I have a soft spot for couples who know what they want, and Nicole was one of those brides from the very beginning! Nicole was a bridesmaid in Kate’s wedding, so when she reached out in October of 2025 about her own 2027 wedding… I was so excited to hear from her! I loved getting to photograph Kate & Brian’s wedding, and it’s always such a compliment when a past couple sends their friends my way. It makes getting to know each new couple feel that much more special.

And I have to give Nicole a little shoutout for being on top of things! She booked her engagement session early – love! This meant she was able to get first pick of a summer weekend and we could take our time with everything leading up to the session. Future brides, take note! If you’re planning to use your engagement photos for save-the-dates, giving yourself plenty of time is such a gift. No one wants to feel rushed when it comes to choosing photos, designing your save-the-dates, and getting everything finalized.

For their engagement session, Nicole was deciding between Villa Terrace in Milwaukee and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Both locations take a little extra planning, but I always appreciate a bride who has a vision for her photos. And while it may have been one of the hottest days of August… The Chicago Botanic Garden was SO worth it!

We had the most gorgeous light and so much room to explore. There were almost too many beautiful options, in the best possible way! We could wander from one spot to the next, stopping whenever we found something that caught our eye. The gardens gave us so much variety while still keeping everything bright, clean, and natural, which was exactly the feel Nicole loved about my work.

Chicago Botanic Garden Engagement Photos

Of course, an engagement session is about more than just taking pretty photos. In between posing and exploring, we caught up on all of the life that has happened since we last connected. Nicole and Alec filled me in on the latest wedding plans, and I loved hearing more about their vision for the day. We gushed over Nicole’s wedding dress, talked about their color palette, and leaned into all of the beautiful browns and neutrals they’re planning to incorporate.

And if their engagement party is any indication, this is going to be one big celebration! Nicole and Alec both come from huge families, and their engagement party alone had more than 100 people. Their September 2027 wedding is going to be quite the day! I already know it will be filled with so much love and a whole lot of people who are excited to celebrate them.

September of next year feels like it’s light years away right now, but we all know how quickly wedding season sneaks up on us. Before we know it, these engagement photos will be sitting alongside their save-the-dates, the final wedding details will be coming together, and we’ll be getting ready to celebrate their big day.

Nicole & Alec, I’m so glad Kate sent you my way! I loved getting to spend this evening with you both, hear all about the plans, and wander the gardens together. Your wedding day is going to be one for the books. I cannot wait to see it all come together!

Jillian Photography is a Chicagoland wedding & senior photographer serving Naperville, St. Charles, and beyond. Get in touch with Jill here & follow along on social for what’s happening behind the scenes!

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