Intimate Chicago Elopement

Rana & Samer – Elopement Photos Chicago

NOPE – elopements aren’t just things that happen in a Hollywood movie. Proof: Rana and Samer’s spontaneous nuptials in Chicago. Samer, born in Syria and Rana, born in the Philippines, first saw each other in December 2009, as both new hires of the medical team in a hospital in United Arab Emirates. And after 2 years of courtship and with Samer’s patience and persistence they became officially together in February 2011. They did make it official last month at the Marriage Court House in Chicago.

The only people in attendance was the officiant and the couple and they wouldn’t have had it any other way! So where do I come in? Well, Rana and Samer called me in to photograph their vow exchanges and celebrate their marriage and love by taking elopement photos around the city.  Here are some of my favorite shots from the day! Rana said that their favorite part of the civil union was how Judge Kenneth Wright made our ceremony so solemn and special through his words of wisdom on what’s going to be our new journey together in life.

I asked Rana and Samer about their Chicago elopement experience: “The overall experience exceeded our expectations. From the ceremony to the picture taking moments of walking around downtown, to sharing a feast with family and friends by the end of the day. It was still like a dream that we can both hardly believed has come true, on our 10-year journey of long-distance relationship.”

What advice would you offer to other couples planning a civil union or elopement in Chicago?  “The advice we could offer to other couples planning a civil union is make it as special as possible, small touches like a bouquet and boutonnière, a restaurant that means special to you and your partner where you can share a feast with family and friends after the ceremony and most importantly, capture those moments by investing on good photography. On this part, I highly recommend H Photography. Nothing could be better than working with Doru Halip. He is such a wonderful person who enjoys doing his job and guides us every step of the way as first-timers on photography sessions. Samer and I are looking forward for Doru to capture more special moments in our lives.

Now THAT is how you do an elopement, folks. I wish Rana and Samer all the happiness and looking forward to capturing many more beautiful events in their lives! 

Here is another Marriage at Court House in Chicago