NFL Defensive End & Notre Dame Volleyball Alum Tie the Knot at Notre Dame Stadium

We had so much fun weaving this color palette consistently in each of the event details. The stunning invitation and day of paper goods and signage by Ciarra Claire Fine Art were a truly personal touch, combining hand calligraphy, embellishments, and overall branding that gave a nod to the inspiration found in the locations and the thoughtful luxury of the entire experience. At each place setting, every guest received a unique menu, personal place card, custom bonbons in a shamrock dish, and a monogrammed handkerchief, all of which was assembled together with color, texture and floral garden details. The texture and color in the specialty linens and mise en place pairings brought a true nod to the timeless yet elegant look of the couple’s iconic look. These beautifully captured moments on film by Clary Pfeiffer Photography detail the thoughtfulness of Madeline and Dean’s celebration from beginning to end. The aesthetic beauty was only heightened by the intimate moments between them and the intentional touches added for themselves and their loved ones. We hope this day inspires a timeless yet highly thoughtful and fun approach to luxury celebrations.

A custom Eisen Stein Bridal gown custom designed to fit Maddie's athletic style.

The bridesmaids (Dean’s three sisters) coordinated blue Badgely Mischka dresses to match the romantic sweet pea bouquets.

The groomsmen wore custom tuxedos.

There were dozens of specialty custom desserts and drinks.

We worked with the incredibly talented floral and event design companies, Life In Bloom and Elegant Events Lighting, to create stunning moments of fabric, draping, signage and floral installations that brought together the intimate yet elevated space they were looking for. The floral vignettes flowed naturally throughout the reception space, from a show-stopping ceiling installation above the monogramed dance floor to a giant sweetheart table arch backdropped by the floor to ceiling windows overlooking campus. The lush tablescapes brought together dynamics of lush color and varying height mixed with warm candlelight, all of which paired perfectly with the most romantic sweet pea bouquets for the bride and her detailed Eisen Stein Bridal gown and the bridesmaids’ (Dean’s three sisters) coordinated Badgely Mischka dresses.

It was a sugar flower cake by Sweet Heather Anne with French blue vignettes to match the ceiling installation and dance floor.

Madeline and Dean knew without a doubt that the University of Notre Dame was the perfect spot for their summer wedding. One of the most special parts of the celebration planning process is connecting to the place in which you celebrate, and Madeline and Dean found their “spot” on the beautiful university campus in the heart of the Midwest, not far from either of their immediate families in Illinois and Indiana. Not only is Notre Dame Madeline’s alma mater, but the Basilica and the ballroom at the football stadium are both special places that incorporated Dean’s Irish Catholic family and added just enough athletics for the NFL defensive end and Madeline’s volleyball history. With athletics being such a deeply rooted part of the couple’s life and families, every detail of the space felt like a natural tie to who they are and where they’re headed. We also wanted to ensure that we captured the overall experience of the day both from the couple's and their guests’ standpoints. This is one of my top priorities as a planner and designer - to work alongside the incredible professional team to provide couples with not only a stunning space, but the ability to cherish the beauty of the moments together both alone and with their guests. From quiet moments at the grotto to the bagpipes leading the way between the iconic Basilica and football stadium, live music, and delicious food - there truly was not a detail spared that the couple hadn’t thought of tailoring to this incredible experience.

The wedding had live fashion illustrations each guest could take home with them.

The escort card display used the couple's first dance song (Starting Over | Chris Stapleton) as the inspiration.