Liesl Diesel Photo » Weddings

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!!!

THAILAND! Epic Adventure for me, potential slow response for you!

Liesl — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:05:59 +0000

As winter finally hits Chicago I am taking off to go to a wedding of two dear friends in Thailand!

So if you are trying to contact me by phone or email, please be patient. Unfortunately I won’t have much access to email as I tour the islands, temples, go kayaking, rock climbing, and tiger petting.

My Epic adventure begins January 17 and ends on January 27! I will respond to you as I am able!

Liesl Diesel

time for another adventure!!!

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!

Nashville Wedding for Jeremy & Joy!

Liesl — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:44:27 +0000

Jeremy: God will raise up. God will set free.

Joy: Jubilation. Jewel or delight.

Joy & Jeremy: Delightfully uplifting one another in joyous love.

Joy & Jeremy wed in August in Nashville, TN. I was so thrilled when they hired me to shoot their wedding because I have known Joy since I was very young, and it also continued the awesome tradition of me photographing weddings for her family. I photographed her brother’s wedding in 2010 and her sister’s wedding just a handful of months’ before Joy’s!

Here is her brother’s wedding:

Josh & Maryanne

And here is her sisters!

Jamie & Ryan

Ceremony site: Church of The Redeemer

Portrait location: The Parthenon & Shelby Street Bridge

Reception: Amerigo

Cake: Publix

Bob & Joanna’s Lima, NY Wedding

Liesl — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:20:18 +0000

Bob & Joanna hired me to photograph their wedding all the way out in the little village of Lima, NY at the Elim Gospel Church.

When I used to live in Rochester, NY Bob was my photo assistant, and I was so happy when he emailed and asked if he could hire me to fly out and shoot his wedding!

Enjoy their story in photos, and if you want to see more you can view all my favorites on their facebook album!

Thank you for having me come out to shoot your wedding, love you both!

Liesl Diesel

Bob was so confident and calm

I love how he is looking at her in this shot!

I know this looks set up, but their wedding party really did gather around and cheer like this, it was awesome!

sweet little bridesmaids bouquet

I loved the lively colors!

The man who owned this property was so nice to let us use it, such a cool old abandoned bridge!

Joanna, under the bridge.

The straight face!

what a beautiful couple!

But they can't hold that straight face for long, who can!

Not only did I love the colors they chose, but the decor was really fun. The vases at the tables were pink antique ball canning jars!

The sun was really pounding that day, which mean, of course, AWESOME SHADOWS!!!

The cake was shaded in a cute little gazebo!

And there was colorful candy all over the place. pretty much like heaven, I think . . .

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