I’m just going to come right out and say it – I am addicted to Etsy. Like spend hours online, shop ’til I drop, can’t get enough crafty goodness addicted. It’s awesome. So, when I read that this beautiful bride happens to be an Etsy connoisseur of drop-dead gorgeous hair pieces, I knew I was going to love her… and her dashing beau. And with one sweetly crafted DIY detail after another, beautiful blooms by Nancy Krause Floral Design and a gallery of amazing images captured by Life On Prints Photography, a new addiction has begun. Click here for so much more and then stay tuned for a pretty, pretty film from Oak Street Films below.
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From the Bride… Jeremy and I met at the University of Illinois in 2006 at an ’80s-themed mixer between his fraternity and my sorority. I was 18, he was 22, and there was an unmistakable, immediate attraction between us. Nearly six years and a lot of growing up later, we got engaged and committed to being partners for life. As of late October, we are happily wed and living in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago! When deciding on the specifics of our special day, we tried to incorporate personal and handmade touches, while still keeping it elegant, classy and timeless. Saint Joseph is the oldest Catholic church in the area, with sky-high stained glass windows, a super-long aisle and large altar to accommodate our jolly and giant wedding party. Our reception venue, Michigan Shores Club, is a hidden gem in Wilmette, situated right along Lake Michigan. Its English Tudor style and vaulted ceilings exhibit the work of the architect Daniel Burnham, who designed such Chicago icons as Union Station and the Rookery Building.
My mom and I create and sell unique hair accessories together on Etsy, so it was a no-brainer to showcase some “Jill’s Boutique” originals. For the ceremony, I wore a simple cathedral-length veil and blusher. At the reception, I donned a cap-like hairpiece made of various vintage rhinestone appliqués, as well as a lacy garter with an azure colored bauble (my something blue). While I had a hand in the design, all three accessories were made with love by my mom. My bridal bouquet was wrapped in my maternal grandmother’s lace hanky, with my paternal grandmother’s rhinestone brooch pinned to it. Each bridesmaid chose a one-of-a-kind sparkler from our shop; some had on headbands, while others wore combs. I liked that my girls were able to express their individual personalities. My 2-year-old nephew and ring bearer, Andrew, carried yet another piece of my mom’s handiwork: a ring pillow artfully combining silk and vintage lace from France, as well as hand-embroidery with a verse from the first reading in our mass, Song of Songs. So special. Our ceremony was memorable and romantic, perfectly described by one guest as “traditional … with pizzazz.”
When planning our reception, Jeremy and I agreed on three must-haves: good food, good music and good fun. We also endeavored to extend the meaningful, handmade touches into the evening portion of our wedding. I designed, stamped and embossed the menus and escort cards. We had friends and family sign a guest book I created on MyPublisher displaying our engagement photos. We placed hand-tied sprigs of rosemary and bay leaves at each place setting, a nod to my husband’s Dutch heritage (our now-shared last name means herb merchant or grocer, and rosemary symbolizes fidelity). Our whimsical bird cake toppers, again created by my mom, complemented the organic elements of our day (i.e. herbs at each plate, artichoke and kale in the floral arrangements). Plus, I LOVE bird motifs – our home is filled with them! During his toast, my husband’s twin brother and best man, Ryan, quoted the poet William Yeats, and it really resonated with me. He said, “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to become sharper.” Of course, our wedding day was magical to Jeremy and me. But it was not just about having the perfect venues, gorgeous flowers, or even the most fabulous hairpiece. It was the magic behind having our loved ones in one room, people who support us as a couple and believe in our commitment to one another. That’s what it was really all about, and for that, we are forever thankful.
Wedding Photography: Life On Prints Photography / Ceremony: St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wilmette, Illinois / Reception: Michigan Shores Club in Wilmette, Illinois / Floral Design: Nancy Krause Floral Design / Wedding Cinematography: Oak Street Films / Wedding Cake: Oak Mill Bakery / Cake Toppers: DIY by the Bride’s Mother / Herbs: English Hedgerow / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Programs, Menus + Escort Cards: DIY by the Bride with Paper via Paper Source / Music: Steve Edwards Orchestra / Wedding Dress: Enzoani via Dimitra’s Bridal / Bride’s Veil, Bride’s Hair Piece + Bridesmaids’ Hair Pieces: Jill’s Boutique (Owned by the Bride & Her Mother) / Bride’s Faux Fur Bolero: Fabulous Furs / Bride’s Shoes: Angela Nuran of The Left Bank Bridal Finery / Bride’s Earrings: Vintage / Bride’s Bracelet: Nadri via Von Maur / Bride’s Engagement + Wedding Rings: Donna Jewelry Co. / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Bride’s + Bridesmaids’ Hair: Filippo Aliperta of Estetica / Bride’s Makeup: Isabel Fuente for Bobbi Brown / Groom’s Tuxedo: Jos. A. Bank / Groomsmen’s Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse