JolieImages

Reception Wedding Chicago, Illinois (outdoor ceremonies & receptions)

November 13, 2009

It seems there is a shortage of information available to brides in the Chicagoland area when it comes to selecting a nice reception hall that does nice outdoor ceremonies. Many couples are choosing to have their ceremony and reception at the same location and nothing beats an outdoor wedding ceremony on a beautiful day.
The following list is all in the Chicago area within a 60 mile radius. We have gorgeous photos from all these locations so be sure to call us at 1-866-922-3961 so we can show you sample wedding photographs from these halls. Our photographers are all very familiar and comfortable shooting at these halls so rest assured, when you get our $595 package, you not only get an amazing deal, you will get beautiful pictures that you will love!

Concorde Banquets Kildeer, IL
Wilder Mansion Elmhurst, IL
Patrick Haley Mansion Joliet, IL
The Odyssey Country Club Tinley Park, IL
Botanic Gardens Nothbrook, IL
The Cuneo Gardens /Museum Vernon Hills /Libertyville, IL (yes this is where My Best Friend’s Wedding with Julia Roberts was filmed!)
Chandler’s Banquets Schaumburg, IL
Kemper Lakes Kildeer, IL
Chevy Chase Wheeling, IL
Illinois Beach Resort Zion, IL (Very beautiful for outdoor ceremony – the photographs come out amazing!)
Seasons of Long Grove in Long Grove, IL
Chateau Bu-sche Alsip, IL
Bobak’s Signature events Woodridge, IL
Seven Bridges Country Club Woodridge, IL
The Narnia Estate Lemont, IL
Villa Olivia Bartlett, IL
Payton’s Roundhouse Aurora, IL
Meson Sabika Naperville, IL
Pheasant Run Resort St. Charles, IL
Mission Hills Northbrook, IL
Riverview Banquets Batavia, IL ( they have a nice gazebo to get married in ) see their images in our previous post!

We will continue to update you when we find more locations and venues. www.JolieImages.com

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Do I Need 2 Wedding Photographers To Photograph My Wedding?

November 8, 2009

If you have been wondering if you need a second photographer you are not alone. Initially we would say absolutely not; but there are more factors involved that need to help you make this decision. Any good wedding photographer should be able to handle up to a 250-300 guest wedding easily. When we hire photographers, we make sure that they are very experienced in taking large weddings. If you get an amateur photographer, you cannot expect to get the wedding photo coverage you deserve.

A professional wedding photographer knows how to move around and get the different angled shots he needs. He or she also knows all of the important shots to get. This includes the wedding party group, the parents, the cake, the bouquet throwing, the garter tossing, alter shots, wedding ring shots, etc. The only time that we would really recommend getting a second photographer at your wedding, is if you are very concerned about the amount of guest coverage you will get. Remember, one photographer is only one photographer. He can’t be in two places at the same time. This does not mean that he can’t get pre-ceremony wedding photos of both the bride and the groom before the ceremony. If a bride is getting ready in a hotel in downtown Chicago, he/she will be there first to get the pictures of her getting ready as well as her shots when she is done. This is also the time when he will get pictures with her and her bridemaids and family. Then he will go over to the church or reception hall (wherever the ceremony will be held) and round up groom and the groomsmen and his family for pictures before the ceremony begins.

Our photographers will always prioritize getting the important pictures of the bride & groom and their wedding party first. This means that while he/she is focusing on you and your family and your wedding party, he won’t be off taking pictures of your guests. After he gets the needed shots and and knows that he won’t miss anything important, he or she  can go get more pictures of your wedding guests. Don’t get me wrong, you will always have  wedding photographs of your guests no matter what. Even if it is just one photographer. In fact our single photographers are great at getting guest coverage. The question is; do you want more? If you want tons of pictures of your guests, then we would recommend getting a second photographer. Otherwise, one of our photographers will be able to cover your wedding perfectly. At Jolie Images ( a Chicagoland wedding photography studio) we have a $595.00 wedding photography package. This includes one photographer for the full wedding day, however if you want a second one at your wedding reception, your price will jump up to $895.00. That is a $300 difference and we are the most inexpensive Chicagoland photographers around. Most other photography studios here in Illinois will charge you a minimum of $1700.00 for 2 photographers! What I mean to say is, in the end it is up to you. How important is it to you? Do you want to pay the extra amount?  Can you pay the extra amount? After all, this is your wedding, your day & your money!

Either way, we can handle it!  CLICK HERE TO VISIT  OUR WEBSITE  to see if you date is available!

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Wedding At Riverview Banquets in Batavia, IL

November 8, 2009

Jennie and Bill got married on June 13th of 2009.  We wanted to post this wedding for any brides and grooms out there in the Batavia, Geneva area that are thinking of holding their wedding at either the Fabyan Forest Preserve or Riverview Banquets.  As their wedding photographers, we just finished their custom wedding album design and wanted to show you some pictures from both the ceremony location site as well as the reception site. We thing their photos came out great and if you are in the Chicagoland area you may want to consider having your wedding ceremony and reception at one of these locations.

Their beautiful outdoor ceremony was held at Fabyan Forest preserve in Geneva IL. Here is a page from their wedding album showing that ceremony. Just click on it to view it larger.

Here is more outdoor cermony pictures from the Fabyan Forest preserves.

Their wedding Reception was held at Riverview Banquets
1117 N Washington Ave
Batavia, IL 60510

Here are some photographs from the album.

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Free Complete Wedding Timeline & Checklist

October 12, 2009

Your Complete Wedding Checklist & Timeline

Here is a general wedding to-do checklist that you can copy and edit to your wedding. Every wedding is different but this should give you your basic outline and assures that you won’t forgot all of the important wedding stuff that sometimes slips the busy bride’s mind.

12-16 Months before your wedding

· Choose your wedding date

· Put an engagement announcement in your local paper

· Come up with your wedding budget

· Hire a wedding consultant (if you prefer)

· Select a ceremony location

· Select a reception location

· Select your wedding dress/gown

· Select your wedding party (the sooner you get them involved, the more involved and honored they will feel)

8-10 months before your wedding

· Reserve your date with Jolie Images Wedding Photography (the sooner the better, you will have more options and reserve at the best price)

· Reserve your date with Jolie Images Wedding Videography (the sooner the better, you will have more options and reserve at the best price)

· Hire a wedding officiate

· Hire a reception Caterer if your reception site will not be doing the food

· Hire a band or DJ

· Pick out the bridesmaids dresses

· Compile your guest list (names & addresses)

· Sign up for one or two gift registries

5-7 months before your wedding

· Order your wedding invitations. Jolie Images offers beautiful low cost wedding invitations and as a Jolie Images customer, you get 10% of the regular price!

· Shop for your wedding stationary (thank you cards) –Jolie Images offers photo thank you cards.

· Come up with honeymoon plans & book your trip (honeymoon registry)

· Select Your Wedding Cake

· Arrange Accomodations (some guests may wish to stay at a nearby hotel after the wedding)

4 Months before your wedding

· Book Your Florist

· Get your wedding bands

· Hire a hairstylist & makeup artist

3 Months before your wedding

· Send out invitations ( photo stamps with snapfish)

· Select tuxedos

· Finalize menu options and costs with your reception hall or caterer

· Arrange for the rental of items (if necessary) Arches, Chuppas, china, crystal, flatware, tablecloths, fountains etc.

· Book Limo or transportation

· Order Wedding Favors
-Personalized favors
-Unique favors
-Budget Favors

· Shop for bridal party gifts

2 Months Before Your Wedding

· Choose your wedding music

· Select a location for your rehearsal dinners

· Confirm with formal wear shop that they have all needed measurements

· Schedule fittings for the bridesmaids and flowergirls

· Schedule final gown fitting & alterations

· Choose all of your wedding accessories
-Ceremony Accessories
-Reception Accessories
-All Wedding Accessories

1 Month Before Your Wedding

· Design & Print your wedding programs

· Apply for your marriage license

· Have a final gown fitting

· Do a test run with your hairstylist and make up artist

2 Weeks Before Your Wedding

· Contact any guests that didn’t rsvp and find out their response

· Pick up your marriage license

· Confirm rehearsal plans with the officiant and wedding coordinator

· Create seating plan for the reception

· Write your vows (if you intend on writing your own)

1 Week Before Your Wedding

· Talk to your photographer (he/she should be giving you a call) about important shots & what you expect from him/her

· Pack for your honeymoon

· Confirm rehearsal plans (time and location etc.) with attendants

· Confirm reservations for rehearsal dinner

· Have yourself a massage & a facial (facials should be done at least one week before your wedding in case you have a break out or redness from it)

At the rehearsal dinner

· Check that everyone has their formalwear

· Confirm time that you want them to be there & where on your wedding day

· Give out your bridal party gifts

1 Day Before your wedding

· Get a manicure & a pedicure

· Put wedding attire and accessories together

· Give the rings to the best man

· Get a good night’s sleep

On Your Wedding Day…

· Eat a light breakfast that will provide you with energy but not weigh you down.

· Get your hair and makeup done

· Put on your gown

· Have candid photos taken with the family and some posed ones if you wish
Relax and enjoy your day

After your Wedding

· Honeymoon

· Write Thank you notes

· Change your name

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Wedding Photography Reviews from our Chicago Area Brides!

October 12, 2009

A big thank you to all our customers that took the time to post on WeddingWire.Com as well as all the other wedding vendor directories out there.

Thanks to you, we are the top listing in the Chicago, IL area on Wedding Wire. Your reviews on our wedding photography help other brides & grooms feel confident & secure in choosing us to photograph their weddings. Often when brides and grooms see our low photography packages prices, they feel that the service won’t be great. Thank you for letting us and our future customers know that low prices does not mean you will be sacrificing any photography quality – your wedding photos will be beautiful!. We were able to earn the highly coveted WeddingWire rated badge. Please click on the below badge to view our reviews.

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