Ten years.

Ten years ago, I was a senior in high school, applying to colleges and just trying to keep my GPA up. Ten years ago, Sarah and Zach met their soulmates.

The two were on the same floor of their dorm when Sarah heard music coming from another room. She went to investigate, finding Zach in his dorm room where they connected over a movie poster. A few months later, these two became inseparable, and thus began the whirlwind romance that led to this incredible wedding!

Sarah and Zach were engaged in fall of 2018, when they planned a trip around Europe. Zach surprised Sarah during their walk along the Seine in Paris with a proposal, and the next day, he had scheduled a surprise engagement session with a local photographer (who I will forever be jealous of but it’s fine I’m fine!). The two came home and immediately began planning for their 2020 wedding.

You can imagine where this story is going.

Once the two made the decision to postpone to 2021, Sarah posted on socials: “What I wouldn’t give to go back to Paris, relive our engagement, and punch 2018 me in the face for not getting married in 2019. Kidding (kind of). I’d wait an extra hundred years for you, Zach.”

I’m sure you can tell just from this quote how much these two love each other. So their postponed date of June 2021 started approaching, and they sadly had to make the decision to postpone again to August 2021 to accommodate Chicago’s event restrictions.

So all in all, we’re looking at 7 years of dating and 3 years of being engaged. Needless to say, this wedding was a long time coming!

The day started at the Marriott Marquis overlooking downtown Chicago. The skyline? Stunning. The ladies getting ready? So gorgeous. The fireball shots? Ready to go, thanks to a well-dressed uncle.

Before we knew it, the day was flying by, and we were off to hold their first look at the beautiful Glessner House, where their wedding would later take place. We jetted over to the Adler Planetarium to get some amazing views of the Chicago skyline, then we headed back to knock out the formal photos, beating the torrential downpour by only 10 minutes.

Oh yeah, these two had rain on their wedding day, of course. But you know what they say – it’s good luck! (not that these two need it with the way their relationship has gone so far!)

This ceremony was a special blending of their two families’ religions, with both Catholic and Jewish traditions and readings. It was absolutely beautiful to witness this joining of two families, officiated by their incredibly talented friend (and you never would have known it was her first time officiating!).

We danced, dined, hunted for a buried bottle of whiskey that we never found, and partied the night away! And once the horah started, there was no stopping the laughter and joy that ensued. I’ve photographed quite a few weddings in my 8 years as a wedding photographer, but I can honestly say this one takes the cake for how much fun it was!

Congrats, Sarah and Zach! It’s about damn time. ❤️

Are you obsessing over these photos and ready to see your wedding looking like this much of a party? Click the button below and let’s do this!

Photography and Photo Booth: Amber Garrett Photography
Venue: The Glessner House
Planning and Coordination: Hayley Hawkinson Events
Florals: Fleur
Hair and Makeup: We Only Do Pretty
DJ: Maureen of Toast & Jam
Catering: D'Absolute Catering
Sweets: Alliance Bakery
Signage: The Chicago Calligrapher
Tent: Blue Peak Tents