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Paige and CJ could’ve gone the route of an extensive guest list—but they chose something more personal. Keeping things exclusive and intimate, focus was on their inner circle at this wedding.
Paige doesn’t chase the spotlight, but it lands on her anyway. She gives off a quiet magnetism that lifts the whole room—like everyone starts showing up a little more present, and a little more real without even thinking about it. CJ’s got that old-school confidence. The kind of guy who could close a deal in a hoodie—charm in the voice, handshake like a promise. He’s got that rare mix of street smarts and polish, the kind of presence that feels both familiar and unshakably composed. There’s something timeless about him—cool without the show, classic without the costume.
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Together, Paige and CJ feel like balance in motion—grace and grit, warmth and wit. They don’t need a spotlight to command a room; their energy does it for them. That same effortless connection carried into their wedding.
It wasn’t flashy or overdone—it was grounded, thoughtful, and real. Like good bourbon: smooth, with bite, and no need to prove anything. Just the kind of night that lingers long after the last song fades out.
The day kicked off in May 2022 at the Old Lake Courthouse in Crown Point, Indiana—a venue that feels more like a period film set than a traditional ceremony space. Regal without the ego. Classic without the cliché.
Then came the reception, set lakeside at the Light House Restaurant on Cedar Lake. It was one of those Sundays that felt stretched out—bright, warm, with that lazy-town buzz building as the day moved forward.
By choosing spots just off the radar, Paige and CJ didn’t just book a venue—they owned the entire town. They were the only couple getting married that day. And it showed. The day moved slow in the best way—intentional, unrushed, and quietly unforgettable.
You start to wonder, looking at the guy… was he born mid-toast, like the universe handed him a drink and a spotlight and said, 'go ahead, steal the show’?
He really was Gatsby. We’ve got the photo to prove it.
As content director, I brought a small but sharp 3-person team—tight crew, no excess. It ended up being the perfect rhythm for a wedding like this. No bridal party. No packed dance floor. Just enough space for real moments to breathe.
Paige and CJ didn’t perform the day—they lived it. They dipped in and out of the spotlight like it was second nature. One minute with the crowd, the next quietly off on their own, recalibrating. That retreat-and-return tempo gave everything a natural pulse. We just had to follow it—and hit record.
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The moment that set the tone for everything came just before the ceremony. Guests were seated, music starting to play, and just outside the courtroom doors—Paige and CJ stood, backs against the same wall, just around the corner from each other. Still apart, but close enough to feel the presence.
Unfiltered, unplanned, and absolute cinema.
No first look. No grand reveal. Just a quiet exchange of handwritten letters, passed hand to hand. They read them aloud in low voices, like they were telling secrets to the only person in the world who needed to hear them. A pause before the plunge. And true to their rhythm all day—they took that private moment for themselves before stepping back into the celebration together.
Unfiltered, unplanned, and absolute cinema.
“See how the day unfolded—watch Paige and CJ’s full wedding highlight below.”
Want to see more? Browse their full photo gallery [here].
The Story Continues - Valentines Day Pregnancy Announcement Video
Three years later, I linked back up with Paige and CJ for another chapter—this time, a pregnancy reveal.
It started like any other double date: my girlfriend and I joined them for a casual Valentine's night in downtown Chicago. But knowing them—and me—it didn’t stay casual for long. We kicked things off at the Trump Hotel, where I caught a few styled shots of them getting ready. Dinner followed at Smith & Wollensky on the Riverwalk. And true to form, Gatsby as ever, CJ picked up the tab in exchange for me documenting the night.
From there, things got cinematic. We moved through the city like a roaming film crew—every corner turned into a set, every glance a shot lined up. At one point, I stepped outside, launched a drone, and flew it straight across the river toward their restaurant window—because if I see the shot, I take it.
What started as a simple pregnancy reveal turned into a celebration-meets-shoot-meets-night-to-remember. The kind of evening that leaves behind more than just photos—it becomes part of the story.
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