May 26, 2022

The Cook County Courthouse

Chicago, Illinois

Yuriy Sardarov and Madeleine Kim's intimate Chicago courthouse elopement looks like something out of a fashion editorial spread. The couple decided they wanted something intimate and out of the box for their wedding. So they flew from Los Angeles to Chicago, the city where they both grew up.

I met them at the courthouse in downtown Chicago for a brief wedding ceremony. The basement location wasn't conventionally glamorous, but it had an undeniable charm. We made the most of the courthouse escalators, the revolving door, and the old pay-phones by incorporating them into our photos. I loved the editorial edge that the courthouse lobby gave to the shoot.

After the ceremony, we went to explore the city, first stopping at the Chicago Cultural Center and then at the Art Institute of Chicago. We had a blast roaming through the exhibits, looking at the art, and searching for the perfect lighting. The Art Institute had Madi coat-check her flowers, but in exchange they gave us free tickets to the Cezanne exhibit to celebrate the wedding! We finished at Millennium park, where we were met by Yuriy and Madeleine's families for photos before they went to celebrate together with a special family dinner at Avec.

I love shooting elopements. Having a relaxed timeline allows for more space to explore, get creative, and showcase the couple's unique personality. If a wedding without all the stress of organizing a big event sounds dreamy, then I highly suggest an elopement. Yuriy and Madeleine were so much fun to shoot with. Their wedding day was full of laughs, hugs, and amazing memories in the city. I can't wait to see what the next chapter of their lives has in store!

Reach out about booking your elopement session.