chicago wedding photography Archives - Rife Ponce Photography

Lindsay and Bob’s Wedding Day Story

Lindsay and Bob’s wedding day was full of family and friend’s celebrating their union. Lindsay’s sister honored her in a beautiful toast, remarking on her kind spirit. She noted how, even on her wedding day, Lindsay was thoughtful of others, choosing to where Toms’ shoes knowing someone else in the world would also receive a pair because of the purchase.

Bob’s best friend brought the house down, provoking belly laughs across the room with his dry wit.

There were also not one but two Irish wedding blessings, and fist pumping to the Illini fight song.

Congrats Lindsay and Bob!

Cheers to these vendors!

Mark Rankin DJ Chicago ; Cake-Gladstone Bakery ; Florist-The Flower Studio ; Dress-Vannesa’s modern bride

Kate and Pat’s nuptials at Loyola University

by Maggie Rife Ponce

Kate and Pat had not one, but two missed connections. In college, they lived on the same dormitory, but never met each other. They also studied abroad in Rome the same semester without knowing it. It wasn’t until at a friend’s party, during a game of euchre, that they finally made eye contact.

They were married on the same campus they played euchre. In the Madonna Della Strada Chapel at Loyola University they exchanged their vows, drawing tears from Pat’s sister and cheers from the guests after they sealed the deal with a kiss.

The two are self-professed Chicago lovers. Their dream was to be married in the city, so during their portrait session, we made sure to visit some of the most iconic spots in the city at museum campus, the terraces behind the Planetarium, and the Chicago River bridges. During the reception, we had the most beautiful sunset, which made a stunning backdrop for pictures on the lake. Then, to top it all off, we snuck off to the library for some fun pictures in the stacks. So much fun!

Big thanks to these vendors who helped make Kate and Pat’s wedding so special!

Cake by Bittersweet , Flowers by A Stem Above , Loyola University Chicago , Catering by Loyola , Make-up Artist: Tracee Badway, Hair Stylist: Dottie Salamone , Toast and Jam DJ’s

Married! Katie + Joels’s nuptials

by Maggie Rife Ponce

During Katie and Joel’s ceremony, the priest who married them mentioned, in prepping for their wedding, he took the opportunity to visit their facebook pages. What he found were dozen of images of the two together enjoying life by dressing up in various costumes; in one photo they wore feathered boas, another head-to-grow green; there were santa outfits, oversized sombreros, and hats made out of balloons. These two really love to have fun. In each other they found life long best friends and a partner ready and willing to go all out on any occasion.

When it came to their wedding day, I expected nothing less than that same 100% commitment to details. Katie looked divine, like a catalog bride. Joel was dapper in black. The bridesmaids were elegant in the color of summer 2013–coral. It was a beautiful affair with their closest friends and family members celebrating the union of two beloved people. Congrats Katie and Joel! Cheers to #Machoran!

Engagement Session in Highland Park

by Maggie Rife Ponce

On a perfect sumer evening, I drove down a willow tree lined driveway to meet Laura and Danny for their engagement session. After parking, I grabbed my cameras, then hopped out of my car to take in the property. In one direction, ducks paddled slowly across a pond and in another, chickens pecked away in their coop. I was blown away–Laura and Danny picked out this beautiful, country estate, a place Danny visited with his family growing up. Shortly after I arrived, the two walked out from a nearby barn, “Hi guys! Wow, this place is AMAZING! Great choice.”

The setting was perfect for a laid back couple, who love the outdoors. It even came with a friendly pooch who couldn’t resist popping into a few pictures, making the scene all the more charming.

Laura and Danny were great–comfortable with each other and casual throughout the session. They laughed when the horse on the property sauntered over and nuzzled them up from their blanket and eagerly climbed the fence for a picture against the vivid sunset.

Tina and Manny’s Vineyard Wedding Willow Harbor Vineyards in Michigan

by Maggie Rife Ponce

Tina and Manny first caught sight of each other at a Starbucks on Taylor street. After running into each other again and again, they finally made plans for a date, which of course, started at that same Starbucks. After the date ended, Tina told her sister, “He’s a nice guy! He threw away my coffee cup for me.”

They two spent countless hours at that Starbuck’s studying beside each other, supporting one another through med school and CFA exams. After four years, they decided to commit to a lifetime of coffee drinking together!

Their wedding was a blast! Check below for descriptions of all their unique details and cultural traditions. Congratulations Tina and Manny! Cheers to a long and happy life together!

Also, big Thanks to Alex Matzke for assisting with this wedding! And a shout out to these vendors:

-Hair stylist: Heath and Company, DJ: DJ Sultan, Videographer: Sterling Wedding Cinema, Makeup: Justina Wiegel of Eventful Makeup

The two celebrated their nuptials with details special to their relationship-the table names were various Starbuck’s drinks, their candy table was a nod to their sweet tooth’s, and their location, a beautiful winery in Michigan, was chosen a mutual love of nature.
The event was a multicultural affair, weaving in traditions from their background, including the Mexican Lazo ceremony followed by a traditional Persian ceremony. When you see the women holding the canopy above their heads in the pictures, that is part of a blessing where loved ones sprinkle sugar over them to bring sweetness to their marriage.

The Sofreh Aghd is a wedding spread, decorated with flowers and set with a luxurious spread for the couple.

The reception included additional cultural traditions, including a knife dance (Manny did his best to steal the cutlery from Tina’s dancing friend’s, before eventually having to pay them off); and a Mexican chair dance, where female guests first tried to knock Tina off the chair, followed by the males attempting the same. Things moved fast, but Manny held tight and triumphed! None-the-less, the gents got the best of him, tipping him onto his back and tossing him high in the air to huge cheers by onlookers!

A New Leaf Wedding – Erin + Alister’s nuptials

by Maggie Rife Ponce

Erin met Alister in 1992 when he flew from Amsterdam to Chicago with his family. More than a decade later in 2010, they reunited in Amsterdam while Erin was traveling with her sister. From there, it was long distant phone calls, flights back and forth, and skyping at odd hours until Allister proposed. When she said yes, he sold his flat and moved to Chicago to live with his bride and plan their wedding (the last of the year at A New Leaf-lucky them!)

The day was just lovely, marked with tearful speeches and raucous laughter. Cheers, Erin and Allister!

Congrats Erin and Allister!