Kristine & Jonathan at The Mid-America Club
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
Sweetly Running Bank of America
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 →
The beginning of a dream day.
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! <3 Liesl Diesel
Saris, Parties, & Automobiles!
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 →
Urvita & Shital’s Wedding Portraits
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 will be posting more very →
Urvita & Shital’s Hindu Ceremony & Vidaai
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!
Traditions of Baraat
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
A Real First Look
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! <3 Liesl Diesel
Wedding of the Day Strikes Again! Shahzeen & Prem at the Chicago Cultural Center
Wedding of The Day Strikes Again! View Shahzeen's Mendi View their Nikkah at the Downtown Islamic Center in Chicago View their Lakeside portrait session View their downtown Chicago portraits View their urban graffiti wedding portraits View their reception preparation View their gorgeous wedding reception at Chicago Cultural Center Love you both, you deserve the best and I am glad you found it in each other! <3 Liesl Diesel
On a tightrope!
After their ceremony at Zed451, Jamil & Carrie and the entire party jumped into the Zed Van and toured the city! The first stop was the Tightrope Sculpture on North Lasalle. The next stop was the opera house on Michigan Avenue, what a beautiful facade!
Walking through Fire
Fire burns. Fire purifies. We all have to walk through fires in our lives at some point. We can choose to let trials burn us, or we can choose to let them purify us. In relationships we all have trials, and as I have gotten to know Carrie and Jamil a bit more, I have had the opportunity to see how they allow →
Jamil & Carrie – preparing for Love & Style!
Meet Carrie. Meet Jamil. Jamil & Carrie both have style, taste, hospitality, and the ability to listen, not just speak. I truly felt like a guest at their wedding! Their wedding was at Zed451, and Carrie got ready there in order to keep the rainy morning off her dress! Who knew a bathroom could look so cool?
Chicago Cultural Center Wedding – Xue & Wen!
Xue & Wen were married on September 24, 2011 at the beautiful Chicago Cultural Center. The architecture of this building is so beautiful, I love shooting there! It was a rainy day, so we shot everything indoors! Congratulations to both of you! Thank you so much for choosing me to document your ceremony! Liesl Diesel
True Chicago-Style Engagement! Urvita & Shital!
If you follow my blog you will see that I am behind on my posts!! Not only is this because I have a normal busy summer, as would be expected of most wedding photographers, but also because of my recent move to the GORGEOUS city of Chicago! I am excited to catch all of you up with everything I have had →
Dharna & Samir are Featured Wedding of the Day on Wedding Channel!
Dharna & Samir were married on May 29, 2010 and today they are featured on The Wedding Channel! Congrats to you both for one year of marriage and for being a featured wedding, what a gorgeous day!!! <3 you both! Liesl Diesel Click here for Dharna's Preparation photos Click Here for Samir's Baraat Click here for Dharna & Samir's Ceremony Click here for Dharna & Samir's Portrait
Coffee Connoisseurs or Starbucks-a-holics?
Who doesn't enjoy an occasional cup of joe? I am certainly no exception to the caffeine craze that affects most Americans. In fact, I protect my gourmet java with a band of ninjas who permanently reside on my favorite coffee mug! Anna & Rich met at Starbucks and have since shared a love for coffee AND each other! Their wedding was coffee-themed, even →
Ryan, Jamie, and a Happy Reunion!
I went to high school with Jamie & Ryan. Jamie and I did everything together from drama, regional band and chorus, traveling with the jazz band, we even sang together in the ladies jazz quartet! I got to spend some time with her at her brother's wedding last year, which she had hired me to photograph, and it was then that →
Engagement Party for Shital & Urvita!
Last Saturday I got to photograph a beautiful engagement party for Shital & Urvita at Ashyana Banquets in Downers Grove, IL. I will be photographing their wedding on July 9 this year, and this event was a great teaser of how much fun their wedding will be! Groovey house music by DJ Aladdin Cupcake tower by Delish Cakes Thank you so much for having me shoot →
Happy St. Valentine’s Day!
This past year has been a JAM PACKED year of non-stop love and I hope all of you are celebrating by expressing your love today! I want to thank all my clients from the past 12 months who hired me to record their love! St. Valentine was martyred for protesting a ban on marriage, and his stance on love and →
New Year’s Eve Wedding Party at Elmhurst Art Museum!
Rachel & Tyler party like it's (ALMOST) 2011! This New Year's Eve wedding reception at Elmhurst Art Museum was crazy fun! Check out my other posts from their preparation, ceremony, and portraits! Happy New Year and Congratulations! <3 Liesl Diesel
Elmhurst Art Museum Wedding Portraits – Rachel & Tyler
Below are some of my favorite portraits from Rachel & Tyler's wedding on New Year's Eve, 2010! Special thanks to the Elmhurst Art Museum for providing this delicious backdrop for the wedding portraits!
Rachel’s Bridal Portrait
I think these photos speak for themselves. Head shots taken at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Wheaton, IL Full length shots taken at the Elmhurst Art Museum. Congratulations, Rachel! You are a truly beautiful person! <3 Liesl Diesel
Rachel & Tyler’s Ceremony
Rachel & Tyler said their vows on New Year's Eve in Wheaton, IL at the Aldersgate United Methodest Church. Rachel is the epitome of elegance, style, grace, calm and strength. So I was really thrilled when the fact that I had positioned myself between a pew corner and the wall (I was literally cornered there) paid off by giving me the perfect →
Rachel Prepares for her New Year!
Here is a preview of what I got to do on New Year's Eve! My last wedding of the year was on December 31, 2010 for Rachel & Tyler! I met them in person the first time at their engagement shoot this past summer in Millennium Park, Chicago! Check out the two blog posts from their portrait session! Rachel started preparing at →
