Jessica & Davide | Chicago Illuminating Company Wedding Photographer

Wedding
Written By Louie Abellera

The Chicago Illuminating Company is one of my favorite venues in the city, and Jessica and Davide's wedding is a big reason why. There's something about that space, the exposed brick, the floods of natural light, the way it holds a room, that sets a tone before the night even begins. What Jessica and Davide brought to it was a kind of quiet precision. Everything had been thought through, every element considered, but the day never felt stiff or performative. It felt like them. Warm, grounded, and genuinely celebratory in all the right ways.

Bride and groom share a romantic kiss at a downtown Chicago street corner, tall city buildings framing their tender wedding day moment.
The wedding party dances and cheers aboard a decorated Chicago trolley, bridesmaids in blush and groomsmen in grey celebrating with drinks raised.
The bride stands radiant at Olive Park, her lace gown and pink bouquet glowing against the turquoise lake and iconic Chicago skyline behind her.
A sweeping view of the Chicago skyline from the Olive Park lakefront, with the iconic John Hancock Tower rising above the calm blue waters of Lake Michigan.
The bride and groom stride hand-in-hand across a sunny downtown Chicago crosswalk, her lace gown and veil flowing gracefully behind them in the breeze.
A black-and-white portrait of the bride and groom locked in an intimate embrace along the Chicago Riverwalk, skyscrapers rising dramatically behind them.
The bride and groom share their first kiss as a married couple under the glowing glass tent at the Chicago Illuminating Company, guests cheering all around.
A tender getting-ready moment as someone gently adjusts the bride's cathedral veil by a bright window, her open-back lace gown softly illuminated.
A bridesmaid in blush touches up her lipstick on the wedding trolley, while her companion smiles beside her in the warm afternoon light.
A lush bridal bouquet of blush roses, ranunculus, and eucalyptus held close by the bride at Olive Park, her diamond bracelet glinting in the sunlight.
The bride leans elegantly on a waterfront railing, her lace gown and loose veil catching the breeze as the gleaming Chicago skyline towers behind her.
The Chicago Illuminating Company reception glimpsed through ornate iron doors, guests gathered under warm string lights in the garden tent at dusk.
The bride gathers her flowing cathedral veil before stepping onto the wedding trolley, sunlight catching the lace details of her fitted gown outside the venue.
The bride relaxes on a modern hotel sofa in a flowing white robe, her effortless smile and loose wavy hair radiating calm joy on her wedding morning.
The bride and two bridesmaids laugh together in matching pink floral robes on a hotel sofa, pure joy filling the bright getting-ready suite.
The bride and bridesmaid share a heartfelt embrace silhouetted by floor-to-ceiling windows, the soft Chicago skyline glowing gently in the background.
A glowing white neon sign spelling the couple's surname illuminates a lush green boxwood wall at the Chicago Illuminating Company wedding reception.
The bride and groom share their first dance under the Chicago Illuminating Company's glass tent, surrounded by candlelit tables and adoring guests.
A visibly moved guest dabs tears from her eyes during the ceremony at the Chicago Illuminating Company, overcome with emotion in the sunlit garden.
The groom makes a dramatic, playful reaction face at the cake cutting while the bride laughs beside him holding the plate, a candid black-and-white moment.
A lush ceremony arch draped in blush roses, white hydrangeas, and trailing eucalyptus at the Chicago Illuminating Company glows under the glass tent.
An intensely emotional ceremony moment as the groom wipes away tears while listening to his bride read her vows at the Chicago Illuminating Company.
The bride beams up at her groom as they clasp hands during the ceremony vows, the blush floral arch and soft white draping of the venue behind them.
A breathtaking wide shot of the full wedding ceremony under the glass-roofed tent at the Chicago Illuminating Company, string lights glowing above the crowd.
The bride and groom lean close at Olive Park, nearly touching foreheads, pink bouquet between them as the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan stretch behind.
Warm globe string lights dangle from the geometric glass-paneled roof of the Chicago Illuminating Company, casting a dreamy golden glow across the venue.
A proud and smiling older gentleman stands at the edge of the ceremony aisle at the Chicago Illuminating Company, beaming with joy during the celebration.
A stunning close-up of a bridesmaid in blush, dark hair swept back and white bouquet in hand, during the ceremony at the Chicago Illuminating Company.
A moody black-and-white portrait of a couple sitting together on a stone ledge outside the Chicago Illuminating Company in the evening, relaxed and close.
The most dapper wedding guest: an apricot poodle sits proudly on the sidewalk in a tiny grey suit vest at the Chicago Illuminating Company wedding.
The bride and groom smile warmly in each other's arms in the Art Institute South Gardens, dappled sunlight filtering through olive trees and a stone wall behind.
The bride poses elegantly in the Art Institute South Gardens, her lace gown and blush bouquet radiant against the soft green lawn and tall oak tree behind her.
An elegant cream ceremony program rests on a white cushioned chair seat at the Chicago Illuminating Company, with dramatic geometric shadows cast by sunlight.
The bride throws her head back with a radiant laugh during the first dance at the Chicago Illuminating Company, globe string lights twinkling above the couple.
The bride and groom steal a cinematic kiss in the middle of a wide downtown Chicago intersection, the open city street stretching behind them in golden light.
The Chicago Illuminating Company ceremony space before guests arrive, wooden chairs in crisp rows and a floral arch framed by white draping and the glass roof.
The bride and groom share a quiet moment from behind at the Art Institute South Gardens, the stone balustrade, ivy, and dappled light surrounding them.
The couple's first dance at the Chicago Illuminating Company, proud parents smiling from candlelit tables adorned with tall floral centerpieces all around them.
A delicate close-up of white anemone blooms and eucalyptus sprigs nestled beside the wedding cake at the Chicago Illuminating Company reception.
The groom shares a warm pre-ceremony kiss with his father and beams at his mother in the soft-lit interior of the Chicago Illuminating Company.
An elegantly dressed couple strolls hand-in-hand on a sun-dappled sidewalk near the Chicago Illuminating Company, her blush lace dress glowing in the light.
A bridesmaid carefully buttons the long row of tiny buttons up the dramatic open back of the bride's lace gown during getting-ready preparations.
The bride radiates joy as her father escorts her down the aisle of the Chicago Illuminating Company ceremony, guests rising and smiling all around them.
A refined reception table detail at the Chicago Illuminating Company, champagne flutes and wine glasses arranged elegantly around a single bright red cocktail.
An exquisite reception place setting at the Chicago Illuminating Company: a gold-rimmed white charger, neatly folded napkin, menu card, and fresh eucalyptus sprig.
The bride sits in a hotel armchair reading a heartfelt letter on her wedding morning, the vast city view stretching behind her through the floor-to-ceiling window.
The bride's long cathedral veil hangs softly from a hotel closet rod, its sheer tulle cascading in delicate folds before the wedding day begins.
The bride and groom erupt in laughter at the sweetheart table during speeches at the Chicago Illuminating Company, surrounded by greenery and candlelight.
The bride and groom walk arm-in-arm through downtown Chicago streets, seen from behind as the city buzzes around them on their wedding afternoon.
A rustic-elegant farm table place setting at the Chicago Illuminating Company, featuring a gold-beaded charger, fresh eucalyptus, and a scripted gold name card.
Rows of wooden cross-back chairs await guests under the glass-paneled tent at the Chicago Illuminating Company, white draping and string lights overhead.
The bride steps off the wedding trolley with a beaming smile, her lace gown and flowing veil trailing behind her as she arrives at the Chicago Illuminating Company.
A touching black-and-white silhouette of the groom's mother pinning his boutonniere by a bright window at the Chicago Illuminating Company before the ceremony.
A stunning detail of the bride's lace open-back gown during the first dance, the groom's hands wrapped gently around her as string lights glow above.
Guests burst into laughter during the speeches at the Chicago Illuminating Company reception in this energetic black-and-white candid shot, joy everywhere.
The bride smiles radiantly in the Art Institute South Gardens, her cathedral veil sweeping behind her over the lush groundcover and dappled light from olive trees.
The full wedding party poses at Olive Park with the stunning Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan behind them, bridesmaids in blush and groomsmen in grey.
The bride and groom share a dramatic dip-kiss beneath a shower of sparklers during their nighttime sendoff at the Chicago Illuminating Company.
Bridesmaids laugh and celebrate on the reception dance floor at the Chicago Illuminating Company in this energetic black-and-white candid shot, pure joy all around.

Credits:

Planning: Storybook Weddings and Events @storybook_weddingsandevents
Planning: Lisa Jaroscak @lisa_jaroscak
Photography: Louie Abellera Weddings @louieabelleraphoto
Video: Shutter and Sound @shutterandsound
Decor: Flowers For Dreams @flowersfordreams
Venue: Chicago Illuminating Company @chicagoilluminatingcompany
Bakery: Molly's Cupcakes @mollysweddings
Make up: Rare Bird Beauties @rarebirdbeauties
Stationery: Minted @mintedweddings
Entertainment: Style Matters @stylemattersdjs
Ceremony Entertainment: Live Oak Trio #liveoaktrio
Rentals: Frost @frostchicago
Transportation: Way To Go @waytogolimousine
Catering: Boka @bokacateringgroup
Rehearsal Dinner: Fig and Olive @figandolive
Brunch: Vu Rooftop @vurooftop
Photo Booth: Zippy Booth @zippybooth
Gelato Cart: Black Dog Gelato @blackdoggelato

Louie Abellera
Lifestyle and wedding photographer
www.louie-abellera.com
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