Hotel Arista, Naperville, IL Wedding Photographer | Brian & Debbie

Hotel Arista, Naperville, IL Wedding Photographer

Oh my goodness, I’m so excited to share this wedding with you all! My husband, Seth, has known Brian for a VERY long time (like, 15+ years I think?!?), so when Brian contacted me last year to photograph his April 2022 wedding, the first thing Seth said was, “I’m photographing that wedding with you!” Seth photographed Brian’s sister Bridget’s wedding with me almost 10 years ago, so it felt right to pull him out of his semi-permanent retirement for Brian’s day.

Brian and his family are the kind of deeply caring people you just can’t help but have a good time around, so Seth and I knew that anyone he married would be a gem. Meeting Debbie on their wedding day and spending just a short amount of time with her proved that to be true. Their vows were some of the most moving I’ve heard in my 12 years and what really stuck out to me was that they vowed to “listen to understand.” After being married for almost 18 years I can honestly say that’s one of the most important, and sometimes difficult, postures you can take going into a marriage (or any relationship). It was something I had never heard before during vows, and it brought tears to my eyes. What a joy and honor to document their day!

Here are some of my favorites from their day with some of their own thoughts included throughout.

Hair & Makeup: Diem Angie
Florist: Ivone Da Silva at Floral Events
Wedding Dress: Stella York from Amanda Ritchey Bridal
Bridesmaid's Dresses: Birdy Grey
Ceremony & Reception: Hotel Arista
Cake: The Cakery
DJ: Big Fish Music Productions

The Dress & Jewelry:
I visited a few boutiques without a specific style or silhouette of dress in mind, but found that I loved the dresses with intricate backs and lots of lace! This one fit the bill perfectly and it made me feel incredibly glamorous. Brian and I found my engagement ring on Etsy after a few trips of ring shopping at stores didn't prove fruitful, and I loved the idea of getting to support small businesses for the rest of my wedding jewelry! My bridesmaids had already gotten me an incredibly useful ring-holder necklace from a jeweler on Etsy, and I got my earrings and hair clip from Etsy as well!

The Suit:
I wanted an easy and classy choice for me and my groomsmen. Something anyone would look good in and could wear again if they needed. Dark navy suits fit that bill perfectly. Truthfully, I felt handsome. The tie clip, pocket square, and tweed vest added just enough pop that I felt classy, but not flashy.

How They Met:
December 2013- Debbie was home from college on winter break and Brian was at an awkward dinner so he found himself passing the time on Tinder. We matched, talked, had our first date seeing Frozen a few days after that. Even after winter break ended, Debbie and Brian continued to talk and/or Skype almost daily. A few months more of this and we acknowledged we were essentially dating long-distance, made it official! We worked through years of long-distance dating (including Naperville to Dekalb, Dekalb to Durham, DeKalb to Nashville, Knoxville to Nashville, and finally Knoxville to Baltimore) before we both made it to Baltimore. In November of 2020, we got engaged! We were having a conversation about what the rest of our lives were going to look like when Brian popped the question. We had discussed getting married many times before so it did not come as a surprise, but it was an incredibly special moment that felt true to our relationship and our personalities - no extra/unnecessary fanfare, down-to-earth, genuine, and heartfelt.

The Venue:
We chose Hotel Arista for both the ceremony and reception venue because of the ease of planning they offered and its location relative to our families. The convenience of having everything - decor, catering, reception, ceremony, and lodging - all in location allowed us to spend far less time on logistics of the event and far more time on getting to enjoy the day with our guests and each other.

The Ceremony:
The ceremony was short and sweet, exactly how we pictured it. Patrick McMillion (Brian's brother-in-law) officiated, which was special because he also officiated the wedding of Brian's brother Dave. The most meaningful part of the ceremony were our vows, or as we put them, our "guiding principals." We thought about what had made our relationship work through the years and adventures we'd been through.

The Reception Decor:
We were aiming for a simple and elegant vibe - nothing too over the top! We chose small centerpieces with candles, greenery and roses.

The Party:
SO MUCH FUN! the DJ did a great job matching the energy of the guests and there was never a moment when the dance floor was empty.

Advice for Couple Currently Wedding Planning:
Everything will go smoothly (even if it doesn't feel like it while you're planning)! Spend the day enjoying time with your friends, your family, and each other - everyone is there to celebrate you! Don't forget to set aside some time to eat