Maximalist Swan Lake Fairytale Wedding at University Club of Chicago

Bella wanted her wedding to feel like a maximalist swan lake, Barbie dream wedding. She wanted as much floral as possible! She loved bows, pink, and elegant feminine details which came out in everything from the invitations to the signature drinks to the floral design!

From our bride herself: "Nick and I, technically, met on Hinge. However, we really met each other at The Green Mill in Chicago. The Green Mill is an iconic and Classic Chicago Jazzy Cocktail bar. The funny thing about having our first date there was that we found out you’re not really supposed to be talking a lot when you’re there. You’re supposed to sit back and quietly enjoy the live jazz. So, we did exactly that. We enjoyed live jazz together for hours and whispered our questions to one another back and forth whenever the band took a break. It was very romantic and honestly you can learn a lot about someone simply by just being in the present moment with them."

Bella's gown was truly a work of art. She found her gown at Dimitras Bridal Couture where they did a stunning job with each look she wanted. She had different looks for each part of the day. For the ceremony, she had a beautiful bolero made of pristine lace. The best part was the bow on the back of Bella's dress- it added the most classy, elegant detail to the look.

Bella's group wore gowns from Bella Bridesmaids in a blush pink color. They all looked beautiful in their own styles of the dress.

Guests enjoyed delicious food and drinks from The University Club, which hosts some of the best food and service in the city of Chicago. During cocktail hour, guests chose from the couple's signature drinks: The Palmeri (aperol spritzes) and the Swan Lake (a perfectly pink cosmopolitan). Shrimp shooters, crostinis, and macaroni bites were enjoyed by all. As the evening progressed, guests were served a delectable 4 course meal complete with lobster ravioli, fresh summer salads, and the entree of their choice. They finished the night with delicious lemon chiffon cake!

Bella had a vision of what she wanted her decor to feel like when guests walked into the room. It was inspired by her maximalist Barbie vision but it also had hints of vintage inspiration, too. Bella grew up loving Disney movies and her room felt like a ball room taken out of Beauty and the Beast. Atmosphere Events Group did a beautiful job of capturing the look and feel Bella wanted for her guests. They created the fullest, most beautiful archway for the couple to enjoy dinner in front of. Each centerpiece was lush and warmly lit. Guests truly gasped when they walked in the room. Bella continued the special touches with stunning linens from BBJ La Tavola, custom match books, and whimsical menus.

Their cake was vintage perfection. Bella and Nicolas loved the way decadent cakes have been making a come back and University Club made the perfect one for them. They topped it with a beautiful vintage cake topper inspired by the couple to complete the full look.

Bella and Nicolas had a beautiful ceremony mass at Holy Name Cathedral.

Bella and Nicolas's invitation suite was perfectly custom and set the tone for decor for the rest of the day. The invitations were a stunning pastel pink with hand painted florals and swans. Holy Name Cathedral was painted inside each envelope. Each invitation suite was tied with a beautiful blush bow. The details designed by Rebecca Green Design not only matched the day but truly set the tone for the amazing decor elements.