TWIN ORCHARD COUNTRY CLUB LONG GROVE ILLINOIS WEDDING: CHICAGO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER MELISSA MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY: ROBBY + EMMA

I think there's false assumptions about many wedding venues. Ballrooms are what you get when you have too many guests to fit anywhere else. Backyards are for the DIY'r on a budget. City hall is for the emergency. Eloping isn't an actual wedding, but a vacation. And a country club is going to be as manicured as the golf course that will be in all your photos. Could these be actual reasons to choose a venue? Sure. But I personally think they're super false assumptions. (Or at lease could/should be). We followed the golf caddy to the "most popular" spot on the green for wedding photos. I said: "Awesome, thanks so much. We're going to face the opposite direction." (: Of course the manicured grass with the little wooden arched bridge would be where most weddings who come to the country club would take their photos. (And nothing wrong with that option. ) But unless the bride and groom are the most avid golfers in life, or are about to tee it up, I think there's so more story to be said amidst the venue. (Just as there's more beyond the (false) assumptions of a ballroom, backyard, courthouse, or elopement weddings.) So what'd we choose instead of out on the green? For their engagement photos we strolled around their tree lined neighborhood. The spots they pass through daily as they walked their adorable pup. So it felt fitting to stroll again for the next great chapter in their story. This time amidst the gorgeous sweeping trees of their gorgeous venue, Twin Orchard Country Club. And this time, as husband and wife! Robby + Emma, I'm so incredible happy for you guys! Your style is as effortless, whimsical, timeless, and fun as you two are! I adore you two! Your'e a perfect match! So excited to see what the future holds for you!