PAULINA + DAN SUMMER WEDDING AT ELIZABETH F CHENEY MANSION

The Love Story

In the midst of the longest day of the year, and by many accounts, the longest year of their lives, a man and a woman agreed to take a walk. It was June 20th, 2020. The summer solstice. They had matched on Bumble the night prior and exchanged their first message that morning. He sat settled on the couch in a greystone apartment planted in the Northeast corner of Lincoln Park. She had just stepped out on an early afternoon stroll through the vibrant East Lakeview neighborhood.

Compelled to see each other right away, they began to explore the when, where, and how in a city restricted by the pandemic. “BYOB walk?” he offered. “Sure! I’m actually out on a walk now. Do you want to meet up?” she replied. “Definitely. I’m at Clark & Wrightwood” he said, “Where are you?” She messaged, “I’m not too far, heading that way actually near Broadway & Diversey”. It was set in motion. The two would go on to meet each other for the first time in front of Target. Shortly thereafter, they sat curbside and filled their water bottles with booze. Dan went with a Half Acre brew, Paulina with the finest of canned wines. And it was there that they began their first of many walks together.

Cheney Mansion Summer Wedding

On a lovely day in July, I was lucky enough to capture Paulina and Dan’s love filled wedding at Cheney Mansion in Oak Park.

Paulina and Dan married at St Vincent DePaul Church in Chicago. Following the ceremony, the couple and their wedding party loaded onto a trolley to hit up some of the top wedding portrait locations in Chicago. We started at the Iconic Lincoln Park, hitting up the Honeycomb and the perfect skyline view on the bridge at the South Pond. We then hit up Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool before heading to Cheney Mansion in Oak Park to take more portraits before the intimate reception.

One of my favorite things about this venue is the variety of stunning photo locations (have you seen that staircase?!). The elegant, distinctive and timeless venue also features a ballroom, formal dining rooms, sitting rooms, a library, and separate bride and groom preparatory rooms. The mansion provides the perfect setting for a wedding and reception. The couple decided to share private vows in the garden before the wedding reception. As a Chicago wedding photographer specializing in weddings and engagements with a modern and candid style. This wedding was a dream come true filled with lots of emotion and romantic moments.