A great engagement session is a lot like a great relationship: sweet, multifaceted, and a little adventurous. Jen and Matt’s downtown Chicago engagement session captured by Giving Tree Photography included all of the above, plus a sparkly gold dress as an added bonus. The head-over-heels in love couple started at the beach where they played in the sand before heading to the gardens at the Chicago Art Institute. To finish up their day, Jen and Matt got all gussied up in black and gold for the most delightfully glamorous images we’ve seen.
A special thanks to Giving Tree Photography for sharing this sweet glimpse into Jen and Matt’s relationship! Stay tuned because we’ll be sharing their big day soon. For more downtown Chicago engagement inspiration, check out Calli and Kidd’s cool Chicago engagement session.
There is just something about a New Zealand wedding that gets our hearts racing. Emma and Keith’s epic celebration has all of the key elements: extraordinary landscape, exquisite bridal fashion, and phenomenal portraits by Jim Pollard goes click. The adventurous couple took their guests on a ferry ride to their homestead venue where they exchanged vows in a beautiful, intimate outdoor ceremony. On blankets, overlooking the bright blue water and mountaintops in the distance, the newlyweds shared a toast with their wedding party before heading into the mountains for a thrilling photo session in the wind.
We didn’t really have a theme, but we were inspired by the natural beauty of that region of New Zealand. The flowers were primarily NZ natives in green and touches of white. The bridesmaids all wore ivory dresses. The groomsmen wore grey suits.
We love the outdoors so we had the ceremony outside on the lawn with a great view of the gardens, the homestead and the ranges behind us. The reception was held just a few steps away inside the homestead. We liked the fact that the venue was a working farm station so our nieces and nephews could explore a little. The transport to Walter Peak Station was by an old coal-fired steamship, the TSS Earnslaw.
To capture some more of the surrounding beauty, we had organised a helicopter to fly us up to the top of the ranges behind the ceremony and reception venue. We didn’t know where would be good to go, so we had our photographer (in discussion with Phil, our pilot) decide for us.
The Moments:
We really can’t pick one moment. The whole day was so much fun!!!
The Couple Recommends:
All our service providers were truly amazing and I could talk about the effort each of them provided. But I really would like to say a special thanks to Josie (from Real Journeys) and Jim Pollard (from Jim Pollard goes click) for all their help in the lead up to, on, and after the big day. They both went above and beyond. Jim ensured we remembered to bring pocket/hand warmers in anticipation for the cold up the mountains, kept everyone to the schedule for the day, made sure I didn’t get flustered with the everyday tourists that were present at the venue, and STILL got amazing photos. And Josie wasn’t officially our wedding planner but in reality she pretty much played this role anyway. She planned most of our day. She took us us on a trip over to the venue earlier that year to see the venue, sample our choices for the menu and wines, suggested a run schedule with insight into how much time each part of the day would likely take, organised getting everything to the venue and back (access was by 30 min ferry ride or boat across the lake), organised set up at the venue by the venue staff without any supervision from me, and much more.
A massive thanks to Jim Pollard goes click for sharing Emma and Keith’s epic New Zealand wedding with Junebug! Did you fall in love with Jim Pollard’s photography like we did? Check out Nicole and Trent’s mountaintop wedding in New Zealand.
Lauren and Cole’s cozy forest wedding took place at Rockmill Brewery where their closest friends and family gathered to celebrate their love with glasses of beer and warm blankets. Adam Lowe Photography brilliantly captured the essence of the day, which perfectly reflected Lauren and Cole’s relaxed and romantic relationship. We love Cole’s cool-weather groom style and Lauren’s darling take on a partial-flower crown.
Rockmill Brewery, with its rustic tasting room, tiny outdoor chapel, and pond with a canoe, was perfect for us. We were married on a chilly October evening at the bottom of a hill beside the chapel, surrounded by our closest friends and family. The trees around us were flooded with shades of red and orange that continued into the night by the bonfire. We wanted our day to be a reflection of us, warm and relaxed.
The Moments:
Right after we were pronounced husband and wife, we jumped in a golf cart and rode back up the hill. We stood at the top and watched our family and friends walk up towards us. Everyone had huge smiles (despite the fact that it started to rain a little during the ceremony). Just having that moment to ourselves and seeing everyone we loved so happy was very special. I had a couple friends tell me before the wedding to take a minute, step back, and look at everyone that came to celebrate just for the two of you. It is certainly advice I would have for future bride and grooms on their wedding day.
The Couple Recommends:
Our photographer, Adam Lowe, was fantastic. We had so much fun shooting with him on our wedding day. It was so relaxed and even though it was raining a little and cold, we had a blast! Gretel and her team from Sunny Meadows Flower Farm did a wonderful job with all of the florals. I was blown away when I saw my bridal bouquet. She really took the time to figure out what I wanted and incorporated hops into everything to keep with the brewery theme! Also, James, from Ray Ray’s gave us some the best food ever on our wedding day. He brought his smoker and filled the air with wonderful smells all day. Plus, who doesn’t want to eat barbeque in fancy clothes?
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