I had the pleasure of photographing friends, Evelyn + Sam’s early fall wedding in the picturesque Oak Park neighborhood. I met Evelyn and close friends and family at the Bishop’s Hall Bed and Breakfast to get ready for the ceremony, while Sam and his boys spent the morning prepping on their own.

Having lived in Oak Park for several years, Evelyn became involved in the Grace Episcopal Church’s choir, adopting a close-knit circle of friends, and they wished to incorporate her love for her choir mates into the wedding. The choir sang during their ceremony, and she invited her fellow church friends to an afternoon cake cutting and pre-reception celebration in the church hall.

We traveled a short distance to the stunning Cheney Mansion, where Evelyn and Sam took a private stroll in the garden - barely able to keep each other from laughing. The playful couple reunited with their guests, dining and spending the rest of their night in the scenic courtyard, toasting, laughing, dancing and beating the heck out of a pinata. Friends and family were gifted a jar of barbecue sauce that Sam crafted on his own - a special treat from a near-pro barbecue master.