Have you ever felt like you were in a fairytale? That is exactly how we felt all day with Shantella and James, and it was a dream come true! We knew we would be in love with their day because we had such an amazing time with them during their engagement session the year before. If you want to obsess over them with us, you can view those photos HERE


Their day started off bright and early in their respective getting ready locations, which we thought was so sweet because they did not want to see each other until their first look. We love this part of the day because it’s when all the little details come together. What’s great about having the both of us there is that we can be in two separate places and never miss these important moments.


For their first look, Shantella and James chose the prettiest location to match their fairytale-like day. We all met at the Bahá’í Temple in Wilmette for the special moment. The beautiful architecture and perfect weather made it super easy for us and the bridal party to tear up when they saw each other for the first time. Shantella and James are the sweetest people and you could tell in that moment just how happy and in love they are. We still smile like crazy just thinking about it. 


The rest of the day flowed so seamlessly, which we welcomed with a sigh of relief because we had a good number of locations to visit throughout their day. They shared a beautiful blessing and ceremony with their families and friends and then we headed off to one of our favorite parts, the first portraits as Mr. & Mrs. This is a favorite because all of the butterflies from the earlier parts of the day are gone leaving them more relaxed. Typically this is when they realize how hungry they are, and dinner sure was a topic of conversation during their portraits. We found a field of beautiful yellow flowers and knew that was our spot to capture these lovebirds before celebrating at their reception. Some of our favorite wedding portraits have come from this part of their day, and wouldn’t you agree?!


We cannot say thank you enough to Shantella and James for trusting us to be a part of their day. It was so magical and we think about it all the time. It was also such a humbling experience because in the planning stages and throughout their day, they put their full faith in us and trusted our judgement. Their easy-going personalities made it so simple for us to worry about all the details while they were able to focus on their love for one another. We absolutely love Shantella and James and we cannot wait to keep watching their love grow.

Hair & Makeup: Sylwia Murphy

Dress & Veil: Allure Bridals from Diana’s Bridal 

First Look: Bahá'í Temple, Wilmette, IL

Church: St. John Brebeuf Church, Niles, IL

Wedding Portraits: Gallery Park, Glenview, IL

Reception: European Crystal Banquets, Arlington Heights, IL