Abby & Dave - Chicago Engagement
North Park Village Nature Center, Chicago, IL
North Park Village Nature Center, Chicago, IL
North Park Village Nature Center, Chicago, IL
DETAILS
The Day — October 20, 2023
The Venue — The Lodges at Cresthaven
The Service — The Sapphire Deluxe
Director & Lead Shooter - Heather Olker Secondary Shooter - Sihan Cui
Additional Vendors:
Planner - Kate Taylor, KT Weddings
Getting Ready - The Lodges at Cresthaven
First Look - The Lodges at Cresthaven
Wedding Party Pics - The Lodges at Cresthaven
Attire - Generation Tux
Wedding Dress -
Bridesmaids -
Groom Shoes -
Rings - Brilliant Earth
Officiant - Ritualisms
Band - Saratoga Sound
Florist - Flowers by Pesha
Hair - Chalsey + Val with LC Beauty Co
Makeup - Brittany with LC Beauty Co
Catering - The Boathouse at the Lodges at Cresthaven
Cake and Treats - Lake George Bakery
They met while working at an ice cream store in Western Massachusetts. Rustic and elegant wedding. Destination Wedding Photographer.
Nicole and Nathaniel have such a fun story! They met while managing an ice cream store together in Western Massachusetts, and they tried to keep their true feelings for each other at bay since they worked together. Four years later, they both attended an ice cream conference in Reno, NV, and they could no longer contain their feelings for one another. Fast forward a few years, they move into a house rental together in Western Mass with another couple. They soon realized the relationship they had with the other couple was more than friendship, and they decided to move to Brooklyn together.
And let me tell you about the breathtaking panoramic views of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake George setting at The Boathouse at the Lodges at Cresthaven! “If you’re looking for the perfect match of scenery, style, service, and sumptuous food the Boathouse Restaurant is the place to be! Imagine your Lake George wedding and reception being held at one of the most beautiful and romantic settings in the Northeast. Come to the Lodges at Cresthaven and take your vows surrounded by your friends, family and loved ones set against a spectacular and breathtaking backdrop of natural beauty. Nestled on the Western shore of Lake George and surrounded by the Adirondack mountains, we have the perfect location for you to share your joyous event that will charm and delight all who attend.” - The Boathouse at the Lodges at Cresthaven website
The wedding weekend in Lake Goeroge to celebrate their love is one I will not soon forget. The atmosphere was hauntingly beautiful, with fog coming off the water and clouds settling low in the Adirondack Mountains, to create the perfect white and soft ambiance for their best day. Their family and friends were so welcoming and loving. Oh boy - did they know how to party too and keep the dance floor moving! Nicole + Nathaniel managed to create a special day that is uniquely theirs.
Nicole and Nathaniel both got ready in their own separate cozy cabins at The Lodges at Cresthaven; here we arranged for first looks for the bride and Mom out on the porch overlooking panoramic views of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake George. It was a stunning setting to hang her dress and his suit as well. It was really important to the bride to get a bunch of candids with her nieces, so we spent a lot of time on those! Later, we met on the dock outside the The Boathouse at the Lodges at Cresthaven for the first look. There were 180 degree views of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake George there, and my jaw was dropping through the entire experience. Nicole, Nathaniel, and their two partners Gabe and Meg joined for the first look, and I got some of my best happy and goofy, candid photographs ever. Their authenticity and kindness to one another is truly unmatched. My favorite is when Gabe presented their gift to Nicole…. they crocheted a sunflower shawl for over a year and finished it a few days before the wedding. Nathaniel immediately says “Gabe, you asshole” and laughs because that gift is a little hard even for the Groom to match. In these gift exchange moments, we captured so many priceless moments and I hope they will cherish them forever.
The day before the wedding I did a thorough location scout to come up with the perfect portraiture spots, compositions, and arrangements… after shooting awhile at the dock, I showed them the dazzling fall spectacular colors and babbling brook location I found up near one of the timeshares, and they screamed in excitement because it is more than they dreamed. Spending time planning the scout according to what the client is asking for is PARAMOUNT in importance.
We snuck away again for some lovely blue hour portraits too, where Nicole and her partners enjoyed a romantic end to their portraiture sessions, down below at the beach with all the fall colors in the background. The romance and ease was all we felt in the air.
Congratulations are in order to this passionate and fun-loving couple! May your laughter always be heard from miles away and may you feel your love grow stronger over the many years to come! Thank you HUGE for trusting me and hiring my team to capture your biggest day. I look forward to working with Gabe and Meg in the future : )
Warmly,
The Olker Wedding Photo Team