Oak Park IL Wedding at the Cheney Mansion | Chicago Intimate Wedding Photographer
Timing is a funny thing. In fact, we tend to romanticize the notion of timing. And while I don’t think it’s always the case, every once in a while a story comes along that reminds us why that’s ok. Some stories are so lovely that they could become captivating screenplays. This Chicago wedding was one of those love stories for me.
Read Alex and Stephen’s love story featured in The New York Times!
Because the stars aligned for Alex and Stephen’s Chicago wedding to come to be.
They met way back in 2016 while working as math tutors. They were coworkers for seven months before fate struck and they were placed on a project together. While creating math games for their students, they formed a beautiful friendship.
But this wasn’t perfect timing. Alex and Stephen were both working on their degrees and Alex left for the University of Michigan where she received her Master’s Degree. And at this time, their friendship was just that: a friendship.
But that was all set to change for them soon.
They reconnected in February of 2018. Alex sent a text message to Stephen when she realized how much she missed talking to him. He replied right away and that was the beginning of their perfect timing.
It was only a month later that they celebrated Stephen’s birthday by visiting the Alder Planetarium. Here they held hands under the stars, and the rest of their story unfolded.
In July of 2018, Alex moved back to Chicago and they fell comfortably into each other’s lives.
As if they were always meant to.
They took all the usual relationship steps. They moved in together, met their respective families, and built a life together that they loved very much. So it came as no surprise when in March of 2021, Stephen asked Alex to be his bride, and a step-mom to his kids, while they took a relaxing bubble bath. She said YES and they started planning their Chicago wedding for the following year!
On April 9th of 2022, Alex and Stephen became husband and wife before their 125 guests at Cheney Mansion in Oak Park Illinois. Their elegant black-and-white-themed wedding was a lovely way of acknowledging their two worlds coming together to form something beautiful.
They also had a sprinkling of the stars in their theme as a nod to their first date at the Alder Planetarium. In fact, the seven groomsmen and one groomswoman each wore cuff links that represented a different planet. All of their wedding details were so carefully thought out and executed so well. It was an honor to be there to capture each moment.
I love being a witness to lives coming together to create a new family unit and helping document their story.
The magic in these moments fuels me and inspires me to keep believing in all the good in the world.
It’s love. Love is the good in the world.
Chicago Wedding Vendors:
Bride’s Dress: Diana’s Bridal - Skokie, IL
Dress Designer: Essence of Australia
Wedding Party Dresses: Dear Cleo, made of recycled yarn
Wedding Party Suits: Vera Wang
Hair/Makeup: Pin Me Up Chicago
Florist: Tulipia Floral - Oak Park IL
Caterer: Maya Del Sol
Bakery: Oak Park Bakery
DJ: DJ Prince
Officiant: Lo of LEAUXGO
“Andrea is THE BEST! She did our engagement photos and our wedding pictures and we couldn’t be more thrilled with everything!
Andrea was so easy to work with and made sure that our day truly captured us. Andrea brings such positive vibes to the sessions and was empathetic to those who don’t normally like taking pictures (like Stephen). We wanted someone who was laid back like us and someone whose photography style was natural yet timeless and Andrea was perfect! She’s super efficient so the whole evening was not taken up by pictures, and very organized so we made sure to get everything in.
We wouldn’t have chosen to work with anyone else and are in love with our beautiful wedding photos!”
