Nicole and Kevin’s wedding is a day that I will never forget. It was really and truly unlike any day we’ve ever photographed. The day was full of so many awesome moments, unique traditions and great fun. I’ve been SO excited to share these with you 😀

First up, Nicole. 🙂 Now, I know I say this a lot… but it’s one of the few things that I get photog-zilla about… hire a makeup artist! It makes a huge difference in your photos. You see… even if you’re amazing at doing your own makeup… it may not photograph well. A good, experienced makeup artist knows exactly how to apply makeup best for photos. 😀 Okay, jumping off of my soapbox now. 😉 Back on topic… Nicole has some GORGEOUS BLUUUUUUE eyes!

Oh, and something that makes the morning go MUCH more smoothly… bring the hair and makeup to you. 😀 It cuts down on logistics and stress for all involved. • out of town bridesmaids don’t know the area and will probably get lost • making sure there’s enough room in each car for each person and all of their wedding day stuff loaded in • making time to eat • the bride not messing up her hair in transit • etc. etc. etc. Now, Nicole had a specific stylist that wasn’t available to come to the hotel… so, to keep things easy for her bridesmaids, she had her hair done at the salon while the bridesmaids were in the bridal suite getting all fixed up where she later joined to get her makeup done. SEEEE… GENIUS! 😀 

OHHHHH POLKA DOTTED DRESS I’M IN LOOOOOVE!!!! 😀 😀 😀 You see, Nicole’s mother and grandmother both wore polka dotted dresses for their weddings… so, it’s only right that Nicole did too 🙂 Look closely and see that perfectly tied square knot? Yeah… not to brag… but I’m kind of a square knot champion. 🙂 You can thank my military special forces Dad for that little piece of knowledge! 😉

Those bustle buttons were not easy to find. Mike’s favorite ❓

ARE YOU FLIPPING KIDDDDDDING ME WITH THIS GORGEOUSNESS?! Nicole, you really did have the perfect dress…. you look SO beautiful!

I love me a fun bridal party… and let me tell you… these girls are the definition of fun. Look it up in the dictionary… you’ll see 😉

….and not to mention…. RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING!

St st st stunnnnning!

….meanwhile….

ME LOVE ME SOME SYMMETRY!!!!!!!

While I may brag about my square knot tying abilities… they don’t hold a candle to Kevin’s double windsor tying skills. As I was editing through the photos… I called over to Mike… “Wow, Kevin spent a LONG time tying his tie. It seems like that’s all he did that morning!” Well… as I later found out, that WAS all he did that morning! That was because Kevin tied the ties for nearly every groomsne that morning. He’d tie it on himself then loosen it over his head…. and BADABOOM BADABING… a perfectly tied double windsor! 😀

…and finally able to tie his own 🙂

LOVED these groomsmen! Can’t you just tell they’re the perfect combination of orneriness and charm?! OHHH HELL YES THEY ARE! I’m a fan 🙂

WACKY BOBBI STRIKES AGAIN!

Then it was time… you know… to GET MARRIED BETTIES! That photo on the left… I think that was taken when the pastor referred to Nicole as “Denise”… D’OH! When the whole crowd busted out in laughter he realized his mistake. His repsonse, “Oh, that was last nights bride!”  We’re pretty sure the pastor brought the previous nights notes because their vows weren’t the right ones either. But, whatever… made for a funny story that we all laughed about later.  YOU’RE MARRIED! 🙂

Right after the ceremony… Nicole, Kevin, Mike and I took a 15 minute walk around the block… and photo’d what we saw 😀 Here’s another tip from me (I’m just a plethora of tidbits today!)… If you’ve chosen not to see each other before the ceremony… and you’ve taken your bridesmaids/groomsmen photos ahead of time… and you’re running short on time between the ceremony & reception for photos (which happens quite often)… grab a full photo of the bridal party when you’re getting pics with the family.  Then, spend the rest of your short time getting photos of just you two as you already have plenty with each group before. What you’ll value most in twenty years are not 20 different photos of your wedding party… it’s the photos of just you two… being married 😀 So, keep that in mind if things start to get scrunched. I’m absolutely thrilled with these. ABSOLUTELY!

I have two favorites from the day… here’s the first. ❗

Love this!

The toasts were amazing. SO amazing in fact… that I couldn’t pick just one for the blog 🙂

SURPRISE!!!!! Hands down one of my favorite parts of the night…. Chinese lion dancers 🙂

One of THE BEST parties we’ve been to… and we’ve been to lots 🙂 You see, the night started with a band… then ended with a DJ. Yeah, best of BOTH worlds 😀 ….and it was AWESOME!

FREAKIN’ LOVE THIS!!!!!

The last dance… here’s my view…

…and here’s Mike’s. These two photos were taken within seconds of each other. He wins. It’s my other favorite image. Nice work Mike! ❗ Man oh man… this is the most perfect way to end the night.

No wait… ending with the Notre Dame fight song where they pick up the bride and groom Rudy style might just be 1% more perfect. And, I’ve changed my mind… I have 3 favorites… and this is it! ❗

……………………………

chicago, ill.

wedding planner | Debi Lilly
hair | Gia, Charles Ifergan Salon
makeup | Rachel McQueen, booked through Beauty On Call
florist | A Perfect Event
videographer | Milestone Video
reception venue | The Peninsula, Chicago
band/dj | Standing Room Only
cake | Bittersweet Pastry Shop (best cake I’ve EVER had)

……………………………

 

their songs

first dance | “You Make it Real” –James Morrison
father/daughter | “My Girl” –The Temptations
mother/son | “100 Years” –Five for Fighting
introductions | wedding party: “Call On Me” –Eric Prydz. bride & groom: “Party in the USA” –Miley Cyrus
lion dancing | “Sleepyhead” –Passion Pitt
cake cutting | “Wonderful World” –Louis Armstrong
last song of the night | “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)” –Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons

 

nicole+kevin

Any advice for future bride/grooms?
1) Smile (even when the priest calls you by the wrong name…twice)!  2) Eat your dinner, be sure to have some cake, book Bobbi+Mike AND their unboxed photobooth, 3) dance, dance, dance! 4) then eat more cake.

If you could do it all over, would you change anything?
nicole: The only thing I would change is the split second when Kevin stepped on the back of my dress and broke the bustle, if only for my bridesmaids – I’m sure they would have appreciated not having to safety pin the back of my dress up every 30 minutes. 🙂 But no matter what went wrong, nothing could have ruined my mood…the night was so much fun and it was great to have all of my favorite people in the same place at the same time!   
kevin: I would have somehow figured out a way make time pass more slowly. That way we’d have been able to spend a little more time chatting, singing, dancing, laughing, and celebrating with each of our friends and family members!

What was your favorite wedding purchase? 
nicole: The wedding dress! My mother and grandmother were both married in dresses with the same polka dotted style, so when I found this dress I knew it was meant to be! Not only did it make me feel like a beautiful bride but it was such an honor to carry on what has now become a family tradition.    
kevin: Late night McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets and fries (with sweet and sour sauce AND barbecue sauce)!

Where did you go on your honeymoon? 
We spent 10 days at the Four Seasons in Bora Bora. The weather was perfect, the water a surreal teal blue, the over water bungalow was spectacular, and the breakfast buffet was to die for! No really, we spent about 2 hours each morning eating breakfast!

bobbi+mike

our favorites: 1) getting motor boated by Sarah (a maid of honor) when I first arrived. 😀 2) While editing, seeing a photo of Kevin shirtless… that man is BUFF! (okay, maybe that was inappropriate…) 3) Taking bridal photos of Nicole in the bridal suite. SO gorgeous! 4) walking around downtown Chicago on one of the busiest areas I’ve ever walked through with a wedding party in tow…  5) When Debi Lilly, coordinator to the stars, said, “Bobbi, that is the best guestbook I’ve EVER seen!” It was one of ours designed with their engagement photos. BOOOYAH! 6
) Watching Kevin try to hold back tears during the ceremony. 7) When Kevin’s teenage cousin played Ava Maria on his violin during the ceremony. RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING! 8) Watching Nicole’s reaction to being called “Denise” 😀 9) Kevin’s dads toast…  “COME TO CHINA AND MAKE MONEY!” Maybe you had to be there… it was HILARIOUS! 10) The Lion dancing entrance. 11) Shooting the guests in the unboxed booth. Nicole and Kevin… you have some CRAZY friends! 😀 12) dancing with the aforementioned ornery/charming groomsmen. 13) the last dance in the circle. And finally… 14) When they picked up Kevin and Nicole Rudy style while playing the Notre Dame fight song at the end of the night. 😀

Thank you thank you THANK YOUUUUUU for everything! Lots of love to you, your familes and friends 😀 WHO’S GETTING MARRIED NEXT?! I CALL DIBS!!!! 😉

~bobbi+mike

 

SEE! Told you it was crazy busy! Can you imagine seeing this walking down a packed Chicago street?!

❗ + ❓