I think orange and blue just might be my new favorite color combo, because these vibrant hues are SERIOUSLY warming my heart this morning. In fact, this ENTIRE affair is making me feel all nice and cozy – from the darling bridesmaid frocks to the fabulous florals by Larkspur to the uber-stunning bride and groom, there isn’t a sweet, sweet moment captured Jenna Cole Photography that isn’t absolute PERFECTION. Yep, I think I’ll spend my Friday soaking in every last ounce of lovely… and, trust me, you should, too. Join me in the gallery for more.
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From the Bride… After almost five years together, we were married in the Chicago suburbs, at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer, surrounded by huge willow trees and next to a beautiful lake. We had been worrying about the weather for the days leading up to the wedding since the forecast was showing a fairly decent chance of rain. As we had planned an outdoor ceremony, we were a bit concerned… The morning of the wedding, we did wake up to rain, but by early afternoon when we were scheduled to start pictures, it luckily stopped and was dry enough that everything could proceed as planned. Our wedding guests told us that the sun came out from behind the clouds right as we were saying our vows.
I would never have been able to pull this wedding off without my mom. She helped me in so many ways, from making trips to Michael’s and Joann Fabrics to helping me spray paint picture frames and letting me vent about whatever silly planning crisis I was going through that week. We DIYed the table numbers, escort cards, labels for the donut favors, programs, menus, bathroom baskets, lots of signage, tags for the flip flops and other things I’m probably forgetting! We tried to incorporate as many personal touches as we could. We had the florist wrap my bouquet with lace from my mom’s wedding dress, and also attached a locket that contained photographs of my two grandparents who had passed away. We used the same cake-cutting knife that my parents had used at their wedding almost 30 years ago. As one of our readings, we had an excerpt of dialogue from the TV show “The Wonder Years.” One of our groomsmen, who is an incredibly talented graphic designer, designed our invitations. Also, during the dancing portion of the evening, we played both of the songs that our parents danced to at their weddings — it was a surprise, and it was so much fun to see their excitement when the songs came on!
There were so many amazing moments throughout the day that it’s hard to pick favorites. Seeing my soon-to-be husband during our first look and FINALLY showing off my dress to him was so exciting. Walking down the aisle, seeing the faces of everyone that we love looking at me, was something I will remember forever. And dancing together to our last song, surrounded by a circle of friends and family, was something I had envisioned since we first got engaged. Overall our wedding surpassed our expectations, and it was such a happy day. Our biggest focus throughout the planning was making sure our guests had a fantastic time, and judging by the feedback, it was a success. Our vendors were all so, so fantastic — we couldn’t have done it without them!
Wedding Photography: Jenna Cole Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer, Illinois / Florist: Larkspur / Wedding Cake: Lovin Oven Cakery / Officiant: Father Jef Johnson / DJ: Kyle Mosher of Music By Design / Wedding Videography: David Kasdan / Late-Night Mini Donuts: Jimmy’s Bag O’ Donuts / Wedding Dress: La Sposa via Weddings 826 / Dress Alterations: Mary Catomy (847-678-7226) / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: Becky + Maris of Blend Beauty Studio / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Bride’s Earrings: Nadri / Bride’s Bracelet: Ann Taylor / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Lord & Taylor / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: J.Crew / Invitations: Oh Twenty One / Engagement Ring: Littman Jewelers