Say Congratulations to our newest engaged couple.  Zhenya and Marina were the two lucky ladies who won our giveaway at the Gay and Lesbian Bridal Expo.  Joel took this to beauties to the Chicago Botanic Gardens for a photo shoot full of flowers!

Photo by Kelly Huff

While not a necessity, having your photographer at your wedding rehearsal or rehearsal dinner is never a bad choice.  It allows you to get even more comfortable with the person shooting your wedding, and it gives the photographer more time to identify the key players…Grandma, Father of the Groom, your best friend from college.  Plus, you’ll end up with even more visual memories of your whirl wind wedding weekend.  

All in all, adding a rehearsal dinner photographer to your wedding weekend photography schedule is pretty inexpensive and totally worth it.

A personal touch we love?  Photo thank you notes.  Give your guests something else to remember your wedding by penning your thank yous on a custom designed note card.  It’s a sweet, unexpected extra and makes a nice touch if you select a photo of a moment your guests didn’t see. 

Clients of 5th Floor have it even better.  We’ll custom your photo with the text of your choice for no extra charge and send you the hi-res file.  All you have to do is decide if you want them printed as post cards or traditional note cards.  Just another way to share your wedding photos with the world!

April 24th found us at a very special wedding.  Chase’s college friend Corey married his lovely bride Tera in a sweet ceremony in Southern Illinois.  The bride wore fun cowboy boots and braved the pouring rain for a wedding day (and photographs) to remember!  Not only was Corey a groomsman in Chase’s wedding, but they both had their wedding photos taken by  Brian Morowczynski!  Here are some of my favorite shots from the day.

~Kirsten

 This past Sunday we had the pleasure of attending our first bridal expo event.  5th Floor Photography set up shop with fabulous photos at the Gay and Lesbian Wedding Expo sponsered by “Same Love, Same Right” and  The Rainbow Wedding Network at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza.  That’s me, Kirsten, above at our table.  In case you missed this great event full of sweet vendors, clients, and treats, check out some photos we took before the couples came in.

 Our brand new menu style price cards, photo postcards, and amateur flower arranging skills.

 A sweet treat from the good folks at The Bleeding Heart Bakery. 
(Bite taken out not included)

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Gay & Lesbian Wedding Expo

Join us this Sunday, April 18th at the 2nd Annual Gay and Lesbian Wedding Expo from 1:00 – 4:00 at the Chicago Mart Plaza.  Same Love Same Rights  invites everyone to attend this free wedding planning event.  “All LGBT couples are welcome, as are advocates and allies interested in the issues of Equal Marriage & Family Rights for our community.”  

5th Floor Photography will be there with a booth full of beautiful photography, a special money saving offer, and the chance to win a free portrait session!  All of us at 5th Floor support Same Love Same Right in their misson of “making a difference everyday in our attainment of equal rights across America.”  We hope to see you there!

On January 2nd, I had the privilege of photographing Michelle and Pete’s wedding on what was a brutally cold but beautiful winter day.  They chose Mrs. Murphy and Son’s Irish Bistro in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood for the ceremony and reception.  This upscale bistro was a charming location for a wedding-a perfect balance between elegance and fun.  With a crowd of approximately 125 of their closest friends and family they were married by Pete’s father, adding an extra special element to their day.  One of the most memorable and meaningful parts of the evening were the heartfelt toasts to the new bride and groom given by the father of the bride and wedding party.  The beautiful stained glass, exposed brick walls, grand piano, and vintage phone booth were some of my favorite things about photographing here, helping to make for some fun and unique photos.  Here are some of my favorites from the day; best wishes to Michelle and Pete for happiness in their new life together!

-Joel Wintermantle

Yes!  CTA photos are a quintessential part of Chicago weddings.  Nothing feels more city chic than a bride and groom on the platform of the red, blue, or brown line train. 

The best way to make sure you can get your train photos? 
-Go at off peak times (not during rush hour)
-Be prepared to pay the fare per person
-Be nice to the station attendant.

At our wedding, we wandered over to the Merchandise Mart Brown Line stop at 6 pm on a Saturday night and asked the very sweet CTA worker if she would let us take some photographs on the platform.  She checked with her supervisor on the radio, congratulated us, and escorted us onto the platform.  The photos turned our great and it ended up being one of my favorite wedding memories.

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Tips for Taking Photos on the “L”

Should I have a photographer there while I’m getting in my wedding dress?  Do I need a photographer at the hair salon?  When should my photographer arrive for the day?  These are all questions that every bride asks, even I did…and I married a photographer.  I had no idea if I should have a photographer shooting everything before the wedding. 

The answer, yes!  I can’t tell you how happy I was that our photographer, Brian, made the decision for me and came to my bridal suite the morning of the wedding.  Some of my favorite photographs from the wedding were taken before I even saw the groom.  Make sure you don’t miss any great photographic moments by having a photographer with you every step of the way on your day. 

Here are some of my favorite preparation shots from my wedding and from weddings our photographers have shot.

Do you plan to have a photographer shoot your getting ready?