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Hey, I'm Chelsea.

I'm a Chicago wedding photographer and videographer who's on a mission to take the stress out of wedding planning, one anecdote, gif, and movie
quote at a time.

When Mary and Curt first reached out about their Barrington White House wedding, they said “we want our day to be timeless and full of love and laughter.”

I think it’s safe to say they nailed it.

Oh, you don’t believe me? Well see for yourself:

A Barrington’s White House Wedding

Getting Ready in the Same Spot

I do a little happy dance every time couples get ready in the same house or on the same hotel floor. In this instance, the girls got ready on the second floor while the guys were tucked away on the first floor. 

Being right next to each other creates a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere—especially if you’re an anxious person.

Case in point: the girls were running a little bit behind schedule (it happens). When you’re getting ready across town, grooms can feel a little out of the loop. In this case, I just ran downstairs, filled the guys in, and let Curt know he could sit back and relax for another 20 minutes.If you’re an anxious person, it adds a layer of reassurance: if you need anything, your best friend’s just down the hall. It also adds a buzz of energy because the person you’re about to marry is right there. It’s real. It’s happening.

A Ceremony Full of Personal Touches

I cannot emphasize this enough: make your ceremony feel like your relationship.

An easy way to do that is through the ceremony music. In this case, Mary—a huge Swiftie—walked down the aisle to Bridgerton’s instrumental cover of Wildest Dreams.

Seriously, Bridgerton’s soundtrack is *the* go-to spot for ceremony music.

Mary and Curt also had a close friend officiate their wedding. There’s something special (ok, and emotional) about having someone you know and love standing with you. They’re there to:

  • Recap your love story.
  • Feed you your lines when your mind blanks from excited nerves.
  • Hand-off your wedding bands with a supportive smile.
  • Get a little teary-eyed when they finally pronounce you married.

If you’re thinking about having a friend marry you, check out these amazing officiant journals (created by my favorite wedding officiant, Liz Rae & Co). They’re full of prompts to help you write a personalized wedding ceremony.

Use the promo code WHITEQUILL at checkout to save 10%.

A Simple Reception in Barrington’s White House Ballroom

My favorite part about Mary and Curt’s reception was how intimate it felt. Instead of having an elaborate wedding party introduction and a slew of toasts, they kept things simple (and let their wedding party shift into guest mode).

After being introed as the newlyweds, Mary and Curt cut their cake, gave a little thank you toast, and spent the rest of dinner mingling with loved ones. Then, once dinner was cleared and formal dances were done, the party started.

Complete with a Taylor Swift dance-off, *obviously*.


Kind words from the couple

“Oh. My. God. Thank you so much for everything – we’re obsessed and we can’t stop watching the video. We can’t wait to settle in and watch the full-length videos. I think you’ve made our month! You have captured these moments so beautifully and you are such a light- we’re so lucky to have gotten to meet you!”


The Wedding Vendors

Venue: Barrington’s White House // Photographer: Kimberly Rensburg Photography // Videography: White Quill Creative // Hair & Makeup: White Lotus Weddings // Florist: Mayfield Flowers // DJ: Style Matters // Catering: Catered By Design // Cake: Orland Park Bakery

Still in the market for a wedding videographer?

Let’s chat! Whether you’re getting married at Barrington’s White House or another Chicagoland venue, I’d love to hear more about your one-of-a-kind wedding plans.