I absolutely love downtown Chicago and I have shot many Chicago engagement sessions there, but I have also photographed some wonderful downtown Chicago weddings. We are going to concentrate on windy city weddings today with lots of images and a few tips.
Dylan’s Candy Bar (shown above) was sentimental to the bride and groom and while it took awhile to get a wedding photo on Michigan Avenue on a busy Saturday with no shoppers in the frame, we finally succeeded. So my first tip is to be prepared to have people in your pictures and to leave some time for working around them for certain shots.
Sometimes we are able to wait it out or I can angle in a way to make it look like the couple is all alone in the big city. For the most part though, let’s embrace the crowds and make them part of the ambiance.
Bride alone on North Avenue Beach with Chicago skyscrapers in the background.
Bride and groom on the streets of Chicago on their wedding day.
A popular outdoor wedding ceremony location is the Cancer Survivor’s Garden where you will have a view of Lake Michigan as well as the Field Museum.
Outdoor Chicago wedding ceremony at the Cancer Survivor’s Garden.
One of the best things you can do with your wedding party is to have a party bus to drives us all around the city. I think it’s also wise to a have a space for myself as well as my second photographer. This way we can just hop out along with you and your group, take our pictures and move on to the next location. If we drive separately, there is the issue of parking and time wasted.
Wedding party group photo at Adler Planetarium with the skyline of Chicago as a backdrop.
Bridesmaids and groomsmen off Lake Michigan in Chicago.
Just because you are getting married in Chicago doesn’t mean you are land locked. The Mystic Blue, Odyssey and Spirit of Chicago all have wedding ceremonies on the ship as it’s docked onto Navy Pier. They then sail Lake Michigan for the reception and bring you back to land.
Chicago wedding at Navy Pier.
I know the skyscrapers and the gritty streets and bridges, etc. are usually thought of as the backdrop for Chicago wedding photos, do not discount some beautiful Fall color in certain areas such as Millennial Park or Lincoln Park as seen below.
Fall color in Lincoln Park in Chicago.
Adjacent to the Lincoln Park Zoo is the nature boardwalk with the famous “honeycomb” artwork. This is one of my favorite spots for an outdoor wedding and reception as well as wedding portraits.
Bride at the Nature Boardwalk near Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.
Bride in Lincoln Park Zoo with a view of the city of Chicago.
There are many Chicago hotels, churches and wedding venues in the windy city but today I wanted to concentrate on where we might take those epic wedding portraits showing off you on your big day along with showcasing the wonderful city of big shoulders. Be sure to check out my engagement gallery for even more Chicago images. And as always, please fill out the Contact Form for photography for your Chicago wedding.
