weddings

Esplanade Lakes by Doubletree Wedding Photography | Salwa and Saad

March 29, 2023

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A wedding from last summer finally hitting the blog. This was my first time in a while shooting an Esplanade Lakes wedding (by Doubletree) and I forgot how cool the venue is. This venue backs up to the Morton Arboretum, so there is a beautiful wooded area that surrounds the lake that the venue sits on. From the outside it looks like an industrial office space, but the inside gets the most incredible light and has a wonderful lobby for cocktail hour. This wedding venue is a great suburban option for those looking for something a little different than a banquet hall.

A little bit about their day.

Salwa and Saad found me via a past couple who’s wedding I second shot in 2021, and I was thrilled that they wanted to work with me in 2022 because they are my kinda people. Salwa is an *Emmy Nominated* documentary film producer for the New York Times and Saad is a software engineer who loves digital design (he designed ALL of the paper details for the wedding!!) and photography. The pair loves to travel as much as I do and we immediately hit it off. They currently reside in DC, but Chicago is where home is for them so they had weddings in both DC and Chicago. I photographed both their Mehndi and Shaadi, and had the absolute best time with them, their friends and their families.

Salwa’s bridal outfits were freaking stunning, and they had an absolutely beautiful weekend surrounded by their loved ones. My favorite part of their day was Salwa’s first look with her sister, mom and dad. After losing my fiance’s grandma last week, looking back on these photos reminds me why I do this job. It is so important to capture these precious, fleeting moments in my client’s lives. I will never take for granted the photos I have with my loved ones, and I cannot wait for another season of capturing these moments. Scroll to see some of my favorites from their day.

How sweet and precious are these family photos? :’) They make me smile so big.

And the sister pic 😭

Moments after Salwa and Saad’s first look. So sweet.

south asian couple being photographed at the morton arboretum in lisle illinois

All image © Arielle Gallione 2023

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Artist's statement

hi, i'm Arielle.

I am an empathic lover girl. Gift giving is my love language. I love deeply, and am unwaveringly passionate about caring for others. Years of experience combined with an empathetic heart have allowed me to anticipate moments that truly capture the essence of your wedding day. I strive to create photos that feel perfectly, yet effortlessly, you. 

Your wedding photos should become apart of your legacy. They deserve to be family heirlooms. You should be able to look at them and remember exactly how you felt in those fleeting moments. 

I specialize in blending documentary photo journalism with fine art, creative portraiture. I aim to capture every moment with intention and care - from event design and perfectly curated details to the unedited joy of you on the dance floor with your best friends. From intimate, single night events to multi-day destination productions, I strive to tell stories within your photo galleries that are a perfect reflection of you. 

It is an honor to be the person behind the lens on your wedding day, and it is one that I will never take for granted.

xo,

Arielle

 

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Arielle has photographed over 250 weddings across 12 states, 6 countries, and 3 continents. While her heart beats for coastal and countryside Italian weddings, she is willing to travel anywhere and everywhere to document your day.

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spain and portugal

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july 2025

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© ARIELLE GALLIONE PHOTOGRAPHY 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED