capturing every bit of it.

I camped next to the lake while I stayed at the farm, it was quite the experience. It isn’t too often that I get to look at mountains.

Below you will see photos that I took at Julie and Dan’s rehearsal as well as their wedding. Julie and Dan were such an amazing couple. I met them the day of the rehearsal and cried the following day during their ceremony because I was so touched by them. Their wedding also inspired me on how I would want my wedding to be in the future. Everything was laid back, creative and focused on the interactions of people not materialistic things. You can see that everyone just enjoyed themselves so much that weekend. I am so thankful I was able to have the opportunity to experience all of this!

Venue: Little Creek Farm
Dress designer: Leanne Marshall
Beaded shawl: BHLDN
Groomsmen ties/bowties: Pomp & Ceremony
Metal Arts: Amber Denison

http://youtu.be/qgJNFIuXA8c T

The above photo was Dan’s first keg stand. Let’s just say he wasn’t very successful at doing it.

The last full day we were at the farm, we were able to enjoy a speedy boat ride along the lake. It also gave me an opportunity to get to know the these gals a bit better. And I must say that this saying is very true, “You never work a day in your life if you love what you do.”

May 8, 2014May 20, 2014

Beautiful Bridal Shoot at the Palmer House | Chicago Wedding Photographer

chicago wedding photography palmer house photo

Bridal Editorials and Bridal Fashion play a huge role in both the wedding and photography industry. Here in Chicago there is a strong bridal culture, and therefore Chicago Bridal Photography is always breaking barriers and capturing the most pure and wonderful essence of beauty. With a superstar team, we shot both in my studio and at the Palmer House here in downtown Chicago. Back in the studio, I played with several different lighting arrangements before I found what I liked. Wedding dresses, being so light in color, offer so many opportunities for lighting. When you get to do a bridal fashion shoot, you really get to play with this more than you would during an actual wedding. Here I have full control over the light, opposed to being out and about and trying not to interfere with the couple’s event. I even incorporated a few props like feathers to frame the model and soften the image in a slightly mysterious way. Over at the Palmer House, we shot in several rooms throughout the hotel. Each setting worked to set the scene like something straight out of a Bride-to-be’s dream. We got to use a suite for all of our prep. We transformed it into a studio complete with a full line of dresses and a makeup station to rival the one in my studio. The dresses came from several different places; Ersa Athelier, Egardo Bonilla, Rafael Cennamo, Dimitra’s Bridal, and Stephen Yearick. Some of them were fresh off the runway, and we were the first people who had the chance to work with them.

The model that day was Lindsey Kane, a Ford model. The whole team was a collection of pure talent, and we came together like a well oiled machine. It was a pleasure to work with everyone, and due to our chemistry we were able to successfully channel all of the beauty and glamor that the Palmer House itself is famously expressing.

Team:

Photos:

April 17, 2014April 24, 2014

Wedding in Dominican Republic | Heather + Garret | Destination Wedding Photographer

destination wedding puntacana dominicanrepublic photography heather garret

I absolutely love photographing weddings in foreign places, it’s definitely a perk of being a destination wedding photographer. This time around I had the opportunity to photograph a wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Last year, I photographed Heather and Garret’s wedding. It happened in two amazing phases; the ceremony and 1st reception took place in beautiful Punta Cana. The second reception took place in Chicago, that way family and friends who didn’t have the chance to travel could still celebrate with them. It was a great idea, and they are such a fun couple! Naturally, it all turned out perfectly.
Down in the DR, my assistant and I got to know the couple pretty well. Early into the trip we learned some latin dancing (salsa, the merengue, and the cha cha too!) and went out dancing with them later that night. Garret and I even ended up bonding over how much we liked metal. They truly wanted Vanessa, my assistant and I to have a good time and made us feel comfortable with being there.
The wedding took place on the beachfront, I had never actually shot a wedding in the sand before. Both the bridal party and us photographers were barefoot, and I have to say, barefoot weddings are a lot of fun. The whole time we were engaging with our environment. The hotel itself was something out of a fairy tale. There was amazing scenery, the gorgeous ocean, vibrant plant life, and seafood to die for. During the reception there was even a fire dancing show.
The second phase of the reception was held in a lovely loft space in the South Loop of Chicago at Room 1520. We went around the city beforehand taking photos in locations that had sentimental value for Heather and Garret before heading back to the party. We spent a good amount of time during those wedding portraits visiting the Kinzie bridge, and the riverfront. The fact that the actual wedding had already happened seem to take a lot of stress out of the event (for the couple and attendees alike). A surprise addition to that night came in the form of hockey. All of this was happening the night the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2013. Heather and Garret are pretty big hawks fans, they had a whole cake dedicated to them with their logo on it. It was cut just after the announcement of their win.
I had a great time at both weddings, and I can’t say enough about how great this couple was to work with. Heather and Garret, I wish you the happiest future! Scroll down for some of the photos from both events.