Documenting all love stories near or far

Shelby Jane

November 17, 2022

Chicago City Hall Elopement | Iris & Bianca

FILED IN: Elopement

A wedding day flat lay with a mint green and white invitation for the LGBTQ couples elopement at City Hall in Chicago

One of the coolest & craziest things about photographing elopements, is that every once in a while I am contacted by the coolest couples who want to get married within weeks or sometimes even DAYS of their elopement ceremony.  Iris & Bianca were one of those couples.  Iris & Bianca contacted me on fairly short notice & I was over the moon excited that I was available to document their sweet elopement at Chicago’s’ City Hall.  They flew into the city from Dubai for their elopement & have since moved back to the US!

A pair of black chelsea boots and a container of Bleu Chanel perfume for one of the brides on their wedding day.
A pair of thin silver wedding bands, sitting on a white rose on the couples wedding morning.
A full wedding day flat lay including the couples custom vow books with their names on them, one of the brides chelsea square toe black wedding boots, two different perfumes, silver wedding bands, and white flowers, mostly roses, and tulips.

Getting Ready for Their Chicago Elopement

Iris & Bianca spent their morning taking things slow & getting ready at the Viceroy Hotel on the near north side of the city.  These two spent their morning sipping champagne & taking their time soaking up every moment together. I love when my couples are able to create time in their wedding or elopement days to take things a little slower & really take in all the emotions that they’re feeling. Iris & Bianca were both feeling the anticipation & after they had read their wedding vows to one another it was time to head to City Hall in downtown Chicago for their elopement ceremony.

A view of the city of Chicago from a high rise on an over cast day.
Both sets of the brides shoes sitting next to a window letting in a lot of natural lighting. One set of bridal shoes is a pair of black square toed chelsea boots and the other pair is a pair of low nude heals.
The bridal attire for both brides on their wedding day hanging in front of a white translucent curtain. One bride is wearing a white lace dress with a white blazer and the other bride is wearing black pants, a white button up and a white vest.
A bride gets ready on her wedding day, standing in front of a window in a skyscraper in Chicago looking at the camera. She wears a white silky button up with a black vest.
A bride gets ready on her wedding day, standing in front of a window in a skyscraper in Chicago looking at the camera. She wears a white lacy dress and puts in her earrings while smiling at the camera.
Orange flowers from the LGBTQ couples Chicago wedding day.
An engaged couple walks through Chicago's city hall with their masks on to get married at the Cook County Courthouse.

Their City Hall Elopement

We arrived at City Hall where we met up with one of Iris & Bianca’s friends who came to support them on this incredibly special day. It was such a cool thing for both of them to experience & an incredible experience to document. Chicago’s City Hall is such a beautiful backdrop for any elopement & the rich history of the building gives everything a true sense of purpose & importance. Iris & Bianca both lit up the moment they exchanged rings & were officially married! We made our way out of City Hall to the streets of downtown Chicago to celebrate their new elopement with some portraits.

A bride smiles at her bride across the courthouse room as they begin their marriage ceremony.
A bride smiles at the judge during her wedding ceremony to her future wife at the Cook County Courthouse.
Brides exchange rings during their wedding ceremony at the Cook County Courthouse.
Two brides hold hands during their wedding ceremony at the Cook County Courthouse.
Two brides hold hands during their wedding ceremony at the Cook County Courthouse.
Two brides hold hands and smile at one another during their wedding ceremony at the Cook County Courthouse.
Two brides kiss and hold one another after they are legally married at the Cook County Courthouse.
Brides stand together holding hands and looking directly at the camera after their wedding ceremony at the Cook County Courthouse
Brides celebrate while walking out of the building after their wedding ceremony at the Cook County Courthouse
Brides stand together exchanging their vows in a Chicago skyscraper with the Tribune Tower in the background.
Brides stand together exchanging their vows in a Chicago skyscraper with the Tribune Tower in the background.
Brides stand together exchanging their vows in a Chicago skyscraper with the Tribune Tower in the background.
Brides stand outside of Chicago City Hall in front of the iconic ornate gold doors, holding hands and smiling at one another.
Brides stand outside of Chicago City Hall in front of the iconic ornate gold doors, holding hands and kissing one another.
Brides stand outside of Chicago City Hall in front of the iconic ornate gold doors, holding hands and smiling at one another.
Brides stand outside of Chicago City Hall in front of the iconic ornate gold doors, holding hands and smiling at the camera.
Brides stand in front of the City Hall sign at the Chicago's City Hall immediately following their wedding ceremony. They are kissing and holding their hands up in celebration.
Brides stand in front of the City Hall sign at the Chicago's City Hall immediately following their wedding ceremony. They are holding hands and looking at one another.
Newly weds stand in front of the Chicago board of trade building in Chicago for their wedding portraits.

Photos Around Downtown Chicago

We snapped a few portraits directly outside City Hall before making our way into the streets of Chicago for the rest of their elopement photos. Having their ceremony in the morning, there weren’t a ton of people around when we were ready to take portraits. This created a crazy cool intimate experience in which we felt like we had this massive & beautiful city all to ourselves.  With photos in front of the Chicago Board of Trade Building as well as over & along the Chicago River we were able to fit in a ton of iconic views & architecture in their wedding portraits.

Newly weds stand in front of the Chicago board of trade building in Chicago for their wedding portraits.
Newly weds stand in the middle of a street in Chicago sharing an intimate moment with one another.
Newly weds stand in the middle of a street in Chicago sharing an intimate moment with one another. One bride kisses her bride on the forehead.
Newly weds stand in the middle of a street in Chicago sharing an intimate moment with one another. One bride kisses her bride on the cheek
Newly weds stand in the middle of a street in Chicago sharing an intimate moment with one another. One bride kisses her bride on the cheek
Newly weds stand in the middle of a street in Chicago sharing an intimate moment with one another.
Newly weds stand in the middle of a street in Chicago sharing an intimate moment with one another in downtown Chicago after their elopement.
Newly weds dance in the middle of a street in Chicago sharing an intimate moment with one another in downtown Chicago after their elopement.
Newly weds walk in the middle of a street in Chicago sharing an intimate moment with one another in downtown Chicago after their elopement.
Newly weds walk in the middle of a street in Chicago sharing an intimate moment with one another in downtown Chicago after their elopement.
Newly weds stand in the middle of a street in Chicago in front of the Chicago Board of Trade Building
A close up of the newly weds hands holding eachother.
Two brides hold hands after their elopement walking across the street in the Loop in Chicago.
Two brides stand on Dusable bridge during their wedding portraits in the city of Chicago
Two brides stand on Dusable bridge during their wedding portraits in the city of Chicago
Two brides stand on Dusable bridge during their wedding portraits in the city of Chicago
Two brides stand on Dusable bridge during their wedding portraits in the city of Chicago
Two brides stand and kiss on Dusable bridge during their wedding portraits in the city of Chicago
Two brides stand and hold hands on Dusable bridge during their wedding portraits in the city of Chicago
A bride smiles at the camera on her wedding day. She wears a lacy white dress and silver earrings
Two brides stand on Dusable bridge for their wedding portraits in the city of Chicago after their City Hall elopement.
A bride smiles at the camera on her wedding day. She wears a white button up shirt without a collar and a black vest.
Two brides stand on Dusable bridge leaning against one of its iconic pillars for their wedding portraits in the city of Chicago after their City Hall elopement.
Two brides hold hands on their wedding day during their portraits in the city of Chicago
Two brides sit together on the River Walk in Chicago holding each other close.
Two brides walk together on the River Walk in Chicago holding hands and smiling at one another.
Two brides walk together on the River Walk in Chicago holding hands and smiling at one another.
Two brides stand together in front of Merchandise Mart for their wedding portraits.
Two brides stand together in front of Merchandise Mart for their wedding portraits.
Two brides stand together in front of Merchandise Mart for their wedding portraits and kiss

I am still so ecstatic that I was able to be a part of Iris & Bianca’s elopement at Chicago’s City Hall, Not only were we able to make their elopement day work on such short notice, but we created & captured an experience that they both can cherish for years & years to come! For more love stories like Iris & Bianca’s head over to my blog, & to book me for your wedding or elopement head to my contact page.

A brides flowers sitting on a concrete step along the riverwalk after their courthouse wedding day.

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