Fridays are for intimate and romantic ceremonies at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. If you don’t agree now, you definitely will when you’re done looking through Kat + Rex’s stunning minimony at the MCA on Good Friday (it was more like GREAT Friday, though, am I right?).

A Perfect Spring Day

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky when I met up with Kat, Rex (full name Frederick), their officiant Kari of Wedding Day Chicago, and their two witnesses. We had timed tickets to go in right as the museum opened, so there weren’t many other people around. It was like we had to whole place to ourselves! The sun was shining, the sparrows were singing away, and these two love birds could not WAIT to tie the knot. After all, Kat + Rex have been together for a VERY long time.

Their Story

“Our story is not the classic romantic love story,” Kat told me. “We first met each other through Frederick’s sister, who I worked with at a doctors office. I was a senior in high school and Frederick was a freshman in college. We started as friends. Fast forward three years and our friendship grew to more. After 14 years of being together, here we are! We have grown so much together during the pandemic. We bought our first home in October and have become pretty successful in our careers. There was no proposal! We had a conversation about us while making dinner when Rex suggested that we should get married. We are truly each other’s best friends and can’t wait to continue to grow together.”

A Memorable Minimony

We all followed Kristi, the amazing Event Director of the MCA, to our ceremony location on the second floor. The gorgeous light that poured through the east-facing windows gave the room a new life, right on par with the Springtime mood. The very moment Kari the officiant began to recite some beautiful words was when everyone started crying. It was clear that this was a very powerful moment for all. Sniffles from the witnesses, Kristine and Christina, echoed through the hall as Kat + Rex said their “I do’s” followed by a masked-kiss. The couple didn’t know it at the time, but even I wiped a tear from my eye as they said their vows.

Museum Portraits

After the emotional ceremony concluded, I took Kat + Rex out into the back lawn of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago to take some photos of them as newlyweds. These two are SO goofy! We played around on the grass and the concrete steps as passer-bys congratulated them from behind the fence. We did some cute boops, kisses and runway catwalks in the grass followed by other shots within the MCA itself. Kat + Rex frequent the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, so they were eager to have these photos represent the beauty of the museum they cherish so deeply.

I was honored to have captured this incredible day for Kat + Rex. Their love is infectious, beautiful, and authentically them. I can’t wait to see what lies next for these newlyweds. Congrats! :)

Florals: Youth & Yarrow

Rings: Mejuri

Jumpsuit: Lulus

Suit: Zara

Officiant: Kari Thirsk of Wedding Day Chicago