This Fall Wedding at Greengate Ranch & Vineyard Combined Jewel & Earthy Tones

We wanted the vibe to feel like Elevated California -- the ceremony needed to be outdoor, and we wanted a venue that would allow us to not have to leave, but feel like we were in a new place for each event.

We met like any other modern love story, a swipe to the right :) We met in NYC, and then after several years of what felt like a "long distance relationship (Upper East Side all the way to Williamsburg) -- we moved back to Rob's hometown of Chicago. After several years in Chicago, the day finally came! Rob proposed in front of the trees that his family planted for his mother who passed away when he was younger, and she was watching over us as I said "YES!" -- after the proposal, we then went to a rooftop bar, where Rob had arranged all of our friends and family to come together for a surprise engagement party!

My wedding dress was literally ME in a dress! Fun, flirty and a little unexpected! It was a high low (mini dress from the front, and a long train in the back). And the best part was... IT HAD POCKETS! I also added my "something blue" with the Royal Blue Manolo Blahnik heels (cuz hello, I was a girl living in New York just like Carrie Bradshaw). And for my jewelry, I had my "something borrowed" and wore my mom's diamond pendant and she bought me my "something new" with a diamond tennis bracelet.

I wanted each girl to be in something that they felt comfortable in, so they got to pick whatever style they wanted. Requirements: all in something different, and all floor length. We mixed them up to divide them up in 2 different colors, while my MOH was the standout in a gold floor length gown as she was the only girl that was standing up with me during the ceremony.

Rob, unlike most grooms, was VERY involved! What he wore throughout the entire wedding weekend was important to him! He had a custom tuxedo made that was a dark olive green with a custom green print on the interior. He also added elements to honor his Mom by embroidering her initials on the inside and his initials on the inside of his collar.

The food was very important to both of us -- we wanted the meal for the Reception to be served as family style, to where it feels like the entire table is coming together for dinner like we would at home -- we served 2 proteins (chicken & salmon) and had all the sides to fill the plate and make it a beautiful colorful meal mixed with veggies that brought together the fall vibe and season -- I am obsessed with Sauvigon Blanc, so had the wine flowing at all the tables, as well as our signature cocktails for those that were ready to party!

THE SHOWSTOPPER of the entire weekend! The fall colors that brought everything together and the greenery draped around the pillars of the Stables to bring outdoors, indoors! We got endless compliments about the flowers for weeks following the wedding! Requirement for the ceremony was that it had to be outdoors, and short and sweet! // We wanted the Reception to be an Elevated Glam, and to bring the outside, inside. We also knew that we wanted one VERY LONG head table where we were surrounded by all of our closest friends and family -- one long table with about 50 people & it was PERFECT! The Seating Chart -- This was an ode to Rob's mom who had passed away and we were engaged at the tree planted in honor of her much like the scaled down trees on the seating chart looked.

We had a small cake made for us to cut for "the tradition", but a full dessert bar with all sorts of sweets to satisfy any sweet tooth! Cake pops, brownies, churros, cookies, mini cupcakes, etc -- and to top it off a CANDY BAR for everyone to take a little sweet treat home with them!

We wrote our own vows where we were able to tell each other how much we love each other in a fun, sweet & humorous way // Music was Rob's world! He curated every song based on the moment in which it happened (a song for him to walk down the aisle, a song for our bridal party, a song for me and my dad, & a song for us leaving the ceremony) // Reception we knew we wanted a live band! All the classic wedding songs & our band was INSANE!!! They crushed it!!! Wouldn't have changed a thing (except for maybe it would have lasted all night long!)

Son/Step Mother First Dance -- this was a moment that we will cherish forever! A moment to honor Rob's Mom, and a chance for him to bring his sisters up to the dance floor for the 4 of them to dance together and honor his mom -- not a dry eye in the house!

The Reception Space -- I couldn't have imagined this space any better even in my wildest dreams! Every detail came together so perfectly, that walking into the Stables and seeing the space for the first time is a moment I will never forget! #fullbodychills

The Bridal Party Entrance -- A last minute decision to Amazon 100 glow sticks to the venue was the best decision we could have made! The way that they lit up the space with the lights turned down, and the fun we had with our Bridal Party as we danced our way into the space came to life better than we could have imagined! Not to mention how funny it was to see us standing all together before we came in, and just seeing a bunch of glow sticks dancing in the dark! LOL