The Drake Oak Brook Wedding | Veronica + Lauren

Love Stories

August 28, 2024

Veronica and Lauren’s The Drake Oak Brook wedding was curated with timeless details that perfectly complement the hotel’s beauty. When Lauren and Veronica reached out to me, I was thrilled about their vision for their wedding day! They both are so kind, fun, and down-to-earth, and spending time with them felt like being with friends (in fact, we plan on hanging out soon and getting drinks)! As an LGBTQ+ couple, they were very excited about having an LGBTQ+ photographer for their wedding, and of course, I was thrilled to work with them as well.

Lauren + Veronica’s Love Story

Lauren and Veronica met in high school and are going on 10 years together. Before getting married, they established their lives together. They bought a home, got teacup yorkie together, and now, at 28 years old, celebrated their marriage.

They both proposed to each other separately. Before Lauren came home from work, Veronica made a wonderful path of pictures leading to Veronica on her knee. She was surrounded by roses and balloons in their home and ask Lauren to marry her. Of course, she said yes! Lauren actually proposed to Veronica at The Drake Oak Brook. Prior to the proposal, Lauren and Veronica had a beautiful dinner with Veronica’s family under the pretense of her brother-in-law’s promotion. Then, Lauren surprised her with a fully decorated room with flowers and photos at The Drake Oak Brook for an overnight stay.

About The Drake Oak Brook weddings

Located in the west Chicago suburbs, The Drake Oak Brook is a stunning location for weddings. With over 22,000 square feet of wedding event space, 14 event rooms, and a 600-guest capacity, The Drake Oak Brook can accommodate weddings of all sizes. Both their indoor and outdoor spaces are gorgeous. Personally, I loved the Flower Room where the ceremony was held, and The Terrace, which was used for cocktail hour.

The Drake Oak Brook provides free on-site parking for guests, in-house catering, room blocks by request, tailored wedding packages, and more. A huge benefit of The Drake Oak Brook weddings is having space for getting ready, the ceremony, cocktail hour, the reception, and many gorgeous locations for photos without leaving the venue. Plus, with a hotel block, your guests can conveniently make their way up to their rooms. This means they can hit the dance floor all night!

Details of Lauren + Veronica’s The Drake Oak Brook wedding

Lauren and Veronica got ready separately with close family members, building up the anticipation for the day! They both wore absolutely gorgeous dresses that the other had not seen. For their first look, we headed to the gazebo. During their first look, they kept telling each other how beautiful they looked, and it warmed my heart so much. After photos in the gazebo, Cigar room, and around the hotel, they hid away while guests settled for the ceremony. The ceremony was amazing. Their vows were so sweet and definitely made me tear up! They joined cocktail hour, hugging their friends and family while enjoying some signature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. After transitioning to the Ballroom for the reception, guests enjoyed a delicious dinner. After, we all adoringly witnessed their first dance as wife and wife. Once the (light up!) dance floor opened, it was party time!

Kind Words from Lauren + Veronica

“From the moment my partner and I began planning our wedding, we knew that finding the right photographer was important. After much searching and numerous recommendations, we were fortunate enough to come across Tawny. Let me tell you, it was one of the best decisions we made.

Tawny brought a level of professionalism and warmth that instantly put us at ease. She took the time to understand our vision for the day and was genuinely interested in getting to know us as a couple. This personal touch made all the difference, as it allowed her to capture the essence of our relationship in every photograph.

On the day of the wedding, Tawny was an absolute delight to work with. She captured both the big moments and the small, intimate details without ever feeling intrusive. Her ability to anticipate the perfect shot was truly impressive. It’s evident that she has a good eye for lighting and angles.

When we received our wedding photos we were truly impressed; they were beautifully edited and presented in a way that perfectly captured the magic of the day. From the emotional exchange of vows to the celebrations on the dance floor, Tawny managed to encapsulate every aspect of our wedding with grace and precision.

In short, if you’re looking for a wedding photographer who not only delivers stunning images but also provides a personalized and professional service, look no further than Tawny. She has a true talent for capturing love stories. We couldn’t be happier with the memories she has preserved for us.

We are happy to say we feel we made a friend through the experience and are thankful for the comfort she provided for us on a whirlwind of a day.”

Thank you, Lauren and Veronica, for trusting me to document your day! Cheers!