Seven Bridges Golf Club, Woodridge, IL Wedding Photography | Bryan & Hillary
Seven Bridges Golf Club, Woodridge, IL Wedding Photography
Weddings have been understandably difficult to plan this year, and I’m so happy for Bryan and Hillary that they were able to have a wedding as close to what they originally planned as possible. Knowing that their day was almost what they had envisioned was a bright spot in this strange and uncertain season. I’ve truly loved the change of pace with the intimate elopement-style weddings I’ve photographed this year, but photographing a traditional intimate wedding made me feel the most normal I’ve felt in the past 7 months…even in spite of the face mask!
Here are my hard-to-narrow-down favorites from their day, along with some details provided by Hillary!
See their engagement session HERE!
Hair: Melissa Lulik with Untamed Stylists
Makeup: Kelsey Altmann with To have and to Glow
Florist: Walden Floral
Wedding Dress & Tuxes: From Wolsfelt’s
Shoes: Kailee P Inc & Keds
Bridesmaid's Dresses: David’s Bridal
Ceremony, & Reception: Seven Bridges Gold Club
Cake: DeEtta’s Bakery
DJ: Tone Productions
Transportation: Windy City Limousine
Guy’s Getting Ready Site: Hyatt Regency Lisle
Second Photographer: Jeanne Sherman
How they met:
We got set up for a wedding! I was standing up in a wedding and was going to go stag. My matron of honor told me I should bring Bryan and set us up. We had a blast at the wedding and started dating after that.
The Dress:
I had some ideas of what I liked from good ole Pinterest. I went in with what I thought I wanted, but told the stylist I was open to trying other things as well because you always hear people leaving with the opposite of what they wanted. I’m glad I did! It was what I wanted in some ways, strapless and lace, and not at all what I thought in others, big and ball gown like!
How they got engaged:
Bryan and I were supposed to go to the zoo and then to dinner for his birthday. His mom and step dad were set to come with us. They have an annual membership and said there was an event for members to feed some of the animals. Bryan faked that he got called into work, but said he would be home for dinner. He ended up surprising me at the giraffe exhibit (my favorite) and proposed!
The Guy’s Details:
The groomsmen had airplane socks. We thought this would be a fun touch since Bryan is a pilot.
The Bridesmaid’s Dresses:
For the bridesmaid’s dresses I knew I wanted all the same color, but let the girls decide on style. It was a long day and I wanted them to be comfortable!
The Venue:
The venue we got married at is the same venue as the wedding we were set up for!
The Ceremony:
For the ceremony my brother walked a photo of our mom down the aisle and I placed a rose when I got to her. We lost her to cancer almost 5 years ago. This had her right where she should be, at the ceremony with us. I know she was there in spirit, but this allowed her to be there physically in a way. A comical part, was Bryan’s fingers were swollen during the ceremony and I really struggled to get the ring on his finger. I got it eventually and made for a good laugh!
The Reception Decor:
Drapessss!!! From the beginning the drapes and lights were important to me. The venue had brown drapery otherwise. The venue had a company they worked with to put up other drapery and hang lights from the ceiling if you wanted. The drapery and lights were absolutely beautiful! The decor otherwise was kept fairly simple. Throughout the whole process I kept in mind what was going to be remembered. Things like the drapes would be because it would be in photos. The tiny details or extravagant center pieces wouldn’t be. At the end of the day the day is to be married and celebrate with family! The decor wasn’t a huge priority.
The Party:
The reception was wonderful!! I think we had the perfect amount of people. We were able to have those closest to us and talk with them but still enjoy our night. Bryan was able to hang out with friends and family he doesn’t get to see often and I was able to dance with cousins I don’t see often and my bridesmaids!
The Photographer:
Chrissy is wonderful! She has done so many weddings and family sessions for friends that it was a no brainer! Her photos are always stunning and from the moment planning started I knew I wanted her to be the photographer.
The Ring:
The engagement ring was my mother’s ring melted into a new setting and her engagement stone incorporated into the setting. The earrings I wore that day are also my mother’s.
Anything you would have changed:
Absolutely not!! I can’t adequately put to words just how amazing it all was. The day was a dream. Better than a dream. Not because of the decor or the DJ or any of the “material” parts, but the feeling of all those closest to you that love you and support you in one room, during a pandemic, is just amazing. We are truly so lucky for the friends and family we have.
Advice for couples planning their wedding:
Bigger is not better! It is easy to get caught up in the, “we should invite .... because we invited ....” or the wedding industry crazy of making your wedding the party of the year. Your wedding is not about anyone other than you and your fiancé! It’s about your love and your marriage. It seems like all this stuff matters as you plan and it doesn’t. You won’t remember any of it. Walking down the aisle I couldn’t tell you what song was playing, I didn’t hear a word of it. I was so focused on my groom at the end of the aisle and so excited to marry him! That is what the day is about!
If you are planning during COVID, embrace the crazy! Don’t fight it, don’t try to ignore it. It’s there and it’s frustrating, but this is our reality. Embracing it, having some fun with it, getting a little creative and moving on will help you keep your sanity during the planning process. You want a bubble exit? Find bubble guns at Target! You got this. Keep pushing.
The Honeymoon:
We are hoping to go to Rivera Maya in January. We will see if we can with COVID. Bryan will have just gotten home from his deployment and it will be cold in Chicago (Bryan is currently deployed in Washington DC with the National Guard and has been for the past year). We are hoping to get away for some good quality time together to just relax and relish being newlyweds!
