GL - CHI

Engagement Session in Chicago, IL | Renee & Mark

Renee and Mark had an urban engagement shoot in Chicago, IL. They used the city's great architecture and the beautiful skyline to accent their photographs which made for some amazing shots. Check out another Chicago, IL engagement session with a sports theme! Also, visit our planning section for tips on great engagement photography spots in Chicago.

Engagement Session Photography in Chicago, IL | Kate & Russell

Kate and Russell had a playful engagement session in downtown Chicago, including Millennium Park. They got a mix of both urban and nature shots as they posed in The Lurie Garden and in front of the Chicago skyline! Visit our portfolio section to see Kate and Russell's beautiful wedding!

Find out if Bella is available to shoot your engagement session or wedding!

Real Wedding Photos in Chicago, IL | Meghan & Chris

Meghan and Chris celebrated their nuptials with their friends and family over the summer in Chicago, IL. They had a traditional Catholic ceremony then moved over to the Grand Piazza for the reception! In between the ceremony and reception, Meghan, Chris, and their wedding party headed out to the streets of Chicago for their wedding portraits; even taking photos on the bridge among the Chicago River. Visit our planning section to find more hot spots for wedding photography in Chicago!

Find out if Bella is available to shoot your engagement session or wedding!

Facebook Real Wedding Contest Winners | Amanda & Brian

We asked our past brides via Facebook to upload their favorite portrait from their wedding and other Bella brides and fans would vote for their favorite. Congratulations to Amanda and Brian who are our August winners. Their beautiful wedding is featured below!

The Story of Amanda & Brian

How they met: They first met each other in college. Brian was an upper classman who convinced Amanda that he needed help with his Music Theory homework. "Little did I know that he was a master at Music Theory and was just trying to convince me into him taking me out on a date!"

The proposal: Brian proposed to Amanda at U.S. Cellular Field/White Sox stadium during batting practice before a home game. Amanda was told that they were going to be taking a picture with the team at home plate, but the White Sox team was waiting for Brian to get down on one knee and propose to her! "I was completely SURPRISED! My parents and close friends were at the game to support us with 'Just Engaged' posters. The excitement continued throughout the day when Brian surprised me with an engagement party with all of our close friends and family in the city!"

 
The Wedding:  They celebrated with 215 guests at the Fountain Blue outside of Chicago. "Fountain Blue  was perfect for our elegant yet classy wedding! Our venue had a beautiful garden and fountain for great pictures and cocktail hour along with a luxurious grand ballroom for dinner and dancing! The food was plentiful and absolutely delicious! Guests especially loved the sweets table!"

 
On Bella Pictures: "Bella took great care of us and our needs. We had a great experience working with our photographer! He went above and beyond to capture every precious moment of our day!!! We were looking for a photographer who would capture both traditional photos and photojournalistic photos and Bella was able to match us up with the perfect photographer! Our wedding turned out to be above and beyond what we had both every expected! We would like to thank our parents, family, and friends and especially Bella for our lasting memories!"

Funny story about the wedding day: "One of the many highlights of our wedding day was when both the father of the bride and the father of the groom decided to celebrate our marriage and the Fourth of July by lighting off fireworks inside the reception hall. Their festivities were shortened when security had to step in and extinguish the firework show. Despite the mini firework show, guests continued to dance and celebrate the night away!!!"