Some of the weddings I shoot are big and loud. This one was simple, sweet, almost innocent, but definitely full of meaning—and honestly, I love weddings like that.
I woke up, dropped my kids off to school, and headed over to photograph Adalys and her bridesmaids in the Hermosa neighborhood of Chicago. I was stoked to work on photographing another wedding with my bro, PRO wedding photographer & videographer, Jonathan Palomo (@bag_of_roks). At her parent’s house, another long-time friend, makeup artist & beautician Robs Pecego, was hard at work, getting the bride and her mother ready for Adalys’ big day. I was greeted with cafe con leche and knew it was gonna be a great day.
BTS of the artist at work, making Adalys SPARKLE for her big day!
Alex and Adalys were getting married at Belmont Assembly, the church Adalys grew up in, and from the start, you could feel it wasn’t about putting on a show. It was about honoring God and stepping into this new season the right way. It was fun meeting the Rivera family while also getting to hang with the Crespo’s as I have done many times before.
Right after the ceremony, we packed up our tripods, off-camera flashes, cameras, and got ready to head over to Garfield Park with our permits. As we were packing the car, I noticed Alex & Adalys walking over to hit Dog Stop and share a bag of fries—so I grabbed my ALWAYS ON 50mm lens and snagged a few shots of them grabbing a snack! No wrinkle in the timeline, no stress, just two newlyweds enjoying their first moments together as husband and wife.
One 45 minute drive later, we’re taking a walk through Garfield Park Conservatory, snapping photos with that first bit of Spring light coming through the glass. The humidity in the Fern Room had us sweating as we got some cool shots of the beautiful couple in a wonderful venue. The clock ran out and it was time to head to the reception!
My take on the iconic “Long Fern Room Shot.”
We wrapped the night at Biaggio’s on the north side. The venue was very accommodating for us, as we packed one of the empty bars with our photo and video gear. Usually dark wooden rooms are a nightmare for photographers, but I was pleasantly surprised with the plentiful lighting and furnishings. I set up my off-camera flashes, aiming at the sweetheart table, and shot the night away. Before we knew it, we were sending the couple off to their honeymoon with sparklers into their getaway car.
12 hours flew by and I am blessed to have been a part of it.
