Mr. and Mrs. Bell, December 29, 2018

I had the privilege to get to know Leslie and Grant this past June during their engagement shoot in downtown Aurora. Right away I could tell these two truly love each other and they’re both easy-going fun people that are a joy to be around. Last weekend on December 29th, 2018 I was lucky enough to witness these two get married while documenting their special day.

Getting ready

The day started for me at the Quality Inn & Suites, which is attached to Georgios Banquets in Orland Park, IL. Leslie and her bridesmaids were getting ready in one of the suites. Everyone was in a good mood and laughter would break out quite often.

Leslie looked absolutely stunning in her wedding dress!

After spending some time with the ladies, I then met Grant in the hall where we planned for the first look to happen. Grant seemed a bit nervous, but super happy. I managed to get a few portraits of him before the first look.

The First Look

Watching Leslie and Grant see each other for the first time on their wedding day was special. You can see the love and happiness on both of their faces.

Both Leslie and Grant looked amazing! In fact, the entire wedding party looked great - what a good looking group!

It was now time to make our way to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Burbank. Everyone was planning on carpooling, but Leslie’s mom surprised them with a limo!

The Ceremony

The ceremony took place at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Burbank and was beautiful.

Mr. & Mrs. Bell!

The Reception

The reception was held at Georgios Banquets in Orland Park, IL. The ball room was looked amazing and the details were perfect. The cake was gorgeous and took some restraint on my part to not take a piece! Immediately after the grand entrance, Leslie and Grant cut their wedding cake. Dinner followed along with the speeches.

The First Dance

Being a wedding photographer, I’ve seen a lot of first dances, but this one was probably my favorite! The way Leslie and Grant move together is a sight to see. Their dance was amazing and so fun to watch.

Grant then danced with his mom and Leslie danced with her uncles and brother. Her father wasn’t physically there, but he was definitely there in spirit.

Open Dance Floor

The dance floor was now open and it filled up quick and stayed that way the entire night. Later on there was the bouquet toss and dollar dance. Overall it was such a fun night and a joy to capture.

Before the night ended (for me), I took a few more pictures of Leslie and Grant. I loved working with these two and I’m so lucky they chose me to be their wedding photographer. It’s a long day and a lot of work, but when it’s for people like Leslie and Grant, it’s not only worth it but actually a lot of fun. It was an incredible day from start to finish. It’s bitter sweet that it’s now over. I wish Leslie and Grant the absolute best, they deserve it, and hope to one day work with them again in the future.