Kaity + Josh’s Chicago City Hall wedding had a RAINBOW appear, a rare thing to happen on a wedding day. To this queer couple, however, it made total sense.

Their Story

Josh and Kaity met 10 years ago while in college at George Mason University in Virginia. Having met once or twice through mutual friends in their co-ed service fraternity, they sat down on the same couch at a party one night and started to chat, and just never really stopped. During their first year of dating, Kaity studied abroad in Budapest and Josh (with very limited PTO at their first job) was only able to come visit for a long weekend. When Josh told one of Kaity’s professors that they had only been able to make a short trip but wanted to come, the professor turned to Kaity and seriously told her, “This is true love. Don’t lose this.”

After living together for a year in Virginia, Kaity and Josh were ready to make a change. So in June 2017, they packed up what few belongings they could afford to bring with them and moved halfway across the country to a tiny studio apartment in Chicago so Kaity could attend graduate school at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Over the past 6 years, they’ve built a life together. From making friends and building community, a tradition of Friday morning breakfasts together at favorite local spots, to shared hobbies like their community garden plot and thrifting for their apartment in what they consider to be the greatest American city.

Chicago City Hall Wedding

We started off at the City Hall marriage court downtown. Kaity + Josh brought 2 friends with them to celebrate and be witnesses. Once it was their turn to get married, we were brought into an small room where the judge conducted the quick ceremony. After a few portraits around the building, the newlyweds and I made our way to the Montrose Bird Sanctuary. Our jaws dropped as we watched a massive storm pass over the city just a few miles south of us. This particular weather pattern created the perfect conditions for the setting sun to hit the clouds to the east, creating a stunning rainbow.

Our next stop was a cemetery close to the couple’s apartment in Uptown. Kaity + Josh told me about how they loved to take long walks by the headstones during the pandemic, so taking portraits there was incredibly meaningful. After a few more photos outside of their home, I congratulated them once more as they went up to prepare for a celebratory dinner with friends.

Will I ever photograph another Chicago City Hall wedding with a rainbow? The chances are slim. Good thing I have these photos to obsess over the meantime! :)

Florals: Field & Florist