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!

May 1, 2014May 20, 2014

City Love | Downtown Engagement Session | Chicago Engagement Photographer

downtown engagement session at kinzie bridge photo

Just last week I shot a downtown engagement session for Heidi and John in Chicago. It was a gorgeous day, one of the few warm ones we’ve been lucky to have so far this spring. They chose to do their photos downtown to act as nostalgic images to help them remember Chicago. Currently, Heidi is a teacher here, but she recently started working in New Jersey and she will be moving there with John after the wedding. In order to capture some of the most iconic locations, we jumped all around the city to visit places like Millennium Park and the Kinzie bridge. I always welcome the opportunity to shoot a couple so adorably in love as Heidi and John. They were radiating happiness the entire time we were out and about!

March 11, 2014

Trash the Dress Photos at an Abandoned Church in Gary Indiana | Brittany + Jim

gary indiana abandoned church trash the dress photo

This was my first time photographing in the famous abandoned church in Gary Indiana. One of my oldest friends, Brittany Bindrim got married! As I was part of the wedding, our friend Kirsten Miccoli shot the event. My wedding gift to her and her husband Jim was this incredible “trash the dress” session. Its always nice to add on to your wedding photos, and you have that opportunity to do that with a trash the dress shoot. Not only is it more fashion-photo based and focused solely on the couple, but you don’t have to worry about ruining your dress the whole time. Honestly, when are you going to wear that thing again? You’ll keep it forever of course, but its fun to go out into the world and fearlessly model it for an interesting set of photographs. Brittany’s dress was a great find. She found it at Laurel Bridal, a premier Chicago wedding boutique. As an artist herself, she chose one that really stood out, and not only was it a gorgeous addition to her gorgeous wedding by the dress’ black accents made it perfect for her trash the dress shoot in the somewhat gritty setting we chose that embodies the term “urban decay”.

The way Brittany and Jim met will always be a fun story. They both went to college at U of I, when Jim’s band Iscintilla was looking for a singer, that was the first place he started his search. Brittany found out about it and went to audition where they met for the first time. She made it into the band, and they are still both in it today. It’s played a big role in their lives, and the proof can be found through the tattoo on Brittany’s shoulder. It’s the band’s logo, and every member if Iscintilla has it. Brittany’s creative drive doesn’t stop there though, she is an independent illustrator and designer under her company; Black Dove Design Company.

While her actual wedding was held at the Zhou B Art Center, the church we held the shoot in is called the City Methodist church in Gary, Indiana. Its an abandoned church, originally built in the 20s. Its become an increasingly popular spot over the last few years for photographers and urban explorers alike. I found the setting to be an incredible spot, with a stage, debris, crazy stairs, and blown out windows, it was a sight to behold. That church gave me more than photographs too. That day I found a kitten wandering around, clearly alone. I ended up taking her home and adopting her! That kitten has grown into being my cat, Amelia. She is a total sweetheart and so curious about everything in the world. One of her favorite things to do is sit on the desk while I edit and watch the mouse move and make changes. I thought she might outgrow that, but continues to try and get between the screen and I all the time.

Here is the beautiful main room of the City Methodist abandoned church in Gary Indiana. This church is really a photographer’s dream, so many interesting views and rooms to capture.