We started the day with all the ladies in the home where Kerry was raised. It was relaxing and comfortable with makeup and hair being done in the dining room, breakfasts and snacks in the kitchen area, and general miscellaneous other things (lounging, singing along to 1989 TV, and steaming dresses) happening all around. The McCartan home is so warm and beautiful and I loved being able to capture the start of the day there, in a place Kerry knew so well.

We went straight to the church after that for the ceremony, then out to Walker Homestead for photos and the reception. It was a chilly day, but the sun kept popping out for bits of warmth and, thankfully, the strong winds from the day before were gone.

I have absolutely loved getting to know Kerry and Spencer! Their tennis engagement session was one of my favorites ever and they are both so kind and energetic and fun. I knew their wedding day was going to be a delight, but I admit, I still gasped with joy upon seeing Kerry’s gown.

Kerry & Spencer met in early 2022 in a bar, talking about tennis and then setting up a time to play each other. This past Christmas, Spencer recalled knowing Kerry was the one: “Before Christmas, I was skiing and coming back, got stuck in the Southwest cancellations. I thought I was going to miss our planned Christmas together before Kerry went back to Iowa. I got on a flight eventually and talked to Kerry through the night. She picked me up in the morning and we had a wonderful day together doing Christmas things with my family. I knew we’d have a beautiful life together.”

He proposed a couple months later. “The week before the proposal, Kerry and I went to the ballet and my mom also went with her friend. She handed off my great-grandmother’s ring to me that I was going to give to Kerry. I wanted to propose somewhere that was a special place in Chicago because that’s where we’re going to make our life together and also somewhere that had a connection to an activity we like to do together.”

“Spencer had booked a skating slot at the Maggie Daley Ribbon downtown. When we got to the rink, he kept falling behind. Little did I know he was scoping out the perfect spot! Eventually, he told me he wanted to show me his new trick and got down on one knee on the ice.”

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Photography: Emily Crall Photography

Venue: Walker Homestead

Wedding Planner: Soiree

Florals: Willow & Stock

Cake Artist: Anne Spencer

Band: Diamond Empire Band

Makeup: Beauty by Melissa

Hair: White House Salon

Bridal Gown: The White Room

Alterations: Ette the Wedding Tailor

Groom’s Suit: Todd Snyder

Invitations & Paper Goods: Allegra and Papier

Jewelry: New York Jewelers Chicago

Rentals: R & D Event Rentals

Church: St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church

Transportation: Express Limousine Service

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

I won’t lie, Kerry’s niece, Lily, was so fun to photograph and she made a cameo in many shots!

I adored that everyone wore their own dress. The variation of colors, textures, and styles was so fun!

The sun was really finicky that day. You can see in the photos (look for the shadows) how it kept coming out and then back behind clouds again. It felt so nice when it was out, and it was truly cold when it was gone. Compared to the day before, however, the raging wind was gone and, for that, I was most thankful!

Remember at their engagement session when they played tennis? They joined a croquet club in Chicago (significantly bringing down the average age) and it felt just perfect to bring the game to their reception.