Studio Ostendo operates in multiple creative fields including photography, design, and education.
Molly and Zach had a beautiful late summer wedding at the Armour House in Lake Forest. Reminiscent of an opulent Great Gatsby house party, the setting of the Armour House was the perfect backdrop for Molly and Zach’s wedding celebration!
The Armour House is a historical mansion and gardens completed in 1908. Built as a private summer home for the Armour family, its lavish grounds and old world architecture bring European charm to life. With many pieces imported from Paris, Vienna, and London, the mansion was thoughtfully designed for the Armour family. One of the most celebrated pieces in the mansion is the curving staircase, built with the wedding day of the Armours’ daughter in mind. Now the mansion belongs to Lake Forest Academy and is available for weddings and other events.
With both indoor and outdoor spaces for weddings, the Armour House is a beautiful wedding venue in Chicagoland. With its unique European inspired gardens, it is absolutely stunning, and a perfect backdrop for a wedding celebration!
Molly loves to travel and the Armour House was the perfect inspired location to celebrate an Italian garden style wedding with family and friends just a few minutes away from her parents’ home. The gardens remind her of the Boboli Gardens in Italy, and she and Zach were so excited to descend the grand staircase into their reception filled with loved ones!
When it came to the design and details of their black tie wedding at the Armour House, Molly and Zach pulled inspiration from the natural setting—pulling colors from the grand staircase floor and the natural flora on site.
Thinking back on Molly and Zach’s wedding day, it was such a joy to watch them enjoy time with their family and friends. From the moment guests started arriving for the wedding ceremony in the gardens, Molly and Zach were constantly engaged in long hugs and conversations. With a late summer sunset during cocktail hour, the sky was ablaze as cocktail hour ended and guests meandered inside to continue the celebration. In conversations with their guests and loved ones, we could tell their relationships with each person in attendance were meaningful and cherished.
Photographing weddings is personal work and I love the humanness of the process. Kaleb and I were able to photograph Molly and Zach’s engagement photos in Chicago a few months before their wedding, and they shared a favorite local bar/restaurant they love with us for their photos.
I’m Becky, a photographer based in Boise, Idaho where I live with my favorite guy and our son. I grew up on the south side of Chicago and travel back often to photograph weddings in Chicago. I love photographing weddings—the celebrations that mark the beginning of lifelong stories that are so significant. Being invited into the most personal celebrations and intimate stories is one of my greatest privileges as a photographer. Beyond amazing locations and beautiful details, I love photography because of the people. Camera in hand, I simultaneously get to know people and give them the gift of seeing a deeper part of themselves and the people they love.
Get to know me or send me an inquiry, I’d love to connect with you if you’re looking for a Chicago wedding photographer!
Wedding photography is my heartbeat. For me, it holds the perfect tension between creativity and authenticity, observation and connection. In front of my camera clients transform to friends, and behind it you'll usually find me tearing up, cheering you on, or holding my breath because of the raw goodness of the moment at hand.
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