Illinois Weddings

I know it seems as though winter literally ended yesterday, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t Brides out there knee deep in planning their own winter soiree. So if you are just such a Bride, or if you just like super gorgeous weddings (so basically that includes everyone), you’ll want to stop and stay awhile at chic Chicago wedding captured by Jill Tiongco Photography. It’s winter wedding perfection, and there is even more waiting for you here.

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It was so important to us both that our wedding was fun, unique and totally us. We wanted it to be very intimate and romantic but also a fabulous party. It was all of the above. Every detail embodied us as a couple all the way down to the food. Reyahd and I are the definition of multi-cultural couple. He is Palestinian, Jamaican, African American, Polish-Jew and Irish. I am Mexican, German and French. The whole wedding weekend our family and friends referred to our wedding as the United Nations. Our food was a mixture of all of our cultures from cocktail hour hor d’oeuvres through dinner by serving Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Chicken Mole and Hummus. Even the dessert bar was a good mix of us! Considering Reyahd’s favorite food is ice cream, we opted for an ice cream bar with all our favorite toppings. My favorites include red velvet cupcakes and brownies which we also had in abundance. And since our love started in a City we now call home, Chicago we even added touches of Chicago to our wedding…a Chicago Hot Dog late night bite station and Chicago themed rehearsal dinner with Lou’s pizza, mini Italian beefs and chopped salad.

Since we paid for the wedding ourselves (on our government salaries!), we made sure that we were able to do everything we wanted but stay within budget. One of the biggest party hits, the Photo booth, was a surprise gift from my bridesmaids. My mom and sister helped with the DIY ornament centerpieces and my mom even went as far as to buy out all the silver ornaments on sale after Christmas last year. My sister and I got creative by gluing lace and rhinestones to votive candles to give them that extra special detail. My wonderful husband even made the table numbers himself by using our leftover invitations and adding glitter numbers into silver frames we bought at Dollar Tree. We were so blessed to have so many people that loved us, helping us make our dream wedding come true. Last but not least my co-worker and loving friend, Eloise Bahrmasel, stepped in big time to be our “Day of” coordinator. She not only helped me with finalize all the small details she also linked us with the best vendors of all time. From the caterers, DJ, hair style and makeup team and venue to the florist and caterer for rehearsal dinner, everyone was absolutely amazing and all went the extra mile to ensure our wedding was perfect. It is so true what they say about picking good vendors. They really make the difference, so remember brides, be choosy! But the most important thing I learned was just to remember to take it all in, every single moment, because it goes by fast!

All of the preparations and the partying with our loved ones – family or friend, was worth it because the best thing, now that it is all over, is that I am starting a life with the perfect man and partner. And that is the most exciting part of it all.

From the photographer… If I were to dream up a winter wedding, Anna + Reyahd’s day would have been it. It was about 18 degrees all day, but that didn’t stop us from shooting at at all the Chicago hotspots – City Hall, Board of Trade, the Adler Planetarium along the chilly lake for some skyline views, and of course the iconic Kinzie St. Bridge. We shot the First Look at City Hall – where Anna works, which was completely dark except for a beautifully decorated Christmas Tree and red and green ceiling lights. Talk about Christmas spirit! The Christmas cheer didn’t stop there. There were so many little details that Anna + Reyahd had incorporated into their winter/Christmas themed wedding. Name cards with glittered acorns, fur shawls for the bridesmaids, Christmas Ornaments as centerpieces, gorgeous silver wreaths, candles… it was the epitome of a Chicago winter wedding – Mayor Rahm Emmanuel was even there! It was truly a beautiful day that I’m incredibly happy to have been a part of!

Photography: Jill Tiongco Photography | Florist: The Wishing Well Florist | Catering: Washburne Culinary Institute | Hair Stylist: Tamara Makeup + Hair Artistry | DJ: Toast and Jam | Transportation: Empire Limousine | Ceremony, Cocktail, And Reception Venue: Prairie Productions | Dessert Table: Unforgettable Edibiles | Make-up Artist: Tamara Makeup + Hair Artistry | Paper Goods: delphine | Tuxedo Designer: Jos. A. Bank | Wedding Dress Designer: JLM Couture, Inc

If I wasn’t here in Boston, I’d be living in Chicago. No question about it. It’s one of my favorite cities in the whole, wide world and thanks to this wedding from Foster Light Studios, I’m virtually escaping there this morning. Set in the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Cafe Bauer, there’s no question you’ll want in on this Windy City love. Press “play” to get started!

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From Foster Light Studios… There is a delight in crafting a film for an art director and creative strategist. Every detail of the wedding was particularly chosen for its character, color, texture, and shape. Shawn Jung, an art director at Jim Beam, and Stephen Vallera, a creative strategist at Facebook, had a gorgeous fall wedding at Lincoln Park’s Cafe Brauer.

Greens and browns covered the interior and matched the colors of the building. Rustic browns of Jim Bean casks gave rich texture to an already deep fall time. Speckled candle holders and painted old wine bottles gave the whole wedding an immersive spirit.

Capturing the subtle plays of light, textures, and hands was a priority. The delicate details, soft light, and genuine vows gave rich ethos to the elegantly rustic design. The music had to complement the care that was put into the design. Blake Ewing provided the first and last track that was delicate, melodic, and constantly romantic.

A beautiful fall wedding with the design matched only by the genuine love.

Photographer: Olivia Leigh Photographie | Videography: Foster Light Studios | Floral Design: Stems, inc. | Dress: Enzoani | Cake: Amy Beck Cake Design | Reception: Cafe Brauer | Shoes: Hey Lady | Catering: Paramount Events | Hair And Makeup: Sonia Roselli | DJ: Toast and Jam | Suit: Hugo Boss

Without a doubt, hiring your wedding photographer is your most important planning decision. To make the process that much easier, let me introduce you to a personal favorite, the award-winning team of Chicago wedding photographers Cristina G Photography.  Their timeless, romantic + amazing images will simply take your breath away!

Spending lots of time getting to know their client’s vision, style, likes + dislikes, the Cristina G Photography team aims to redefine wedding photography. Using their knowledge of each and every couple and capturing beautiful unscripted moments, their style comes across as artful and fresh. Truly unique to Cristina G Photography are their stunning nighttime portraits where they beautifully capture moody and romantic images that are truly different than anything else I’ve ever seen!

After over 200 weddings and seven years in the wedding industry, the Cristina G Photography team understands the incredibly important role they share in your wedding! To learn more about them and to book your big day, head over here. Now things get really exciting, my dears, because Cristina G Photography is giving one lucky reader a magical nighttime engagement session! 

The Prize: A lucky reader will win an amazing nighttime engagement session with Cristina G Photography! (value $495)

To Enter: Comment on this post with why you’d love to win a photo session with the amazing Cristina G Photography!

To Win: One winner will be selected at random and announced right here on Friday, May 23, 2014

Terms & Conditions: Session must take place in downtown Chicago on a weekday evening (M-Th). The session to be one hour long, one location within downtown. The giveaway includes session time plus ten 5X7 fine art prints. Online gallery will feature of all of the final edited images from the session and clients will have the option to purchase prints of additional images or add a USB of all high res images. See the rest of the details here. Good luck my dears! xoxo

When you combine a colorful venue like the Lincoln Park Zoo with a fun-loving bride & groom like these two, a wildly entertaining wedding is sure to take place. Toss in a playful carousel, twinkling market lights and cotton candy and we’ve got ourselves a full on celebration of love. This playful gallery from Blink Of An Eye Photography is sure to make you smile!

From Blink Of An Eye Photography By Katie… Mary Beth and Tim are the ultimate travel bugs and always up for an adventure! Both have moved from state to state, each in different ones, and hadn’t lived in the same state since college until their wedding. They were excited for family and friends to travel to Chicago, where they were living at the time. Guests traveled to the wedding in a trolley to get the fun rolling. The ceremony was tear filled with their personal vows and beautiful lighting. After the ceremony guests headed outside to enjoy cotton candy while the wedding party headed to the carousel for photos. When they knew they would be having the wedding at the Lincoln Park Zoo they wanted to carry the animal and wilderness theme throughout their beautiful wedding and opted for greenery centerpieces instead of traditional flowers. Guests were escorted to their seats by spray painted plastic animals. The reception amped up the fun with an “UP” themed cake, animal cake pops, donuts, photo booth, caricature artist, and ended with a glow stick exit.

They have kept their relationship and life exciting by living in four different time zones, attending law school, running a marathon, and traveling to NYC, Boston, Seattle, New Hampshire, Vermont, Disney World and Mexico. Mary Beth and Tim recently moved to Santa Barbara, California for their latest adventure!

Photography: Blink Of An Eye Photography By Katie | Floral Design: Ashland-Addison Florist | Invitations: Minted | Ceremony Venue: Cafe Brauer | Reception Venue: Cafe Brauer | Shoes: Enzo Angiolini | Catering: Tiger Lily | Transportation: Windy City Trolley | Accomodations: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | Cake & Cake Pops: Bittersweet

When spring finally shows its pretty little head in New England, we have a tendency to want to devour every bit of inspiration we can get our hands on. So this spring table shoot from Tuan B & Co, Sarah Drake Design, Pistil + Vine, Elysia Root Cakes, Debra Petrielli and Nimble Well? We couldn’t love it more. See even more here, and make sure to take note of the totally doable DIY below…

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From Nimble Well…We were inspired by Delft blue, the bright hue of traditional Dutch pottery, and wanted to incorporate vintage and modern designs within a blue, white, and spring green palette. Tuan B & Co photographed at Open Secret Studio, a bright white modern venue. Elysia Root designed a 3-tier cake with a strong nod to Dutch design, including an octagonal latticed tier, stunning blue bow, and medallions with delftware designs.

Pistil + Vine designed the bridal bouquet and tabletop florals with lush white flowers, light green foliage, deep blue viburnum and privet berries in delftware and cobalt vases from Nimble Well. The bride’s bouquet is finished with delicate ivory lace to match the bride’s vintage dress from Silver Moon Vintage. The dress, from the 50s, is a silk taffetta princess-style ball gown which balloons over the lace skirt. Debra Petrielli created the bride’s soft twisting braid to complete the fairytale effect. The dinner tabletop design by Nimble Well includes vintage Spode plates, silverware, and stemware from their rental collection and hand-dyed ombre napkins which mirror Sarah Drake Design’s watercolor menu and place cards.

Ombre Napkin DIY

2 packages of the same color Rit dye in different saturations (for this tutorial we used Royal Blue for the light color and Navy Blue for the dark color)
table salt
rubber gloves
white or light color cloth napkins

1. Dye tends to get everywhere and is difficult to get out, so make sure your work area and clothes are safe.

2. Each package of Rit can dye up to 1lb. of fabric, so one package can easily dye two dozen cloth napkins. Follow the directions on the Rit package for the amount of water and salt for the number of napkins you want to dye. In a stainless steel sink, or tub that will not stain, add water, salt, and the lighter dye.

3. Holding the top edges of your first napkin, dip the cloth 3/4 of the way into the dye bath and hold for 15 seconds.

4. Raise the napkin a quarter out of the bath (now 1/2 of the napkin is in the dye bath) and hold for another 30 seconds. If you are using a double sink, you can also let the napkin hang over the center.

5. Take the napkin out of the dye bath and set aside in a stainless steel bowl or surface that will not stain.

6. Repeat the same process with the rest of the napkins until you have dyed all the napkins with the first color.

7. Add the second, darker Rit dye to the bath and mix.

8. Holding the top, lightest edge of the napkin, dip the last quarter of the napkin into the darker dye bath and hold for 1-2 minutes depending on how dark you would like it to be. If you are using a double sink, you can rest the top of the napkin over the center. Repeat with each napkin.

9. Place all the napkins into clear water. The less water, the more concentrated the dye will be and will lightly dye the top quarter that was not dipped in the dye bath. If you would like the top quarter to stay very light, use enough water so that the rinse water is very diluted.

10. Change the water several times, until it runs clear, then wring, and hang to dry.

Photographer: Tuan B & Co | Floral Design: Pistil & Vine | Wedding Dress: Silver Moon | Cake: Elysia Root | Wedding Venue: Open Secret Studios | Bar Design: Femme Du Coupe | Hair & Make-up: Debra Petrielli Freelance Hairstylist | Menu & Placecards: Sarah Drake Design | Vintage Rentals: Nimble Well

I think I’ve died and gone to some sort of wedding heaven.  One that is rich in warm, fall tones and vintage stylings that are some of the prettiest details you have ever seen.  Think fab paper goods from Minted, gorgeous florals from Stems Chicago and a Cafe Brauer setting that will take your breath away.  Intrigued?  You should be.  See it all captured by Jen Lynne in the full gallery.

From the Bride… October is easily the most beautiful month in Chicago, and our wedding day turned out to be a perfect picture of everyone’s favorite Midwest season. The colors of the leaves were those rich shades of oranges and yellows that just totally signify fall. Fortunately we were surrounded by the beautiful seasonal colors as we held both the ceremony and reception at Cafe Brauer, a landmark building in the heart of Lincoln Park. Cafe Brauer was the most lovely setting to give us that vintage, turn-of-the-century vibe we were looking for. I found the most amazing beaded Jenny Packham gown that instantly reminds you of another era, and paired with the birdcage veil, it felt very Art Deco. The flowers and decor were colorful and vibrant to match the season and the setting.

We wanted our wedding to incorporate our favorite things, so we peppered little touches in the details: sunflowers to represent my husband’s Kansas roots, a mash up of Beatles songs for the ceremony, Scrabble tile table numbers, Chicago’s own Goose Island beer at the bars, mismatched bridesmaid dresses, assorted rustic pies from our neighborhood pie shop on the dessert bar, etc. It all came together and was very us.

The city was so beautiful on our day, and the open-air cocktail hour overlooked the downtown Chicago skyline as the sun was setting. After dinner, guests boogied the night away… thanks to the fabulous band, the dance floor was never empty. The evening was colorful yet elegant, simple yet special. We couldn’t be happier with the way things turned out, and we have our fabulous family, friends, and vendors to thank for that!

From Jen Lynne Photography… Shana and Brad are such a beautiful couple, inside and out. They designed this wedding not only to be visually exciting but true to their personality and style. Some of my favorite details: Shana’s amazing dress, and all the different dresses the bridesmaids wore, the flowers, those cute mini-margaritas and the desert table was out of this world!! I love how they combined the fall colors in the flowers/decor, it all blended seamlessly with each aspect of the wedding. Not only did I love the gorgeous design aspects, but Shana, Brad, their friends and families were all so wonderful to work with! We really enjoyed spending the day with everyone!

Photography: Jen Lynne Photography | Coordination: Elevage Events | Florist: Stems, inc. | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Cake: Lovely Bake Shop | Stationery: Minted | Bride's Shoes: Sam Edelman | Catering: Food Evolution | Hair And Makeup: Robert Jeffrey | Lighting: Sound Investments | Band: Ken Arlen Band Front Of House | Grooms Attire: Sebastian Grey | Groomsmen Attire: Formally Modern Tuxedo | Hotel: Public Hotel | Wedding Venue: Cafe Brauer | Pie: Bang Bang Pie Shop | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse | Video: Vanilla Video

If there’s anything that brightens my day, it’s a lush bouquet filled with pretty pinks, peaches and creamy whites like this beaut from Exquisite Designs. I could breathe in it’s loveliness all day long. But it’s only just the start of this sweet spread from Michelle Durpetti Events and Greenhouse Loft Photo. There’s so much more waiting in the gallery!

From Greenhouse Loft Photo… Jenny and Rob’s wedding was an intimate gathering of friends and family at the gorgeous Greenhouse Loft and it was truly a celebration of love! The couple spent the morning primping and prepping at the Renaissance Hotel and Your Stylist AJ made sure the girls were perfectly coiffed, while Shannon O’Brien made sure their the first look took place on the roof of the hotel, overlooking the river with breathtaking views of the city, but Rob obviously couldn’t take his eyes off of Jenny!

The couple and their bridal party, along with the fantastic photographers from Greenhouse Loft, then jumped in a Windy City Limousine bus and headed to some of couple’s favorite spots.

While they were snapping away Food for Thought, Elegant Event Lighting, Exquisite Designs and Michelle Durpetti Events were making sure to put the finishing touches on the airy loft space. The couple chose a neutral palette, with hints of blush, which complimented the space perfectly. Jenny and Rob really put their own design flair into this day, designing all the day of collateral themselves! The programs were perfectly personal, the table numbers all had items that were special to the couple (like Jenny’s fond memories of 2% milk at her grandmother’s house) and the seating chart was practically a feat of engineering that Rob put together!

The ceremony was a personal, tear-jerking event, with a good friend acting as the officiant. Jenny and Rob said “I Do” and they headed outside to the Greenhouse Loft garden to enjoy the beautiful summer weather and signature drinks of Moscow Mule and Rum Punch. They even had personalized bags boards for guests to enjoy! Dinner was a buffet of delicious fare by Food for Thought and everyone ate and drank and enjoyed themselves.

The loft really came alive in the evening, with the soft, pink lighting done by Elegant Event Lighting illuminating all the sweet details, like the low blush and white arrangements by Exquisite Designs. Jenny’s floral dreams came true with hydrangeas, roses and dahlias, complimented with lots of candlelight. Tipsy Cake created one of the sweetest cakes we’ve seen, with a lovely modern flair, and the couple loved cutting in! Guests danced the night away to Style Matters and the dream day was complete!

Photography: Greenhouse Loft Photo | Event Planning: Michelle Durpetti Events | Floral Design: Exquisite Designs, Inc. | Cake: Tipsy Cake | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Catering: Food For Thought | Makeup: Shannon O'Brien MUA | Hair Stylist: Your Stylist AJ | DJ: Style Matters DJs | Transportation: Windy City Limousine | Bride's Dress: Maggie Sottero | Brides Belt: Custom | Ceremony And Reception Venue: Greenhouse Loft | Lighting And Design: Elegant Event Lighting | Rehearsal Dinner: Irazu

There are just so many reasons to love this wedding.  The ultra-cool venue (the newly opened Langham Chicago), the adorable bride and groom (who first met all the way back in high school) and the crazy gorgeous stylings with a little ode to Sex and the City.  And, believe it or not, that’s just the beginning of the pretty.  See soooo much more captured by Britta Hundertmark in the full gallery.

From the Groom… We met in high school through swimming and dated for two to three months. After high school we kept in touch, but started to talk more frequently starting in 2010. After a date in 2011, our relationship started to slowly grow and talks became more personal with questions of life plans and feelings towards each other often being the popular topic of each call. Knowing that I (Eric) couldn’t let her slip from my grasp another time, I started to make plans to propose. A ring was purchased and airline transportation was planned. After lunch with her parents, where I again asked for permission to marry their daughter (this time in person), I surprised her at work and told her we had dinner reservations wherever she wanted to go. 24 reservations had been made and I’m sure that the other 23 still aren’t too happy with me. After we got back to her apartment, but before dinner, I told her that I couldn’t imagine my life without her and asked her to marry me. Although she didn’t say yes, the emotions that were on display were a clear indication that she felt the same.

From Britta Hundertmark… I had been looking forward to Eric and Kristin’s day from the MOMENT they told me of their plans to be married at a brand new hotel downtown. I know that it was a leap of faith on their part, to plan a wedding at a hotel that would not even be open until a few months before hand, but they dreamed it would be well worth it, and those dreams payed off.

With a strong desire to implement parts of her favorite show (Sex and the City) into their day, Kristin payed close attention to fabulous details, including her gorgeous pair of Christian Louboutin stilettos and stunning Kate Spade necklace.

I was so honored to be one of the first photographers to capture a wedding at the Langham hotel, and was completely blown away by the hospitably of all of the staff, and the gorgeous ascetic of the entire venue. This spot is sure to be an instant classic Chicago venue, and I look forward to shooting their again in the future!

Photography: Britta Hundertmark | Cake: Amy Beck Cake Design | Invitations: Laughing Owl Press | Bride's Shoes: Louboutin | Catering: The Langham Chicago | Groom's Attire: Banana Republic | Bride's Dress: La Sposa | Bride's Necklace: Kate Spade | Bride's Ring: Tiffany & Co. | Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Langham Chicago | Groom's Ring: David Yurman

Fall screams romance to me. As the temperatures begin to drop, and that crisp feeling in the air becomes the norm, you just can’t help but want to get a bit cozy. Well, this woodland fall shoot has me craving my favorite season this morning. Captured by Ann & Kam Photography & Cinema at the gorgeous Cuneo Mansion this shoot does cozy and chic oh so well. See so much more here.

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From Ann & Kam Photography & Cinema…This shoot started with inspiration from the beauty of the Midwest in the fall. We wanted to create a woodland setting with fall colors like gold, burgundy, and blush, and the romantic feel of a fairy tale. We were so lucky that Megan from CityGirl Weddings and Life Made Pretty were inspired by our vision, and brought their full creative force to create a shoot that we couldn’t even imagine. We were over the moon when Cuneo Mansion joined our team and allowed us to use their amazingly gorgeous grounds for our setting. There really may not be a wedding venue in the Chicago area that is more beautiful than Cuneo.

The combination of the amazing setting, the creative work from CityGirl and Life Made Pretty made this shoot blossom into a whimsical, vintage-inspired fairy tale. We were inspired by the combination of indoors and outdoors, glamour and wildness, brought to life by the combination of pretty vintage furniture and decor, lush textures, and a touch of wildness from elements like vines, furs, and loose curls. The decorative elements were designed to be flexible so that they could be used indoors as well as out, as a wedding in the Midwest is rarely held entirely outside.

Photography: Ann & Kam Photography & Cinema | Hair And Makeup: Jen Johnson | Suit: Formally Modern Tuxedo | Ceremony/Reception: Loyola at Cuneo Mansion and Gardens | Decorative Furs: Hunter Kaiser Creative For Life | Design And Coordination: Citygirl Weddings | Dresses: BHLDN | Floral And Decor: Life Made Pretty | Linens: Private Label Linens | Models: Intrigue Talent | Table Decor: Tablescapes Event Rentals | Vintage Fur Stolls: Mary Burlingame

Ever since Vera Wang unveiled her all-pink bridal collection this Fall I’ve been waiting on pins and needles to see how real brides would rock it. And when Three Nails Photography sent us this Chicago Botanic Gardens wedding featuring one chic bride doing just that, audible squeals and gasps weren’t far behind. Clementine Custom Events planned the whole shebang, and it’s all waiting for you here!

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From the Bride… My bridesmaids, sisters and mom and I all got ready at my house and enjoyed a fun and relaxing afternoon together for hair and makeup. For most of them, that afternoon was the first time they saw my dress. The priceless expressions (some tears!) on their faces when they saw the blush colored gown and details of the petal train confirmed that I had made the right decision for our English garden wedding.

From the minute I laid eyes on the Vera Wang dress, I knew it had to be mine. There was something so romantic and unique about the color that I had to go for the untraditional color scheme. The dress undoubtedly set the stage in terms of all of our styling, floral and décor choices for the wedding. We wanted the evening to be a formal occasion, but one that properly represented the two of us and our families. The combinations of the black tie dress code, old English garden, crystal chandeliers, exposed farm tables and lucite chairs all helped bring our vision of ‘Old Hollywood glamour meets rustic charm’ to life.

There were so many incredible moments for us at the wedding, but one that stands out most for me was our first kiss. That ‘you can kiss the bride’ moment is always special and symbolic, but usually only lasts a short while. Truly, my groom could not let go. His emotions were so raw and sweet. He planted not one, not two or three, but four big kisses on me to the point where the applause from the crowd turned into giggles and an uproar of cheers. We had just come off two and a half years of long distance as my groom finished business school in Chicago while I was working and living in NY so this was truly a tender and triumphant moment for the two of us. I could literally feel his love and pride through the strength of his big embrace. We did it!

The other incredible moment for me was my father-daughter dance. My dad and I danced to one of our family favorites, a classic Neapolitan song, ‘O Sole Mio’—in English, My Sunshine. We had dance lessons every day for a week leading up to the wedding to perfect every dip and spin of our choreographed routine to surprise our guests with a little bit of Italian drama and a whole lot of sweet and sincere fun between a father and daughter. The entire experience and time spent with my father was incredibly special and something that I will cherish forever.

Some advice for brides: know that all the time and effort of planning is going to be all worth it. The day of your wedding is unlike any other — everyone you love and who loves you are all in the same place at the same time, celebrating you, your marriage, and the coming together of your two families. It’s really a beautiful moment. Enjoy it!

Photography: Three Nails Photography | Videographer: Fig Weddings | Planner: Clementine Custom Events | Floral Design: Chicago Botanic Garden | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Sweet Mandy B's | Shoes: Ralph Lauren | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Culinary Landscape | Band: Gold Coast All Stars | Tuxedos: Ralph Lauren | Venue: Chicago Botanic Garden | Bridesmaids' Dress Boutique: Bella Bridesmaid | Flower Girl Dress: Ralph Lauren | Planning + Styling: Born And Bread (The Bride)

Chicago is one of those towns where tradition reigns Queen. Where classic ballroom weddings are counted as beloved, where brides and groom embrace their cultures and their spunk with equal opportunity. And this wedding – held at one of Chicago’s most gorgeous hotels – is nothing if not classic at it’s very best. With photographs from Kristin La Voie – there is even more right here!

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From Kristin La Voie…This is the MOST STUNNING wedding of the year! Hye-Sun & Rafael, who’s engagement session was featured on SMP, held the perfect wedding at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago. The hotel is not only picturesque and exquisite, but I love it even more for it’s Parisian style outside (it really feels as if you are walking in a little piece of Paris!) What made it even MORE romantic was their first look where Hye-Sun rolled into the courtyard in a horse drawn carriage to greet Rafael at the front door (in the MOST beautiful Vera Wang down, to boot!). It was truly breathtaking! We then had the couple ride into a nearby park where all the leaves were still the perfect Fall colors for their romantic carriage ride. Hye-Sun’s Harry Winston ring was sparkling in the sun!
The ceremony took place in one of the several ballrooms of the Waldorf ; candles and gorgeous florals with beautiful chandeliers overhead created the perfect ambiance to continue the romantic theme. Afterwards, couples entered the reception ballroom for cocktail hour and dinner following. The decor was more than gorgeous, it was just perfection!!! Everything was executed perfectly, down to the lounge corners set up for guests to sit and mingle. Other amazing moments included a violin trio playing for the couple and their guests, a Paebaek ceremony where the couple transformed into their traditional Korean clothes, and a choreographed first dance between the bride and groom. Planning and Coordination from Megan at North Shore Weddings & Events and florals by Ashland Addison Florist helped create the perfect, romantic affair.

Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography | Floral Design: Ashland-Addison Florist | dress: Vera Wang | Ceremony Venue: Waldorf Astoria | reception venue: Waldorf Astoria | shoes: Jimmy Choo | ring: Harry Winston | make up: Tiffany Hurr | band: Momentum Talent Group | suit: Armani | Planning: North Shore Weddings & Events | linens: BBJ La Tavola

Summer weddings and pink peonies go together like PB & J…it’s a fact. They’re the perfect flower for those warm-weathered weddings – or really, any affair for the matter – and take a leading role in this Illinois “I do.” The fabulous Katherine Salvatori Photography snapped up every second, and it’s ALL sitting pretty in the full gallery right here.

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From Katherine Salvatori Photography… Suzy and Roger have been together for over 10 years, and were so excited to finally be tying the knot this past August. They wanted a rustic and romantic lovebirds theme, and the Seven Bridges Golf Club was the perfect setting with the outdoor ceremony and dark wood reception space. I loved the pink peonies complimented by darker shades of purple and green. Suzy was a classic beauty in her Mori Lee gown, and I love the DIY birdcage veil made by her close friend. This was such an intimate, sweet wedding celebrating a decade of love, and I am so happy I could be a part of it!

Photography: Katherine Salvatori Photography | Floral Design: Celidan Florist | Wedding Dress: Mori Lee | Cake: John Doe Bakery | Reception Venue: Seven Bridges Golf Club | Wedding Shoes: Nina | Makeup: Ariana Brandy Of Frank Gironda Salon | Hair: Ariana Brandy Of Frank Gironda Salon | DJ: High Energy Productions | Grooms Attire: Hollywood Suits

With summer just around the corner, my thoughts have turned to BBQ’s, flip flops and days spent at the beach.  My favorite time to chill waterside?  Sunset.  Which puts this beautiful Chicago engagement session right up my alley.  It’s one VERY adorable duo meets the perfect time of day meets one breathtaking image after another from the talented Ashley Bosnick Photography.  See them all right here.

From Ashley Bosnick Photography… This sunrise Chicago engagement session was SO much fun. Courtney and Tim were seriously troopers and totally trusted me when I said we should do a 6am sunrise beach session. Morning light is so soft & gorgeous; it ended up being a bit chilly that morning, so we grabbed a quilt from the car to incorporate, which was perfect! We kept the session simple and clean with some small details to keep the keep focus on the these two lovebirds.

Courtney & Tim have one of the cutest love stories I have ever heard. Tim & Courtney went to middle school together and have known each other for years. Tim always said that he was smitten with Courtney, but that not matter how hard he tried, she was never really interested. Bummer, right? It wasn’t until Courtney moved away for college and shortly after her return, her and Tim ran into one another and totally hit it off. The rest is history…

Photography: Ashley Bosnick Photography | Flowers: Whole Foods Market Preston | Location: Montrose Beach, Chicago IL

You know what happens when Chicago’s finest vendors join forces with the amazing talents in Napa Valley?  Pure, unadulterated perfection.  Think LK Events, Vrai Photography, Sharla Flock Designs and Sherrie Long (+ many, many more) all coming together to create a fairytale-eque day in wine country.  Prepare yourselves, lovelies. This is sooo good.  See it all here.

And a sweet film from I Do Films?  Yes, please.

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From the Bride… Although Joe and I now reside in Chicago, where Joe grew up, I had always hoped we would get married back in my home state of California. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and fell in love with the Napa Valley at a young age. Some of my most cherished memories involve wine tasting in Napa or Sonoma with my family. Napa was also the first trip Joe and I took together as a couple after we graduated from college and where we continued to visit many more times over the years. Plus, it is hard not to love Napa… fabulous wine, amazing food, and a beautiful backdrop to top it all off. When the time came to start planning our wedding, the Napa Valley immediately went to the top of our list.

We took a trip out there with our parents soon after we got engaged to do some wedding research and immediately fell in love with the Vintage Estate. The venue is nestled in the quaint downtown area of Yountville on a hotel property surrounded by gardens and vineyards. It checked off all of our must-have items: it could accommodate a larger guest size, we were able to have our ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner outside in a stunning wine country setting, and we were able to continue the celebrations with our guests late into the evening in an old wine barrel room-turned-event space.

Our two favorite things to do as a couple consist of eating (either cooking at home or trying new restaurants) and chatting about the day over cocktails (because we can never turn down a glass of wine or an Old Fashioned). Therefore, it was really important to us to incorporate those passions into our wedding day. The Vintage Estate did a wonderful job with the menu and created a cuisine with fresh ingredients straight from the valley which we paired with some of our favorite wines from the area. We had our first look and bridal party photos in the vineyards at a winery that both of our families love, which was also the very first winery Joe and I went to on our trip to Napa together many years before. During our ceremony we opted to do a unity cup, instead of a candle, and sipped the wine from that same winery.

I didn’t have an exact color scheme picked out for our wedding, but I knew I wanted more of a natural feel given that almost everything took place outside, so we went with a softer pallet of white/cream, blush, coral, mint, and gray. For the floral and décor, Sharla Flock and her team created loose arrangements consisting of roses, hydrangeas, dahlias, lavender, berries, and pops of greenery. They used lanterns, wine barrels, candles, wooden boxes, mercury vessels, and farm tables to compliment the rustic beauty of the Napa Valley. We wanted to do something fun and different with the escort card table so Sharla placed the cards in wooden crates filled with fresh grapes, which turned out wonderfully. We incorporated those softer tones and the wine country theme of grapes and vines into our paper products as well, which we had an absolute blast designing with Kara Gordon of Magnificent Milestones in Chicago.

Our wedding day was truly a family affair, which made it even more special and most importantly, fun! Joe’s oldest sister, Jenny, and her band Déjà Vu flew in from Chicago to play at our ceremony and reception. Jenny was kind enough to sing my processional song, our unity cup song, first dance, and Joe’s dance with his mom. Those are definitely moments that we will cherish for years to come. Joe’s other sister, Lauren, who is the owner of LK Events in Chicago, helped us throughout the entire wedding planning process. We were very fortunate to have someone that was so knowledgeable and talented with us every step of the way. When I first moved to Chicago I worked with Lauren on many of her weddings and met some incredible vendors that we knew we wanted to be part of our day. Kristina Carter and Aaron Brouwer of Vrai Photography and the brilliant guys from I Do Films made the trip from Chicago as well. Reverend Nye, who officiated our ceremony, also baptized Joe as a baby, so having him there to marry us was very meaningful.

We could not have asked for a more perfect September day in the Napa Valley with our friends and family. Many of them traveled from all around the country to celebrate with us and we will be forever grateful for that. The day was filled with everything we could have hoped for… lots of love, laughter, dancing, and wine!

Photography: Vrai Photography | Videography: I Do Films | Wedding Planner: LK Events | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cupcakes: Sift Cupcake & Dessert Bar | Reception Venue: The Vintage Estate | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: The Vintage Estate | Hair And Make Up: Sherrie Long Makeup Hair & Effects | Lighting: The Lux Productions | Groomsmen Attire: Vera Wang Black For Men's Warehouse | Transportation: Royal Coach Limousine | Day Of Coordinator: Stacy McCain Event Planning | Floral And Decor: SHARLA FLOCK DESIGNS | Invitations, Day Of Items: Magnificent Milestones | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Rehearsal Dinner: Merryvale Vineyards | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

We love a good sign moment; especially one that you could virtually tuck into every nook and cranny of your wedding day. The options are truly endless with this threaded love sign crafted by A Splendid Occasion and shot by City Love Photography. It’s a DIY plucked from this gorgeous Pastel Inspiration Shoot and crafted for your viewing pleasure. Have a look here for even more.

2 different colors of yarn
Scissors
White Nails
Hammer
White Paint
Paint brush
Large piece of wood
Paper letter stencils (printed from computer)
Tape

Step by Step Instructions

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Step by Step Instructions

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  Prepare board – Grab your paint and completely cover your large piece of wood. Once that is dry, you will be ready to begin.

Prepare stencils – I used my computer to enlarge my letters to the size that I wanted, but you could definitely freehand your stencil too. Cut out your letters and lay them out on your board so you can visualize the word. Make sure that the spacing is accurate and you are happy with the overall look. Secure the letters to the board with tape.

Create the outline of your letters – Take a hammer and insert the nails onto the very edge of your paper, repeat to create an evenly spaced border around all of your letters. Don’t forget about the inside of your letters, like the loop inside of the “e.” Take out the paper stencils. TIP: Make sure your nails are very secure in the board; you do not want them to come loose from the board as you are moving along!

Outline in the letters with yarn – Now for the fun! Grab both colors of your yarn and tie a loop knot. Secure the knot around the first nail and begin outlining your letters; I suggest moving from the left to the right.

Fill in the letters with yarn – Use your first yarn color and move back and forth between any nails that you want, wrapping the yarn at least once around each nail to secure. There is no pattern! Feel free to criss cross and stretch the yarn to nails far away, and also very close. The more criss crossing and diagonals lines you make, the better. Repeat with the second color. Try to overlap each yarn color for a unique textured affect. (To save time and to make it more fun, grab a buddy to do the second color the same time you are doing the first!)

 Finish up – Once you are satisfied with your yarn crisscrossing, secure the ends of both yarn colors in a knot around a nail. Trim the yarn, but if you have a little extra, feel free to tuck it in behind the other layers. Enjoy the beauty of your work!

Photography: City Love Photography | Crafting + Sign Design: A Splendid Occasion

This is exactly how the weddings of my little girl dreams looked. Actually it’s far prettier and more sophisticated, but you get it. It’s traditional perfection, the kind of wedding that will easily stand the test of time and then some. Captured beautifully by Beth Insalaco, this gallery is what dreams are made of.

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From the Bride…My parents were married at the University of Chicago’s Bond Chapel thirty years ago this January. For as long I can remember, I knew I wanted to get married on that campus but Bond Chapel is a little small. We had a large wedding, so Mike and I knew that we would need a bigger church to accommodate all of our guests. We decided to take a look at the larger of the two chapels on campus, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, and instantly fell in love. I don’t know what I can say about this chapel that will do it justice better than the beautiful photographs taken that day… It was the perfect backdrop to our ceremony. Mike and I asked his wonderful grandfather to officiate the wedding. That decision, without a doubt, made our ceremony incredibly special for the both us. It is a memory that we will cherish forever.

Our reception was held at Olympia Fields Country Club on the south side of Chicago. My family have been members of OFCC for close to thirty years, and there was never a time when I imagined my reception anywhere else. Luckily, my groom loved the idea as well!

With the help of my wedding planner, Hope Weis, and the immense talents of Rishi Patel at HMR Designs, my dream of a “rustic chic” wedding became a reality. I started with a few simple ideas – all white/cream florals, simple/neutral linens, and a whole lot of candlelight – and Hope and Rishi turned those ideas into the most beautiful room I have ever seen… The entire evening was filled with laughter, fun and dancing the night away to our INCREDIBLE band, Rendezvous. Mike and I are so grateful to everyone for making our wedding truly unforgettable; we could not have been happier!

A few other details regarding the day; I made each of my bridesmaids a personalized hanger for their dresses, along with a hanger for myself (I didn’t see paying $30 a piece for them when I could easily figure out how to DIY them for about $3 a pop). I also framed pictures to hang on my bouquet of my grandparents and Mike’s grandmother who have passed away ; we thought it was a nice way to have them with us on that day.

Photography: Beth Insalaco | Wedding Planner: Hope Wasserman Weis | Floral Design: HMR Designs | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Wedding Cake: Cake Chicago | Invitations: Spilled Ink Press | Ceremony Venue: Rockefeller Chapel | Reception Venue: Olympia Fields Country Club | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Jewelry: Marshall Pierce & Company | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Band: Rendezvous

Planning a wedding with this crew behind the wheel – Ali of Engaging Events by Ali, photographer Yazy Jo and flowers by Exquisite Design – um, I think that wedding jackpot sort of sums it up. Add to that a gorgeous Chicago skyline and a couple that was so madly in love and you have the recipe for a pretty perfect wedding. Click here for even more including the tiniest, sparkliest Toms you’ve ever seen!

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From the bride…We first met at a softball game in the summer of 2009. Originally, I was going there with a mutual friend of ours that wanted to go out later that night. Ed was not playing softball that day, and we had a chance to talk and to watch the game. Later that night, the team decided to go out for a quick dinner and some cocktails. There was definitely some chemistry that night that was unmistakable. But, we were both seeing other people at that time so that dating was delayed for a few months. We both kept in contact, and when we met the next time, we were both single. We have never been apart since that time!

Flash forward this to September, 2012. We decided to make a last minute trip to Lake Geneva for some relaxation and downtime. We had made some sandwiches and snacks for a hike through the Kettle Moraine State Park nearby. There was this hill that overlooked the entire state park that we decided to climb and hike. We arrived at the summit and it just happened to be a beautiful day. After a quick lunch, we started talking about the evolution of our relationship, and how much we cared about each other. After he stood up and looked at the view, he turned and knelt while I sat on a nearby bench. It was truly a magical day and totally unexpected.

I’ve always envisioned having a very minimalistic, but elegant, wedding, and I feel that is exactly what I got. White is my favorite color but I didn’t want an all white wedding, boring! I stuck with white table cloths to get the simple, clean look for my tables. I didn’t want any dramatic colors so for the floral colors, I went with rose pink, light green, a bit of blue and white, of course. Ali from Engaging Events and Alex from Exquisite Designs helped get the colors to work perfectly together. The deconstructed floral arrangements had a contemporary but elegant touch. For my bridesmaid dresses, I chose a very bright summer color, the designer calls it Fresh! And like the name, it gave my girls a fresh, sophisticated look. I paired their dresses with a bib necklace from Stella and Dot, and the pairing looked better than I envisioned.

Photography: yazy jo | Event Planning: Engaging Events by Ali, Inc. | Floral Design: Exquisite Designs, Inc. | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Bittersweet | Ceremony Venue: Covenant Presbyterian | Reception Venue: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum | Shoes: Nordstrom | Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Sung | Catering: Blue Plate | DJ: Okyne Media Lab

When I read that the colors of this wedding were inspired by a Parisian sunset, there may or may not have been a little swoonfest happening in my office. At the risk of sounding like a complete wedding nerd, there definitely was, but in my defense, I don’t think a single one of you can keep a happy dance from working it’s way in while cruising through these images from Tao Zhang!

From the stunning bride… Chicago is where my fiance and I both grew up, where we met, and live, so we knew we wanted a downtown wedding, but with a European inspiration since we got engaged in Paris.

With this pairing in mind, I chose a slim, modern silhouette for my dress and incorporated vintage touches with vintage bracelets and a headband I created from a necklace. I also gave my sisters and mother vintage jewelry to pair with their simple, flowing dresses (inspired by the colors of a sunset on the Paris rooftops).

We knew from the start that we wanted a no-fuss, all-fun event with our closest friends and family – which for us, meant holding both our ceremony and reception in one place. We looked for two things in our venue: amazing food and a chic, but rustic interior. Balena is known for their delicious dishes and incredible cocktails, so combined with their gorgeous interior, the choice was easy.

We loved the faux finishes of the restaurant interior, and existing decor of vintage books and bottles on shelves. We added personal touches, including our parents and grandparents wedding photos in vintage frames, and small vintage clear and mercury glass vases with simple white roses. I created a potted paper wreath for the cards sign and used a vintage frame as a tray. A local artist created our framed “guestbook” art which will hang in our home – another place we like to blend our modern and vintage styles.

To make the day extra special, our best friend officiated our wedding. We held our ceremony in the round, with a single ring of seats for our family. My fiance and I each read vows that the other had written in secret, and we topped off the ceremony with a champagne toast. A friend’s jazz band made for an upbeat cocktail hour, before djing the rest of our event.

Guests enjoyed a buffet of Balena’s signature dishes, and French-inspired desserts like pots de creme and french macarons. Perhaps one of our favorite things is that we can visit Balena (and it’s delicious dishes!) anytime we want to relive our special day.

Photography: Tao Zhang | Wedding Dress: J.Crew | Bridesmaid's Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Makeup: Makeup By Aga | Hair: Frankie Christina | Bouquets: Fill It With Flowers | Bridal party jewelry: Vintage | Bride's headband: DIY | Brides's Shoes: Louboutin | Ceremony and Receptiom: Balena | Getting Ready & First Look: Public Hotel | Groom's Tuxedo: Nicholas Joseph | Guestbook: SuzyShoppe

Anytime an engagement sesh involves cupcakes, we’re totally on board. But when we’re talking about Chicago’s famed Molly’s Cupcakes? Things just got taken to a whole new level. It’s exactly how these sweet toothed loveies set out to celebrate, and Heather Cook Elliott caught every last bit. Click here for even more!

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From Heather Cook Elliott… By their own description Andrea & Jon have lived in just about every neighborhood in or around downtown Chicago. In their search for the perfect apartment and commute they have fallen in love with a few spots, including Molly’s Cupcakes in Lincoln Park, the beach in Old Town and the iconic bridges of River North. On an early fall day I met them in their city and we started our tour of their favorite places with the most tasty and creative cupcakes I’ve ever tasted. (And being a wedding photographer these days I’ve tasted a lot of cupcakes!)

I tried a cheesecake cupcake and Jon and Andrea happily defaulted to their usuals: a cookie monster (cookie dough) for him and red velvet for her. No matter the flavor each one is made to melt in the mouth and I loved watching how easily Andrea & Jon melted into each other as if they were the only people in the world. They are playful and sweet and totally generous with one another and in the end I think this session captures the two of them perfectly. They are both physical therapists, but working in different sectors of the field, and they have tons of energy while sporting just a bit of fashionista style. I love the oh-so-stylish effortlessness of this session and really, of them. 

Photography: Heather Cook Elliott Photography | "Love" Bracelet: Anthropologie | Clothing: J.Crew | Clothing: Banana Republic | Cupcake Shop: Molly's Cupcakes | Heels: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Metal "W": Anthropologie | Sunglasses: Kate Spade

Most couples would scramble to plan B when stormy skies showed up on their engagement shoot day. But what did these Chicago sweeties do? They embraced it – BIG time. They let Jen Lynne + Brittania Drew capture their love – rain or shine – and the results are nothing short of stunning. See for yourself right over here.

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From Jen Lynne Photography… This rain/foggy engagement session is one of my favorites from this year! Julianne and Alex are such a cool casual couple and SO in love.. I was floating on a love cloud after I left them that day. They weren’t concerned about what they wore, the weather, or where we went. It was like hanging out with my best friends!

They live in a building in Chicago with an amazing view of the city. The day I got there we realized it was going to rain so Julianne went to the store and bought this super cute bubble umbrella, it was also her birthday and Alex (who really loves to buy her flowers and make floral arrangements) walked in with a huge bouquet of red roses!

Photography: Jen Lynne Photography | Videographer: Brittania Drew Photo & Video