Melissa & Sean are married now!

I met Melissa through a really good mutual friend. They were originally supposed to get married in July in New Jersey- where they live and both go to school, but circumstances and fate had other plans for them. Melissa's dad was having some health problems, and since she obviously LOVES her father and dotes on him, she and Sean naturally changed their plans to make the wedding easier on him.

So the wedding went from July in New Jersey to March in Chicago. Everything had to be re-planned. New venue, new church, new florist, new hairstylist, and of course new photographer. When my good friend told me all about their situation I instinctively said "well if they need a photographer..." not realizing that it would be the start of what I think will be a good friendship. We met, fawned over each other's rings, talked for over an hour, and it was all set. Melissa planned her wedding largely in several weekend trips home, which I think is amazing! In one of those trips she asked me to shoot some boudoir photos as a wedding gift for her husband-to-be (I will post those sometime next week), and a "day after" session the day after their wedding (those will be up in the next couple days).

Sean & Melissa's day had a few ups and downs... their spring wedding started off with snowfall, their limo didn't show up, and the guys just couldn't seem to find their pocket-squares... but none of that mattered to the lovebirds. They were getting married, and no bump in the road had or would keep them from each other. Their wedding was beautiful, and they are perfect for each other. And now after everything they have a few good stories to tell, and a lifetime of wedded bliss to look forward to.

Thanks so much for letting me be a part of your day you two! I had so much fun, and am blessed to have made some great new friends too!

Here's just a few from the day... so many more to go through... but there will be more to come this week!















Have an amazing honeymoon You guys!

Katie & Stephen wedding teaser

Yesterday (Saturday) I had the pleasure of assisting my talented friend Amy Aiello (Amy Aiello Photography)at the wedding of Katie Saul, who I went to high school with. Katie is two years older than I am, so she and I didn't go to school together for too long, but we did do some plays and musicals together, and one thing she would always say was that she was going to marry an Irishman someday. I believed that she would... so I was not the least bit surprised when Amy told me that Katie was getting married to an Irish lad. Apparently their paths crossed many times in Ireland while Katie was living there for a few years, but they didn't meet until katie moved back to Chicago. One night at a bar... there he was, and by her sister's account, Katie was smitten.

I'm so happy for Katie and Stephen, and I hope they have a wonderful honeymoon! I'm also totally grateful to Amy for letting me tag along and snag some great shots. Be sure to check out her site because I know she'll post some pics on her blog and they will look fab! Here's just one for now... I have so many to go through and it will be so hard to narrow them down because katie looked simply stunning... but I must! So goodnight for now, enjoy the teaser... =)

Dan & Rachel's engagement session

Today was so amazingly beautiful, and I have to admit that I almost forgot that it was fall for the early part of the afternoon! I can't believe that it was 80 degrees today... crazy Chicago weather! At any rate, the climate was PERFECT for Dan and Rachel's engagement session, and we had a ton of fun. Well, Rachel and I did. I think Dan had SOME fun. haha. But then again, Dan is a guy so the whole model-for-a-day thing doesn't hold quite the same amount of appeal as it would for most girls. He was a great sport though... which is sweet because it always says a lot about a man's love for his bride when he will endure an hour of something he wouldn't otherwise do without her... =)

At any rate, they are so cute together and I love them a ton. Dan proposed to Rachel over a period of three days. Every day he took her somewhere different, and gave her something sweet and meaningful. Then on the third day he took her to watch the sunrise, and gave her the ring. Which is gorgeous. Like Rachel! I can't wait to photograph their wedding in April... it is going to be amazing.



















































fin!

Babies Babies Babies

I just had to say Congratulations! to my brother and sister in law who just found out that baby number 2 is a girl!

I can't tell you all how excited I am to have a second niece. When they had my first niece, Adeia, they were in New Mexico so I didn't get to see her until she was four months old when they came back to Chicago for my wedding. I am so excited to be able to be there from day one with this new little princess!

So Congratulations Refe & Susan! Nick and I couldn't be happier for you.

*******interesting side note- Refe is my younger brother. The only boy out of five children. We'll see how far they carry on the "Tuma Tradition" of lots and lots of girls!

And, just so you know what kind of cuteness awaits this world, here is a picture of the new baby's big sister Addie