Backyard Wedding in Lake Forest

May 28

In one of the most beautiful ceremony setups I’ve had the privilege of witnessing and photographing, T&D got married in front of their loved ones who traveled very near and very far to witness the special occasion. The ceremony was short, sweet, and jam-packed with stories of love. Every word spoken during their ceremony was perfect; from the endearing sentiments shared by T’s older brother while officiating, to T&D’s poetic & heartfelt vows that left many wondering when the onion cutting factory opened up next door, to T pausing mid-vows to lovingly and playfully call out everyone for crying so much.

In the short time I’ve had the pleasure of knowing them, I’ve gathered that T&D are extremely kind, patient, go with the flow, fun, smart, loving humans. The pure excitement that their friends and family greeted them with throughout the day was so sweet, but the sweetest was the way they received each other.

There’s something so unique and special that I get to witness as a wedding photographer and every wedding. Both individuals may experience a spectrum of excitement and nerves the entire morning, and the second they lay eyes on their soon to be spouse for the first time on their wedding day, I get to observe them each physically go through a transformation that day where their entire demeanor is instantly one of peace and comfort of finally being in the presence of their no. 1 on their wedding day. It’s such a beautiful moment. I love love, and T&D have a good one.

This vibrant backyard wedding will always be so magnetic to me. The colors of the decor, the colors of the florals, the colors of the guests’ clothing, it all was and is so beautiful. Backyard weddings offer so much flexibility, personalization and comfort. If you or a loved one has a space you love and generous neighbors to accommodate it, I highly recommend considering it, no matter the size of your guest list.

I’m manifesting more backyard weddings in 2025 and beyond.

Tara’s 5-star review: “Gretchen photographed our backyard wedding in August, and I would recommend her to anyone, and have been! Gretchen was so easy and pleasant to work with. She worked hard to capture every detail of the occasion among some tight timelines, and we couldn't be happier with how all of the pictures turned out.”

Check out T&D’s wedding featured in the Modern Luxury Weddings North Shore 10th Anniversary Issue.

Creative Partners

Planner: Chelsea Kiely, The Gilded Aisle @thegildedaisleweddings @chelseagildedaisleweddings

Florals & Decor: Flowers by KH @flowersbykh

Makeup: Nicki Rouge Bridal Team, Beshara Farrell @nickirougebridalteam

Tent: Blue Peak Tents @bluepeaktents

Cake: Bent Fork Bakery @bentforkbakery

Catering: Fyusion Dining @fyusiondining

Transportation: Windy City Limousine @windycitylimousine

DJ: DJ-Chicago @djchicagogram

Photographer: Gretchen Wittry Photography @graphsbygretch

Bride’s Gown: Essence of Australia, Diana’s Bridal @dianasbridal