Garden Party Nuptials, by Cristina G [Rf Wedding of the Week]

Referrals are a beautiful thing, aren’t they? A bridesmaid from a wedding that Cristina G shot a few years back told her newly engaged co-worker about the photographer, and when this bride-to-be looked up Cristina’s work, she booked her on the spot before meeting in person. Luckily for the Chicago-based shooter, the bride was tying the knot at the Armour House, a sprawling, garden-filled venue in Lake Forest, Illinois, that offered some picturesque portraits.

“This wedding was one of my favorites to ever photograph,” Cristina says looking back. “This couple trusted me completely. They believed I was the right photographer not only to capture their wedding the way they had imagined it, but to truly be able to tell their story. Not only that, but visually, everything was impeccable. A dream wedding!”

All photos © Cristina G Photography

It was a beautiful sunny day, which turned out to be wonderful in terms of visuals, but temperature-wise? “The day was really, really hot,” Cristina says, “and we had a very large bridal party to work with. We tried our best to get all the full and separate bridal party shots in the shortest amount of time possible so that the groomsmen would not sweat through their suits and the bridesmaids would not have to walk down the aisle with flat hair and melted makeup.” It seems they all pulled it off.

And, as these things go, the game of telephone continues—the bride’s brother just hired Cristina for their 2017 wedding. “I am so excited to once again have the honor to capture such an amazing milestone for this family,” she says.

GEAR FOR THE DAY

Cameras: Canon 5D Mark IIIs
Lenses: 16-35mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.2, 70-200mm f/2.8, 100mm f/2.8, 135mm f/2
Lighting: Several Canon 600EX-RT Speedlites

Check out more Weddings of the Week, and email Libby Peterson or Jacqueline Tobin with submissions.