Union League Club Chicago Wedding | Ashley & Stephen

The 2025 wedding season has arrived. Kicked it off with a Union League Club Chicago Wedding for A&S. It was a chilly March Saturday (typical for Chicago) but with the sun shining it was a beautiful day. The pair wed at Old Saint Patrick’s Church in Chicago, followed by a quick tour around the city before returning to Union League Club for their cocktail hour and reception.

2025 Season Kickoff

This season feels a little calmer than last, and I have a few months before my second wedding of the year, so I felt very recharged and centered walking into this day. Additionally, I walk into the presidential suite at ULC and find none other than Joey Claeyssen, one of my favorite makeup artists in Chicago, doing my sweet brides makeup. I am so grateful I prioritized building better relationships with Chicago vendors over the last 5-6 years, because it is such a joy to work wedding days with wedding pros who are friends.

I am striving for a year led with intention. It is always my goal to serve my clients before myself, so this year is no exception. Reminder to any photographers reading this: create for your client not your portfolio. They trust you to document their day and preserve their memories. Shoot for them, not for you.

Union League Club Chicago

The first styled shoot of my career was at ULC in 2016. It was a learning lesson as a young photographer. Namely, because I shot it for someone else and never saw the images after that lol. And I haven’t shot a wedding there since then. So I considered this *my Union League redemption* and it was amazing to reflect on how I have grown since the last time I walked through those doors to scrolling through Ashley and Stephen’s wedding preview.

A little about the venue. The Union League Club of Chicago was founded in 1879. It is a prominent civic and social club founded during the Civil War to support Abraham Lincoln and preserve the union. Cool right? Now imagine what kind of history this place holds. The art collection within it is insane (they recently sold a Monet for $10 million) – and the halls of the hotel and ballrooms are adorned with incredible pieces.

The Wedding

Albeit chilly, the sun was shining and Ashley and Stephen’s day was joyful, fun, and quintessential Chicago. After the ceremony, we hurried over to my favorite place for portraits, The Art Institute. IYKYK, but as an AI member, anytime any of my clients want to shoot there it’s an immediate yes. If you’re looking for a classic Chicago spot that feels more like Europe than Chicago, it doesn’t get any better. Especially in the warmer months, when the Gardens are open. I am counting down the days until they are.

Following the Art Institute, we trollied over to the Lyric Opera House to quickly snap some wedding party photos. Due to the cold, it was short lived, but we finished up in the grand staircase of the ULC before cocktail hour began.

Cocktail hour was capped off by a Shannon Rovers performance (a very Irish Catholic Chicago thing), and guests were welcomed into the grand ballroom for the reception. The couple opted for The Andrew Blake band over a DJ, and they did not disappoint. Most of my 2024 couples opted for a wedding band over a DJ, and I can say that I absolutely get it. Bands bring such a fun energy to your reception, especially for those who love live music.

It was such a lovely day, and I am honored to have been a small part of it. Scroll to see some of my favorites!