MORTON ARBORETUM WEDDING PHOTOS: CHICAGO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER MELISSA MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY: TONY + CHRISTINA

This is one of those weddings (and one of those couples) I’ll remember forever! And I’m not just saying that because I in the name of “getting the shot” did one of the dumbest things I’ve done in my career by trying to fly my drone in the literal pitch dark, without a gps, amidst thousands of laser and holiday lights. I landed it by a random building not knowing where in the world that building was. (Thankfully, it was about 3 football fields away). Let me just interject here, that I swear I looked up the Morton Arboretum’s drone policy before this. Let’s just say, the firm yet gracious security guard very much so thinks there's an actual policy. Sorry!! (But man, what I got to capture was epic!!) It was a Christmas miracle that I recovered that drone on the ground not a tree or lake amidst the 1,700 acre property! As ridiculously dumb of a decision to take my drone out was, I'll always remember that Tony + Christina's panoramic glass ceremony & reception overlooked the heart of the Morton Arboretum's holiday light show: Illumination. People pay a lot of money to walk through it for a short time. It was the backdrop for the entire evening of the wedding! It was absolutely spectacular! (Even more so from 200 feet up!) (: As phenomenal as the laser light show for the entirety of the wedding was, and as miraculous and elated I was to have found my drone, I really will remember this couple forever. They are some of the warmest, most genuine, most caring for me being me (over a wedding photo genie) people. They also happen to be really beautiful on the outside too. (: There's weddings that I get bummed that are over but I know I'll keep in touch with these two. So I'll leave it at: It was absolutely incredible to capture this chapter for you guys. Can't wait to see what the next ones lead to!