Jenny + John::Chicago Wedding::Combining Traditional and Natural
When Jenny + John started planning their Chicago wedding, they had slightly different ideas about what it should be like. John was leaning towards a more traditional affair, while Jenny was hoping for something a bit more organic and laid-back. Thankfully, these two are amazing at taking their individual style and combining it into something truly magnificent! Although their venue was more of a traditional one, Jenny knew she wants to incorporate some natural feeling elements, and she found some really cool ways to do so. Her bouquet included some gorgeous succulents, and their centerpieces were made of more succulents and branches. Their seating cards were actually “seeding cards” and Jenny wore a to-die for leaf necklace (check it out - we think you guys will love it!) To really emphasize their natural theme, Jenny and John chose green as their signature color, and worked it into some other unexpected elements – like Jenny’s shoes and the groomsmen Heineken bottles. 
Our Chicago photographer, Roya, did an outstanding job, and we’re so honored to call Jenny and John part of our OLAS family! Love you guys! xoxo
Venue: Cafe La Cave; Florist: Kio Kreations; Cake: Oak Mill Bakery; Entertainment: Okyne Medialab; Hair: Salon U
Read MoreMelissa + Andrew::Part 2::New England Commandant’s House Wedding
We brought you Part 1 of Melissa and Andrew’s drop-dead gorgeous classic New England affair, and now it’s time for Part 2. Our Chicago photographer, Roya, made the trip out East specifically for the occasion, and we are SERIOUSLY loving these ceremony shots. The emotion is so evident through these photographs, and we are swooning over Melissa and Andrew’s reception (be sure to check out the Japanese lanterns and the gorgeous calligraphy!)
You may remember Alyssa + Shaun’s gorgeous nautical wedding (Part 1 + Part 2) shot by our New England photographer Graham at one of our favorite venues – The Commandant’s House in Charlestown, MA. Just a few short weeks later, (once like a spark) was back at the Commandant’s House for Melissa + Andrew’s perfectly classic soiree. This time, our Chicago photographer Roya made the trip out to the East Coast to take part in precious Melissa and Andrew’s big day. Melissa works at Google in Boston, where several of her co-workers used (once like a spark) for their weddings. (We love our Google Boston girls!! xoxo) Andrew is a restauranteur, and owns some hot-spots in Boston. Melissa and Andrew met one weekend at his restaurant…and the rest is history! We’re so glad that you invited Roya and (once like a spark) to be a part of your big day!
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Melissa + Andrew::Part 1::Commandant’s House New England Wedding
You may remember Alyssa + Shaun’s gorgeous nautical wedding (Part 1 + Part 2) shot by our New England photographer Graham at one of our favorite venues – The Commandant’s House in Charlestown, MA. Just a few short weeks later, (once like a spark) was back at the Commandant’s House for Melissa + Andrew’s perfectly classic soiree. This time, our Chicago photographer Roya made the trip out to the East Coast to take part in precious Melissa and Andrew’s big day. Melissa works at Google in Boston, where several of her co-workers used (once like a spark) for their weddings. (We love our Google Boston girls!! xoxo) Andrew is a restauranteur, and owns some hot-spots in Boston. Melissa and Andrew met one weekend at his restaurant…and the rest is history! Check out Part 1 of this absolutely gorgeous wedding day, and be on the lookout for Part 2 soon! As you’ll see, Melissa and Andrew decided to do a first glance, and it was a really special, sweet moment. We’re so glad that you invited Roya and (once like a spark) to be a part of your big day!
Venue: The Commandant’s House; Florist: Madison Floral; Dress: Augusta Jones; Hair/Makeup: Philip Mark Salon
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Katie + Mike :: A Chicago Engagement
So, we’re just going to go ahead and say it, we LOVE this couple. Katie + Mike are BEYOND precious and have been such a joy to work with! They first met on a blind date after being set up by a family with whom both M+ K worked with their special needs child. At the time, they were both working for a special needs social organization, taking adults/kids with disabilities on field trips, coaching them in adaptive sports, and creating weekend activities for them. These two have such big hearts and have a real joy for life that made their connection inevitable! They told us that they quickly became each other’s yin and yang –> Mike is patient, easy going and a free spirit, whereas Katie is super focused, dedicated and hyper-organized. We like to call that a match made in heaven. :) We can’t wait to share their wedding photos with you soon, but for now, soak up these incredibly gorgeous engagement photos of one.amazing.couple.
P.S. Isn’t Roya (our beloved-by-all Chicago photog) just amazing? Talk about some beautiful photos.
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Mallory + Zach::Chicago Wedding::Part 2::Budget-Friendly Whimsy DIY Tips
It’s time for Part 2 of Mallory + Zach’s gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous woodsy-DIY wedding outside of Chicago. If you missed Part 1, you’ll definitely want to check it out. Roya, our photog phenom in the Chicagoland area, got some absolutely incredible shots of Mallory + Zach after their first glance. Check it out, and head on back here! Today we promised you some practical, budget-friendly DIY wedding inspiration using Mallory + Zach’s wedding. These two SERIOUSLY got it right, and we think tons of you will find these tips helpful. So here they are, folks – some practical tips to achieve a the whimsy, DIY wedding you’ve always dreamed of, without breaking the bank:
1 – Save on uber-cool invites and programs by purchasing a template and printing them yourself - With online DIY stores like Etsy popping up everywhere these days, couples can access templates for invitations and programs designed by amazing graphic artists. Mallory and Zach used a design from Etsy shop Invited Design – Diana has some really beautiful designs.
2- Buy flowers wholesale, and make bouquets and centerpieces with your family and bridesmaids - One of our favorite parts of Mallory + Zach’s wedding was the beautiful wild flowers that were the perfect addition to the gorgeous scenery. Mallory told us that she used FiftyFlowers, and ordered all of her flowers online. This website offers packs of flower sets that may work well together, or if you want to get creative, you can order specific flowers….all at wholesale rates!
3 – Add a Whimsy Package to your (once like a spark) photography package - After their wedding ceremony, Mallory + Zach snuck away with Roya for just a few more minutes of couples shots. They wanted these set of shots to be more relaxed and whimsical feeling, so Mallory took down her hair, added a bright cardigan. Because they knew they wanted these shots to showcase some personality with a fun, creative feel, they previously added a Whimsy Package. A Whimsy Package is a pretty package sent directly to our clients full of some of our most favorite things, made by Etsy vendors. Essentially, a Whimsy Package includes amazing props for your engagement pictures or wedding-day couples shots. It makes getting those zany, silly pictures a little more stylish, and helps you live your dream of having a photo shoot in the front window of Anthro. Not to mention, it helps to support some pretty amazing artists out there! If you’re interested in a Whimsy Package, contact us at info@oncelikeaspark.com
Loving this ceremony site – beautifully organic, and fits right in with the nature around.
See! Told you their invitations and programs were uber-cool…
After the ceremony, Mallory + Zach headed to an area that had been set-up with items from our Whimsy Package…
We love that Mallory took her hair down and added a bright cardigan to give these shots a more whimsical, fun vibe.
Beautiful wildflower bouquets and centerpieces, made using wholesale flowers from FiftyFlowers
Photog: Roya; Ceremony Venue: Fullersburg Woods Nature Center; Reception: Graue Mill and Museum; Florist: Fifty Flowers (online); Dress: J.Crew; Accessories: BHLDN; Cake: Tipsy Cake; Caterer: La Belle Gourmet; Invitations/Program: Invited Designs on Etsy
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Mallory + Zach::Chicago Wedding::Part 1::J.Crew And Nature Preserves
One of the things that we’ve learned over the years is that although our clients are all very different, they are all amazingly cool. Seriously – we marvel time after time about how we could not pick better clients if we had the pick of everyone in the whole wide world. In addition to being super cool, we do think there are two things that we do hear from our clients time and time again that they love: J.Crew and nature. Seriously – so many of our brides really dig the natural, relaxed J.Crew wedding style, and we hear time and time again that our clients really want beautiful photos that capture all of the natural beauty of their surroundings and their venues.
Whelp, folks. Today’s wedding is a perfect combo of precisely those two things. Our incredibly talented Roya shot Mal + Zach’s wedding outside of Chicago, and if this wedding looks familiar, it’s because it is currently featured on the J.Crew website (Mal’s dress was one of theirs!) Super cool, huh?! They also got married and had their reception at venues that are also nature preserves, which gave Roya TONS of amazing opportunity for some really beautiful, organic, nature-y kind of shots.
If you read our post yesterday, you heard about the “first glance”. Mallory and Zach took advantage, and as you’ll see – the result was tons of time for these amazing couples portraits. Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow – it’s up to your eyeballs in DIY wedding inspiration and creative details. You’ll love! PS – Amazing vendor links at the bottom!
Photog: Roya; Ceremony Venue: Fullersburg Woods Nature Center; Reception Venue (Location of Couples Portraits): Graue Mill & Museum; Florist: Fifty Flowers (online); Dress: J.Crew; Accessories: BHLDN
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