Kristin La Voie Photography totes get us. Because when it comes to inspos that speak directly to our wedding loving souls, this elegant day dreamed up by Beso Weddings & Events is our kinda gallery. Blooming with rich Natural Beauties Floral fall hues and classic country details, from the Chicago Botanic Garden setting to the live event illustrator, we’ve got it all waiting in THE VAULT!
From Beso Weddings & Events…We love creating design concepts that thoughtfully place unexpected elements in natural settings. The inspiration for our styled shoot started with an idea for a romantic European-inspired outdoor wedding and quickly became an amazing vision of modern rustic elegance. Think intimate affair in an English garden on a beautiful early fall day. The natural surroundings are lush and beginning their highly anticipated fall color transformation. The color palette of rich red, gold, champagne, ivory and fall color accents worked perfectly in this space. Our goal was to create a wedding design that transcends beyond the beauty of the venue’s natural surroundings and creates an engaging guest experience. To accomplish this we brought together some of the most talented wedding professionals in the Chicago area.
Our couple is hosting an elopement destination wedding celebration in Chicago and had elegantly calligraphed wedding invitations sent exclusively to their parents and best friends. They chose to hold their ceremony and wedding celebration outdoors in a garden setting. The secluded charm of the English Walled Garden at Chicago Botanic Garden and a sun-filled early fall day made for the perfect setting.
Real-life couple Ashley & Michael wore a two-piece french corded lace wedding dress and a contemporary custom-made suit. The on-location hair and make-up team ensured the bride looked beautiful with a loose up-do and make-up that made the bride glow in natural beauty. The bride’s hair was adorned with a flattering gold headpiece and the look was completed with crystal teardrop earrings and glimmering gold Luboutin shoes.
The couple re-enacted their vows surrounded by a lush garden landscape while ceremony music catered to the couple was played by a guitarist. To both complement and enhance the natural surroundings of the ceremony, the floral designer created arrangements with bursts of rich fall colors in the bridal bouquet and decor placed on the rustic white country chairs along the aisle.
Following the intimate ceremony, the couple and their guests enjoyed champagne, wine, and handcrafted cocktails at a custom gold leaf bar and admired the lovely two-tier ‘naked’ cake set atop a coordinating mirrored pedestal. The bar is embedded with a chandelier that produces an alluring glow and is further enhanced with the placement of cut glassware and decanters on silver trays.
After cocktails everyone gathered at the stunning dinner table and the couple partakes in cake cutting, first dance and toasting traditions. The floral designer created a visually impactful tablescape of floral centerpieces in an array of colors, textures, and intricate details surrounded by white taper candles in cut glass holders. The tabletop consists of thoughtfully selected place settings including scallop edge dinnerware, rose gold flatware and calligraphed place cards and menus.
Guests enjoy dinner and drinks as the guitarist plays music in the background. The celebration continues as guests savor a slice of fresh raspberry and lemon curd wedding cake and delectable petit fours at the inviting lounge perfectly placed near the pond in the garden. The lounge features a grouping of elegant vintage furniture including a herringbone faux leather sofa and pair of velvet chairs.
A live event illustrator captures each moment artistically for the couple to have as keepsakes. The couple’s illustrated wedding portrait is displayed on the classic Rolls Royce which takes them into the prairie sunset for a romantic send off.
All segments of the shoot were captured with film photography by Kristin of Kristin La Voie Photography.
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Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography | Event Design & Planning: Beso Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Natural Beauties Floral, Inc. | Wedding Dress: Houghton Bride | Cake: Sugar Fixe | Stationery: Bien Fait Calligraphy | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Engagement Ring: Trumpet & Horn | Rings: Caramel Studio | Hair And Makeup: Magnificent Brides | Calligraphy: Bien Fait Calligraphy | Groom: Michael Sampson | Groom's Attire: Ryan Newman | Ceremony Music: Charley Bredrup | Venue: Chicago Botanic Garden | Bridal Boutique: Alice In Ivory | Bride: Ashley Grauer - Model Portfolio | Custom Bar: Northern Decor & Logistics | Desserts: Sugar Fixe | Furniture Rentals: Bowery And Bash | Getaway Car: Classic Wedding Car | Hair Accessories: The Left Bank Bridal Finery | Live Event Illustration: Rosemary Fanti | Napkins, Trays, & Barware: Vintage Place Settings | Rentals: Halls Rental | Ring Box: The Mrs Box