King & Opal

Name: King & Opal
Address: Chicago, IL, US
Telephone: +17738313339
Rating: 5

Weddings // Elopements // Portraiture

THE WILD, IN LOVE
(1)

12/31/2025

To the couples who trusted me with your love stories in 2025 ~

THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU, & I MISS YOU!!!! 🥂✨

Every invitation into your lives has been such an honor ♥️. Not just to photograph weddings, but to be welcomed into families, friendships, quiet nerves, long hugs, inherited traditions, and the beautiful gravity that pulled everyone together. It's a gift to witness, document, and immortalize love in its many forms.

This years weddings took place beneath chandeliers in historic Chicago ballrooms, inside the marble walls of City Hall, under old oak trees on a Wisconsin farm, in art museums where beauty is protected and deliberate, in a concert venue + arcade alive with energy, surrounded by candlelight in a speakeasy, in posh downtown Chicago hotels and revered cathedrals, and on rooftop terraces overlooking the city. So much fun & goodness.

I adore you all so, so, soooo much. Thank you for choosing King & Opal. You supporting my artistry directly impacts my ability to provide for my son and my family while doing work that fortifies my optimism and hope. I will NEVER take any of this for granted.

Thank you for shaping 2025 you beautiful baddies!!!

As the year closes, my wish is for us all to hold onto what’s good in this wild shared life. 💕 CHEERS!!!!

xo mariah

.enaa
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12/27/2025

Madison & David 💘 :: Part 2

[Digital & Film]

Dinner, dancing, and ci**rs on the rooftop terrace ✨

Couple:
Planner: Natalie Meletsis
Hotel:
Venue:
Florist:
Hair & Makeup:
Bridal Gown:
Rings: & custom from grandmother’s wedding ring
Bridesmaids Dresses:
Invitations:
Cake:
DJ:
Photography:
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10/19/2025

Madison & David 💘 :: Before their wedding day, Madison secretly booked a bridal bo***ir session with me to create a surprise gift for David ~ a stunning photo book she gave him as a wedding gift. He had no idea she and I had been scheming (and becoming fast friends) behind the scenes, at one point he was even worried he hadn’t heard from me in a while 😅.

Love these two!

Their day started with them getting ready separately, and then meeting for their first look along the Chicago Riverwalk. We then cruised around downtown shooting portraits before heading to Bottom Lounge on Lake Street for their ceremony.

[Part 1 of 2]

Couple:
Planner: Natalie Meletsis
Hotel:
Venue:
Florist:
Hair & Makeup:
Bridal Gown:
Rings: & custom from grandmother’s wedding ring
Bridesmaids Dresses:
Invitations:
Cake:
DJ:
Photography:
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09/23/2025

[Part 2] After spending the afternoon roaming the city for portraits, Erica and Will exchanged vows on the rooftop of the Royal Sonesta with the skyline wrapped around them. A light rain moved through downtown Chicago, and guests covered their heads with the black fans set out on each seat. Erica and Will never wavered, completely elated 💕 laughing through it all.

The night carried on exactly like that: joy pouring out of them, the dance floor alive with their friends and family. And before the night wrapped, we slipped away for portraits under the Chicago Theatre marquee.

Cheers to your love & life together, E & W ✨
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Couple:
First look:
Venue:
Planner:
Florist:
Hair & Makeup:
Bridal Gown:
Bridal Shop:
Bride's Accessories:
Rings:
Bridesmaids Dresses:
Gromswear:
Cake:
Invitations:
Transportation:
DJ:
Photography:

09/18/2025

Erica & Will found us all the way from Washington DC. They tucked 'King & Opal' into a spreadsheet of photographers. Next to our name? “Over budget.” 😝 But they shuffled things around deciding we were worth it. And my goodness, I'm so happy they did.

These two are wildly in love, the kind of love that just spills over and makes everyone around them see stars. They carved out FOUR HOURS for taking photos around the city 💕, starting with their first look in the beautiful South Garden at the Art Institute. We then took a train ride through downtown for a little cinematic drama, a stroll on the lakefront by the planetarium, and portraits on the bascule bridges over the river.

Unforgettable joy with these two. So thankful to get to be even a small part of love stories like theirs, witnessing and reflecting back just how gorgeous their reality is. 💘

[Part 1 of 2]
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Couple:
Venue:
Planner:
Florist:
Hair & Makeup:
Bridal Gown:
Bridal Shop:
Bride's Accessories:
Rings:
Bridesmaids Dresses:
Gromswear:
Cake:
Invitations:
Transportation:
DJ:
Photography:

09/06/2025

Sabrina & Nick added film to their wedding package, so alongside digital I ran a full analogue setup: 35mm Kodak Portra 400 on the Contax G1, Lomography 110 on the Minolta Autopak 460 Tx, and circle frame polaroids on the Polaroid Now+. Shooting in tandem with digital lets me capture the clean frames while embracing all the leaks, drags, and shifts that make film so special. 🎞️📸✨
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Couple: .sabs
Planner:
Venue:
Florist:
Hair & Makeup:
Bridal Gown:
Bridal Shop:
Bride's Accessories: (veil) (earrings) (necklace)
Bride's Shoes:
Rings:
Gromswear:
Tailor:
Catering:
Rentals:
DJ / Music: (DJ)
Videographer:
Content Creator: .co
Photography:
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08/22/2025

Year 5 reflections ~ Forever grateful to all who've chosen King & Opal 💕 I swear I get to work with the coolest couples & families. You keep sweetness and connection central in my life ~ what a gift this is. Your trust means everything to me, and gives me a strong sense of purpose in my work. Thank you for appreciating what I do, welcoming me in to admire and eternalize such a deeply special chapter of your life together. I love you!

Now booking 2026 💥

CHEERS TO THE WILD, IN LOVE

xo, Mariah

07/29/2025

Talena & Derek 🥂✨ :: (Part 2 of 2) Newlywed portraits by the Chicago River, followed by a gorgeous reception with friends and family ~ white flowers, sparkling crystal accents and disco balls, endless champagne, an epic dessert table, & late night dancing.

Digital + Film

Couple: Talena & Derek .enaa
Planner: (Rabia Hamidani)
Hotel:
Church:
Reception Venue:
Florist:
Hair & Makeup:
Bridal Gown: BERTA
Bridal Shop:
Shoes:
Bridesmaids Dresses:
Cake & Desserts: Seba Desserts
DJ:
Videography:
Photography:

07/24/2025

Talena & Derek 🕊️ :: (Part 1 of 2) The early hours.

From the bridal suite on the 20th floor of the Trump Hotel to their ceremony at the gorgeous Holy Name Cathedral, Talena and Derek’s wedding day was luxurious and heartfelt.

A first look above the city, a ceremony that honored tradition, two white doves released into the sky. Champagne popped, and a wild fun celebration followed.

Digital + Film

Couple: Talena & Derek .enaa
Planner: Rabia Hamidani - Simply Elegant
Hotel: Trump Hotel
Church: Holy name Cathedral
Reception Venue: Belvedere Chateau
Florist: Yanni Design
Hair & Makeup: Glam Atelier
Bridal Gown: BERTA
Bridal Shop: Ultimate Bride
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bridesmaids Dresses: Revelry
Catering: Banquet Hall
Cake & Desserts: Seba Desserts
DJ: Dj Donatas
Videography: Idealine Cinema
Photography: King & Opal

06/14/2025

Emma & Danny's wedding at Morgan Manufacturing in Chicago was such a jaw-dropper! Just look at these florals & this dressssss. 🌸

Couple: .light.rap
Planner:
Hotel:
Wedding Venue: .mfg
Florist: .designcollective
Hair: Blohaute
Makeup:
Bridal Gown:
Bride's Accessories: Heirloom (grandmother)
Bride's Shoes:
Stylist:
Groom's Custom Suit:
Groom's Tie:
Groom's Shoes:
Invitations: .milestones
Catering:
Ice Cream Truck:
Music:
Videographer:
Photo Booth:
Photography:

05/06/2025

Ariane & Jeff :: Their wedding reception at The Rookery. ✨ White orchids & candlelight (Part 2)

Mix of digital & 35mm film

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Couple:
Planner:
Church:
Venue:
Florist:
Hair & Makeup:
Bridal Gown:
Bridal Boutique:
Bride's Shoes:
Rings:
Bridesmaids Dresses:
Catering:
Cake:
Invitations:
DJ:
Transportation:
Videographer:
Live illustrator:
Photography:

Address

Chicago, IL

Telephone

+17738313339

Website

https://www.kingandopal.com/

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