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Milledge Wedding

An Estate Wedding at 255 Milledge

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Based in Chicago and photographing celebrations across the globe, we are a team of talented photographers dedicated to capturing the heart of your story. 

the LAUREN ASHLEY TEAM

There are some love stories that don’t rush, they settle in.
Mimi and Jack’s began in college, built on friendship first, the kind that feels steady, easy, and certain. The kind that quietly turns into forever. From the very beginning, their relationship felt like home. And that feeling shaped everything about their estate wedding at 255 Milledge!


Milledge Wedding

The Setting, Intimate, Effortless, and Entirely Them

255 Milledge is one of those rare venues that doesn’t feel like a venue. It feels lived in, warm, and personal.

Their ceremony took place in the garden tucked behind the estate, surrounded by greenery and soft light. It didn’t feel staged. It felt like a backyard gathering, the kind where people linger longer, laugh louder, and truly connect.

That was the intention.

Not a ballroom.
Not a production.
A celebration.

And it showed in every detail.


The Moments That Mattered Most

Some weddings are remembered for how they looked.
This one will always be remembered for how it felt.

Mimi’s favorite moments weren’t about perfection, they were about presence:

  • Getting ready with her best friends and family, calm, emotional, grounded
  • Their first look, quiet, intentional, and deeply personal
  • A private dinner together, just the two of them, taking it all in
  • The dance floor, filled with energy, connection, and everyone they love in one place

Every part of the day created space for them to actually experience their wedding, not rush through it.


Milledge Wedding

From Nerves to Presence

Before the ceremony, Mimi carried a quiet weight.

Not about timelines, or details, but about how she would feel.

She wanted to be present. To take it in. To feel like herself.

And then everything shifted.

The moment she walked down the aisle, it all softened. The nerves disappeared. What replaced it was something deeper, joy, clarity, and the overwhelming feeling of being fully loved.

That moment, when everything becomes real, is why this matters.


Advice From the Couple

Mimi and Jack did something right that so many couples overlook.

They chose intention over chaos.

Their advice:

  • Do a first look
  • Take your couples portraits and immediate family photos before the ceremony
  • Give yourself space during cocktail hour to actually be with your guests
  • Make it a goal to speak to everyone

Because your wedding isn’t just about the photos.
It’s about the people in them.


Milledge Wedding

What Comes Next

This is only the beginning.

Mimi and Jack are heading to Italy in May for their honeymoon, a trip that feels just as intentional as their wedding day.

After that, they’re stepping into a new season, building a life together, growing their family, and trusting in God’s plan for what’s ahead.

And if their wedding day was any reflection of what’s to come, it’s going to be full of connection, purpose, and a whole lot of love.


Final Thoughts

Some weddings impress you.
Some stay with you.

This one stayed.

Because it wasn’t about doing more.
It was about feeling more.

And that’s always where the magic is.


Milledge Wedding

We Would Love to be Your Wedding Photographer

It would be an honor to become a part of your wedding team. We create that timeless keepsake of your big day you’ll love forever. Myself and my team of wedding photographers at videographers at Lauren Ashley Studios will go above and beyond to capture the atmosphere of your special occasion, and share it with passion and authenticity.