Roslyn and Art.... for many reasons we are so excited for you both! The photos from your engagement session are so fun and we can't wait to celebrate with you soon!!! We can only imagine what Lindsay Cohen at Designer Event Chicago is going to create for your upcoming engagement party!

xoxo,

~ Dawn and Bob

Thank you to the team at Inside Weddings for selecting Jen and Chad's wedding to feature in the Fall 2015 edition. We're always so grateful to the Publishers Walt and Art, and Editor, Nicole. Thank you Reva Nathan & Associates who planned this wedding and HMR Designs who brought it all together at The Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio. Chad proposed to Jen on his Bravo TV Show Million Dollar Listing Miami, he's not shy at all.

An absolute honor to be featured on Inside Weddings recommendations for best Instagram accounts to follow for wedding inspiration. I know our IG account is fairly new, and we are working hard to make it a success. Thank you to our dear friends at Inside Weddings for including us! To be surrounded by so many talented vendors makes us so very happy! Be still my ❤️. Come join us in the fun www.instagram.com/bobanddawndavis/.

This colorful wedding at the Chicago Botanic Garden is featured in http://www.theknot.com Fall-Winter 2015 edition and we couldn't be more happy for Rocio and Cyrus. A million thank yous to Carly Jackson and Rebecca Crumley at The Knot for selecting this wedding. We wouldn't have met this couple if it wasn't for Claire Weller at Big City Bride, big hugs girlie!!! She, along with Studio AG Design did an amazing job bringing their dream wedding to fruition!

What an honor to see Lauren and Justin's wedding featured in Modern Luxury Brides - Atlanta June 2015 edition. Thank you Phebe Wahl for selecting their beautiful wedding at Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation to be featured... such an incredible honor! Hugs and kisses to all who made this wedding a dream come true for Lauren & Justin!

We are truly grateful to Stacy Saltzman for introducing us to this beautiful family. I mean, who doesn't love when you get to leave a meeting with a handful of delicious bakery goods?

Sammi's dad, Marc, is a fifth generation bakery owner. His grandparents started Leonard's Bakery in 1908 on the south side of Chicago. Marc opened the current Leonard's in Northbrook in 1987 and wow, it's incredible! You must go there and try his Kiddish Cake. It's so delicious!

We felt an instant connection with Sammi and Lee... and Marc. They were all so inviting and it was wonderful getting to know their story. Sammi and Lee met in high school and had dated for 10 years before he proposed at Walt Disney Exhibit at the Museum of Science & Industry. The perfect spot close to home because Sammi was a huge Disney fan!

I lost it a little bit when Sammi shared the loss of her mom. Sammi is an only child and she was best friends with her mom, Judy. They talked about wedding plans together ever since she got engaged. Judy didn't make it to Sammi's wedding but there is no doubt in my mind that her mom was there every step of the way as she planned the most magical wedding ever. Sammi and Lee celebrated her mom throughout their entire wedding with a beautiful poem, and a beautiful letter which they wrote to her. Judy became an artist in her later part of life and painted the most beautiful painting for Sammi and Lee when they moved into their apartment. They hung this painting in the room where cocktail hour was and all the guests were taking photos with it.

I could go on and on about how incredible this family is, in fact, I sit here with tear filled eyes writing this post. Bob and I are so thankful to know them and to have photographed this important day in their lives. Sammi and Lee... and Marc... thank you, thank you, thank you for trusting us with your wedding day!

Thank you to Rich Chapman for 2nd shooting this wedding with Bob! We couldn't have done this without you!

xoxo!

~ Dawn and Bob

When I met with Elizabeth at her condo in Chicago I knew instantly that she was just an amazing young woman. When she smiled she lit up the room. We talked for a long time and then conferenced her mom into our meeting. It was obvious to me her kind soul was inherited from her mom.

Elizabeth and Danny met as undergraduate students at Notre Dame. Their first date was at a Starbucks. They'd been dating for 5 years before Danny proposed. It was the weekend Danny graduated from Norte Dame Law School. Elizabeth thought they were just celebrating his graduation, little did she know he was going to kneel down in front of the Grotto and ask her to marry him. This is where their adventure of wedding planning began. While being a medical student in Chicago and planning a destination wedding, it was no easy task.

As you can see from their wedding at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. It was beautiful and we were so honored to have captured this important day for them!

We wish Elizabeth and Danny a lifetime of happiness together!

xoxo,

~ Dawn and Bob

It was a cold January night, the stars were so bright, and Lauren and Justin were game when Bob asked them if they were up for an adventure! They braved the weather and this is one of the images that he captured. One of my favorite images from the day!

Ready for Day 2 of 3 of our Real Wedding Workshop? The BIG day.... Lauren and Justin's beautiful wedding at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation. We certainly were... all 19 photographers. Yes, this is always crazy... but crazy fun!

Lauren and Justin visited Hawks Cay Resort in Florida every August around his birthday since they started dating in 2011. Little did she know when he made it a couples trip with three of her best friends and their husbands, in 2013, that he would be planning a little surprise for her that would change her life forever. Their first day there, they all spent the day boating. As they were walking back to the resort, hand in hand, she said to Justin that she wanted to make this an annual trip for them and bring their kids one day. That's when he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him with the promise that the resort would always be their special place.

A year and a half later, their wedding day had arrived. The most beautiful day - picture perfect! The sun was shining and everyone was smiling. Lauren and her bridesmaids have an incredible bond, they love each other like they are sisters. Justin and his boys are equally tight, and his dad was his best man. How cool is that? The love that surrounds them is undeniable. Lauren looked incredibly beautiful in her stunning Rivini gown with a gorgeous pair of satin red Badgley Mischka shoes with an embellished peep toe. The Rivini jewelry she wore was equally beautifully. All her college friends have been passing down a Gator garter, and they each have it monogramed after wearing it. I mean seriously, that is the best! Her girls all wore Amsale with a faux fur grey wrap, while Justin and his boys were looking dapper in their slim fit tuxes by Black by Vera Wang. I'd say this was a beautiful bridal party!

Their first look was like no other! It took place on a spectacular bridge, surrounded by trees everywhere which made for a romantic setting and so many photographic opportunities. Lauren and her daddy headed to the Christ Our King and Savior Catholic Church in a white 1966 RR Princess Vanden Plas. Can it get any better than this? The service was beautiful. I think I cried through the whole thing, it's a good thing I wasn't holding a camera... lol.

The cocktail hour took place in The Forest on the Ritz property, with hanging bistro lights, beautiful lanterns everywhere, and beautiful lounge furniture, not to mention the view of the lake in the background. The cocktail hour music was dedicated to Lauren's late Grandmother who loved Frank Sinatra. The food served had a southern flare including tomato soup with heart shaped grilled cheese... just incredible!!! Their winter southern wedding was romantic and classical with beautiful red roses everywhere! Their reception was in the Ballroom and the decor took your breath away when you walked in. The entertainment, the cake, the dessert table, the first dance, the speeches, the sparkler exit... OMG...

I think I've said too much.... so why not discover for yourselves how incredibly beautiful this wedding was. A huge thank you to Lauren and Justin and their families for welcoming our group with open arms. They treated us with such grace and I just can't thank them enough for all their kindness. Same to Ashley Scott at the Ritz, who was truly an amazing coordinator! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Then we have Tracey Taylor and Dee Green who also assisted us as well. They came all the way from Japan to help us. We met them at our 3rd Real Wedding Workshop in Nashville, and these beauties have become dear friends. Without this them, we would the coverage of this wedding would never be what it is... so thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!!

Lauren and Justin, we love you both and wish you a lifetime of happiness together!!!!

xxoo!!!

~ Dawn and Bob

Ps: Be ready for Day 3 of the workshop up next...

After an incredible wedding day, we began Day 3 of our Real Wedding Workshop reviewing images from the wedding. Also, recapping what Bob had shared on Day 1 and the wedding day. After that, I shared how we grew our small town business to success and my love for sales, marketing and branding. It's awesome when you learn how to attract the client that appreciates your talents and doesn't try to micro manage your business.

We're certainly not perfect, but with the mistakes we've made we have constructed building blocks that have brought us further than we ever imagined. I believe that everything happens for a reason and if we look at mistakes as lessons learned, they are not mistakes at all. It's like dating someone that is not good and breaks your heart. You learn what is not acceptable for your next relationship. And if you're lucky, you'll meet the person of your dreams. I've had a few not-so-good relationships that weren't right for me. But they all prepared me for what I knew I wanted in my husband. I'm a lucky girl.

Anyway, we spent the morning talking business. I know it's not every photographer's favorite thing, but it's a necessity. Most would rather be out shooting and learning how to take better photos. That's great, but truth be told, you can be the best photographer in the world and fail if you don't know how to run a business. It's equally important, if not more, to learn the business side.

After lunch, we later joined Lauren and Justin for a final photo shoot, this time on the Ritz ice skating rink. They were champs, they partied all night and were still up for more photos the next day! How cute are they?

Another once in a lifetime experience. Thank you to all our amazing photographers who joined us. Jensen Bell, Pam Bell, Whitney Bower, Marisa Carey, Christina Corneau, Melissa Del Vecchio, Greg & Theresa Favello, Jasleen Kaur, Chrissy Kruger-Gruendyke, Greg Moran, Sebastian Orr, Felix Peter, Shayla Samples, and Rochelle Wilhelms WE LOVE YOU ALL...!

Bob, I, and our team, Michele, Tracey Taylor and Dee Green left exhausted, as I'm sure they did as well, but we left with such happy hearts. We had many repeats attendees and made several new friends. We are blessed and so happy to share our love in an industry that is filled with so many creative people!

Lauren, Justin, and your families.... thank you again for trusting us with your wedding! And letting all our photographers share in your day! We love you and can't thank you enough for your kindness!!!

All our love,

~ Dawn and Bob