Sergeant Means Park
Have I ever told you how much I love photographing outdoor receptions? If not, I will tell you now. I absolutely love anything we can do outside at weddings, and Britta and Carlos did their wedding right! I started off the day in Peotone with the girls, in the home where Britta grew up. Right away I felt like I was part of the group, Britta and her bridesmaids were hilarious and super laid back. There was no rush whatsoever while they were getting ready and they were up for anything I could throw at them.
I left Britta’s house a little early to catch up with the guys. I still remember swatting at the biggest fly I have ever seen as I hurried to my car while it buzzed around my head. When I arrived at Sergeant Means Park in Olympia Fields, I found the guys hanging out in a small airconditioned room off to the side of all the people setting up for the ceremony.
Initially, Carlos and the guys were a little shy and I could sense some nerves in the room, but I quickly broke them out of that! Carlos started talking to me about Pokémon Go and how he proposed to Britta while playing it. He also told me how he’s a marine and he showed me his uniform. As it grew a little closer to the ceremony, Carlos and the guys finished getting ready, and then it was time for the first look!
And what a first look it was! I could tell Carlos was still a little nervous, but once he saw Britta, there was nothing else he wanted to look at more. Carlos pulled his bride-to-be in close to him, as the bridesmaids watched from a distance.
The ceremony was beautiful, not too long, (I noticed a lot of people are doing shorter ceremonies lately) and was packed with all their family and friends. Right after the ceremony, we had plenty of time to get some photos of family and the bridal party before the reception started. Carlos had Britta laughing the whole time and she had a gorgeous smile, which made my job nice and easy. It’s always awesome to see a couple so comfortable with each other and as a bonus, it usually makes for more natural images.
The reception was outside under a canopy and it was awesome! There were succulents on every table, but one of the musicians snagged mine before I had time to sit down. The first dance was amazing, and Britta kept whispering into her husband’s ear which kept making them both burst into laughter. After all the dancing popped off, a Coldstone cart set up next to the dancefloor and everyone had the chance to help themselves to some ice-cream. How cool (no pun intended) of an idea is that?! At the end of the reception, they were sent off with a bunch of sparklers held by their friends and family. It was an amazing wedding. I always love weddings with a little bit of a vintage touch. If you want to see another wedding with a vintage touch, Check Out This Wedding!
