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Garden Inspired Wedding at River Roast, Chicago

From the Bride… Rob and I met in college, but didn’t start dating until after college while traveling Europe with a group of our friends. We bonded over our love for adventure and never looked back. We lived in Dallas for a few years before moving to Chicago for Rob’s career. After five years together, Rob proposed to me at Trump Tower overlooking the Chicago River and the next day we took off for French Canada to spend a few days celebrating together and talking about our next and best adventure.

We decided to get married in Chicago even though neither of us is from here. It’s the place where our relationship grew and blossomed and it will forever hold a special place in our hearts. We wanted to find a venue that had a Chicago vibe to it. After stepping into banquet hall of the Chicago History Museum, I got teary-eyed imagining us getting married there and quickly knew that was the right spot.

The day of the wedding, the girls got ready at the Public Chicago. The bridesmaids wore grey floor-length Jenny Yoo gowns and I wore the gown my mom and aunt both wore, altered a bit to fit my tastes, along with my great-grandmother’s aquamarine necklace.

Before heading to the museum Rob and I shared our first look in the privacy of the hotel room. Rob looked handsome in his custom Hickey-Freeman tuxedo from my family’s store in Dallas, Culwell & Son. The first look was my favorite moment of the day! I was pretty nervous all morning, but seeing him before we walked down the aisle was just what I needed. It was a perfect quiet moment for us to have all to ourselves and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

After we said our vows, we had another moment to ourselves to have a quick bite and a glass of prosecco before heading out to the terrace for cocktail hour. I loved that we had taken pictures before the ceremony and got to spend even more time with our guests who had traveled from all over the country.

The reception began with the cutting of our cake and then dinner was served. One of Rob’s favorite things I do for him is cook. The catering company, Food for Thought, re-created Rob’s favorite dish that I’ve cooked for him which made dinner really special and unique. Instead of giving speeches after dinner, we had done them the night before at our rehearsal dinner which was smaller and more intimate. After dinner, we moved to the dance floor for our first dances and soon after, the rest of the guests had joined.

We knew that we wanted our reception to feel like one big party and to us that meant great music and dancing. The incredibly entertaining and talented Gold Coast All-Stars played the entire night and guests danced for hours! The very last song was our favorite though. Our guests gathered around us in a big a circle swaying back and forth as we danced in the middle and as the song came to an end, they all ran in around us creating a huge group hug of sorts. It was a really special and emotional moment for us that we weren’t expecting.

Film photographer, Taylor Lord captured our entire day exactly as I had imagined. Her artistic eye left us with dreamy, ethereal images that captured the sweetest, candid moments of the day and her cheery personality put everyone at ease. The entire night ran perfectly without a hitch under the direction of Nicole Zenner of LK Events. She was the kindest, most thoughtful, and most patient wedding planner we could have asked for! We felt blessed to have worked with such amazing people who made the start of our new lives together everything we had imagined.

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Jenny Yoo

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Elegant in the way that will truly never go out of style, this Chicago affair captured by Britta Marie Photography at the River Roast is pure perfection. With florals from Pollen, beauty by Carly Pribich and entertainment by Toast and Jam, it’s safe to say this was a wedding that guests are still talking about today. See why here.

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Elegant Chicago Engagement

From The Bride…When Andrew and I got engaged, I knew planning would be tricky since this was going to be a classic Midwest (Chicago) meets urban New York City wedding – but I also knew that planning would be a blast for the same reason! We made a list of the words we wanted to describe our day and came up with: authentic, personal, relaxed, and romantic. Most importantly, we wanted our friends and family to walk away feeling loved and valued, knowing they were an integral part of this new family we were creating.

In our search for the perfect venue, we sought spaces that embodied those words. We chose Chicago Temple for our ceremony because it’s a skyscraper (and you can’t get more “Chicago” than architecture!) but it’s also the kind of church open to the entire community, regardless of religion, with a congregation who does really powerful things for their community,
and that’s the kind of energy we wanted for our day.

River Roast housed our reception, because it was also so “Chicago” – an old warehouse, sitting on the Chicago River, that’s now a restaurant. We knew good food was incredibly important to us and River Roast is first and foremost a fantastic restaurant! It also had an undone, romantic quality to it – the warm exposed brick and stunning view of the river and skyline had our guests (and us) in awe.

In order to create the essence of undone romance to contrast our urban setting, I knew we’d need stunning florals and great lighting. Lynn from Pollen blew me away with what she created! She merged Andrew’s modern, edgy desires for lots of floating candles with my dreams of loose, garden-y florals and “rose trees” (as I called the tall centerpieces). I will never forget walking into our reception for the first time (I cried!) because Lynn and our lighting designer had created this magical, romantic space that blew me away. To accent the florals, we bought gold chargers and set the tables with white bowtie napkins (one of two DIY projects that I did. Note to readers who want bowtie napkins – they’re fabulous and oh-so-easy… just don’t wait until two days before the wedding to tie them!) We also had a generous helping of candles in mercury glass votives all over: The candlelight on the golden brick at River Roast created such a lovely glow, thanks again to Lynn! We included several touches to make the ceremony and reception truly ours.

For the ceremony, I carried a piece of jewelry on my bouquet belonging to each of our Grandmas who were no longer with us – my maternal grandmother’s engagement ring, Andrew’s maternal grandmother’s ring (which happens to be sapphire, his birth stone), and Andrew’s paternal grandmother’s opal brooch (which happens to be my birth stone). We also included our Frenchie, “Iceman” in the ceremony as the ring bearer – we are so grateful to the Chicago Temple for allowing him to participate!

For the reception, we greeted guests with a framed thank you note we wrote specifically to convey our gratitude and love. We framed our favorite love quotes and placed them on the highboys during cocktail hour. We also hand-wrote each person’s place card and used nicknames or inside jokes for many of our guests rather than their formal names. We chose our funfetti cake instead of going the more traditional or “grown up” route and serving more refined or fancy flavors. We also entered the reception via boat, which was Andrew’s TOTAL stroke of genius/contribution to the wedding planning process and it worked out beautifully! It was so memorable to see everyone waving and cheering for us as the boat pulled up to the dock.

Our reception music was so “us” – a great mix of classics with the hits of today and I loved seeing all our guests, regardless of age, jamming with us (I even noticed aunts and uncles who I’ve never seen dance out there grooving). Our photographer, Britta, snagged amazing candids of the dance floor and Andrew and I have spent hours laughing over them and enjoying how much fun everyone had together.

All in all, the day was far beyond anything I expected and I still get so overwhelmed by love, gratitude, and excitement when I think about it. We owe a huge thank you to all of our vendors and our friends and family for helping us create this day of our dreams!

From The Groom…Best. Day. Ever. You hear those three words tossed around quite a lot when people refer to their weddings. They even put it on napkins and make signs with them. Well, I finally realized why. It was mostly the little things (and some of big things too) that truly made our wedding the Best Day Ever.

The day started with a gift (so private that she would be mad if I wrote what it was) from my beautiful wife. Let’s just say it was perfect. Then, meeting Becca for our first look was a moment I will never forget. Our photographer, Britta, made us forget she was there and the moment was completely surreal. We included our Frenchie, Iceman, in our first look (after a few minutes) and in our ceremony and I’m so glad we did.

Some of the other personal touches were really what made the day for me. From Becca including all of the Grandmas’ jewelry on her bouquet, to including Iceman in our ceremony, to spending time between the ceremony and reception with our bridal party on a boat, the day was flawless. We also used hybrid vows – exchanging the traditional vows while also writing individual promises for each other. That moment was perfect (I’m tearing up as I write this…if that tells you anything).

There’s something really magical about having so many people you love from different parts of your lives all together in the same space for one day – all to celebrate with you and to kick off your new life together. We had written and framed a thank you note to everyone that greeted them when they walked in the reception and I’m so thrilled that we did because it truly encapsulated everything we were feeling.

The other personal touch that meant a lot to me, specifically, was the pens we included as favors. They didn’t necessarily fit the “romantic” vibe Becca and our vendors were creating, but they were so personal that they were perfect. My sister, Michelle, was born with Cerebral Palsey and the individuals in her program craft these pens to raise money. Becca and I decided to offer them as our favors as a way to include Michelle and to give back while also giving a gift. My wife is so beautiful and I’m so lucky and this day was the perfect example of that :)

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

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From a quiet garden to that famous city skyline, Orange Photographie has captured an elegant e-sesh that has got me floating on cloud nine. From the striking statement these med-school sweethearts made on North Avenue Beach, to the peaceful woodland walk they shared, it’s all waiting for you in The Vault!

From Orange Photographie… Tanuja & Amit met in Chicago after they both moved there for medical school. Their paths crossed one night at a party neither of them wanted to go to, and after a crazy night of trying to get home, they exchanged numbers and started building a friendship. The two eventually fell in love with each other and Chicago, so it only made sense that they used the beautiful city as a backdrop for their engagement session. They had plans to move back to Amit’s home state of Florida shortly after their engagement session, so they wanted these photos to represent their time in the city and their love that blossomed there.

Chicago has an amazing array of locations to choose from for photo sessions, from quiet gardens to that famous city skyline. Tanuja and Amit wanted contrasting spots that showed off the best the city has to offer. We started in the peaceful woodland setting of the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool for some more naturally romantic photos and then finished the evening with a striking statement of the two in front of the Chicago skyline dressed to kill. These two have a classic, elegant style that blended perfectly with both locations we visited, especially Tanuja’s stunning black geometric dress from Guess she wore on our last stop of the evening at North Avenue Beach.

Photography: Orange Photographie | Suit: Banana Republic | Venue: Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond | Venue: North Avenue Beach | Black Dress: Guess

A Chicago Pied-a-terre Home Tour

This home is what pied-a-terre dreams are made of. Tucked inside is a subtle, elegant color palette reminiscent of the Chicago skyline, striking art, and a master bathroom that we could honestly live the rest of our days in. Designed by The Chad James Group with photography by Alyssa Rosenheck, have a look here for even more from this gorgeous space right here.

This home is in a prime location off of Michigan Avenue. In this project, Chad’s inspiration for the palette was taken from the colors of the Chicago skyline at the “golden hour”, as the sun sets and illuminates the architecture of the city and Lake Michigan.

This home is the perfect balance of sophistication combining both masculine and feminine influences throughout. The combined formal living and dining area incorporates subtle tones reflection the hues at sunrise and sunset. The kitchen employs bold lines and strong steal details reminiscent of Chicago’s strong foundation in architecture and cityscapes.
And the relaxed tv room is the room closest to the lake and incorporates grays and blue hues magnifying the views of the water adorned with vintage blue prints from midway airport.

Chad James is known for implementing a harmonious blend of masculine and feminine influences with his interiors. The Chad James Group has a distinguished architectural and interior brand based in Nashville Tn. His designs incorporate accents from the local environment, so as to “bring the outdoors in” is a theme you will find with his interiors from coast to coast. You will often find thought provoking uses of texture and fabric amongst clean lines. Chad and his talented team implement intention in every detail and meaning behind every layer when designing for his national and international clientele.

Photography: Alyssa Rosenheck Photography | Interior Design: The Chad James Group

Elegant + Traditional Chicago Wedding

When you let your personalities shine through each facet of your wedding day as this beautiful duo so gracefully did, with the help of Art Of Imagination—you’ve got a city fete as memorable as can be. Think chic skyline views, a champagne bar, a Bride in a sparkly custom number and Kyle John Photography floating around snapping up every pinch-me-perfect moment. Well, that sounds like a dream to me.

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Romantic Chicago Loft Wedding

From The Bride…The first Saturday in May proved to be the perfect timing for our Chicago wedding. Albeit, we prepped for the picturesque day at the Blackstone Hotel which was in the midst of NFL Draft Town. Luckily, due to our amazing team, it did not even hit the radar of any part of our bridal party, friends or family. We were able to capture the most amazing moments prior to our ceremony due to the extraordinary sunshine on a perfect Chicago spring day.

Our foremost desire for our wedding was to find a unique venue that not only allowed our personalities to shine through each facet of the day, but also to provide our nearest and dearest a memorable evening at one location. We both fell in love with the Skyline Loft and immediately thought of unique touches the moment we stepped off the elevator into the space. One of our favorite items was the bespoke champagne bar in the large freight elevator for our 250 guests as they arrived and were brought up the lift for the ceremony. Once they exited the elevator, they were welcomed into a sun drenched ceremony space overlooking the city skyline while a string trio performed.

Cocktails, dinner and dancing followed in the space, which played host to an amazing sunset view, as the night of fun commenced for all. The French garden theme shone through each table setting with hand crafted moss wreaths adorned with calligraphy and ribbon for each guest. The room was adorned with crystal chandeliers and ivory draping to add a classic garden flair to the wooden beamed backdrop. Floral arrangements at each table varied in height and composition to balance against the hanging décor.

Overall, we wanted the details to represent how much fun we have with one another, our friends and family to create an atmosphere that allowed our family and friends to have a complete blast on this joyous occasion. At the end of the evening as guests departed with donuts and coffee in hand, I believe we all agreed it was apparent that this was the absolute best night of our lives.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

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Spring 2016

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A crazy romantic meets industrial wedding overflowing with some of the most thoughtful details you will ever see: loves, meet my happy place. From the fab invitations designed by the beautiful bride to the breathtaking images captured by Sean Cook to the non-stop dance party with Toast and Jam. Head to The Vault for every awesome moment, then click play on the sweet film from Foster Light Studios.

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Glamorous + Whimsical Garden-Inspired Wedding at the Art Institute of Chicago

From The Bride… David and I met in the summer of 2008, both working as designers at an advertising agency in Chicago. By that October (10/10 to be exact), our friendship was something more… and five amazing years later, David proposed at an orchard on a crisp October day— in honor of my love all things Fall and in celebration of when our relationship first began. So a Fall wedding the following October was only fitting… and we were married on our exact sixth year anniversary in a bright and airy industrial loft space in Chicago.

Our biggest desire for our wedding day was to create intimate memories and an extremely joyful celebration for ourselves and our guests that felt uniquely “us.” We asked two of our best friends, old coworkers where David and I first met that have known us since day one of our relationship, to marry us with a ceremony that we all wrote together that truly captured the beauty of our relationship. An intimate warming of the rings was followed by poetry from our favorite author, Pablo Neruda, read in English and Spanish to honor David’s Mexican heritage. Standing beside amazing friends, family, and our adorable dog and co-flower girl, Bananas, we recited vows we each wrote for each other as a violinist played Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” softly in the background. After the emotional ceremony, we walked down the aisle as husband and wife as the string duet played Tears for Fears’ “Head Over Heels.” Guests were immediately greeted by a live Mariachi band for an outdoor cocktail hour before a reception of delicious traditional Mexican fare, ombre wedding cake, Portraitbooth fun and nonstop dancing until the lights came on.

The entire day was made up of irreplaceable moments and intimate details. Being art directors at our day jobs in advertising, as well as running my own design company, Sugar & Gold, that specializes in events, design, and decor, David and I are constantly surrounded by design. And we know that true design is only as beautiful as the meaning behind it. So it was important for us to bring meaning in all of the little details that made up the visual richness and backdrop of our wedding. All while staying within budget… not an easy task, but we were up for the challenge.

One of the most important design elements was the official invitation… and after designing for other brides in the past, I was thrilled to finally get to design my own! It featured a custom monogram that I created with our initials E and D that took on the shape of a heart, and this element was used throughout all of our wedding stationery… including on post-ceremony pieces where our last initial “V” was added to frame the bottom of the heart. A custom accordion fold enclosure, which featured photography that I took of dozens of gorgeous peonies and Juliet roses, held blush and gold foil invitations that we designed.

On the day itself, including influences and wedding traditions from my Italian heritage and David’s Mexican culture in small ways was very important to us. Since Vaca (my husband’s last name) means cow in spanish, we had subtle hints to this around the wedding including a golden mini cow. We chose signature cocktails to also reflect our cultures — “The Emillini” (a traditional peach bellini) and “The Vacarita” (David’s custom margarita)— which complimented the mini Limoncello favors that we bottled. The sweets bar offered Italian wedding cookies made by the mother of one of my bridesmaids from a custom family recipe, as well as traditional Mexican wedding cookies that David’s mother made. The centerpieces consisted of oversized paper flowers, a nod to tissue paper flowers of Mexican culture, that sat on custom stands we built. We handcrafted over 70 paper peonies and garden roses (with the help of so many amazing friends) from florist crepe paper and gold painted paper leaves. Seating assignments and table numbers resembled papel picado (Mexican white paper flags traditional at weddings) with a custom cut pattern that we designed, which also played into a custom gold bar overlay we built that featured a V shape for our name. Other elements we handcrafted included a custom brass facet that held our rings, plaster flowers used as the cake topper, painted cake and entry tables, and glitter dipped bridal shoes and cathedral lace veil. For our guest book, we cut a slit in one of seven the giant faceted pinatas that we built for our save the date photo shoot, so that guests could slip in a note for us to read on our first anniversary when we break it open to celebrate.

The only way we were able to achieve any of this for our wedding meant doing everything ourselves that we could and, more importantly, enlisting in the amazing help of our wonderful family, wedding party, and friends. In fact, one of my coworkers and good friends, was the day-of coordinator, and she took care of every detail seamlessly so that we could simply enjoy every second of the day without stressing. It truly took a village to make our wedding as wonderful as it was, and we could not have done it without the countless hours that everyone gave us to make it happen. And we are so grateful that we found such an amazingly talented photographer and videographer that were able to craft such stunning images reflecting all of those candid moment and loving details… each frame they captured means to world to us and will just as much when we look through them and relive every moment 30 years from now.

This Chicago wedding isn’t just gorgeous and glamorous (do you see that flower arch?!)—it’s full of details that incorporate the couple’s love story, like the hand-painted paper goods (they bonded over art), the color scheme (she loves pink, he loves purple), and the Groom’s cake cupcake (the Bride explains below!). And the photos, by Olivia Leigh Photographie, are as beautiful as the day. See them all here.

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Elegant + Organic Chicago History Museum Wedding

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From The Bride….If I thought being proposed to by the love of my life was the best day of my life, I could not have even prepared myself for our wedding day! Reza and I met in a hot yoga class and immediately connected because of our love for family, art, yoga, travel, and dogs. Reza proposed to me in Costa Rica on our two-year anniversary (I was very surprised!) and quickly started wedding planning as soon as we got back.

We wanted a really glamorous but whimsical (think, playing in the woods when you are little and stumbling upon acres of wildflowers and lilies of the valley) wedding in the city of Chicago since that is where we met. The Modern Wing at The Art Institute of Chicago was the most natural and perfect decision for us for a venue since we both love art, especially painting. I water-colored all of the menus, place cards, and other signage, all while teaching Reza how to watercolor—usually at 3am!

The flower arch with the hanging chandelier in the ceremony was the most important décor item to us because we both wanted something special to stand under/front of when we became husband and wife. Reza loves purple and I love pink, and the flowers that made up the arch were these springy, light pinks and purples, organic, bouncy flowers.

Our other favorite décor and moment together was right before the reception started, only Reza and I were in the reception room at Terzo Piano. I could not help but put my hand over my mouth and cry of happiness because of how all the little details we had been planning for the last nine months came together beautifully. I had a surprise grooms cake made with a big smile on the giant cupcake cake because Reza is a dentist and there is a long story of how I would send him massive cupcakes to get Reza to finally date me. Together we picked out twenty-four postcards of famous paintings and painters we love and I wrote on the back of each card (twice because I wanted two postcards per table!) a personalized note to the guests at each table about why that painting or painter meant so much to us. Having those personal touches from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception is what was the most fun part of the wedding for me. I wanted our guests to feel like we truly appreciated them being at our special day, and I wanted to feel the love in the room between all our families and friends and of course Reza and me. I believe we achieved those goals.

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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Get ready, lovies, because there’s a whole lot of pretty coming your way from this Chicago wedding. From the Bride’s bejeweled Carolina Herrera gown, Manolo Blahnik shoes and stunning makeup from Nika Vaughan to Chicago History Museum‘s gorgeous garden and ballroom, this wedding, captured to perfection from Ann & Kam Photography & Cinema, is oh-so-lovely. See it all here.

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Elegant Spring Wedding at Bridgeport Art Center

From Ann & Kam Photography & Cinema… I knew I liked Rachel from the first time we talked—her easy laughter and kind nature came through even on the telephone. Then I had the pleasure of a little phone call from her mom, when I really fell in love with their whole family. It was easy to feel how much this family loves and cares for each other, and I was in love with them for it. Aaron and Rachel seem to be the perfect fit – laughing often, affectionate, caring, smart, fun, easy going. I could go on and on, obviously! We’ve been looking forward to their wedding for a year, and I am still smiling even as I edit their collection!

Rachel and Aaron’s day was a delight because of the wonderful people involved, but it was also flawlessly beautiful. The Chicago History Museum was the site for the ceremony and reception, and provided a stunning setting, as always. I am still swooning over the gorgeous florals by Life in Bloom and Rachel’s Carolina Herrera gown. Five Grain Events planned the day to perfection, and the David Rothstein Band kept the party rocking all night. Truly, a perfect day.

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Carolina Herrera

Spring 2015

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Romantic bright blooms from A Stem Above, a gaggle of girlfriends in blush lace and shimmering sequins, a waterfront view, and an adoring Groom… Sounds absolutely ideal, right? This beautiful Bride got all that and more on her Big Day, and you won’t want to miss all the pretty in the Kristin La Voie Photography-captured gallery here, or in the Delack Media Group film below. Take a peek!

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Elegant Prairie-Style Chicago Wedding

From Kristin La Voie Photography… Add a stunning Judd Waddell gown + gorgeous florals by A Stem Above + immaculate planning by Big City Bride + the most amazing group of family and friends + a breathtaking Bride + a handsome Groom = THIS! Jessie and Bryan’s wedding was perfection from the second we stepped into the unreal condo Jessie was getting ready with her family and girlfriends in. The entire day was absolutely lovely, and it only got better as we entered the Skyline Loft with the most fabulous flowers and linens I have ever seen. Needless to say, this wedding was spectacular from beginning to end!

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Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

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Elegant yet relaxed, we’re loving this Chicago fete. With Kehoe Designs behind the day every second speaks romance and Melissa Hayes captured it all to share. From a candlelit chuppah to late night donuts, Toast and Jam kept the celebration spinning into the evening and we invite you to witness the magic, here!

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Timeless + Classic Chicago Wedding

From the beautiful Bride… Ryan and I wanted an elegant yet relaxed wedding, one that would be beautiful yet comfortable for all of our friends and family. We looked at many venues in Chicago, where we live, and ultimately decided on Cafe Brauer, a historic Prairie-style venue in the middle of Chicago’s Lincoln Park. To draw attention to the high ceilings and skylit roof, our florist, Phil Cooper (Kehoe Design), designed a candlelit floral and garland chuppah that was suspended from the ceiling; its garlands of greenery extended down to the floor during the ceremony, and were then wrapped up for the reception, transitioning to a centerpiece over the dance floor. It was definitely the highlight of the space and both of us were essentially speechless when we first saw it installed on our wedding day. Under the chuppah during our ceremony, we read our vows from the Ketubah we worded together and designed with Ellie Snow (Hello Tenfold), who created our invitations. Food for Thought catered the wedding, with a range of hors d’oeuvres and entrees that reflected our taste from mini chicken pot pies to ahi tuna crudo. Late night snacks were provided after dessert of cake and coconut doughnuts. The music for both the ceremony and reception was provided by two fabulous DJs from Toast & Jam, who played an eclectic mix of Motown, classic rock and 90s pop. The day came together beautifully all with the help of our wedding planners, Jena and Audra, and captured beautifully by our photographer, Melissa Hayes. The overall feel was relaxed, inviting, eclectic and romantic–exactly what we envisioned.

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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While planning my own wedding, one thing I am mindful of are accommodating details. Take this duo for example, who added a special tea station because it was the father of the Groom’s favorite. Even having the band play certain songs for the Bride’s sorority sisters. It’s details like this, in my opinion, that really make a wedding special. And with Amanda Megan Miller and Jayne Weddings & Events behind the timeless The Ivy Room affair, there are more sweet details (like Magnolia Photo Booth Co.), here!

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Symphony Center Ballroom Wedding Inspiration

From Jayne Weddings & Events…When we met Kristine + Eric we were floating on cloud nine. This couple is SO in love, it was intoxicating to be around! You can totally feel their joy in these photos. Working with couples like this is why we do what we do, and they were such a happy reminder of that!

Kristine knew that she wanted something timeless and classic. She also wanted to create something that was intimate and approachable. But she didn’t want it to ever feel outdated, so we focused on a clean, crisp design with classic style hints here and there.

This couple also really cared about their guests being treated to a special day. They added a special tea station because it’s Eric’s father’s favorite and made sure that the band would play certain songs to appease her sorority sisters. This couple was very accommodating to all of their guests wants and needs.

For the look of the event, Jayne Weddings and Events came up with a simple but chic white and and gold color palette. Working with Kristine we decided to add in lush greens by way of garlands and monochromatic centerpieces created by Fleur.

The ceremony set up was one of our favorites. Green garlands lined the aisle, while large puffs of babies breath hovered above. The vintage ladder and candle backdrop set the tone for the couple to exchange their handwritten vows. Kristine was stunning in her gown and Eric looked dapper in his navy suit. It was raining lightly during their ceremony, and the overcast sky made the room feel even more romantic.

For the reception we used textured linens on the King’s Table gave it a special pop. Light blue pin-striped napkins gave the tables a subtle hint of color, and many candles made the room feel warm and inviting. Chrystal Chandeliers hanging overhead made the whole room sparkle! Layers of Loveliness added the finishing touch with her beautiful calligraphy gracing the place cards, invites, and various signage.

Guests had so much fun in the newly remodeled Ivy Room. They hung out on in the vintage lounge provided by Aged Vintage Rentals, and snaps some silly photos in the photo booth! But the band really kept the dance floor hoping all night long. They brought so much energy to the space!

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Tara Keely

Fall 2016 Collection

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With its high ceilings and crystal chandeliers, the Symphony Center’s Grainger Ballroom is truly a sight to behold. No wonder the talented team of Clover Events found inspiration in its setting to create this beyond gorgeous shoot. Don’t miss all the details captured by Kristin La Voie Photography, including a stunning Alyssa Kristin dress with a seven foot train, in the full gallery right here!

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Wedding Trends Event at The Tie Bar

From Katherine of Clover Events… The inspiration behind this shoot came from the beautiful details in the Symphony Center’s Grainger Ballroom. With its high ceilings embellished with crystal chandeliers and sconces, and an extraordinary view overlooking Michigan Avenue, we knew we had to emphasize the old world romanticism you feel the second you walk into the ballroom. We also wanted to draw inspiration from the Pantone color of the year, Marsala, which popped against the neutral tones in the ballroom. This striking color was incorporated throughout the shoot in the rich linens, beautiful flowers, and vintage dinnerware.

From Alyssa of Alyssa Kristin… To complement the grandiose ballroom, we wanted the gown that was both dramatic and glamorous. The seven foot train and silhouette of the Alessandra provided just that. Additionally, the softness and texture of the cascading tulle added a touch of refined femininity to the affair.

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There are events, and then there is the wedding trends event happening at The Tie Bar’s Flagship Store in Chicago – a can’t-miss four hours of yummy treats and tasty drinks + advice from the pros on everything from surviving the wedding season to choosing the perfect accessory. It’s what we’re calling a Tie Bar extravaganza and it’s all happening from 1-5 pm on June 6th. Amazing.

Take everything you absolutely adore about The Tie Bar (crazy cool ties, bow ties + accessories) and add in a plethora of non-stop wedding action and it’s the best way ever to spend a Saturday afternoon. Think on-site manicures, a crazy cool display featuring top trends + colors and a team of The Tie Bar’s fabulous Wedding Consultants available to help you take your big day to the next level. They’ll even have J.Crew and David’s Bridal swatches on hand to help you match those bow ties to perfection. Say it with me, loves: awesome.

So what are you waiting for, SMPers? Grab your fellas and head on down to The Tie Bar’s Flagship Store located at 918 W Armitage, Chicago on June 6th for an afternoon of accessory fun. The first 50 customers to spend $75+ will receive at two-piece gift with purchase (bestselling cotton pocket square and metal collar stays) and you’ll even be able to make your own gift set options for groomsmen gifts. Soooo fun.

Tips for getting comfy in front of the camera

1. My approach to every photo shoot, no matter the content, is to get natural smiles and laughter. I might act super silly or say something off-the-wall to get the expressions I am going for, but ultimately it helps get everyone relaxed and into it! Once we have that comfort established, it is all about trusting your photographer. Once you have that trust with him/her, it’s so much easier from there!

2. I am all about a nice cuddle fest, so I love to get my couples snuggling. This immediately puts them at ease, and from there, gets them feeling really natural in front of the camera! Once you forget the camera is there, it’s just all about creating natural images that tell a story.

3. Include elements that speak about who you are. If this means simply lounging with a cup of coffee or in your man’s oversized sweater like a typical Sunday morning, let’s do THAT!

4. Having your hair and makeup professionally done (by someone like Vanessa Valliant!) will immediately put you at ease knowing you look your best. I personally love to get it done for photos or big events so it eliminates that element of stress.

Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography | Hair And Makeup: Vanessa Valliant | Venue: LaCuna Artist Lofts

Enchanting Chicago Wedding at Revolution Brewing

From the whimsical blooms to the gorgeous green Weddington Way gowns, this next Midwestern affair is styled to perfection! Not only did this darling duo make their own invitation suite, they proved to be the ultimate DIY team. From spray-painted frames to pint glasse favors, they worked together to craft one enchanting affair. With Toast and Jam carrying the party into the night, Dabble Me This shares it all here!

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Eatery Religious Institution

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Rhythm of the Waves Wedding Editorial

From Dabble Me This… From the enchanting florals to the kelly green bridesmaid dresses Emily and John’s wedding was styled to perfection! The personality of these two lovebirds truly shined and I love how all the details were styled by the bride herself. Decorating the reception venue Revolution Brewing with DIY paper goods from Paper Source and complimenting the florals from Ipomea Floral with a hints of gold throughout. Everything blended together perfectly. I simply cannot get over how lovely this downtown Chicago wedding turned out and I was honored to capture it all. Below I’ve included write-ups from the bride Emily and groom John. Sharing the story of how they met and planned their wedding day.

From the handsome Groom… Emily and I met while we were both living in Madison, WI. She was working her first job out of college while I was finishing up school. It turned out her roommate was dating one of my roommates, and we met when a group of us went out one night. Soon after we went on our first date, and before we knew it we had moved to Chicago.

Emily and I were planning a vacation in New Hampshire in August, 2013, and I hid the engagement ring in my duffle bag on the way there. After a day of sailing and visiting with the Cunningham family, Emily and I checked into the inn where we were staying. Slipping the ring into my pocket, I told her I wanted to go out and look at the stars because we couldn’t see stars like that in Chicago. So we went outside, into the pitch black night, and tried our hardest not to trip on anything while walking around. After a few minutes of moving slowly and bumping into each other, we stopped and I admitted that the stars were just a rouse to get us outside. Then she turned to face me as I pulled out the ring and got onto one knee and said, “I really just wanted to ask…Emily Rose Noonan, will you marry me?” At which point she paused, said, “Yes!” And then proceeded to poke me in the face and ask, “is this real life?” Since it was, she put the ring on and we went inside and ordered a bottle of champagne.

From the beautiful Bride… When we first started planning the wedding, deciding on a ceremony venue was the easy part. John and I were both raised Catholic, so it was important to us and our families that we get married in a Catholic church. At the time we actually weren’t living in Chicago, but already had our sights set on moving to Bucktown. It’s not hard to see why we fell in love with St. Hedwig’s, a beautiful 125 year old church. A couple weeks after we reached out to the church, we ended up moving in a few blocks away. It was really neat for both of us to get married in a church that we belonged to and walked by nearly every day.

Being on a budget, we chose to trim some costs by making our own invitations and other paper goods. During this process, I discovered and fell in love with Paper Source and Rifle Paper Co. Creating our own invitations also allowed us to pick out the individual pieces and design things exactly how we wanted them. My husband was an incredible help with all the DIY stuff. He spray-painted all of the frames for the table numbers and somehow mastered stamping all the invitations when I couldn’t. John also came up with the idea for designing pint glasses as a wedding favor. It’s really exciting to see the pint glasses at our friends and family’s houses when we visit!

The best decisions we made were selecting the right vendors. All of our vendors were very responsive and easy to work with. We also didn’t have to micromanage or spell out the details of every flower or photograph that we wanted. When you are working with vendors that you trust to do a good job, you can just let them run with things and it’s less stressful for everyone.

In the end, we had 110 people at the wedding, which was the perfect size. We felt like we were able to spend quality time with all of our guests. Before the wedding, we had heard from others that you don’t get to eat, drink or have a moment to yourself at your own wedding. Having a smaller wedding allowed us to do all of this and really soak up everything. This doesn’t mean that it still doesn’t go by too fast!

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Enzoani

2014 Beautiful

2014 Blue

2014

2014 Love

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Overcast skies and a windswept shoreline, this pastoral editorial evokes daydreams of mermaids. A misty morning paired with rushing blue waves, Tamara Gruner snapped up every strand of beauty. From an elegant setting awash with calligraphed shells and flowing table linens, it’s organic beauty leaves us mesmerized. Like the rhythm of the waves, each image drifts dreamily into our hearts and you can see them all here!

From Tamara Gruner Photography… The wind whistled through as the waves danced to that tune. The splash on shore created a mist of enchantment. This surreal backdrop provided the most mystical setting for our wedding inspiration. The rushing blue waters played an elegant part for our table setting – calligraphed shells and flowing table linen. To match the setting the bride was wearing a grey Veronica Sheaffer dress which drifted in the wind. The groom, not to be left wanting, was spritely dressed in his black tuxedo. The entire orchestra of the moment was completed by the rhythm of the waves.

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Veronica Sheaffer

Fall/Winter 2015

Spring 2016

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Multicultural Chicago Ballroom Wedding

Surrounded by gilded details and soft blush accents from Art of Imagination in a glam ballroom setting, this fun-loving couple said “I Do” in a traditional Jewish ceremony, followed by, as photographer Olivia Leigh said, a “celebration was international, interfaith and multicultural — truly a global celebration of their relationship!” Check out the gallery to see every last gorgeous detail.

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Cheerful Chicago Engagement Session

From Olivia Leigh Photographie… This wedding! Kadmiel and Whitney were THE MOST adorable couple to photograph. The joy and love they share just radiated from them, creating a beautifully emotional and incredibly fun, yet intimate celebration. After working in the wedding industry for several years, currently as a bridal stylist for Vera Wang, Whitney planned a beautiful spring wedding at the historic Blackstone Hotel in Chicago with Kadmiel. Their celebration was international, interfaith and multicultural — truly a global celebration of their relationship! A Jewish ceremony under an elegant and romantic chuppah was a beautiful start to the celebration and DJ Megan Taylor with Percussionist Chris Paquette kept the party going all night for this couple that loves music and dancing. They had one of the most packed and vibrant dance floors I’ve ever seen and all of their guests truly had a blast!

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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We couldn’t imagine anything sweeter than this Chicago couple’s engagement session! Relaxing at their apartment, strolling around the lake and exploring the city they fell in love in, these lovebirds are totally in love and it shows. The talented Kristin Sweeting captured every moment in the full gallery right here!

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