Liesl Diesel Photo » chicago

Kristine & Jonathan at The Mid-America Club

Liesl — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:10:24 +0000

Kristine & Jonathan finished up their festivities at The Mid-America Club, which has a gorgeous view of Chicago and Millennium Park!

Venue – The Mid-America Club

Cake – Bittersweet Pastry

Flowers – Zuzu’s Petals

DJ – Toast & Jam

Hair & Make-up – Morgan Blaul

Linens – BJ Linens

Kristine & Jonathan casually gaze at each other =)

I stopped them as we walked back to The Mid. It's such a tall building that we had to be a block away to get it in the shot!

love her dress!

Very cool design by Bittersweet Pastry!

Elegant linens by BJ Linens

shadows!

These orange centerpieces by Zuzu's Petals were simple and unique.

I definitely recommend this florist, they did an amazing job.

Toast & Jam! Highly recommend!

Kristine was on the dance floor all night!

Thanks you two for hiring me!

Sweetly Running Bank of America

Liesl — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:13:02 +0000

Kristine & Jonathan have a pretty fun story!

They are high school sweethearts and now they both work at Bank of America and are also into running. The real kind of running; the kind most of us look at as some kind of super hero power because they do it for hours and hours on end. This can only lead me to believe that, since they are both sweethearts, love running, and both work at Bank of America, that within a couple of years they will be Sweetly Running Bank of America!

Hey, it makes sense to me!

We started our portrait session at the Chicago Board of Trade

As we walked toward the intersection of Jackson & LaSalle I saw this light dancing back and forth between the buildings, I love it!

I love this expression!

After Jackson & Lasalle we headed to the BP Bridge

This canvas will soon be on their wall!

Bench at the Lurie Garden

You two are so wonderful, I can't wait to shoot your next big life event!!

Kristine & Jonathan at St. Mary of The Angels

Liesl — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:45:38 +0000

Kristine & Jonathan wed at the beautiful St. Mary of The Angels Catholic church in the Bucktown – Wicker Park area of Chicago. Saint Mary of the Angels is currently restoring the dome of the church, to learn more about what they are doing to restore this beautiful piece of architecture visit their site!

Kristine is greeted at the beginning of the aisle by two angel sculptures

But it is pretty clear that she only has eyes for Jonathan :)

the architecture in this church is beautiful, I am so glad they are restoring it!

beautiful reflective marble floors

great light on the arches, with a little help from my off-camera light :)

perfect back drop for formals!

and perfect setting for a grand exit! congrats to both of you and have fun in Thailand!!!

The beginning of a dream day.

Liesl — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:44:32 +0000

Kristine & Jonathan had such a beautiful wedding, it was perfect right from the start!

Kristine prepared for her wedding day at the Fairmont Chicago

Flowers from Zuzu’s Petals

Make-up & hair by Morgan Blaul

wedding gown from Priscilla of Boston

I am a little backed up on blogging, so I will post more of there story soon!

Liesl Diesel

The view from the Fairmont is gorgeous!

Morgan Blaul puts on some finishing touches

Garter, shoes . . .

A Vibrant bouquet from Zuzu's Petals

and voila! The masterpiece is complete!

Kristine was the most elegant bride!

Twist Out Cancer

Liesl — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:37:04 +0000

Have you ever had to force yourself to smile to try to change your mood?

Have you ever started dancing in hopes that your spirit would rise?

Have you ever had to Twist Out Cancer?

Tiny Twister has been an inspiration to me for nearly a year, and I finally got to meet her a few weeks ago!

I found her blog through mutual friends and became enchanted by her open and real style of writing, and encouraged by her stories that are so full of hope, pain, honesty, fun.

Today is her Cancerversary.

What does one say to someone who is “celebrating” their one year diagnosis of cancer? Honestly, I don’t know what to say. All I can really say is thank you, Tiny Twister, for taking this year to encourage and inspire.

And thank you so so much for letting me photograph you.

You are beautiful.

So beautiful, in fact, that I really can’t even choose which images to blog. You can see all my favorites on facebook.

Liesl Diesel

Saris, Parties, & Automobiles!

Liesl — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:41:32 +0000

Saris, Parties, & Automobiles!

This was the apparent theme at Urvita & Shital’s reception at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.

Urvita, along with all the lovely ladies, changed into their beautiful evening Saris.

Their family, along with all their guests, enjoyed food and dance at this outrageous party.

The groom, along with his speechless bride, received as a wedding gift, a new automobile!

No, not ONE automobile, one EACH. I felt like I was photographing the Oprah show!

If anyone deserves such a generous gift it is these two. It is so clear how much their family loves and supports them.

Room, including flowers, linens, lighting and mandap by Ravi’s Mandaps.

Music by DJ Sachin

Cake – The Baking Institute

Wedding Coordinator – Oliveaire

Sari – Taj Sari Palace

Ravi works her magic on this room!

The tones were romantic and clean

The cake was perfectly designed to go with the room's decor

Made by The Baking Institute

The detail was simple and intricate

simple and elegant flowers designed by Ravi

intricate ice sculpture

LOVE place card holders

Shital & Urvita!

Urvita does a spin to wow the crowd!

The ceiling lights reminded me of a butterfly :) symbolic as they start a new life!

Shital respected his wife despite many people calling out for a kiss!

This is right before they find out they each have a brand new car!

Shital tries to regain composure as Urvita hugs her father!

And the party begins!

and the dance floor is PACKED!

DJ Sachin has a great light set up!

View all my previous posts from their love story!

Engagement Party

Engagement Portrait Session

First Look

Baraat

Ceremony and Vidaai

Wedding Portrait Session

Liesl Diesel

Urvita & Shital’s Wedding Portraits

Liesl — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:23:03 +0000

Urvita & Shital hosted an all day event for their wedding at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Rosemont.

In the morning I took some portraits of them in their traditional red and gold wedding clothing. The mosaic tile at this Hyatt, combined with the gorgeous sky dome ceiling, made my morning portrait crunch time easy and beautiful!

I had to put them in front of this glittery wall! As my assistant put it, they simply look like movie starts! <3

stunning jewelry set

such an elegant design

Such a looker!

one of my favorite shots from the whole day! I love hands!

Shital is one of the most stylish guys I think I have ever shot.

The dome skylight ceiling made a fun background for the formal portraits

And of course it helps to have stunning subjects as well!

And the entire party!

After the morning ceremonies, Urvita & Shital changed for the evening reception

Another mosaic wall in the Hyatt! love it!

reflection off a black marble bench

Urvita's bridal henna

her gorgeous evening updo!

Shital donned a white tux for the evening, that man is always dapper!

love to the fourth degree!

sexy gold shoes and henna!

After evening portraits they headed up to the Ventana Sky Deck for the cocktail hour with their guests

what a character! love her!

Cheers!

I will be posting more very soon from their evening reception.

View all my previous posts from their love story!

Engagement Party

Engagement Portrait Session

Urvita & Shital’s Hindu Ceremony & Vidaai

Liesl — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:44:58 +0000

Urvita & Shital had their ceremony at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL.

Beautiful Ceremony room was prepared by Ravi’s Mandaps

Hair and make-up by Jaya Baxi

Event Coordinator – Oliveaire

View their First Look

View Shital’s Barat

View their engagement session!

View their engagement party!

Ravi did an enchanting job with this room!

Shital is escorted by Urvita's family into the ceremony room

I loved the bridesmaids' saris!!

Urvita sits above the crowd on her palkhi. No shoulder or bouquet of flowers to hide her emotion!

The veil is dropped so Shital can see his beautiful bride!

after the ceremony the family gathers for the Vidaai

Urvita's mother in law looks on as Urvita says goodbye to her mother and is welcomed into a new family

Traditions of Baraat

Liesl — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:29:01 +0000

Shital’s Barat was one of the most fun (AKA dangerous) things I think I have ever shot at a wedding! These families were relentless during the stealing of the shoe!

Shot at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare

Shital is prepared for his Barat

Shital holds a coconut, which represents new beginning, success, well-being and wealth.

The grooms friends and family head outside for a long parade of fun and dancing as they escort him to Urvita

This is Shital, always smiling!

The crowd of friends and relatives arrives at the Hyatt, followed by Shital in the carriage pulled by a white horse

Urvita waits for Shital

She holds the garland that she must try to put around his neck

Shital does not make it easy for her! He stands high above the crowd!

But Urvita prevails =)

Shital has a simple task. Get on stool, eat some sweets, and step on that cute little thing on the ground. Easy, right?

Until the person feeding him sweets tries to get him off balance . . .

The friends of the bride join in . . .

And Shital hits the ground and his shoe is taken!

and the bartering begins!

Even after a crowd of people wrestle over Shital, he is still all smiles!

Finally Shital has his shoe, and the ceremony continues as he enters the ceremony hall

A Real First Look

Liesl — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:50:49 +0000

All the posing in the world could not have produced this perfect first glance. This is the first moment Shital saw his beautiful bride on their wedding day, right before we shot the family portraits.

You two are simply amazing. I will be blogging your story soon!

Liesl Diesel

Shital sees his gorgeous bride from a distance as she is surrounded by excited friends and relatives

A sweet gesture from Shital sums it up. Urvita was a knock out, portraits will be blogged soon!