Jackie + Mike started off in the friend-zone but eventually went from being just friends to dating to getting engaged in Austin! They’re getting married next July in one of the most beautiful suburban locations – Cantigny Park! So while they’re celebrating and enjoying their engagement this summer – they spent some time with Hanna at Olive Park to capture the unbeatable views. Jackie + Mike, we hope you enjoy this fun time in your lives and we can’t wait for the big day in July!
Liz + David spend a lot of time walking around the Glen Park Center in Glenview. I’d never been there before, but we spent the afternoon exploring some of their favorite spots. Thanks for showing me around your hood, Liz + David! What a gorgeous area! Good luck with the rest of wedding planning and hope to talk to you again soon!
Ashley + Nick. These special souls are two of our closest friends, and it meant everything to be there on their wedding day capturing these moments for them (I pretty much cried the whole day). For those of you reading that don’t know them… their story is definitely one straight out of a movie… high school sweethearts that went their separate ways during/after college, but randomly reconnected nearly 10 years later to find out that they lived within a few blocks of each other. It took one night of drinks catching up to realize everything they had in common in high school was still there, and more (the more being two furry pets that they adored). Ashley + Nick, we love you guys so much and hope that these photos help you look back on this day forever! Thank you for trusting us to document your day… and like Dan mentioned in his best man speech – we can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives with you, haha.
VENDOR CREDITS // Wedding Photographer: Jill Tiongco Photography (Jill, Nicki, Mark) | Wedding Dress Designer: Allure Bridal from Here Comes the Bride | Bridesmiad Dresses Designer: Weddington Way | Tuxedo Designer: Alton Lane | Hair/Make-up Stylist: Tamara Makeup + Hair | Videographer: Robbie + Ryan | Florist: Steve’s Flower Market | Cake Artist: Urban Icing | DJ: TEN TWELVE ENTERTAINMENT | Paper Goods Designer: Minted | Wood Intials for Guestbook: DMH Woodwork | Ceremony/Reception Venue/Caterer: River Roast
Lauren + Mike met through friends by attending the same parties. Mike actually asked Lauren out and she turned him the first time 🙂 But after a few more occasions of hanging around at the same events, Lauren realized she had a little thing for Mike. They officially hit it off at a Zac Brown Band Concert and that eventually led them to today.
They had their first date at a Mexican restaurant called Bien Trucha in Geneva, IL. It also happens to be Mike’s favorite restaurant. He mentioned going back there to eat since it had been a while. He made a reservation on 3/31/17 to go to dinner there. The week of the dinner Lauren complained non-stop b/c she did not want to take a train all the way to Geneva just to do dinner! It’s a good thing Mike was able to convince her though, because they still went and had dinner at Bien Trucha, and Mike proposed by the river. Their beautiful wedding day was at the Abbey Resort in Fontana, WI. It was supposed to rain all day – but ended up being the most perfect summer day. Congrats Lauren + Mike!
VENDOR CREDITS // Wedding Photography: Jill Tiongco Photography | Wedding Dress Designer: The Dessy Group from Bella Bridesmaids | Tuxedo Designer: Hugo Boss | Hair/Makeup Stylist: Luxe Traveling Hair and Makeup Team | Florist: Lilypots | Band: Triple D | Paper Goods Designer: RSVP Lake Geneva | Ceremony/Reception Venue: The Abbey Resort
Sam + John met at ISU and started dating immediately. Their anniversary is December 1st, 2013… 12 + 1 = 13 (that’s how John remembers their anniversary date)! He’s gonna need a new way to remember their engagement date though – 12.16.17 (any ideas?? 4 years and 15 days later? I’m not good at this.). Anyway, Sam + John went to zoo lights for their friend’s birthday and as John pretended to take a photo by the light up cinderella ball (if you’ve ever been to zoo lights, you know exactly what I’m talking about) – John asked Sam to marry him! Hanna took them back to where John proposed for their engagement session, and they had the most fun. They’ll be heading out of Chicago up to Milwaukee for the wedding – so we had to make sure and get them some meaningful photos in Chicago. Can’t wait for the wedding!
Meaghan + Chris’s story began in fall 2012 at a northwest side Chicago Public School. It was Chris’s first year teaching at the school Meaghan had already been at for four years, and it was also the year CPS teachers went on a historic strike. Although they teach at the same school, they teach in different buildings and had not met until a mutual coworker introduced them to each other during the strike. Throughout the rest of the school year, they became friends and often met up after school with coworkers at social gatherings and events. Soon enough though, meeting up with friends and coworkers became an excuse to see each other.
The following year, Chris eventually asked Meaghan to go out on a date with him. Their official first date was on VALENTINE’S DAY (!) to dinner at the Fireplace Inn in Old Town, followed by a show at an improv comedy club in Wrigleyville. Meaghan + Chris’s bond grew over the next four years as they shared a love for listening to music at Chicago street fests in the summer, attending Cubs/Bears/Bulls/Hawks games, taking long walks down the aisles at Target, Menards, or Home Goods, and spoiling Gordie with all sorts of goodies. Chris makes Meaghan laugh, and Meaghan makes Chris cookies. The perfect match. Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga!
VENDOR CREDITS // Wedding Dress Designer: Melissa Sweet | Bridesmiad Dresses Designer: Lulu’s | Tuxedo Designer: Ike Behar Tux | Hair Stylist: Lisa Pietrzak | Make-up Artist: Lisa Pietrzak & Nikki (for bridesmaids) | Videographer: Skyline Multimedia | Florist: Mathew Lahey, Ashland Addison| Cake Artist: Molly’s Cupcakes | DJ: Enchanted Evening,Chip Brewster | Paper Goods Designer: Minted | Ceremony Venue: Queen of All Saints | Reception Venue: Columbia Yacht Club | Caterer: Columbia Yacht Club
Jen + Nick met while waiting in line at High Five Ramen in the West Loop. They ended up hitting it off right away and spent the rest of the night hopping down Randolph St. and getting to know each other. They went out on our first date the next weekend. But a few months later, Nick moved near Portland, Oregon for his job and they did long distance for almost 2 years.
Last November, Jen + Nick to a trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights and go dog sledding! Nick meant to propose during one of these times, but it was too darn cold! He proposed on their last night in Norway after dinner in Oslo – it was perfect. And so was their brunch wedding at Cindy’s Rooftop. It was small, intimate, and completely representative of the couple and their love for travel. It was an awesome day and I’m so happy I got to document it for them!
VENDOR CREDITS // Photographer: Jill Tiongco Photography | Dress Designer: Wtoo by Watters | Tuxedo: Jos. A Bank | Hair Stylist: Daniel Seyller | Wedding Coordinator: Ann Lee | Florist: Steve’s Flower Market | Cake Artist: Sweet Mandy B’s | DJ/Band: Matt Stedman Band Ring of Music Orchestra | Paper Goods Designer: Pixie Chicago | Ceremony/Reception Venue: Cindy’s Rooftop | Mugs/Favors: Print & Clay.
Photography by: Jill Tiongco Photography | Venue: Ravenswood Event Center
Anna and Brad went to college together at Illinois Wesleyan University and were friends while there. They were both Accounting majors and did their internship and started work at KPMG together when they graduated in 2009. They both eventually left KPMG to go to their went separate ways, but 5 years later they ran into each other on the street (randomly after Anna moved back from Ireland) and went on their first date to the Art Institute and The Gage. For the proposal – Brad figured out the perfect way to surprise Anna. He recreated their first date by going to the Art Institute and proposing. Anna was suprised by the proposal, but even more surprised when she arrived at The Gage. Brad had coordinated a surprise engagement party, including both Anna’s and Brad’s families who flew into town that weekend to celebrate! I’m so happy to have been a part of their wedding day – it was so much fun and I’m happy to share some of my favorite moments. Anna + Brand, I wish you all the love and happiness in the world!
VENDOR CREDITS // Wedding Dress Designer: Taylor, Bridal Boutique, Essence of Australia | Tuxedo Designer: Custom made in Vietnam | Hair Stylist: Abby, Bird’s Nest Salon | Make-up Artist: Yolanda, Bird’s Nest Salon | Florist: Anna Canales, Flowers for Dreams | Cake Artist: Bang Bang Pie | DJ: Style Matters | Paper Goods Designer: Lydia Frost Wears | Ceremony/Reception Venue: Ovation Chicago | Caterer: The Smoke Daddy | Wedding Decor: Wood Waves
Michelle (and soon Brian) live right on the lake, across the street from Lincoln Park, so it was the perfect spot for him to propose to Michelle. The only difference in the spot from when he proposed and when we shot the engagement photos…. was that there were actually leaves on the trees and the grass was green this time around. When Brian originally proposed, there was snow on the ground! Anyway, we walked around Lincoln Park a bit before heading to their new soon to be home together. Michelle recently moved into this spot and it’s going to be their home after the wedding. They’re not going to live there forever – so it was special to capture this moment of time in their lives. Looking forward to capturing more moments for them at their wedding in December!
