Illinois Weddings

Romantic Chicago River Wedding

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Country Club

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Rustic

From Kristin La Voie Photography…Where do I even begin with these two? Simply, this couple is the kind of couple every wedding photographer dreams about. Super laid back and chill, up for anything (and I do mean anything – like hiking through a weedy field in their wedding attire!), amazingly photogenic, and SO FUN! I’ve been eager for their wedding ever since their gorgeous camping engagement session that still remains in my top sessions of all time catalog.

When the day started, the second I walked into this gorgeous bridal suite with perfect light and a beautiful gold ceiling, I knew my face was going to hurt from all the smiling. Megan is the most picture perfect bride; stunning and down to earth, with the most striking blue eyes and beautiful smile. Dakota is the most laid back and silly groom; super fun, super cute, and super in love with Megan. It really couldn’t get any better, except for that it could. We shot so much film from beginning to end, I actually used every roll I brought and wanted more!

A soiree layered with blush tones is inevitably bound to warm me up like a sweet, late summer sunset. And when it’s woven with classic details from La Belle Fleur Events like these Chicago I-do’s are? It’s all over. From the fluffy, pink cherry blossom portraits to the stunning Bride’s crown lace veil, Cristina G Photography snapped every inch of lovely up right here.

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Eatery Religious Institution

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Eclectic Chicago Loft Wedding

From Cristina G Photography… Some weddings are so so so fun that you wish they’d last for weeks! And some clients are so sweet and so amazing to work with that when their wedding is over, you shed a tear cause you are going to miss them so much. That was Megan & Ray’s wedding! And the pictures are here to prove it. Plus I really love a wedding at Fulton’s on the River. A great venue, great location and great staff. Oh, did I mention, great food! Delish! And last, but definitely not least, this wedding had an incredible lineup of vendors. The very best of everything!

Lots of special, unique little details made this wedding an unforgettable one. The place cards were displayed on a bed of lavender in Megan’s parents antique drawers! They not only looked good, but smelled really amazing too! The head table was sprinkled with beautiful custom made coasters with sweet messages on them. The drinks had Happily Ever After flags in them and the decadent cake was decorated with fresh flowers and custom gold cake topper with the newlyweds names on it.

Sunset on the river for their outdoor cocktail hour, dancing the night away to the beats of some of the very best DJs in Chicago and dashing into the night through a tunnel of sparklers down the bridge… the elements of a truly amazing celebration. As unique and fun as Megan and Ray!

If you ask me, lofts are kind of the new barn. Take an old warehouse, pretty up those exposed beams + industrial windows and boom! You’ve got a killer venue to tie the knot. It’s exactly the route this Chicago couple went, and thanks to Jayne Weddings & Events, Art Of Imagination, Re:find Joy, Toast And Jam and others, the day was a complete and total hit. See here for yourself.

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Intimate DIY Backyard Wedding in Urbana, IL

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Industrial

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Whimsical

From The Bride…Although Dave is from Arizona and I am from Maryland, we met in Chicago and built our lives here, which is why we were sure this was the right place for us to get married. When we got engaged last spring, I knew I wanted our wedding to highlight our style and quirks, which is why I immediately contacted Katie Jayne from Jayne Weddings. Before we met for the first time, I had picked out a bunch of random images for our pinterest board – art that I liked and images I found interesting. When looking through everything that I had put together, there was one image of natural marble in pink and grey tones that really jumped out. Katie Jayne immediately ran with it and created the soft, yet edgy, color palette and introduced the idea of incorporating mirror prints in a few different ways to go along with the marble.

We decided to have the wedding at Loft on Lake because of the gorgeous exposed brick walls (which was the feature we loved most in our first home together) and the city vibe that went with it. We loved that you could hear the train sailing past our venue – a real nod to Chicago, where we met. About 80% of our guests traveled from out of town so we really wanted them to get a sense of how we see the city outside of the tourist areas downtown.

With the warmth of the venue set, we really had a blast finding ways to bring all of the patterns into the day. Megan at Ruby The Fox took our “inkblot” ideas and ran with them, creating the soft and modern pink invitations to go along with the custom mirror print pattern Katie Jayne created for the RSVP cards and the ceremony backdrop fabric. We found the marbled paper for the table runners at an art supply store. I hand crafted all of the paper flowers to spell out “A & D” out of crepe paper for the eye catching installation right when guests walked in the door. Of course, the pop of real flowers from Fleur helped too!

We had a blast working with Kelly Marie from Fleur to come up with the flowers for the tables using the marble paper as inspiration for colors and textures. We wanted it to look organic and flow, like the marble. The random assortment of brass vases and coups along with the pottery was exactly what we had envisioned!

Lastly, I had given my bridesmaids very lose direction on the dresses – metallic with texture. There was a bit of hesitation all around, but in the end I knew that all of their incredible styles would turn out perfectly all together. I could not have been happier with their choices – they all looked fabulous!

All in all, it was the best day of our lives and we loved every second of it. From having my Maid of Honor sing Sea of Love by Cat Power while my dad walked me down the aisle, to the heartfelt speeches, we couldn’t have asked for more. Seeing all of our guests of all ages smiling throughout the day was something neither of us will ever forget.

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Pronovias

ATELIER PRONOVIAS

PRONOVIAS

Dancing Lights, Cruise Collection

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Intimate, lovely and filled with so much love you can feel it through the computer screen, this backyard beauty captured by Anna Page Photography warms my heart right up. It’s overflowing with too many darling DIY details to list, but thankfully you can devour every gorgeous moment of this stunning soiree right here.

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Backyard

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Pop Art Wedding Inspiration

From The Bride…Before Gunnar even proposed, we both knew that we wanted to have a wedding that was intimate and authentic, and truly a reflection of us. And that is how our entire wedding journey felt for the both of us. It began when Gunnar proposed to me, on our apartment patio decorated with flowers and bistro lights and served with a homemade dinner, and ended with a small backyard wedding with our closest family and friends.

When we started planning, and figured out how expensive everything wedding-related is, we decided to seek out ways to do and provide a lot of things ourselves for the wedding. That started by choosing the wedding venue, which we decided would be in my parents backyard in my hometown of Urbana, IL. Gunnar and I are both very outdoorsy and family oriented, so this location was the perfect fit for us.

When planning the wedding, our number one goal was to have a party that brought all of our different friends and families together to have a good time. In order to accomplish that, we wanted to there to be plenty of things to do to enable a great celebration. We decided on having a bench filled with jars of jam to greet our guests as they walked in to the backyard; a whiskey and cigar bar for backyard socializing; a beer-garden inspired arrangement of two long tables where everyone sat to eat and chat for dinner; a dance floor under the tents to dance the night away; a station with madlibs, advice cards, and a Polaroid camera to allow our guests to personalize their page in our guest book; and later in the night, a bonfire with accompanying s’mores to round out the evening. Oh!, and my favorite installment, we converted my parents backyard cottage into a room dedicated to the many delicious deserts provided by our caterer and the delicious cake and cupcakes by Cream and Flutter.

Our DIY theme continued as Gunnar and I, with the help of many family and friends, started to tackle wedding-related projects. Gunnar is an avid homebrewer, and made two homebrewed beers for our wedding day. My friend (and bridesmaid), Ashley Benson, and I made the save-the-dates and wedding invitations by hand. Ashley also made all of the place card nametags and signage for each station as well as the escort board. My mom, with the help of her friend Patsy, made the beautiful blue napkins that would be at each place setting. To make the stations, we collected tables from around my parent’s house and bought vintage frames for the signage. The boxes used for the flower centerpieces at our tables were the drawers to my parent’s Chinese apocathery chest. My mom and her friends scoured Champaign-Urbana, and the surrounding towns, for the jams we would give out as favors, the lavender we would place at each place setting, as well as many other odds and ends. In the last week, every one pitched in to put together the s’mores bags and set up the backyard. We tried to put our special touch on everything that was part of our wedding day, and while it was quite the process, with many late nights of planning and crafting, it was well worth it in the end.

To complete our perfect day, we had amazing vendors that provided flowers, tents, and food. Getting ready, we had makeup done by the women from my mom’s cosmetics business and a family friend doing our hair. And, a spectacular photographer to document it all!

When we picked our wedding date of May 3rd, we knew it was a gamble weather-wise. In the Midwest, an early May day could be freezing cold and raining to scorching hot and humid. But when our day finally arrived, it could not have been more perfect. The weather was warm and breezy, the sun was shining, and the garden flowers were just starting to bloom. We had eighty of our closest family and friends together on a perfect May day. I tear up at the thought of how wonderful it truly was. It was the most amazing day for Gunnar and I to start our married life together.

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Wedding Dresses

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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I’m all about breaking the “mold” and when it comes in the form of one absurdly cool shoot from Magnificent Milestones, you better believe things are about to get good. Inspired by the ’60’s Pop Art movement and translated into a wedding setup – not to mention the most amazing floral backdrop by Dilly Lily – the gallery from Amanda Hein is modern bride’s heaven on earth.

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DIY Gold Heart Arrows + Rustic Whimsical Wedding Inspiration

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Industrial

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Modern

From Magnificent Milestones…One of the most familiar representations of Americana and the party decade of the 1960s, the Pop Art Movement also acted as inspiration for this colorful shoot. From bold, saturated colors and fonts to cheeky floral portraits of the bride and groom, the details came together to create a party as lively as the couple it celebrates. This perfectly executed shoot, captured by Amanda Hein Photography, drew on the spirit of sheer joy and vibrancy that can be found in Pop Art and in celebrations of love everywhere.

The crisp, clean venue of Chez-Chicago, new to the city of Chicago, added contemporary glamour to the festive details and provided an elegant backdrop to the amped-up color palette of the décor.

Invitations, menus, and other punchy paper pieces created by Magnificent Milestones used multiple Pop Art elements, from geometric designs and patterns to ultra-Mod fonts. Splashes of lively pinks, oranges, yellows, and reds reflected the energetic soul central to Pop Art. Even Andy Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s Soup Cans made an appearance, acting as labels for veggie chips as colorful as their surroundings!

The expertly selected floral arrangements, done by Dilly Lily/Christine Noelle Design, were a kaleidoscopic vision of hot pinks, sunny yellows, and vivid tangerines. The floral mosaics of the couple drew on the work of Roy Lichtenstein—another respected Pop Art personality. Renowned for his comic strip-inspired paintings, Lichtenstein used large dots in bold colors in the same technique used to print graphic novels and cartoons. These playful portraits added an ultra-personal touch while keeping with the lighthearted theme.

The floral centerpieces and the bright white tables from Tablescapes were a match made in heaven. The crisp, clean surroundings were reflected flawlessly in the simple, bright white furniture, creating a stunning contemporary canvas for the Pop Art-inspired details.

This play between contemporary flair and Pop Art playfulness was further repeated in the fabulous fare from Entertaining Company—from the vibrant, fresh green color of the chimichurri and triangular shapes of the New Zealand baby lamb chops, to the bold circles found in the Round Crabcake and the Layered Vegetable Tian with heirloom tomatoes, to the vibrant Blood Orange Martini. We absolutely loved the application of geometric shapes and bright colors found throughout the shoot!

This rustic-whimsy infusion from Studio Finch is literally packed with pretty. The gems from Artifact Vintage bring a slightly boho touch, Pollen‘s florals are crawling with a wild beauty and the playful cake from Lovely Bake Shop is the slice of sweetness to balance out the unrefined backdrop. Feast your eyes on the gallery and take a peek below for Revelry Creative‘s fabulous gold heart arrows!

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Romantic BHLDN Inspired Inspiration Shoot

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Urban Space

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Rustic Whimsical

From Studio Finch Photography… Gold, Arrow infused with antlers and whimsical florals bejeweled with antique turquoise jewelry was the inspiration for this rustic styled shoot in Chicago. We wanted to emphasize a woman’s strength and pair it with a soft whimsey and rustic elements paired with gold. The whimsical tulle dress contrasts beautifully with the strong curves of the antlers and the golden arrows. Turquoise added the pop of color along with the pinks and blushes in the florals. Allie Hasson provided amazing watercolor invitations to be paired with Artifact Vintage’s amazing collection of antique bridal jewelry. Rustic, Whimsical and Timeless. Project Runway’s Kate Pankoke of Elaya Vaughn paired the shoot with a beautiful tulle wedding gown.

A Signature Cocktail was inspired by the forging roots of Ginger, provided by the Chicago Distiller Koval and the Ice for the Signature Cocktail was Provided by Just Ice, INC. We wanted to keep the shoot as Chicago as possible with local vendors. Signature Cocktail: Ginger Root Citrus Wagon, 1 Part Koval Bourbon Whiskey, 1 Part Koval Ginger Liquor, Large Square Ice Cube, Fill with San Pellegrino Sparkling Lemon Citrus Soda. Add Rosemary for an aromatic garnish.

Fine Paper
Kabob sticks
Heart Template
Hot Glue
Scissors
Gold Spray Paint

Take the heart template and cut out 6 hearts for each arrow. You will need 4 hearts for the fletching portion (back) of the arrow and 2 hearts for the broadhead (front).

Spray kabob sticks with the spray paint.

Take 2 heart cutouts for the head of the arrow and glue them together with the kabob in between

Take the 4 heart cutouts and fold them each in half, they will be glued together at 90 degrees

Once the glue has dried, slip the 4 glued fletchings through the back part of the kabob

Trim the fletchings as you with, we used a fringe technique to mimic feathers.

Viola! DIY arrow bunch. The arrows paired with the eucalyptus and strung hearts, all became tied together with the gold dotted antlers spanning the table. A nod to The Hunger Games.

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Accessories

Elaya Vaughn Bridal

2015 Accessories

Behind the Gilded Veil

Romance in Bloom

2016 Collection

2016 Accessories Collection

2017 Collection

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Gorgeous things happen when you pair a fabulous team of vendors with a breathtaking setting like Berger Mansion and some of the prettiest BHLDN gowns ever. Crazy gorgeous things. I’m talking vintage goodness from Chicago Vintage Weddings, lush florals from Asrai Garden and a whole lot of awesome captured by Amy Jo Royall. Soak in the pretty in the full gallery.

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Estate Weddings

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SMP Midwest Welcomes Our Advertisers + A Discount + A Giveaway!

From Amy Jo Royall Photography… I had met Elizabeth from Asrai Garden last fall. She was the floral designer for a Kinfolk Dinner here in Chicago and I was the photographer. We talked about working together on some wedding inspiration and decided it was just what we would need to break up our Chicago winter! Danielle from BHLDN Chicago helped to style this shoot with me and we got to use BHLDN’s seriously amazing gowns and products. Danielle introduced her friend Kate from Chicago Vintage Weddings and voila, we bring you this amazing collaboration I am honored to be a part of. The beautiful ladies modeling are Lauren and Brailey who are actually stylists at BHLDN in Chicago. It was just what we needed to get us all excited for wedding season!

Photography: Amy Jo Royall | Floral Design: Asrai Garden | Gowns, Accessories & Props: BHLDN | Location: Berger Mansion | Vintage Rentals: Chicago Vintage Weddings

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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Today we’re thanking our lucky stars for WASIO photography, the sole reason your Saturday is about to take a giant step up from normal to extraordinary. I’m talking an entire portfolio of jaw-droppingly gorgeous images from one of the most talented photography teams you will ever meet. How’s that for the perfect weekend? Dive into all of the pretty (+ a discount and giveaway) below!

From WASIO photography… Living in Chicago, we get to appreciate the beautiful architecture and incorporate it in our photographs. The roots of our inspiration are landscapes and being in the moment. True love is one of our greatest motivators that inspires us to capture special moments that literally happen in seconds. By having such a strong passion for love and beauty, we thrive to deliver timeless photographs that will be passed down through generations. Our goal is to always awe our clients with the famous WASIO signature style photographs.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Instagram.

Discount! Book WASIO photography in August or September and we will add 10 additional images to our handcrafted wedding albums! ($300 value)

Giveaway! One lucky SMP reader will win a sunset or sunrise 1-hour engagement session* with WASIO photography! (Value $499) Simply leave a comment below telling us why Chicago is your city of choice for your engagement session! The winner, chosen completely at random, will be announced right here on SMP on Friday, September 12, 2014.

For terms and conditions, click here.

*Session must take place in downtown Chicago on a mutually agreed day. The engagement session includes session time plus one WASIO signature edit 8×10 print. Online gallery will include all color corrected images from the session. Client will have the option to purchase additional prints with WASIO signature edit or all high-resolution electronic images.

Rose Gold Wedding Inspiration

Not only does this slice of pretty from Roots Of Life Photography and Joanna B Artistry represent a lovely array of Chicago wedding industry talents—but the fresh approach to every little detail makes it a total trendsetter. Set at the clean, crisp Chicago History Museum, it’s filled with rose gold touches, a cute-as-can-be popcorn bar, heavenly florals from A Splendid Occasion and so much more. Head to the gallery for every bit!

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Weddings in Historical Venues

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Traditional Winter Wedding

From Roots Of Life Photography… Joanna of Joanna B. Artistry & I are pleased to share our latest styled shoot featuring a luxurious palette of rose gold, pale blush, cream and gray. I would describe this inspiration shoot as sweet, classic & chic… a modern twist on the traditional (and trendy) wedding. In thinking about what key elements we wanted to focus on, Joanna & I decided we wanted the shoot to be practical & relate-able while introducing brides to new and emerging trends, colors and themes from the wedding industry.

The biggest new element & focal point is the rose gold or copper color you will see throughout the shoot. Brides are quickly becoming obsessed with it as the trend is fast emerging on social media. I have been seeing more and more rose gold rings lately, several women I know have even changed their wedding rings to rose gold! CA Jewelers gave us two sets of wedding ring & band options and I just had to show you pictures of both. Stunning!

Plate & Nimble Well did a fantastic job of using the rose gold color in designing the tables. The blush chargers, water goblets, sweets displays & hand painted silverware really tie everything together. Our ‘Chicago’ Mule signature cocktail mugs are perfectly paired with the theme as well. Speaking of signature cocktails, CH Distillery & Goose Island pair nicely in our ginger drink.

Something fun we wanted to do was feature ONLY Chicago vendors, a celebration of the best our city has to offer. Chicagoans are very proud of their city and we wanted to show brides that they too can incorporate their own cities local businesses, trends, foods & products into their wedding design without it appearing to ‘themed.’

Another element we wanted to tie in was comfort. Midwest brides are all about comfort, even the ones with large wedding budgets. That being said, we wanted to do something different and veer off from the food & favors that are currently on trend (I’m looking at you French Macaroons!). Lovely, A Bake Shop made us delicious mini doughnuts & peanut butter fluff pies for our sweets table as well as provided us with small jars of their home-made jam as ‘favors’. Their peach-lavender jam is to die for!

Instead of a trendy candy bar, we put together a popcorn bar featuring Chicago vendors. I am a popcorn addict myself and was thrilled with how well this came together. Oh Olive butter flavored olive oil & white truffle oil serve as a nice base for toppings. The ‘Spice House’ spices feature a Chicago theme, place or element and taste DELICIOUS on popcorn. Both companies work with brides to create fun favors and elements for any wedding or event. Our paper products from Fox & Hound Paperie are so chic and fun. Don’t you just love those custom popcorn bags?!

Tiffany of A Splendid Occasion (SMP Little Black Book member) nailed our vision and her floral pulled everything together in a cohesive way. The venue, Chicago History Museum, is the PERFECT place for a classic & timeless Chicago wedding. The Chicago Room is just breath taking.

Our bride, looking classically beautiful, showed off this Alyssa Kristin gown flawlessly. Her Groom couldn’t take his eyes off her…

Soft, warm and cozy: the first three words that come to mind when describing this breathtaking Chicago wedding. A day that is rich in elegant details with just a touch of winter whimsy to bring it all together. Think crazy cool centerpieces from Fleur, the planning expertise of Five Grain Events, fab paper goods from Ruby the Fox and a world of lovely images captured by Ann & Kam Photography & Cinema. See them all in the full gallery.

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Winter Weddings

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Event Venue

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Industrial Chic Chicago Wedding

From Ann & Kam Photography & Cinema… I am so excited to share Jessica and Jake’s wedding today! Jessica and Jake have one of the largest, most fun, and most loving group of friends and family we have ever encountered. It was such an honor to feel the love and excitement that surrounded them on their wedding day. Five Grain Events did an amazing job making the day go smoothly, and the florals by Fleur were just exquisite. The bouquets and centerpieces included bits of cotton and gnarly wooden elements for texture and contrast. The combination of light and beautiful natural elements and industrial elements in the venue made for a visually stunning wedding day.

Ravenswood Event Center is a unique venue in Chicago, with three floors and an event room that includes a collection of vintage cars and neon signs. The bridal party started the day getting ready at Public Hotel, a bright and airy boutique hotel. This winter day was especially cold, so we made our way directly to Ravenswood after Jessica and Jake had their first look at Public. After a few photos at Ravenswood, the festivities officially began with a traditional Tish and Bedeken. Guests moved to the second floor for the ceremony, and finally to the first floor for dinner and dancing.

I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Chicago, and thanks to this urban-glam love affair captured by Averyhouse, that love is only growing. One part industrial and another part chic, it’s exactly what city wedding dreams are made of with A Perfect Event making magic behind the scenes. Lovelies, believe me when I say your Thursday happy place starts here.

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Adam Foster Fine Art Jewelry

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Industrial

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Vintage

From Averyhouse… An industrial, cobbled warehouse turned wedding reception romance sparkling with chandeliers, southern bourbon bars and Bluegrass. Anjali and Jon dreamed of an intimate candlelight wedding ceremony incorporating Jon’s beautiful Jewish symbols and traditions. Anjali’s vintage gown set the tone for an elegant cum retro speakeasy celebration.

The bride and groom brought together friends and family with their love for all things vintage – from handcrafted his and her bourbon cocktails in collections of styled stemware, to a top tapping blue grass band, to a southern comfort food menu.

Debi designed vintage floral vignettes in Parisian flea market find perfume bottles, cameo vases and Debi Lilly Design for Safeway depression glass vessels placed on top glittered metallic BBJLinen petite bread and butter plates.

Mismatched chiavari and bistro chairs, crystal stemware, china collections and beaded gold tablecloths from Tablescapes and BBJ Linen created a flea market chic ambience for the reception.

For favors donations were made to the couple’s favorite Humane Shelter, packaged into cello sleeves adorned with gold and blush pink washi tape.

Pretty doesn’t even begin to describe what you’re about to feast your eyes on, my dears. Inspired by old world craftsmanship and the jewelry history of Europe, Adam Foster Fine Art Jewelry creates truly stunning and unique designs. Each piece is designed by Adam Foster and hand made in his St. Louis, Missouri boutique + studio. I mean, come on, how gorgeous are these sparklers?!

Traveling across the country — and the world — to source incredible stones and to gather inspiration, Adam Foster of Foster Fine Art Jewelry is truly a creative genius. He believes that knowing the source of the materials and the people that cut, mine or make each element of his pieces is crucial to the design process. And we couldn’t agree more. From truly unique engagement and wedding rings to one-of-a-kind necklaces and bracelets, this line of jewelry is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.

Working with clients across the globe, Adam Foster Fine Art Jewelry can help you design something incredible. You can see more of his work in his Etsy shop, as well as on Pinterest and Facebook. To schedule your in-person meeting, give them a call at 314.771.3390 or email info{at}fosterjewelry.com.

Ballroom Wedding at University of Illinois

When two college sweethearts tie the knot back on the very campus they first met, there’s bound to be an air of romance. Now add in the design sensibilities of Kristin Ashley, pretty pink arrangements by Jarro Designs Floral Studio and stunning captures from Christine Foehrkolb and you’ve got a wedding with “SMP” written all over it. See lots more right here!

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Ballroom Weddings

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Traditional Ballroom Wedding at The University Club

From Christine Foehrkolb… Mallory and Joe were married at St. John’s Chapel on University of Illinois’ campus (were they attended school together and right before they headed off to Sweden). It was a gorgeous event styled by Kristin Ashley Events with pure classic details throughout the entire day.

Photography: christine foehrkolb photography | Event Planning: Kristin Ashley Events | Florals: Jarro Designs Floral Studio | Ceremony Venue: St. John's Chapel | Reception Venue: Alice Campell Alumni Center

You know you are in for a treat when the bride describes her wedding as The Royal Wedding meets Harry Potter. Think traditional stylings meets crazy cool florals from Virginia Wolff meets a Lazaro gown that will seriously take your breath away, all with a punch of pink hues to keep things stylishly interesting. See it all captured by Oana Sweeney of OANAFOTO right here.

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Ballroom Weddings Religious Institution

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Styles

Cultural Wedding at Cafe La Cave

From the Bride… I imagined a romantic, fairytale day for the wedding. I believe I got my fairytale ending, along with much, much more. I could not imagine a better day surrounded by the people I love most. Friends and family were everywhere I looked, from the moment I woke up (and my handsome groom had his best man deliver me Starbucks in bed) to the moment I rode off in a horse and carriage, waving to my parents amidst the crowd. The bridesmaids were dressed in blush to add a soft, romantic touch. The flowers had an English garden feel to them, with the soft romanticism of roses and light colors tightly bound in circular plumes on top of each table. The room was simply magical with the high ceilings, lit crests, and wooden beams. It felt like a royal wedding with a Harry Potter twist to it. I felt like the centerpiece with my princess, A-line gown swirling about me all night while I danced to live music, cut the simply elegant, towering cake, and made toasts to love, friendship, and family. The day went by without a hitch in the plans, and the night finished with a memorable exit. The special details include: My mothers’ sleeve from her wedding gown and my grandmother’s brooch both attached to my bouquet, and the end of the evening topping off the night with Don and I riding off into the distance in a horse and carriage.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Wedding Dresses

Lazaro

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

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Our friends at Loudbyte Cinematography know how to tell a good love story – no if, ands, or buts about it. And their latest work of art features Candy and Sum’s dream wedding set at Cafe La Cave. It’s vibrant and fresh yet infused with tradition, and all you have to do is sit back and press “play.”

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/84355427 600 338]

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Eatery

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Foggy Chicago Skyline Engagement Session

From Loudbyte Cinematography… Candy + Sum’s wedding day was unseasonably warm and the autumn colors were just so vivid. Their day was a mix between Chinese traditions and modern elegance.

Venue: Cafe La Cave | Bridal Prep: Chicago Marriott Naperville | Cinema: Loudbyte

This captivating e-sesh from Yazy Jo has induced a blushing frenzy on me today. Filled with so many sweet kisses, this adorable duo is wrapped up in a foggy blanket of love that can only be described as utter romance. You may want to carve out a chunk of your afternoon for this one, lovelies. It’s a doozy.

From the beautiful Bride-to-be… When it came to the location for our engagement shoot, Lincoln Park was an easy decision. Our first apartment together was only a few blocks away, and we lived there for two years. It’s such a pretty area, especially in the spring when everything is in full bloom. We wanted to get a few photos with the skyline in the background, so Yazy suggested stopping by Northerly Island by the Adler Planetarium. It was a really foggy day, which made for some hauntingly beautiful photos by the lake. It was freezing, but a lot of fun!

Photography: yazy jo | Dress And Shoes: Macy's | Location: Adler Planetarium | Ryan's Jacket: Men's Wearhouse

Modern Traditional Wedding at the Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront

With a stunning Bride, a dashing groom, and one seriously gorgeous wedding planned to perfection by One Fine Day Events, it goes without saying that this gallery is just beyond. Captured beautifully by Shane Welch Photography every picture perfect moment of this couples’ beautiful Chicago day is waiting for you right here. And on top of it all, Loudbyte Cinematography made sure we could see it all play out on film. And trust me, you don’t want to miss it.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/82318410 600 338]

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings Religious Institution

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Classic Weddings Modern

From The Bride…Jeff and I are city people with a love for all things Chicago. After we got engaged we knew we wanted a wedding in our favorite city. Our search of venues evolved into finding a spot that would depict our passion for the city and fit with our modern vision.

I would describe our wedding style as modern traditional. While we didn’t have a “head table”, a bridal party entrance, or bouquet toss, and sent electronic save the dates, we still wanted to have our ceremony at a catholic church.

The ceremony took place at St. James Chapel, part of Holy Name Cathedral. It’s a 90 year old chapel in the middle of Rush Street and is rich with history, and more noticeably its beauty! Our ‘grand exit’ was complete with ribbon bells to preserve the grounds (ribbon bells from esty-LilyAmongThornsBride).

Post ceremony, the city theme was carried through our photo session. Our photographer, Shane Welch, with Shane Welch photography, knew we wanted a unique place that would allow for city views and chose a more remote beach suiting our style located at 31st street. It was rustic, chic, and had perfect views of the skyline and lake. It was very windy that day but it wouldn’t have been a true Chicago wedding without it!

We never thought we would have held our reception at a hotel, but when we saw the ballroom at the Wyndam Grand Chicago Riverfront hotel (formerly Hotel 71), we knew we had to have our reception there. The primary reason we chose this venue was for the panoramic 39th floor views overlooking Chicago landmarks such as, the Wrigley Building, John Hancock tower, and the Museum of Science and industry, to name a few. As an added bonus, the venue had some character; it was Bruce Wayne’s penthouse in the film The Dark Knight. The capacity of 130 guests made it the right size venue for us. We leveraged the beautiful city backdrop as our wedding ‘décor’ and enhanced it with floating candles and minimalistic floral designs from Stemline Creative.

A lot of credit for the day of details goes to many talented Etsy designers; Candycrush events for the sequin table cloths, Tangedesign, for the white sequin bride and groom Chivari chair covers, SimpleandStunning2 for the unique wedding programs, and Birdhouse stationary which designed the “city” vision I had for my wedding invites, which of course captured the city skyline. I was able to print and assemble at home to reduce the costs.

I also put my own creative touches on the wedding. Little details such as, designing and printing the place-cards and personalized water bottle labels (which I proudly taped to each water bottle), as well as, a Fuji film photo guest book station. Alliance Bakery also merged 3 cake design ideas I had in mind for a simple but modern cake which ended up tasting just as good as it looked! A lot of time was spent on some of the little details and the day of coordinators from One Fine Day events executed them better than I could have myself!

Additionally, I was also a beta tester for Appycouple, a wedding website and phone app that allowed us to e-mail our save the dates and have our guests rsvp online which saved us both time and money. Some guests were a little slow to catch on, but it was useful for us to track the responses and number of invites sent. The app also included all of the wedding details including integrated maps & directions for convenience.

All and all, it was one spectacular day and I can honestly say if I had the chance to do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing about my wedding! 5 months after the wedding I got to virtually re-live it all over again with a beautiful film that Loudbyte Cinematography put together for me. It was truly a day we will cherish forever and I’m so happy I have beautiful film and photos to remember it by!

Glamorous Ballroom Wedding at the Chicago Cultural Center

Nothing takes you to the moon and back quite like wedding cinematography, especially when it’s the talented team at Loudbyte Cinematography delivering the goods. Picture a traditional meets romantic affair that has you completely captivated, from the very first moments with the beautiful bride to the sweet (+ funny toasts) from the awesome family and friends. Press play and ENJOY.

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From Loudbyte Cinematography… Abby and Andy’s day began at Chicago’s Intercontinental Hotel. What a gorgeous lobby! The couple wrote each other amazing love letters that were captured in the film.

From the hotel, we travelled downtown for the first look. Andy was just blown away when he saw his bride for the first time!

They got married at the historical Chicago Cultural Center which houses the largest Tiffany dome in the world.

What a beautiful reception.

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Totally in love with this darling duo? Here’s a little something extra special… a perfectly captured film all about these two sweeties and their love story. Thank you, Loudbyte Cinematography. Thank you.

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From Loudbyte Cinematography… We had the pleasure of creating a love story for Abby and Andy. They fell in love in high school and have been together every since. Their love for animals, the Chicago Cubs and each other is infectious!

A beautiful story!

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Classic Weddings Romantic

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Ballroom Weddings

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Cinematography: Loudbyte | Florist: Anthony Gowder Designs | Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Cake Chicago | Invitations: Pink {Paper + Ink} | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair & Makeup: Sonia Roselli | DJ: Spinnin Discs | String Quartet: Innocenti Strings | Ceremony + Reception: Chicago Cultural Center | Earrings/Bracelet/Hair Brooch/Purse: The Left Bank Bridal Finery | Groom's Cufflinks: Tiffany & Co. | Groom's Watch: Bulova | Hotel-Bridal Prep: Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile | Ice Sculpture: Johnson Studios | Jeweler: James & Sons | Photobooth: Essence Photo & Video | Treats: Garrett's Popcorn

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Chic Chicago Engagement Session

Engagement shoots are kind of my jam lately. Maybe it’s because I’m prepping for my own in August, or just because they’re always so darn cute. Enter, Shannon (of Shannon Gail Weddings And Events!) and her sweetie, Steve. Their chic day of Chicago love shot by Cristina G Photography has my smile stretched wide as can be. Craving more of this city romance? Find it right here.

From Shannon Gail Weddings And Events… Of all of our submissions during our time in the LBB, this has to be my the one I am most emotionally tied to because…It’s mine! I worked with the absolute best photographer in the city (in my opinion), Cristina G Photography, to create my vision of a very editorial/”Sex in the City” styled engagement shoot where it was almost as if she was joining us on a typical date night in our city. I wanted to do something a little edgy, a little sexy, and different than what I had seen.

Here is Cristina’s description of the shoot, From Cristina G Photography… There is nothing more exciting than photographing a wedding planner’s wedding. At least for me! Shannon of Shannon Gail Weddings & Events is a very well known Chicago planner who I absolutely love working with and have known for quite a while. When she told me she wanted Cristina G Photography to capture her amazing holiday season wedding, I was stoked! Fast forward to our stroll around the city for the most romantic and fun engagement session you will ever see!

Quite appropriately for how buff these two love birds are, Shannon and Steve met at the gym in Chicago. For Steve it was probably love at first sight because he did not quit his pursuit when Shannon refused his first date invitation. He asked until she finally said yes to a first date in St. Louis for a Cardinal/Cubs game (Steve grew up outside of St. Louis, and Shannon in Chicago!) The Cubs won and so did Steve… he won Shannon’s heart forever. Their holiday season wedding will be a swanky cocktail soiree at The Wit’s rooftop bar, one that I CANNOT wait to photograph!

Chic Chicago Wedding at Gallery 1028

If you haven’t noticed, we are big fans of Chicago weddings around these parts. I would go as far as to say we are super fans. And it’s because Chicago brides just seem to put their own stamp on chic. Case and point – this beauty planned by Soirée Weddings & Events with florals by Exquisite Designs. Every image from Studio Starling shows a couple that isn’t just stylish but super in love, making us super in love with this gallery.

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