We truly adore everything about Erin and Johnny and won’t soon forget their incredible wedding day! We’re honored to share their downtown Chicago Rivers Restaurant wedding day on the blog today!
Last year, I met Erin and Johnny shortly after they got engaged and when they started planning their summer 2021 wedding day. This couple embarked on planning a wedding amidst a pandemic and have rocked it! We clicked from those very first emails and virtual meetups and after their engagement session, I knew their wedding day would be nothing short of amazing! These two are a match made in heaven, crazy fun to be around, and they love each other dearly. We are so, so happy for these newlyweds!
From the Couple
Johnny and Erin met in August of 2007, on the first day of high school. They dated briefly during their senior year of high school and attended prom together. They continued to stay friends throughout college and decided to rekindle their romance during their junior year of college. Johnny proposed on January 17, 2020, during a blizzard in Chicago, outside of his condo in Logan Square. Erin was completely surprised and immediately said yes.
Johnny and Erin are both avid sports fans. They find themselves spending a lot of time watching football and attending baseball games cheering for their favorite teams. They love to go out to restaurants, cooking at home, and seeing who can beat who in cribbage or backgammon. Johnny and Erin love nothing more than hosting friends and family and spending time with one another.
The Wedding Day
Erin and Johnny’s wedding day started at the Hampton Inn West Loop where everyone was getting ready for the day ahead. This wedding day was the bookend 8th wedding over a stretch of 8 weddings throughout 5 weeks for us – it was also the 4th wedding day we photographed in a matter of EIGHT DAYS! When we say weddings are back, we mean it! And we couldn’t have been happier to photograph this very wedding day.
The energy throughout the getting ready spaces was contagious and everyone was so excited for the day! Once both Erin and Johnny’s wedding parties were ready, we traveled to the Civic Opera for wedding party photos… Keeping Erin and Johnny separate until the ceremony, of course! We all LOVED this location for photos and the best part? We had the place to ourselves on a busy Saturday in Chicago – that’s hard to come by, but we were thankful!
As photos came to a wrap, everyone traveled to St. Joseph Catholic Church on Orleans to get these two married! It was a joy to document the moment Johnny saw Erin for the first time on their wedding day. I truly don’t know if his smile could have been any bigger! We also loved the beautiful Catholic mass ceremony that Father Larry performed… It was personal, funny, and perfect for Erin and Johnny!
After the ceremony, we traveled to the Wrigley Building for a few more photos before the wedding party joined the reception! Of course, Michigan Avenue was busy, busy on this Saturday afternoon, but we managed to get a spot in line for some amazing photos at the Wrigley Building. This photo spot was one of Johnny’s dreams on their wedding day, so we made it happen!
Then, it was time to celebrate! Erin and Johnny hosted their reception at Rivers Restaurant and gosh, it was the PERFECT location and evening for their celebration. There was a little breeze and the summer humidity wasn’t too strong, so their outdoor reception dreams along the Chicago River truly came to life. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect evening!
We cannot speak highly enough of Erin, Johnny, their loved ones, and their wedding day! It was an incredible wedding day at Rivers Restaurant that we will never forget. All of the details came together and highlighted this couple in the best ways – they are some of the sweetest, most fun people that we are lucky to call clients turned friends.
Erin & Johnny – Where do we begin?! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for trusting us to photograph your wedding day. We are thankful that your wedding day brought the two of you into our life. Wishing you the most beautiful married years cheering on your favorite sports teams alongside one another!!
Creative credit goes to…
Erin’s Attire: Jenny Yoo at Jenny Yoo Chicago – Chicago, IL | Johnny’s Attire: Generation Tux | Wedding Party Attire: Birdy Grey | Hair & Makeup: Paul Hyland Salon – Crystal Lake, IL | Jeweler: Burland Harold & Son Jewelry + Nelson’s Jewelry | Getting Ready Location & Guest Accommodations: Hampton Inn West Loop – Chicago, IL | Ceremony: St. Joseph Catholic Church – Chicago, IL | Wedding Officiant: Father Larry Lisowski | Reception Venue & Catering: Rivers Restaurant – Chicago, IL | Florist: Apple Creek Flowers – Woodstock, IL | DJ: A Posh Production – Elmhurst, IL | Transportation: Empire Limousine – Chicago, IL | Reception Rentals: Marquee Events – McCook, IL | Photographer: Kara Evans Photographer – Kankakee, IL | Invitations + Paper Goods: Minted + Emily Katherine Creative
[…] the Laurence family! I photographed Erin and Johnny’s engagement in 2020 and wedding day in 2021. This year, these two became […]