“What size should I order my canvas?”  We get asked this question numerous times throughout the year, and the answer is always the same.  As large as your budget will allow.  There is nothing worse than choosing your favorite wedding pictures, placing a canvas order, taking it home and hanging it on a big wall, then having a sudden feeling of disappointment.  ”It’s too small!”

A properly sized canvas can enhance your beautiful photographs and immerse you into the picture while also bringing back those wonderful feelings of the wedding day.  All while beautifying the home you and your husband share.

To give you an idea of what a print will look like once you get it home, we’ve created this awesome wall cluster example.  You’ll notice that the traditional print sizes just don’t do your wedding photography justice once they’re put on the wall.

If your in the process of planning your wedding, would like Corlis and Megan to capture your wedding, or just would like to talk, please fill out our easy contact form or email us at info@chicagoillinois-weddingphotography.com

Chicago Wedding Photographer | Corlis Gray Photography | Destination Wedding Photographer

Here is the followup post to Tailor and Tom’s beautiful Danada House Wheaton, IL wedding sneak peek.  Visually, the Danada House is a top notch wedding facility.  The main part of the house is a beautiful vintage mansion accented by amazing rich colored woods and a gorgeous courtyard containing a water feature.  The grounds are kept pristine with many trees, flowers, and open expanses.  There are beautiful white stables located in front of the house that give this location vintage charm.

The only thing that gives the Danada House any more character is this wonderful couple.  Taylor and Tom are such an amazing team, and were just so wonderful to work with.  They just oozed love out of every pore.  And fun!  Lemme tell ya, these two knew how to have a great time!  They had me set up an open air photo-booth, but didn’t even get to use it themselves until the end of the night.  You couldn’t pull them off of the dance floor lol.  Their guests on the other hand took full advantage of the photo-booth. There was a line out of the door of people waiting to take some absolutely hilarious pictures.

Needless to say, my wife and I had a wonderful time laughing and celebrating this amazing day with some truly amazing people.

Destination Wedding Photography | Chicago Wedding Photographer

If you enjoyed this wedding please feel free to comment below.  If you’d like to contact me you may either click the Contact Us icon on the bottom tool bar or click the Chicago wedding photographer contact link on the top menu.  You may also call me at Phone: 630.800.7582 or email me at Email: info@corlisgrayphotography.com.

You can view more Chicago Illinois wedding photography here Chicago wedding pictures Amy + John or here Chicago wedding photography Amy + Chad.

Chicago Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photography

Check here for more Naperville engagement photography, and Naperville river walk photographer here.

You can view our contact information here Chicago wedding photographer contact or call us at Phone: 630.800.7582.  Email: info@corlisgrayphotography.com.  You can also just click the Contact Us button on the bottom menu bar, or click the Chicago wedding photographer contact link on the top menu.

P.S. Congratulations Amy & John!!!  See more DIY wedding photography here.

Chicago Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photography | Downers Grove Photographer

Here’s a sneak peak at Amy & John’s vintage chic DIY wedding It’s hard to pick my favorite details on this one! Let me know which ones are yours

See more DIY wedding photography here, and DIY wedding photographer here.

See more Patrick Haley Mansion photography here.

This wedding took place at the beautiful Patrick Haley Mansion in Joliet, IL.  Lexie was such a beautiful bride her new husband Rich was a hoot.  We had a great time together.  We started the day at Lexie’s mothers beautiful Shorewood home.  Then traveled to downtown Joliet for some fun shots near the Realto Square Theatre.  We ended the day at the Patrick Haley Mansion where the ceremony and reception took place.  It was a beautiful day and we had a blast partying the night away with an awesome bride and groom.

Thank you Lexie and Rich for the great time and the new friendship!!!

Chicago Photo Booth | Downers Grove Wedding Photographer | Chicago Wedding Photographer

See more beautiful Chicago engagement photography here, and Chicago engagement photographer here.

What can I say…it was 9 degrees, the wind was blowing, everyone in Chicago was bundled up (including myself), long story short…THIS WAS NOT ENGAGEMENT SESSION WEATHER!!!  Little did I know I had some troopers on my hands .  Amy and Chad were dressed for fashion…not the cold.  We met early afternoon at Chicago Union Station.  From the windows it looked like it was a pretty nice day.  Looks can be deceiving.  After getting some really cute candid shots in and around Union Station, we took a cab to Grant Park.  LOL…it hadn’t been plowed, shoveled, or salted.  Poor Amy in those cute pumps.  She maneuvered the snow like a pro.  After some beautiful shots with the sun setting behind the buildings, we took a LONG stroll towards Millennium Park.  Stopping for a beverage and to warm up at the Congress Hotel.  Chad “claimed” he wasn’t that cold.  I think he was just being tough .  Amy on the other hand was obviously cold because her feet were BEET RED!  Oh no!  Next on the list was Millennium Park.  We got to the Bean just as the sun was making it’s last peek through the buildings.  All of the Christmas lights were a-glow.  People were hustling and bustling all around taking in the sights, and skating on the ice.  It was picturesque to say the least.  Like a scene from Serendipity.  I felt like an outsider while John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale found each other in the middle of New York.  Except it was Chicago, and I think Chad and Amy are better looking .  We then headed into the Millennium Park Cafe’ to, you guessed it, warm up again, and have another cocktail.  After Amy’s feet turned from a sort of crimson color to a more manageable pink we headed out for another “short walk” down Michigan Avenue to the Tribune building.  That’s where I caught this awesome moment of the two love birds kissing while the cars whizzed by.  A little patience and a slow shutter speed and voila.  All in all it was a pretty amazing day with some pretty amazing people.

We had such a fantastic time with you guys…thank you Chad and Amy for being such good sports.  We’ll be seeing you again soon

-Corlis

What can I say, I love backyard weddings.  Especially when they’re in small towns.  Everyone coming together, family, friends, neighbors.  It’s amazing sometimes how two people falling in love can bring an entire community together for one special occasion.  This wedding was shot at Goose Lake near Coal City, about an hour or so south of Chicago.  I love how they incorporated their love for lake life into their wedding.  Here are some of my favorite photographs from the day.  See more outdoor Chicago-land wedding photography here, and outdoor Chicago-land wedding photographer here.

I fell in love with this antique Cadillac De-Ville.  The shallow depth of field really draws your eye to the badge.

Here’s another shot of the car, this time with the bride sitting on the back.  I like the contrast of the white dress, black car, and the colorful bouquet.

Instead of dad walking his little girl down the aisle, they rode together in an antique boat that he rebuilt himself just for her wedding.  It was really touching, and a little stressful since he was still working on it up until a few minutes before the wedding.  This was the maiden voyage.

I can’t say it enough, REAL SMILES, that’s what makes my job so wonderful.  It is just so satisfying to capture a true expression of happiness.

LOL.  I had to include this one, just because this was the only expression I could coax from this little guy the whole day.

An old dock, a beautiful sky, and two beautiful people dressed in all white wedding apparel.  What’s not to like?

Thank you guys for the really fun time and the boat ride…haha.  Me and Michelle had a great time!

-Corlis :: Contact Me!

Chicago Wedding Photographer | Naperville Wedding | Destination Wedding Photography | Chicago Photo Booth

When it comes to beautiful ceremonies, this one takes the cake!  This beautiful wedding began at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, IL.  The ceremony took place at the exquisite church Queen of the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church which is  located  LaSalle, IL.  Finally, the reception took place at Oak Ridge Golf Club in Seneca, IL.  As a Chicago wedding photographer I get the opportunity to travel to a lot of wonderful locations all over Illinois.  These are some of the best when it comes to rustic beauty!  See more Seneca Oak Ridge wedding photographer photo’s here, and Seneca Oak Ridge wedding photography here.

The natural light coming through the stained glass in this church was simply amazing.  It allowed me to shoot without a flash and capture all of the shadow and light detail.  What I love about this photograph is stunning shimmer of the gold wall.

Shooting from the organ/choir loft here gave me a different perspective and allowed me to capture more of the detail of this beautiful wall.

The shallow depth of field in this image draws your attention to the emotion in Audrey and Marks faces without losing the beauty of the background.

Here the architectural detail of the balcony adds to the drama of this high fashion group shot.

Getting down low and using the low sun to silhouette

Thank you guys for the wonderful time!  We had a great time taking the golf carts for a ride and freezing our butts off LOL.

-Corlis :: Contact Me

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Here is the classic story of two highschool sweethearts  dating for 10 years then finally taking the plunge.  Ok, so maybe that’s not so classic, but it’s a nice story anyways.   I could tell it was worth the wait by the way I kept catching these to gazing at each other like it was still puppy love.  They hadn’t let the years dwindle the fire that still burned uncontrolled within then.  It was very romantic.  The wedding and reception took place at CD & Me in Frankfort, IL.

Wedding Photography | Naperville | Chicago | Photographer | Frankfort, IL

Wedding Photography | Naperville | Chicago | Photographer | Frankfort, IL

Wedding Photography | Naperville | Chicago | Photographer | Frankfort, IL

Wedding Photography | Naperville | Chicago | Photographer | Frankfort, IL

Wedding Photography | Naperville | Chicago | Photographer | Frankfort, IL

Wedding Photography | Naperville | Chicago | Photographer | Frankfort, IL

We had a great time partying with you guys!  Thank you so much for letting us spend your special day with you.

-Corlis :: Contact Me!

Frankfort, IL | Destination Wedding Photography | Chicago | Naperville | Wedding Photographer | Chicago Photo Booth

I couldn’t tell you where this location was exactly.  Our initial meeting place was going to be Gebhard Woods in Morris, IL, but when I arrived there the park was closed! Oh no! As usual I showed up about an hour early, so I started driving around frantically looking for another location.  Ben and Emily had expressed to me that they wanted a nature “theme” for their engagement session.  So I immediately thought back country roads, which aren’t in short supply in Morris.  I came across this parking area in the middle of nowhere that looked as though there were hiking trails.  I took a quick stroll and surveyed the area.  This was it!  A quick call to the happy couple and some, albeit, hazy directions and we were all set.  Ben and Emily were great sports and we ended up getting some wonderful shots.  See more Morris, IL engagement photography here.

Wedding Photography | Naperville Wedding | Photographer | Morris, IL | Chicago

Wedding Photography | Naperville Wedding | Photographer | Morris, IL | Chicago

Wedding Photography | Naperville Wedding | Photographer | Morris, IL | Chicago

Wedding Photography | Naperville Wedding | Photographer | Morris, IL | Chicago

Wedding Photography | Naperville Wedding | Photographer | Morris, IL | Chicago

Wedding Photography | Naperville Wedding | Photographer | Morris, IL | Chicago

It was a beautiful day with some beautiful people.  Thanks for all the fun you guys!

-Corlis :: Contact Me!

Morris, IL | Destination Wedding Photography | Chicago | Naperville | Wedding Photographer | Chicago Photo Booth

This amazing wedding took place at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, IL.  Just about an hour and a half southwest of Chicago.  Starved Rock has to be one of my favorite places for a wedding getaway.  The lodge is beautiful and the scenery is second to none.  This wedding was no exception.  I have to say, Laci and Ian are, what I like to refer to as, “beautiful people”.  We all wish we were as good looking as these two.  At least I do, lol.  It was virtually impossible for me to take a bad picture of them.  To top it all off, they were genuinely just good hearted people which made my job just that much easier.  For this Chicago wedding photographer, this is as good as it gets.  See more Ottawa, IL wedding photographer photo’s by Corlis Gray here, and Ottawa, IL wedding photography here.  You can also see Laci & Ian’s Chicago engagement session here.

I probably looked pretty silly from other people’s perspectives, but laying on the floor and adding a slight camera tilt, gave this shot a little edginess.

Here the shallow depth of field draws your attention to the groom gazing at his soon to be wife.

I love the very editorial look of this photograph.  The punchy colors ad to the drama of this photo.  Just a small note, this was NOT posed.  I just captured a really stunning moment of Laci gazing out the window of the trolley, just soaking in the days events.

Here the shallow depth of field and the sharpness of Laci really brings out her eyes.  They are almost mesmerizing.  It doesn’t hurt that she’s done some modeling either.  LOL.

In this image I placed a flash behind Laci and Ian as they were dancing to capture a silhouette of them dancing while using another flash to give a slight fill light.  With the long shutter speed I could grab some of the ambient light surrounding them and in the background.  I think it’s a wonderfully romantic image.

Ian and Laci, you are truly two very wonderful people, and I wish you all the best.  Your wedding was almost as rockin’ as you!

-Corlis :: Contact Me

Chicago Wedding Photographer | Naperville Wedding | Destination Wedding Photography | Chicago Photo Booth

Congratulations you guys.  I wish you all the happiness in the world!  And don’t forget you promised to name your baby after me LOL

Your Friend,

Corlis – Contact Me!

Joliet | Destination Wedding Photography | Chicago | Naperville | Wedding Photographer | Chicago Photo Booth

So being that they have more school loans than the U.S. deficit, but all the love in the world (literally).  God was smiling on them one day and led them to me.  I just so happen to do 3 pro bono weddings per year for couples in exactly their predicament.  After reading the most heart warming email from Abby, I decided to meet with them.

We met in a little coffee shop in Morris, IL called Brewed Awakenings.  From there we sat over a couple hot cups of joe and got to know each other.  The rest is history.

See more Starved Rock engagement photographer photo’s here,  Starved Rock engagement photography here, and Starved Rock engagement photos here.

Here is their engagement session shot at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, IL

Thank you Abby and Ben for the great time we had!

Your Friend,

Corlis – Contact me!

Destination Wedding Photography | Chicago | Naperville | Wedding Photographer | Chicago Photo Booth

Ben is a VERY talented pianist in Chicago.  Abigail studies monkeys in Africa.  When I put it that way you might assume these two couldn’t be more different, but you’d be wrong.  Being that Ben is a musician, and his name isn’t P-Diddy or John Mayer, he isn’t exactly making billions.  Abigail is, what I consider to be a genius of sorts, holding something like 1,000,000 degrees in anthropology, so she’ll be paying off school bills until her grand-kids have grand-kids.  They don’t have all the money in the world.  What they do have in excess is LOVE.  Not just any kind of love.  Hot pink, Hollywood, roman candle, kinda love.  I thought I knew what love was until I met these two.

So being that they have more school loans than the U.S. deficit, but all the love in the world (literally).  God was smiling on them one day and led them to me.  I just so happen to do 3 pro bono weddings per year for couples in exactly their predicament.  After reading the most heart warming email from Abby, I decided to meet with them.

We met in a little coffee shop in Morris, IL called Brewed Awakenings.  From there we sat over a couple hot cups of joe and got to know each other.  The rest is history.

Here is their wedding shot in Seneca, IL.  Just a couple hours outside of Chicago.

See more outdoor DIY wedding photography here.

The shallow depth of field and the grainyness of this image really add an artistic feel to this image that I love.

There is nothing better than capturing the true happiness and excitement of a bride.

Ben and Abbi, I just can’t say enough great things about you guys.  You are two very wonderful people and I wish you all the best throughout your lives.

-Corlis :: Contact Me

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