Caiti and Mark’s Beautiful DIY Wedding

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Hi EAD readers! Firstly, I wanted to start my first post by giving a big thank you to Ami and Rebekah for allowing me to be a guest blogger. I am so very excited to share some of my weddings with you and also offer some tips and suggestions that will hopefully make your wedding photography experience a joy (as it should be!).

I will be photographing weddings in several states across the country this year, but I am primarily a Chicago wedding photographer. I’ve been so lucky to be able to work with, knock on wood, only truly lovely, authentic, beautiful and creative couples, so for my first post, I thought I would share a wedding from this fall that possessed so many of these “dream client” characteristics.

Caiti and Mark had a wonderful Sunday afternoon celebration this fall at the Byron Colby Barn, a cute and special space about an hour outside of Chicago. The day was very much focused on the love and relationship of Mark and Caiti, as well as their friends and family, and incorporated many slightly non-traditional touches that really made it feel just like them. Caiti is an incredibly talented graphic designer and designed all of the amazing print pieces for the day.

Caiti let her bridesmaids choose a black dress and gave them a red scarf to accessorize. It was very neat, as each woman chose to wear hers in a slightly different way.

Mark and Caiti did a “first look” before the ceremony so we could take some photographs. I am always so thrilled when clients do this as it seems to make the rest of the day a bit more relaxed and leaves the couple able to focus on having a good time. And with reactions like these, you can still have a wonderful “reveal” even if it’s not at the altar.

So sweet.

On the way to the venue, I saw cornfields and decided we needed to take photos there. Mark’s best man jumped into a car and drove us down the road for about five minutes where we were able to get these photographs.

More of Caiti’s beautiful work with gorgeous flowers in mason jars.

Mark and Caiti walked down the aisle together, which was very special.

They had a very emotional and beautiful ceremony officiated by the wonderful Rev. Terry Brady.

The barn interior looked so effortlessly chic!

The favour was Mark’s family’s secret spice rub. Provided in individual beakers, the papers told the history of the mix and also provided a recipe.

This was probably one of my favourite ideas I saw all year. Instead of kissing when guests “clinked” glasses, Mark and Caiti set up a donation box for the Humane Society at their table. When a donation was made, a kiss was given!