Illinois Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

A Sweet Summer Wedding Chicago Surrounded by Unexpected Wildlife

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The color palette of ivory and dark green harmonized with the incredible architecture of our venue and our blush and ivory floral arrangements[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The vision of the day was “The Mane Event”. Being the first wedding reception to be held in Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo Lion’s Den, the couple, along with their wedding design team, wanted to embrace the lion’s home as a key role in their wedding day. Guests were surrounded by families of lions as they enjoyed cocktail hour and reception events. The design included a magnificent combination of elegance and uniqueness.
As one of the largest wedding parties we have photographed to date, it was very important to the bride and groom that they were surrounded by all of their friends and that everyone had fun.

“Our wedding day was everything we could have ever dreamed of. Sean’s uncle married us at St. Michael Catholic Church in Old Town and after, we celebrated at the Pepper Family Wildlife Center (Lion House) at Lincoln Park Zoo. I chose a Winnie Couture satin a-line gown adorned with lace details and exposed boning, coupled with a lace cathedral length veil. Our color palette of ivory and dark green harmonized with the incredible architecture of our venue and our blush and ivory floral arrangements, carefully crafted by Thistle & Plume. We chose a menu that encompassed some of our favorite foods, including a seared filet mignon and a blackberry mojito salmon. Vanille, one of our go-to local bakeries, created the most beautiful and delicious three-tiered wedding cake. We danced with our closest family and friends all night to Bluewater Kings Band, and were absolutely delighted that the lions decided to join the evening all night! Elle Taylor Photography captured each moment perfectly for us to remember forever, and Ohana Events turned each dream into a reality for us on the best day of our lives.” – From the Bride[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]”Sean, knowing Christmastime is my absolute favorite time of the year, planned the most perfect holiday proposal. We went to dinner in Gold Coast at one of our favorite steakhouses, Gibson’s, and then went for a walk to see the Christmas tree at the Waldorf Astoria. As we approached the tree, he knelt down and reached for the hidden “present” engagement ring. Our entire family ran out to surprise and celebrate with us. Having everyone together in that moment meant the world to us. It will forever be one of my favorite memories!” – From the Bride[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]I chose a Winnie Couture satin a-line gown adorned with lace details and exposed boning, coupled with a lace cathedral length veil.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”][/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]We chose a menu that encompassed some of our favorite foods, including a seared filet mignon and a blackberry mojito salmon. Vanille, one of our go-to local bakeries, created the most beautiful and delicious three-tiered wedding cake.
The bar menu was complete with signature drinks to represent where the couple got engaged and their favorite things. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

The Lion’s Den was a blank slate before the design team began. With an abundance of rentals for drapery and decor.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The wedding cake was a simple and classic white tiered wedding cake, complete by dotted detail and floral decor. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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Elle Taylor Photography

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Chicago Rooftop Wedding Lush With Thousands of Pink Roses!

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Blush pink and ivory, with green and gold accents
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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]The vision was to create an airy and ethereal indoor-outdoor experience with a romantic, ‘enchanted floral fairy tale’ vibe. To bring their vision to life, they created an outdoor garden on the rooftop of Chicago’s Navy Pier for the ceremony, overlooking Lake Michigan. Music played a key role in the evening, setting the tone as the bride walked down the aisle to Taylor Swift’s “Enchanted.” Following the outdoor cocktail hour timed to a picture-perfect sunset, the reception was held in the venue’s glass atrium where the twinkling stars outside joined with glowing globe lights inside to create a magical night vibe. Once the new couple was formally introduced and the band started to play, the vibe turned from romantic to full on, non-stop dance party, complete with bride and groom ‘body surfing.’[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]When Andrew asked Sloane’s parents for her hand in marriage last August, he learned that Sloane’s dream was for an outdoor summer wedding the following year, which would not be an easy task, especially given the Covid wedding backlog. So early the next week, Andrew ordered an engagement ring and then promptly contacted his and Sloane’s favorite band, Gold Coast All Stars. Learning they had only 1 summer 2023 date available (September 9th), Andrew bet on a positive proposal outcome and immediately reserved the band! With date in hand, Andrew and both sets of parents got to work behind the scenes to stealthily scout and secure an ideal venue that would accommodate their size group and fit Sloane’s vision before they were all taken. They narrowed to three venues they thought the bride would love and put a hold on them.
A few weeks later, the ring was ready and Andrew had one more secret to plan. He told Sloane they were going to lunch with one of his clients to make sure his soon-to-be fiance would be picture-worthy when the stealth photographer captured the special moment. On the way to “lunch,” they stopped at the beach with their beloved mini Bernadoodle Waylon in tow for a pre-arranged doggie playdate there. The playdate turned into a proposal and Waylon was part of the lasting memory.

Once Sloane said “yes,” Andrew revealed even more surprises — that they already had a wedding date, band and 24 hours to select one of 3 venues. The rest of that day, Sloane was swept off her feet with pre-arranged hair and make-up appointments, a family dinner at Ema Restaurant, followed by a festive engagement party at The Godfrey Hotel rooftop, where family and close friends flew in from New York to California as part of the surprise. The very next morning, Sloane toured the three venue options and signed on the dotted line — her dream for a summer 2023 wedding would indeed come true![/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Sloane wore a made-to-measure couture Mira Zwillinger gown from Ultimate Bride, the exclusive distributor for Mira Zwillinger in Chicago. She chose the Limka gown from the Winds of Wonder collection, a strapless A-Line gown with form-fitting corseted bodice, all-over 3D floral embellishments and matching veil. The dress fit Sloane’s figure and her romantic floral fairytale vibe perfectly.
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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The 13 bridesmaids wore gowns of their own choosing, each in a shade of blush pink highlighting their personal style, creating a visually diverse while still cohesive look. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The groom and groomsmen each wore fitted tuxedos with suspenders and bow ties…socks optional. [/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Hors D’oeuvres: A variety of passed appetizers were served, including the groom’s favorite lamb chops, and a sushi station for the mother of the groom
Signature Cocktails: Bride – Skinny Margarita; Groom – Old Fashioned; Waylon the Mini Bernadoodle – Lavendar Lemonade Mocktail
Entrees: Guests had their choice of beef tenderloin, sea bass or vegetable risotto
Dessert: Wedding cake, S’Mores Station, Stan’s Donuts, Sweet SHOT Cookies, Mini Dairy Queen Blizzards
Late Night Meal: Portillos Hot Dogs
After Party: Lou Malnati’s and Levian Cookies[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The bride’s bouquet was a round pavé of blush Geraldine roses, with stems partially wrapped with floral lace from Sloane’s bridal gown. Bridesmaids had complementary bouquets made of ivory roses. Tablescapes brought the ‘enchanted’ vision to life, filling the room with three different designs, each complemented by dramatic floral creations of blush pink and ivory with greenery accents, romantic candles, mirrored tabletops and crystal, lucite and gold accessories.
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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Three tier banana cake with milk chocolate mousse filling and vanilla buttercream frosting. Adorned with matching florals.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Golden Hour (JVKE) – Set the tone at the start of the ceremony, particularly fitting as the wedding began at the actual “golden hour” just before sunset, overlooking the lake.
I’m Yours (Jason Mraz) – Accompanied the officiant, grandparents, immediate family members and parents of the bride
Die a Happy Man (Thomas Rhett) – Introduced the country-music loving groom and his parents, followed by the bridal party
Enchanted (Taylor Swift) – Created a special moment when the bride walked down the aisle joining her parents halfway, meeting her soon-to-be groom, and extending through the 7 circles ceremony tradition. The bride is a big Swiftie, so “Love Story” was also the last song of the night, ending the high energy dance party on an amazing note.
I’m a Believer (The Monkees) – Joyfully announced the newly married couple following the ceremony
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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]To create a picture-perfect ceremony, the couple created a garden on top of the rooftop of Navy Pier, overlooking Lake Michigan, framed with floral bookends. A lush floral entry ‘arch’ welcomed guests to the garden, while a custom-designed lavish floral chuppah stood in the horizon, overlooking the glistening water. Both arches were designed with an ombre of ivory, light and medium pink flowers. The photographer captured the perspective of the chuppah seemingly framed within the oval entry arch, creating an unforgettable shot. Affixed under the top of the chuppah was the talis of Sloane’s late grandfather in loving memory. The entry arch was then repurposed as the entry to the venue.
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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The groom is affectionately known as ‘Sterny’ to friends, so they created a fun photo booth experience with a lush green and floral photo-wall adorned with a hot pink neon sign now introducing ‘The Sternys’. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Wanting to incorporate their mini Bernadoodle Waylon into the special event, the couple created cocktail napkins featuring a photo of the very photogenic Waylon with the message, “My paw-rents are married.” Specialty drink signs were also designed featuring Waylon and his specialty mocktail, Lavendar Lemonade. [/field]
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A Chic Celebration At Chicago Illuminating Company

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

Chicago Illuminating Company is so beautiful on its own, and the outdoor space had such an awesome garden and greenery, so the couple wanted to keep colors simple but elegant. Their palette was mostly white and green with hints of pink and purple.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Kristi and Kevin’s vision was to keep things timeless and classic so they could look back at their wedding in 50 years and still love everything about it. Great food and music, excellent style, martinis (their favorite drink), and lots of fun dancing were their “must haves”.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Kristi and Kevin adopted a puppy in May of 2022. A few months later, Kevin surprised her with an end-of-summer private photoshoot for the 3 of them! During the shoot, they both took individual photos with Winston, and after a few pictures, while it was Kristi’s turn to hold Winston, she turned around, and that’s when she saw Kevin down on one knee!

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Kristi wore a strapless Marchesa Notte gown paired with a long classic veil. Her dress featured stunning floral appliqués and a deep leg slit.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

Bridesmaids wore SHow Me Your Mumu rose gold luxe satin dresses in different styles.

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[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Kevin kept it classic in a sharp black tux.[/field]
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The couple worked with the Entertaining Company, which truly made their wedding magical. They provided unique and fun appetizers, custom his and her drinks, 5-star dining for guests, and the most friendly staff. Kristi still dreams about the entire meal to this day.

[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Willrett Flower Company was a great team to work with. Kristi and Kevin completely changed their floral vision at one point in the planning process, and they reworked the design to give them everything they wanted and more. Kristi’s bouquet was one of her favorite things of the day – it was unique and perfectly fit her vision![/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Their cake was a traditional two tier buttercream cake with white icing and fresh blooms.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Kevin’s sister read a poem during the ceremony. It was extra special because Kevin had read the same passage at her wedding just a few years prior. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Kristi changed outfits during the reception and did a 2nd ‘first look’ with a special re-entrance that featured giant sparklers with the bridal party. It was another unforgettable memory with their closest friends![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]While their pup Winston wasn’t at the wedding, he was honored in custom cookies! Each guest had one on their place setting as a sweet ‘thank you’ gift to take home.[/field]
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Rachael Kazmier Photography

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Destination Wedding in Chicago’s Hyde Park

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

Courtney and Brett’s wedding colors were a mix of bold black & white, multi-hued greens, with touches of subtle gold accents woven throughout.

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

When Courtney and Brett first shared their overall design-aesthetic dream with us, their key words were “light & airy”. Coupled with their shared love for the city of Chicago, knowing it’s not ALWAYS the lightest or airiest (unlike Courtney’s native California), they adored the light that streamed in through the floor to ceiling window’s of Penthouse Hyde Park‘s panoramic windows. The venue’s one of a kind, uniquely patterned black and white tiled dance-floor was the grounding element to their classic, clean, and garden-inspired designs!

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Courtney fell in love with a Rita Vinieris gown featuring a form-fitting plunge neck bodice that transitioned at the waist into hundreds of layers of tulle. It was a dream ballgown wedding dress but with a modern take! While dress shopping, she fell in love with two dresses and decided she’d buy the second for the reception, knowing all the layers of tulle were going to be quite heavy, and she’d be ready to shed some weight by dinner time! Her second dress, which she changed into at the end of cocktail hour, and surprised Brett with a second “first look” was a Valentini Spose curve-hugging silhouette covered in stunning lace floral applique. Attached to the waist was a gauzy half-skirt that she wore until just before their first dance.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Keeping things sleek and modern, Courtney’s three bridesmaids wore black silk dresses in different silhouettes.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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Paramount Events provided a well-rounded and delicious menu, beginning with passed hors d’oeuvres throughout cocktail hour. Guests nibbled on smoked salmon, black truffle risotto bites, elevated mini grilled cheese, and prosciutto-wrapped melon, complete with a balsamic glaze pipette to infuse into each bite. With produce procured straight from their own garden and greenhouse, Paramount focused on artisanal ingredients and straightforward flavors that played into the couple’s laid-back and “light & airy” vibe! Wood-grilled chicken breast, hanger steak, and herb ricotta gnocchi were the featured entrees that guests enjoyed. Specialty drinks dedicated to Courtney and Brett’s beloved pups, were enjoyed throughout the evening: Roxie on the Rocks, which was a gin-yuzu cocktail, and Milo’s Mai-Tai (Brett’s favorite drink).

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

Courtney and Brett’s florals were timeless yet designed in a re-imagined & modern way. Taking their love for all things black, white, and green – we honed in on rose varietals, snapdragon, hydrangea, lisianthus, and, of course, our hero flower – anemone’s, for their striking black center and delicate white outer petals. Courtney adored all types of Eucalyptus, so we brought in many varieties to their greenery, as well as variegated pittosporum, salal (lemon leaf), and Italian ruscus. We even tucked a sprig of fresh eucalyptus into each guest’s napkin for a soft accent against their black napkin knots. Their ceremony took place on Penthouse Hyde Park‘s sprawling rooftop, which features sweeping views of the Chicago Skyline and Lake Michigan. Flanked by a deconstructed floral arch bursting with lush florals and greenery, Courtney and Brett exchanged vows surrounded by their 50 nearest and dearest friends and family members for the most special and intimate ceremony. Courtney and Brett’s intimate guest count required us to be strategic of their floorplan, utilizing the ballroom space (just adjacent to their rooftop ceremony) intentionally while creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. With their sweetheart table (the backdrop of which was accented with their stunning floral arch we moved after their Ceremony), centered in the ballroom, we utilized four long rectangular tables to create a perimeter of the dance floor in the shape of a diamond, with round tables in each of the room’s four corners. Each rectangular table had a design featuring a modern matte black stand running horizontally across the length of the table with garden-inspired blooms woven throughout for a “growing upward” design. The round tables featured tall centerpieces designed on the same black matte stands (placed vertically on these tables), which were topped with cascading blooms and greenery. All tables featured a variety of candles in either modern glass or matte black vessels for the most romantic, candle-lit atmosphere.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Huge Donut Lovers Courtney and Brett ventured out to find the BEST donut in the City of Chicago during their many planning trips throughout the year leading up to the big day. The winner was DoRite Donuts and they honored the donut shop with a full wall of their donuts for guests to enjoy, along with a giant Donut ring that served as their wedding cake, complete with rainbow sprinkles and a cake topper!

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

Courtney and Brett’s wedding was 100% destination. With no ties to Chicago, aside from falling in love with it the first time they traveled to the City for fun, they decided it was a perfect MidWest destination for their guests traveling in from all sides of the U.S. They truly created a weekend get-away and showed their guests why they fell in love with this City in the first place.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]

Because all guests were coming in from out of town, there was a large emphasis on Courtney and Brett’s welcome boxes handed out to guests at hotels once they arrived in Chicago for the weekend. Mapping out all of the different places their love story had taken them (from where they first met in Kentucky – Brett was Courtney’s personal trainer at a kick-boxing gym), to where they called home for much of their relationship (Georgia), to where they both are originally from (California and Indiana) – they included a keepsake item representing all of the states that they’ve called home. And, of course, included Chicago’s famous Garret’s Popcorn as a nod to the City they’d be getting married in!

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Courtney & Brett ended the night with a huge sparkler send-off back out on the rooftop of Penthouse Hyde Park. [/field]
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Christine Janda Design And Events

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Art Deco Style Meet Art Nouveau at This Late Summer Soirée

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Main colors were blue mist and champagne, with accents of sandy peach, citrus, seafoam and ivory to mirror the colors found in the venue’s architecture. Gold was our accent metal.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Our style could be described as “Great Expectations Meets Art Deco,” which is very much in line with the feel of this historic venue and the surrounding grounds. Everything was meant to feel light, garden-inspired and whimsical, sort of a last hurrah for summer in Chicago.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]It was amazing. We celebrate our anniversary on Halloween every year but this year he booked a ghost tour several months early for Friday of Halloween weekend. I found out during the tour that he also got us a stay at the haunted historic Austin hotel, The Driskill, that I’ve always wanted to visit as part of the tour. Later that night we went up to the room and I started wandering the hall to look at creepy portraits. He said my name as I wandered away and when I turned around he was on one knee. I was in shock and didn’t fully register what had happened, but after saying “oh my god” about 20 times, I eventually said yes![/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Sarah Seven dress with a custom slit. Simple and elegant with small pearl details, and a dramatic draping train on the back. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Sage dresses from Azazie.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Light gray Indochino suit with sage tie and accessories.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]A Caribbean- and Latin-inspired menu as a not to the couple’s favorite cuisines and the bride’s Haitian heritage.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]

We worked with Kate of Cygnet Events and Design to support all of our design-related planning. After several very comprehensive meetings to discuss our style, personalities, budget and the logistics of the venue, we curated a wedding style that felt like the perfect fit. The overall goal was to feel whimsical and romantic, without being too flourishy or doing anything that wouldn’t suit the Art Deco and Art Nouveau details of the venue. Our palette pulled from the flowers of late summer, like dahlias, and also the painted murals and architectural details of the space.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]A pearl dot-inspired cake to mirror the pearl dot details of the dress and veil. The thin fondant edge on the top with gold leaf applied was a fun subtle detail.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]After our final walkthrough, we took our planner’s recommendation to add a few additional decor elements, such as custom designed bars and fringe umbrellas for cocktail hour. We also upgraded our rental chairs for ceremony and dinner and it made such a difference![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]A vintage lounge from Arcana Vintage Rentals in the dancing space, with flowers added, so guests who weren’t dancing could watch the action in style.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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BBJ La Tavola

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Garden Party Wedding With Chinese Tradition

Couple Kim & John wanted to have a wedding that embodied “garden party’ vibes with romantic and glamorous nods. They incorporated a traditional Chinese tea ceremony into their ceremony, and the tea set pattern was mirrored in the reception linens to tie it all together, along with Chinese cookie favors with unique fortunes for each guest.

Garden Party Wedding With Chinese Tradition

Couple Kim & John wanted to have a wedding that embodied “garden party’ vibes with romantic and glamorous nods. They incorporated a traditional Chinese tea ceremony into their ceremony, and the tea set pattern was mirrored in the reception linens to tie it all together, along with Chinese cookie favors with unique fortunes for each guest.

Garden Party Wedding With Chinese Tradition

Couple Kim & John wanted to have a wedding that embodied “garden party’ vibes with romantic and glamorous nods. They incorporated a traditional Chinese tea ceremony into their ceremony, and the tea set pattern was mirrored in the reception linens to tie it all together, along with Chinese cookie favors with unique fortunes for each guest.

Garden Party Wedding With Chinese Tradition

Couple Kim & John wanted to have a wedding that embodied “garden party’ vibes with romantic and glamorous nods. They incorporated a traditional Chinese tea ceremony into their ceremony, and the tea set pattern was mirrored in the reception linens to tie it all together, along with Chinese cookie favors with unique fortunes for each guest.

Garden Party Wedding With Chinese Tradition

Couple Kim & John wanted to have a wedding that embodied “garden party’ vibes with romantic and glamorous nods. They incorporated a traditional Chinese tea ceremony into their ceremony, and the tea set pattern was mirrored in the reception linens to tie it all together, along with Chinese cookie favors with unique fortunes for each guest.

Garden Party Wedding With Chinese Tradition

Couple Kim & John wanted to have a wedding that embodied “garden party’ vibes with romantic and glamorous nods. They incorporated a traditional Chinese tea ceremony into their ceremony, and the tea set pattern was mirrored in the reception linens to tie it all together, along with Chinese cookie favors with unique fortunes for each guest.

Garden Party Wedding With Chinese Tradition

Couple Kim & John wanted to have a wedding that embodied “garden party’ vibes with romantic and glamorous nods. They incorporated a traditional Chinese tea ceremony into their ceremony, and the tea set pattern was mirrored in the reception linens to tie it all together, along with Chinese cookie favors with unique fortunes for each guest.

Garden Party Wedding With Chinese Tradition

Couple Kim & John wanted to have a wedding that embodied “garden party’ vibes with romantic and glamorous nods. They incorporated a traditional Chinese tea ceremony into their ceremony, and the tea set pattern was mirrored in the reception linens to tie it all together, along with Chinese cookie favors with unique fortunes for each guest.

Garden Party Wedding With Chinese Tradition And Modern Romance

Love blooms at this beautiful garden party wedding. Every magical moment is artfully captured in must-see photography by Kristin La Voie Photography. The wedding day expertly planned by LOLA Event Productions was filled with lush greenery, delicate florals, and touches of glamour. Floral design by Life In Bloom delights, with beautiful installations at every turn. Take a closer look at the captivating details inside the full gallery where you’ll enjoy a harmonious blend of tradition and modern romance.

Kim and John wanted to have a wedding that embodied “garden party” vibes with romantic and glamorous nods.

They incorporated a traditional Chinese tea ceremony into their ceremony, and the tea set pattern was mirrored in the reception linens to tie it all together, along with Chinese cookie favors with unique fortunes for each guest.

Infused with traditional elements and meaningful nods to their heritage, Kim and John blended their vibrant cultural backgrounds with modern sophistication, creating a memorable experience for all.

Baroque Inspired Classic Chicago Wedding With Dreamy Details

This couple conceptualized their wedding based upon a baroque floral still life they stumbled upon in Paris and the result is absolutely breathtaking. Shannon Gail Weddings and Events planned a day that brought the bride and groom’s vision to life against the stunning backdrop of Chicago, and Kehoe Designs added bright bursts of color to floral designs that made the day even more romantic. Imagery by bonphotage artfully captures the love of the day in pictures that is sure to stand the test of time. You’re sure to fall in love with every exquisite detail inside the full gallery.

From bonphotage… Brock and Ashley met like most millennial couples- on a dating app. It was July 2020. At the urging of her best friend I gave the dating apps one more try and opened up my age range 3 extra years. 2 swipes in, I see this handsome guy looking at me, and I see that he likes behavioral economics. It’s my favorite subject and I cannot believe my luck to stumble upon someone who knows what it is and likes it! I immediately message him to talk about my favorite behavioral economics Harvard case study — Chiara Ferragni of the “Blond Salad.”

We talked on Hinge for 2 days before making plans to meet up the next day for drinks. Overall I thought our first date went well but when he didn’t ask for a second round or suggest we go to another bar- I thought he didn’t like me. When he offered to walk me to my car, I kept turning him down thinking I needed to be alone to deal with the rejection but he insisted. When we got to my car he made a “dad-like” joke about social distancing and then we kissed. We dated exclusively for over a year and began talking about marriage at his cousins wedding. We were working with my friend Kat to design a wedding ring and then he decided to go with a local jeweler from his hometown.

When the ring finally came he took 3 weeks to propose as he wanted just the perfect moment- but I kept scheduling day long events like dress shopping, drinks with friends, and a bachelorette watch party. Early one Saturday morning in November he got up around 7 as he always does. I thought he was getting ready to go to the gym so I turned over and went back to sleep. He came back 20 minutes later which I thought was odd- he said he went to the grocery store to grab eggs since we were out and I thought that was weird because we had just bought eggs but I wanted my sleep. He came back in the room 5 minutes later and said he was taking our dog out for a walk and I said fine- starting to get aggravated. 5 minutes later, he again walked in and me- totally annoyed- sat up in bed only to see our dog come back in with a new collar in and the collar had a ring on it! Brock and I love to go to art museums- we will visit one in each city we go to. In Paris- we spent a lot of time at the Louvre looking at their Dutch baroque paintings and were inspired to go baroque for our wedding based upon Jan Brueghel floral still life.

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This Classic Chicago Wedding Is Filled With Elegance and Sophistication

Chic, cool, and totally timeless- this classic Chicago wedding is a must see. Coordinated by K & K Celebrates and designed by Frost Chicago, this dreamy day at The Old Post Office is filled with wow moments. From a lush bridal bouquet to hanging flowers that dazzled as guests entered the reception space, blooms by Vale Of Enna were the exclamation point of the affair. Each moment was elegantly captured in time in the imagery by Bonphotage, visit the full gallery for a closer look.

From K & K Celebrates… Tess and Eric met in New York. It took moving to New York to find each other even though they are both from the suburbs of Chicago! Tess dreamed of having their ceremony at ST. MICHAEL’S OLD TOWN in Chicago, IL as it’s the same church her parents and grandparents got married at as well! Tess and Eric’s wedding date is very close to the the anniversary of the brides parents which is why they chose their wedding date of June 25th! To celebrate, the reception had a special moment for the parents of the bride on the dance floor! The bride also wore her grandmother’s necklace during the ceremony making it truly special and sentimental. The reception took place at The Old Post Office, a historical landmark in Chicago! Tess and Eric were very thoughtful about the experience their guests would have and knew The Old Post Office would be a treat for everyone! Guests headed upstairs for cocktail hour and were able to enjoy the modern lounge with great conversations along the wrap around bar. They could also enjoy the couple’s signature His and Her drinks: Eric-Bud Light, Tess-Espresso Martini. The reception took place in the Historic Lobby which stuns in it’s Art Deco design. Continuing with the gold leaf ceiling and brass throughout the Historic Lobby, the decor continued to include brass and gold throughout the design. With the grand ceiling height, tall center pieces and candles were definitely able to make a wow factor. The decor was complete with breathtaking hanging florals that left everyone in awe as they walked into the reception room. Tess and Eric opted for a champagne tower but Tess made it more special for Eric by making it a “beer” tower! After the beer was poured, the wedding party came up to join them and grabbed a glass! The bride included a second look for reception that perfectly coordinated with her ceremony gown by Elizabeth Fillmore Bridal. The dance floor was fantastic all night long, Tess and Eric were at the center of it all! Everyone’s hearts were tugged when Tess’s grandpa grabbed the microphone and sang “My Way” by Frank Sinatra and surrounded him as he took center stage. Dancing ending with Tess and Eric on guests shoulders during their last song “Time of my Life” but the party continued back upstairs for an after party for more espresso martinis and pizza!

From the bride… While Eric and I grew up about 20 minutes from each other in the suburbs of Chicago, we weren’t introduced until he moved to New York in 2016. I had been living there for two years when my cousin — who went to high school with Eric — reached out to ask if I could show his friend around. Six months of fun, friendly meet-ups passed, and in the fall of 2016, the Cubs were in the World Series. We’re both from big baseball families, and we watched the playoffs together in bars across New York City. November 2016 saw a historic Cubs win… And our first date at Brooklyn Brewery. He had apparently asked my cousin for his blessing back in August, and I had no idea! Five years later we made the decision to move back to Chicago, where Eric proposed. When we began planning our wedding, we knew we wanted it to be both a nod to our New York relationship roots, and our family history in Chicago.

Being the youngest of four siblings, with a huge Italian family of many cousins, aunts, and uncles, it was important to me to honor our family traditions while still finding ways to make the wedding feel special to Eric and me. Our ceremony took place at ST. MICHAEL’S OLD TOWN, the same church where my parents, brothers, and grandparents married, as well as where my grandfather was an altar server when he was growing up. To make it our own, we opted to write our own vows in addition to the church vows, which became my favorite moment of the day (Eric had the whole room in tears). We host friends quite a bit, so we wanted our cocktail hour and dinner service to reflect that. I worked closely with our (incredible!) DJ, OKYNE MEDIA, to come up with a playlist and timeline that made guests feel like they were at a restaurant rather than a wedding, and the energy really reflected that all night. While our venue was stunning and elegant, we are a social, more casual couple, so having lounge seating, pool tables, and bocce ball at the cocktail party was very much our speed. Similarly, we made sure to honor the beauty of the Old Post Office’s Historic Lobby by keeping decor to a minimum, but added candles and statement florals to warm up the room. The highlight was our Bud Light champagne tower, which was a nod to Eric’s favorite drink of choice, in lieu of a wedding cake. Thanks to Al, our caterers, and our coordinators, the timeline ran smoothly so we could get to our favorite part of every wedding: the dance floor. We have many family traditions on the dance floor, from my grandpa’s serenade of “My Way” to our crazy, chaotic dance to “That’s Amore,” and it was so special to not only share with Eric’s family, but our friends across NYC and Chicago. When “Empire State of Mind” came on, our whole NYC crew joined in, and I don’t think we left the dance floor once. Our family and friends really showed up for us and we felt all the love in the room on our wedding day!

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Serena & Lily Inspired Tent Wedding In Chicago

Stylish, romantic, and oh-so-beautiful, Brady and Paige’s wedding is filled with effortless elegance. The Creative Planners brought the bride’s Serena and Lily inspired vision to life in a palette of French blue and white. Floral design by Avant Gardenia is endlessly romantic, just take one look at the greenery-laden lanterns suspended over the dance floor! Every beautiful detail was artfully captured in the imagery by Olivia Leigh Photographie, see the full day unfold in the full gallery.

From Olivia Leigh Photographie… I wanted to submit a beautiful tent wedding in the north shore of Chicago. This couple was so gorgeous and kind, and they held the most beautiful wedding, with a ceremony at the same church her parents had been married in decades prior, followed by a tent reception at the family club. When my second photographer walked in, she said it looked just like Serena & Lily, and we later found out that was one of the bride’s style inspirations! She totally nailed it and it looked so gorgeous with beautiful shades of French blue and white. Additionally, she looked incredibly chic in a relaxed spaghetti strap dress and her hair down.

From the bride… After a united decision to change our wedding date from 2020 to 2021, the ideas started to grow and evolve. The main inspiration for our wedding was a “Last Summer Bash” since our wedding was the Saturday before Fall 2021 began. It was important to us to include our families in the wedding along with childhood and lifelong friends. There were so many small details about the day we incorporated intentionally. To name a couple, the church Brady and Paige were wed, Deerfield First Presbyterian, was also where Paige’s parents were married almost 34 years ago. Paige’s bouquet was created to look like her mother’s as well. The invitations were watercolor and included in the design was the location where Brady proposed to Paige back in 2019.

We wanted our reception space to be chic, classic, airy, and timeless. We created our “calling card” board and each keychain by hand, together, in our kitchen. It took months to complete but it was so worth it to see it come together. We also wanted to represent our beloved pup, Ivy, by hanging different types of ivy greens from the lanterns and incorporating them in the arrangements on the table. The entire day was what we had always dreamed of. We experienced a small piece of heaven that day, surrounded by our most cherished family and friends.

A Multiculturual Wedding Merging Two Families Over Multiple Celebrations!

If you ask us, the best kinds of weddings are the ones that uniquely reflect a couple’s love, and this multicultural celebration did just that. Filled with three days of fun and four different bridal styles, you can see that love truly is in the details. Utsav planners alongside Sincerely Ginger Weddings worked with our couple to bring their beautiful vision to life, and Kelly Lenard filled every inch of it with wildly romantic blooms. You can feel the love shining through the artful images by bonphotage, visit the full gallery to fall in love with every moment.

From bonphotage… Details, details, details! Elle and Kevin’s multi-day, multi-cultural wedding was luxurious beyond words! Lush florals from Kelly Lenard lined the aisle of the stunning Chicago Athletic Association leading up to an organically styled arch in beautiful greens and neutrals.

The groom made his grand entrance during the baraat by closing down Michigan Avenue and entering on a white horse. He was dressed in traditional garb and it was a majestic sight to behold!

Beautiful paper goods were created by Ciarra Claire Fine Art including a handwritten seating guide. The beautiful bride wore four different gowns over the course of three days, reflecting her groom’s Sikh heritage and her own western style.

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This Couple Had A Wedding Of Epic Proportions In A Former Post Office!

Once bustling with mail carriers and patrons, The Old Post Office has been transformed into an event space of epic proportions. The Simply Elegant Group worked with our bride and groom to create a day most couples only dream of, filled with romantic blooms and pampas grass designed by Kehoe Designs. The entire day was elegantly captured in the beautiful imagery by Mandelette Photography, you can see it all in the full gallery.

From the bride… We met in New York in 2015 while working at the same hospital, Nikko was an orthopedic surgery resident and I was an operating room nurse. We had several mutual friends and got to know each other during social events outside the hospital. Nikko eventually worked up the nerve to ask me out and we started dating. The rest is history.

Flash forward a couple of years, we had moved to California for my fellowship. We were looking to do a celebratory end-of-the-year vacation. I suggested we do the road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway. We took a sunrise hot air balloon flight in Napa and he proposed mid-flight.

After having to postpone things because of the pandemic, we were finally able to celebrate our big day on 8/7/21. It was an incredible day surrounded by friends and family celebrating our love.

A Romantic European-Inspired Wedding at the Armour House in Chicago

If you’re dreaming of an elegant, romantic wedding with a modern touch, we’ve found the ultimate inspiration for you. This fairy tale day at the Armour House has certainly set the wedding bar high. Flowers By KH tied the details together with lush florals to die for. As for the bride’s absolutely stunning Lee Petra Grebenau dress? We can’t stop staring! All the darling details are documented in the gallery, thanks to the talented bonphotage. You don’t want to miss them!

How We Met

From the Bride… Danny and I meeting was against all odds – Back in March 2016 I drove down to a country music festival in California with some friends. Meanwhile, Danny and his friends had flown in from Chicago, their hometown, to attend the very same festival. In a crowd of over 10,000 people, our friends collided and struck up conversation. The moment Danny and I locked eyes we were inseparable. We danced the night away and and at the end of the evening as we parted ways we promised each other that somehow, some way, we would see each other again.

Weeks passed and I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Suddenly, out of the blue, I get a call from Danny and he coolly asks, “Are you free for dinner tomorrow night?”

Out of all of the places in the world, the company that he was now interviewing for was just a drive away from my home in Los Angeles and they had asked him to fly in for a final interview. I met him for dinner the next night, we closed the restaurant down, he got the job, and the rest was history. Two years of long distance dating later I made the move out to the Midwest where we now live with our 2 year olds Fur baby, Bentley.

Wedding Vision

The vision I had for our wedding was French Chateau meets Napa Valley – Elegant, Romantic, with a modern touch. The pallet was timeliness white florals, fresh greenery and hints of neutrals and champagne. To achieve our vision we wanted an authentic, European venue and Armour House couldn’t have been more perfect. With such a historical venue it was importantly to me to accent the architecture and beauty of the gardens, to become apart of the landscape, rather than detract.