I’ve said it a million times before, but this wedding really makes me wish I could be a bride. To get married all over again to the one I love with a wedding that looks Exactly. Like. This. Elegant yet understated, refined yet fun. It’s a day that dreams are made of and Laura Ivanova captured every bit. Grab that second round of coffee and join us in the gallery. We’ll be there a while.
From the Bride… Adam and I met, fell in love, and got engaged in Illinois but moved around to various cities thereafter to support each other’s life endeavors. I was finishing up graduate school in Connecticut last year while he was working in New York, and we felt it was time to start planning our wedding before hitting the five-year engagement mark! I’ve never been much of a planner, and had to do most of it from afar, after we settled in Savannah, Georgia. Despite the southern charm of Savannah, we wanted to get married in Chicago because our families and many close friends reside there. Everything fell into place after we found our venue, the Armour House in Lake Forest, Illinois. I always envisioned a dreamy outdoor wedding and was blown away by the natural beauty and elegance of the Armour House.
The wedding day went by so fast; it really was surreal and a whirlwind. We wanted our celebration to have a sense of drama yet still reflect our laid back personalities. I chose a ball gown with ruffles for the ceremony and Adam looked dashing in his James Bond suit. The ceremony took place outside on the gorgeous lawn of the Armour House. My bridesmaids/best friends looked so beautiful and picturesque in their pastel pink chiffon dresses. I changed into a red dress before the reception because it’s Chinese tradition for the bride to wear red. I think it definitely added to the drama when Adam and I were announced and almost fell down the grand staircase to the James Bond theme song. After dinner, we shared our first dance to the song, Home by Edwarde Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes. This was a very special moment to me because we actually put a lot of time and effort into ballroom dancing lessons, which was a bonding experience in itself. The lyrics “home is wherever I’m with you” really captured our journey through many places together.
There were so many important people and personal details that made our wedding unique and possible, including support from our parents and relatives from China and Poland, our friend Dave officiating the ceremony, our friend Tom playing the guitar during the ceremony, our friends Dan and Yvonne Heil videotaping the entire day, the wedding party helping out, and all our friends from different parts of the country sharing in our celebration. I was thrilled about the breathtaking roses, hydrangeas, and berries created by Eileen from Lakeforest flowers, and the phenomenal wedding photos from Laura Ivanova. Finally, I’m proud of the mini Adam and Sarah cake topper that I made out of clay, which is currently on our fireplace mantle as a reminder of our special day.
Photography: Laura Ivanova Photography | Videography: Friend of Bride | Florist: Lake Forest Flowers | Cake: Deerfield's Bakery | Bride's Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaid's Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Armour House | Hair and Makeup: By the Bride | DJ: Toast and Jam | Bridal Gown: Pronovias | Bride's Reception Gown: Jessica McClintock | Ceremony & Reception: Armour House | Programs, Placecards, Cake Topper: By the Bride