Chicago Wedding Photographer Blog Steve Koo

Cara and KJ’s St. Charles Wedding

September 1, 2010 Posted in Weddings

Earlier this year, I drove out to Geneva for Cara and KJ’s awesome engagement session. I had tons of fun with them that morning, so I was excited when it was finally time for their wedding day! Cara and KJ got ready at the Hilton Garden Inn in St. Charles, a western Chicago suburb. After she and bridesmaids were ready to go, we headed for the church, where KJ was already waiting so that they could have their first look. After we goofed around for a few fun pictures, it was time for the ceremony! On our way back to the hotel for the reception, we passed an old barn on the side of the street. I asked the newlyweds if they wanted to run out there for some pictures, and they obliged without hesitation! Cara – for braving all of the tall grass and weeds to get to the barn, you are ridiculously awesome. KJ – you’re awesome too, but you didn’t have a white dress on while conquering the weeds. After making our way back to the limo, it was off to the St. Charles Hilton for the reception! One of Cara’s bridesmaids had designed and set up an awesome candy buffet, and everyone kept the dance floor packed all night long! Congratulations, Cara and KJ; thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to document your wedding day!

Shout-outs:
Hair and Makeup: Montage Salon and Spa in Geneva
Flowers: Fifth Avenue Flowers
DJ: Music by Design
Catering: Hilton Garden Inn, St. Charles
Cake: Jacqueline’s Cakes
Photobooth: 312 Photobooth
Church: Congregational United Church of Christ, St. Charles
Venue: Hilton Garden Inn, St. Charles

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Flowers – om nom nom.

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We found this old barn on our way back to the hotel and had to stop for some pictures!

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The back-side of this cake topper was way more fun that the front!

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Becca Dilley - I love that silhouette of the wedding party jumping, and your colors are just amazing!

Stefani - what a lovely wedding! you did an AMAZING job!

Emily - LOVE the shots by the barn! Fun dancing shots, too!

Brad Ross Photography - Great sotrytelling, color and emotion. A job well done.

Marianne Taylor - FUN is the first thing that comes to mind, it’s so lovely to see people genuinely enjoying themselves. Really lovely colours too. (I so would have had a field day with all that pink candy! )

Teresa K - I am in LOVE with her dresss…amazing details here and some really, really great moments between the bride and groom. You knocked it out of the park Steve!

Lew - Very nice set! I particularly enjoyed the “first look” sequence. Very well done!

Sammy - Love all of these Steve! The bride looks gorgeous, and I really like the shot in front of the barn!

sam hurd - all i can say is wow! wonderful colors!!

Laurie Peacock - Love the cake topper shot. So funny. It looks like it was a ton of fun to attend. Great capturing that vibe!

Magan Blasig - So fun! You absolutely captured their personalities. The photo where they’re pretending to eat the flowers cracks me up!

Thomas Lester - Haha… Love the library shot! These are great Steve!

Sandy - You are such a wonderful storyteller, Steve. Love how you captured their happiness throughout the day!

The Old Barn

August 30, 2010 Posted in Weddings

One frame from Cara and KJ’s wedding. Many more soon!

chicago wedding photographer steve koo cara kj preview

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Angel and Brian’s Wedding at Salvatore’s

August 26, 2010 Posted in Weddings

It had only been a couple of weeks since I shot Heidi and Adam’s wedding at Salvatore’s, and I was excited to be able to go back with another amazing couple! If Angel and Brian look familiar, it’s because you saw them on the blog last year with their Promontory Point engagement session. I had such a good time with these guys during their engagement session that I knew the wedding was going to be a blast! For as organized of a person as she is, Angel was incredibly laid back and fun to be around throughout the wedding day. I showed up at the hotel room and met the bridesmaids, but Angel, who was getting her hair and makeup done at a salon, was running a little bit behind. Even though she showed up a few minutes later, her bridesmaids helped her get everything together and jump into her dress so that we could go downstairs for their first look! Nicky headed down early to meet Brian and the groomsmen and helped me set up their first look on the stairs. We piled everyone into the bus and headed to Millennium Park for some fun pictures. It was the weekend of Chicago’s air and water show, so traffic was even worse than on a usual Saturday afternoon! After we were done at Millennium Park, we jumped back into the bus to head down to the Planetarium to get some shots with the skyline. Next, it was off to St. Alphonsus for the ceremony! Since we had gotten tons of fun pictures done before the ceremony, we headed straight to Salvatore’s so that Angel and Brian could enjoy their cocktail hour with their guests before the reception. One of Brian’s groomsmen played the piano during Angel and Brian’s first dance, and the awesome Sarah from Toast and Jam kept the dance floor packed the rest of the night! Congratulations, Angel and Brian; thank you for the opportunity to document your wedding; I had so much fun!

Shout-outs:
Hair: Sarah Lewis-Smith from Salon Fete
Makeup: Jen Jackolin from Sonia Roselli
Flowers: Flor del Monte
Cake: Rolf’s
DJ: Sarah from Toast and Jam
Photobooth: Magnolia Photobooth
Church: St. Alphonsus in Chicago
Venue: Salvatore’s Restaurant
Host Hotel: Intercontinental Hotel Chicago
Bride’s Dress: Jim Hjelm
Bridesmaids Dresses: Amanda Archer

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Loved the bridesmaids dresses by Amanda Archer!

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Where’s the bride?

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Wedding day elevator rides are always fun!

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This woman insisted on getting a picture of the bride and groom!

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Oooooh – the Air Show!

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Shyann - WOW Great job Steve!! Love the purple bouquet! The first dance shot is my favorite though!! Awesome!

Amanda Basteen - Great set! Love the color of the water in the outdoor photos! I also really love the up close photo of them dancing!

seth - Very cool photos! I really the photo of the back of the bride and her dad and the photo of the bride and groom dancing. I love the light in that one.

Sally - Love them all, Steve! Beautiful work!

Mike - Great coverage and love the reflection shot of them walking!

Preston - So many great moments captured here. Not a flaw in the bunch.

Magan Blasig - Awesome! Great wedding, and beautiful job on the photos. I love the image of her holding his pinky as they’re walking.

Phill - You rocked this wedding from pillar to post Steve. Fantastic images from every stage of the day. It’s got a great deal of what I consider your trademark look to it but at the same time it’s all about Angel & Brian and their big day. A magical mix indeed.

Thomas Lester - Great job, Steve! I love that expansive shot in front of the lake. Great moments.

matt shumate - Awesome—as usual! I always enjoy your posts & this is no different. Hey! What’s she pointing at? Ohhhhh.

Love it.

Amber Hughes - Love their first dance shots!

Emily - Love all of these, Steve! I really like the last shot where she’s fixing his tie!

sam hurd - great stuff here steve. first time seeing your work and i’m very impressed!

Joy - AMAZING! I left for work in China just a few days after and just now seeing these on my way back home and getting misty in the Shanghai airport. Thank you so much Steve, I cant tell you how comfortable you made us feel and captured the day beautifully! Can’t wait to see them all.

Joy - AMAZING! I left for work in China just a few days after the wedding and just now seeing these on my way back home…getting misty in the Shanghai airport. Thank you so much Steve! You made us all feel so comfortable and captured the day beautifully! Can’t wait to see them all.

Sarah - Wow. these. are. awesome!!!!! You captured the most special moments. I got tears in MY eyes when I saw the one with Angel peeking around the corner down the aisle before she walked down. Just lovely, wish you could have done my wedding photos!!!!

Sarah - These. are. awesome!!!!! You did such a stellar job of capturing the special moments of the day. The one with Angel peeking around the corner before she walked down the aisle is priceless–I got tears in my eyes! Wish you could have taken MY wedding photos!

Amanda Archer - WOW!!!! ❤ Love these photos, beautiful wedding, congrats Brian and Angel, absolutely lovely!