Illinois Weddings

We spend day after day on SMP Illinois swooning over moments. Moments that pull at our heartstrings and make us love our job more than you could ever imagine. As past brides ourselves, we all know the important decisions it takes to make your day your own, and one of the most important choices you’ll make is choosing the wedding gown of your dreams. It’s gown you’ll walk down the aisle in, the gown you’ll say I do in , and the gown that you’ll look back on for the rest of your years. So finding a bridal salon that is not only at the forefront of bridal fashion, but also puts heart into every consultation is like finding wedding gold. That’s why we couldn’t adore Dimitra’s Bridal Couture more. They truly cherish the fact that their gowns are moment-makers, officially making the Illinois brides that grace their shop one lucky bunch.

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About Dimitra’s Bridal Couture… Located in Chicago’s Oak Street fashion district, Dimitra’s Bridal Couture opened its doors in 2001, bringing to the Chicago bridal scene an experience that cannot be found in any other Chicago salon. The pedigree of its founder Dimitra Maroulis, a European couturier garment maker, has been the cornerstone of their philosophy, to combine expertise and exceptional service, with high fashion and designer styling, while always treating the bride with grace and warmth, leaving pretense to the side. As one of the few Chicago salons to still offer in house, couturier alterations, Dimitra’s works with brides through the most difficult phase of the bridal gown purchase, namely the fittings. This level of commitment to the bride is unparalleled and a signature of the salon.

As evidenced in their online ratings, Chicago brides have lauded Dimitra’s not only for their professionalism and warm approach, but also for having the broadest selection of styles on the Chicago scene! Dimitra’s has a national reach, carrying such hard to find designers as: Zuhair Murad, Ersa Atelier, YolanCris, Francesca Miranda and Rafael Cennamo. These lines are complemented by bridal powerhouses such as: Ines Di Santo, Edgardo Bonilla, Alvina Valenta, Stephen Yearick, Ysa Makino and Matthew Christopher. The well-appointed accessory collections is just as carefully selected and also represents the best in the industry with names such as: Maria Elena, Erin Cole, Jennifer Leigh, Erica Koesler and Nymphi Design.

Trunk shows and designer appearances are typically held every weekend, and prices range from $2000 to $20,000. Having close relationships with their designers, Dimitra’s work with brides to make custom changes to achieve the bride’s vision to the last detail. Mothers are also not left to the side. The special occasion lounge has an equally exclusive selection of designer evening gowns and cocktail dresses by coveted designers such as Alex Teih, Tony Ward, Rene Ruiz, Kevan Hall Stephen Yearick and more.

Dimitra’s brides have been featured for their real weddings in luxe publications such as Grace Ormonde, Inside Weddings, and Brides Chicago Social. The salon has been featured multiple times on Platinum Weddings and TLC’s Four Weddings.

You know how we like to celebrate the first day of November?  With a whole lot of pretty, that’s how.  And this stunning  Fulton’s on the River affair is fitting the bill quite nicely with its sophisticated setting (swoon), elegant details and downright fabulous bouquets (thank you Flowerlife).  Oh, and the entire gallery of amazing captured by Jennifer Jackson Photography?  Simply breathtaking. See it all right here.

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Rachel + Adrian’s Chicago wedding ended up encompassing everything that they wanted it to: it was filled with love, lots of laughter, and had an elegant Parisian vibe. And to top it all off, it all unfolded against a beautiful urban landscape. I had dreamed about photographing their wedding since the first day I met Rachel and was beaming with excitement all day long. To keep with the urban aspect of the theme I suggested the West Loop as the backdrop for the first look and formal portraits. The guys even made a stop at Au Cheval on Randolph to sip on a gorgeous 12 year old scotch before hamming it up for the camera. The ladies stepped out onto the West Loop streets in their coordinating muted pastel cocktail dresses and Rachel was an absolute dream in her Bettina gown by J.Crew. Her bouquet featured succulents and her grandmother’s broach.

Rachel + Adrian’s first look was one of the more touching I have ever documented and the red doors in the background added an awesome pop of color! The reception and ceremony was held at Fulton’s on the River and I cannot say enough about the wonderful staff, especially the event planner Darcey; they made us all feel so welcomed!!

During the ceremony a memorial chair sat vacant in the front row, lit by a single candle, commemorating the memory of Rachel’s mother. Rachel and Adrian also performed a water ceremony to combine together the two great lakes they had each grew up next to. The ceremony and reception decor was nothing short of perfection and Rachel’s Etsy finds, including the vintage key escort cards, accentuated the Parisian theme. The tables were adored with french macaroons, devine florals by Flowerlife, candles and feather plumes; it all paired nicely with the sleek interior at Fulton’s on the River.

As the skyline turned from day to night the urban lights flooding the river and surrounding streets mirrored the flicking candles inside; guests danced to the awesome beats expertly composed by Matt Kuhnen of Style Matters while others smoked cigars and sipped bourbon on the patio along the river. From the LaSalle bridge sounds of laughter could be heard as this beautiful couple began their next stage in life… together.

Photographer: Jennifer Jackson Photography | Event Coordination: River Roast Private Events | Florals: Flowerlife | Wedding Gown: J.Crew | Cake: Creative Cakes | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Catering: River Roast Private Events | Makeup: Red 7 Salon | Hair: Red 7 Salon | DJ: Style Matters DJs | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Celebrant: Chicago Weddings | Wedding Venue: River Roast Private Events | DIY Touches: Etsy

I know I’m not supposed to choose, but fall weddings are my favorite.  I mean, not only do they happen to take place smack-dab in the middle of the world’s greatest season (hello football, hot cocoa and comfy sweaters), they are always filled to the brim with those cozy details and vibrant colors I can never get enough of. And when that fall wedding goes hand in hand with a little romantic rainy day drizzle like this beautiful love-filled affair?  Call me smitten.  See it all captured by Autumn and Melinda Photography right here.

From Autumn and Melinda Photography… “Happy is the Bride the Rain Falls On…”

There are few things more beautiful that the leaves of fall in the midwest. Rachel and Dexter planned a colorful wedding around the theme of “FALLing in love.” Every detail, from the bridesmaids Rust (Spice) colored dresses from Jordan, to the spectacular cake from Oak Mill bakery, to the Wishing tree, took advantage of the changing leaves and their amazing color. The only thing they hadn’t planned for was a mid-afternoon Chicago storm. This didn’t detour either of them, as they grabbed their friends, umbrellas and headed out into the rain. We had some fun with the umbrellas. The rain let up and the result was a gorgeous sky, and the most breathtaking Bride and Groom in a field with a moment left just for themselves.

Photography: Autumn And Melinda Photography | Floral Design: Shamrock Garden Florist | Wedding Dress: Sottero And Midgley | Wedding Cake: Oak Mill Bakery | Reception Venue: Klein Creek Country Club | Shoes: Betsey Johnson | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jordan | Makeup: Crystal Jadczak of Glitterbang Makeup | Hair: Stefanie Simpson | Band: Patrick N Swayze | Portrait Location: Cantigny Gardens | Second Shooter: Starlithawk Photography

Sooo… these two are adorable.  The kind of adorable that makes soaking in their beautiful engagement session a downright joy-filled affair; one that brightens your day by about 1 million happiness points (that’s a real thing).  It’s one of those days where smiling faces and pre-wedding bliss join hand and hand and the results are captured beautifully by Melissa Hayes Photography.  See it all right here in the full gallery.

From Melissa Hayes Photography… Kaitlin had reached out to me with interest in doing an engagement session and mentioned that they were getting married in Wisconsin. I had assumed that her and Dane had a photographer picked out for their nuptials next September. She shared her inspirations for their engagement session and how they also liked an “editorial” look to their images.

We started the day at one of their favorite spots, a cute little nook called Bite Cafe in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood of Chicago. The blue chairs give this cozy cafe such charm! Upon meeting Kaitlin and Dane, I also had the pleasure to meet Kaitlin’s sister, Alex, a.k.a., prop stylist for the day!

After a quick shoot at the cafe, we made our way downtown to finish the second half of the shoot.

This was one of my favorite engagement sessions because of how fun Kaitlin and Dane are to work with! I loved their personalities and spent much of the session just laughing with them. I enjoy couples that bring their concepts and visuals and we work together to create a collection of memories for this special time in their lives.

Shortly after delivering their images, Kaitlin asked what I was doing on September 21, 2014 and if I would document their wedding!  Absolutely thrilled and honored, I, of course, said YES! I can’t wait to be there to create an even bigger collection of memories for their wedding in Madison, Wisconsin next year.

Photography: Melissa Hayes Photography

We’ve spent most of our day here on SMP Illinois drooling over this gorgeous Loyola University wedding.  It’s awesome in all kinds of ways (think traditional meets glamourous meets soooo much pretty)… and the gorgeous film from Loudbyte Cinematography?  Beyond amazing.  Which is why we just had to dedicate our afternoon to soaking in every last mesmerizing moment captured by some of our fave cinematographers and the heart-filled lovely they were able to capture.  So kick back, press play and start your evening off in the best kind of way.

Photography: Kina Wicks Photography | Cinematography: Loudbyte Cinematography | Wedding Dress: Brides by Liza | Cake: Oak Mill Bakery | Ceremony Venue: Piper Hall, Loyola University | Catering: Kim Weinberg | DJ:DJ Chicago | Bridal Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Florals: Flowers by Stem | Groom’s Tux: Giorgio Armani | Second Shooter: Julia Franzosa

You know what’s crazy cool?  This Loyola University wedding.  A wedding, lovelies, that happens to combine an uber-awesome outdoor ceremony with a sophisticated meets elegant reception in a ballroom sort of overflowing with pretty.  Think gorgeous pink hues, a stunning bride and groom and a whole host of lovely moments captured by Kina Wicks Photography.  Add in a little romance via nature’s gift, aka, the rain and we have ourselves one entire day of amazing.  See it all in the full gallery.

From Kina Wicks… Haley and Clayton both have midwest roots with California wings. They decided to come back to Chicago to celebrate their wedding, and did it with a bang! Their classy and sophisticated style was showcased at their venue at Piper Hall at Loyola University. The lake view paired with the classic style of Piper Hall allowed Haley and Clayton to have a wonderful wedding day, even despite the pouring rain! This couple, so focused on the real meaning of the day, pulled off the change of plans without a hitch! Their positive spirits, love for each other, and general easy going attitudes helped us all relax and sit back in amazement. It was their ability to weather the storm that hit them that day that lets us know that their marriage will be able to handle any other storms that come their way.

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Photography: Kina Wicks Photography | Cinematography: Loudbyte Cinematography | Wedding Dress: Brides by Liza | Cake: Oak Mill Bakery | Ceremony Venue: Piper Hall, Loyola University | Catering: Kim Weinberg | DJ:DJ Chicago | Bridal Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Florals: Flowers by Stem | Groom’s Tux: Giorgio Armani | Second Shooter: Julia Franzosa

I’ll never stop professing my love for Chicago weddings. And it’s all because of weddings like this on at Room 1520 by Samantha Simmons. They just seem to have this fabulous layer of chic added to everything single moment of the big day, and this one planned by Tiffany of Soiree Weddings & Events is no different. It’s elegant, filled with stunning florals from Exquisite Designs and packed with personal touches – and it’s all waiting for you right here.

Fast forward four years to our engagement which was a complete surprise to me! Jeremy arranged my days off of work and whisked me off to a romantic weekend at the Esperanza Resort in Cabo San Lucas. He planned a private dinner on the beach where he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

For our wedding we considered many different locations, even our current home of Los Angeles but we soon realized that we could only get married in Chicago. Chicago is where we met, where our families still live and the city that will always be our home. When we started planning the wedding we planned our must have list; an intimate wedding, great music and an amazing dinner. I figured that it would be so easy to plan a wedding from Los Angeles, was I wrong. When a day of wedding appointments was all but ruined by flight cancellations and delays because of fog, we landed with enough time to make one appointment. Arriving at 7pm on Thanksgiving Eve, almost 5 hours late we were able to taste the most amazing food prepared by the team at Boutique Bites. We booked with them that night and luckily I was able to find equally awesome vendors and a wedding planner to help me design our wedding.

This all started with the venue, we knew that we wanted a space to make our own. When we visited Room 1520 I was able to see that the blank canvas and beautiful chandeliers would be the perfect location for our wedding, even though Jeremy couldn’t! I told him to trust me, that this place would be amazing! For the design I really wanted to do modern wedding with a very romantic feel. To do this I chose blush, black and gold as the wedding colors and incorporated a lot of mercury glass. One of the items that really made the space were the flowers which consisted of white hydrangeas, white roses and cafe au lait dahlias in mercury glass footed bowls. With the help of a great florist I was able to get the flowers that I envisioned without going over budget.

The most enjoyable part of wedding planning was to make our day as personal as possible and incorporate our bulldogs. To do that I spent countless hours melting wax to make soy scented candles for wedding favors and designing our wedding programs that included a picture of our two bulldogs, Capone and Bugsy. And one of the most meaningful projects was cutting yards of tulle to make dresses for my three nieces that were part of the wedding party as the two flower princesses and ring princess. My countless list of projects and planning an unforgettable honeymoon in South Africa were only made possible by my wonderful fiancé ordering many nights of takeout!

Photographer: Samantha Simmons | Cinematography: Leap Weddings | Wedding Planner: Soiree Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Exquisite Designs, Inc. | Wedding Dress: Winnie Couture | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Catering: Boutique Bites | Hair & Makeup: Jennifer Johnson | Lighting: MDM Entertainment | Band: Little Jasmine Therapies and Spa | Suit: Rocky's Custom Clothes | Officiant: Rabbi Yoni | Transportation: Classic Wedding Car | Venue: Room 1520 | Wedding Venue: Room 1520 | Cake Topper: Lynn's Little Creations | Rentals: Tablescapes Event Rentals | Sash: Beau Bouquet | Sweets Table: Sweets Table Chicago

Lovely as all get out, this Valley Lo Club wedding by Kina Wicks Photography is practically perfection from start to finish. From the blue shoes for both Bride and Groom, to the energetic color palette, and everything in between – it goes without saying, this gallery is one fabulous place to be today. See why here.

Photography: Kina Wicks | Florals: Edward's Florist of Northbrook | Cake: Luscious Layers Bakery | Invitations: Sommers & Fahrenbach | Ceremony Venue: Our Lady of Perpetual Help | Reception Venue: Valley Lo Club | Hair & Makeup: Carolyn Lorraine Salon | Band: One Night Band | Groom's Suit: Jos. A. Bank | Transportation: Chicago Trolley Co. | Bridal Boutique: Wedding Belles | Ceremony Musicians: Royal Trumpet Works | Wedding Dress Designer: JLM Couture, Inc

This Starved Rock State Park wedding is easy to love for a lot of reasons, but standing tall and proud above the rest?  The bride and groom, two adorable sweethearts who happen to be smiling with pure, unadulterated joy in each and every image.  I’m talking the kind of love that literally bursts from your computer screen, people.  It’s awesome.  And when you pair all of that happiness with a gallery of pretty captured by Laura Fisher Photography, it’s a guaranteed day of swooning.  Join me there for more.

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From Laura Fisher Photography… A cool summer’s day, crisp and fresh after a spell of rain, set the air for Heather and Tammer’s quiet, bespoke forest wedding at Starved Rock State Park & Trails. Married beneath the giant pines, Tammer and Heather (or–as they like to collectively call themselves now that they’re married–“Tethered”) celebrated their big day with natural touches abound: herbal boutonnieres, flowered bridesmaid frocks, spice jar favors for the guests, and lavender blossoms for throwing during the recessional. The reception at Starved Rock Lodge ended the night on a cozy note, with wine and lavender buttercream cake in front of the giant fireplace in the main hall of the Lodge.

For this San Francisco couple, it’s no wonder they were drawn to get married in the one corner of Illinois that looks like you’ve been magically transported to the mountain woodlands of Northern California!

From the Bride… We met when we were sophomores in high school, dated for two weeks, broke up, and then began a year long battle of Tammer trying to win me back. At times we were speaking daily (lots of international calls!), and at other times not speaking at all. When my long term relationship fell apart, I moved back into my parents’ home outside Sacramento, and Tammer coincidentally moved to SF. It was magic from then on!

The inspiration behind our day was the location… Starved Rock State Park. It was the centerpiece of our wedding, because it was a place that we had visited when we first met in high school. It holds lots of memories for us. I wanted to incorporate herbs and spices into the ceremony and reception as much as possible, to fit with the natural setting–and, well, cooking is kinda my thing.

For wedding favors we bought many different kinds of herbs in bulk from Penzey’s–coriander, aleppo, thyme, tarragon, you name it. We ordered spice jars with cork lids online and had a designer on Etsy create the labels. I had a favor-making party with my bridal party to get all the jars filled!

Photographer: Laura Fisher Photography | Wedding Coordinator: Tiffany Sigala | Florist: Mary's Special Touch | Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel | Cake: Starved Rock Lodge | Invitations: The Nesting Project | Ceremony Venue: Starved Rock State Park and Trails | Reception Venue: Starved Rock Lodge | Engagement Ring: Vintage - bride's grandmother's | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | Caterer: Starved Rock Lodge | Hair and Makeup: Luscious Moi | DJ: Get Up and Dance | Wedding Favors: Penzey's Spices | Men's Ties: Café Coton San Francisco | Groom's Tux: Indochino | Placecards + Table Markers: The Nesting Project | Programs: The Nesting Project | Save-the-Dates: The Nesting Project

Want to ensure a day that is literally dripping with romance?  Hold your wedding at the beautiful Murphy Auditorium in downtown Chicago, just like these two cuties did.  Because this wedding? This dreamland of Parisian-inspired details and beautiful blush hues?  It’s wonderful.  And it’s just the kind of affair that I know you are all dreaming of.  So, sit back, relax and prepare to soak in every last amazing moment captured by Cristina G Photography.  You won’t regret a single second.

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From the Bride… The easiest decision of the entire wedding planning process was our first (after deciding to get married, of course!). We walked into The Murphy, the first venue we looked at, and booked it on the spot. The ornate Parisian cathedral style blew us away, and it became the inspiration for our wedding. The style, as we defined it, was “Midnight in Paris/Van Gogh’s Starry Night.” For florals, we went with soft, romantic colors such as white, peach, and pink, with dusty miller accents. To add to the ambiance we also chose amber uplighting around the perimeter and tall candelabras for the center tables to fill the space and draw our guests’ eyes up towards the gorgeous ceiling.

Our food also had French accents – from the chicken confit appetizer to our espresso creme brulee cups for passed late night snacks. Music during cocktail hour and dinner was French cafe-inspired, including many Django Reinhardt jazz pieces. And finally, to add to the formal, romantic mood, we chose black tuxedos for the men, and I chose a lace Liancarlo dress and pearl accessories. We couldn’t have been happier with how the event turned out and were able to enjoy all of the romance we had worked so hard to create!

Photography: Cristina G Photography | Floral Design: Meetinghouse | Cake: Alliance Bakery | Stationery: Stationery Station | Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Catering: Blue Plate | Hair & Makeup: Sonia Roselli | Lighting: Meetinghouse | Tuxes: Jos. A. Bank | Officiant: Chicago Weddings | Limo: Stretch Limousine Inc | Wedding Venue: The Murphy Auditorium | DJ/Music: Toast and Jam | Dress Designer: Liancarlo | Dress Store: Dimitra's Bridal Couture | Getting Ready Hotel: Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile

Chicago and chic just seems to go hand and hand, so it’s no surprise engagements snapped up in that stylish city are some of the prettiest around. And when that engagement session is captured by Emilia Jane Photography, we know we are in for a real treat. So it goes without saying, all the images sitting pretty in this gallery are must sees. See them all here.

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Photography: Emilia Jane Photography | Dress: Badgley Mischka | Make-Up: Shannon O'Brien MUA | Hair: Your Stylist AJ | Engagement Photo Venue: The Art Institute of Chicago

There comes a point in my day when it’s time to shut down the computer, put away the pretty for another day, and step back into the real world. That point was just after I opened up this wedding. And here I am, hours later, still pouring over every beautiful image from m three studio. I was drawn in by a beautiful wedding and held captive by a relationship worthy of hours and hours (or perhaps days) of my time.

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From the beautiful bride… Many brides hire a wedding coordinator to help through all the details of planning a wedding. I had my mother. She was just as excited as I was from start to finish. From helping with picking vendors to organizing all the little details that can so easily be forgotten by a busy bride, my mom ensured everything went smoothly up through the day of the wedding.

We had talked about an outside ceremony but the risk of bad weather and needing to have a plan B was something that held me back. The moment Kevin and I walked into the Patrick Haley Mansion in Joliet, IL, we knew right away this was the place we wanted the wedding. Built in 1889, the mansion had a timeless beauty yet had the most elegant ballroom with oversized windows and French doors on every side that opened to the spectacular grounds. The ballroom had a fabric draped ceiling, large chandeliers and gold accents throughout its décor. The linens were ivory and I choose to add gold flowing sashes on the back of each chair, which brought out the gold in the room and matched the edging on the china place settings. The ballroom opened directly to the back of the mansion to a paved patio with an aisle that took you down to a large white pergola with a hanging chandelier surrounded by flowering plants, trees and running water ponds on either side. What a perfect location for an outdoor wedding and if the weather didn’t cooperate the ceremony can be set up in the ballroom.

There is such natural beauty at the venue that there wasn’t a need for too many flowers. We decided to have Karen our florist attach a long tulle bow on the aisle chairs and line the aisle with a thick row of fresh rose petals that matched the flowers in my bouquet, ivory, blush & a touch of lavender. I loved the elegance of the ballroom as it was and I wanted to keep the centerpieces on the tables simple. Karen was great in helping me decide on a combination of blush rose heads in a small bubble vase filled with crystals alternating with floating tea candles.

My mother in law has such a talent with any DIY project. She helped with all these details from the antique key place cards, the invitations, card box etc.

Inspired by the venue we decided to have a string quartet play classical music for our wedding. Artistrings played beautifully and just added to the atmosphere and timeless elegance of our surroundings.

Many brides have a certain aspect of the wedding that is most important to them. My top priority was the photography. I wasn’t looking for just another photographer to take posed pictures, but someone that will capture the moments in a style and creativity. I found Molly from m three studio. She and her assistant did such an incredible job and were so fun to work with. One of my favorite moments of the entire day was taking the bride & groom pictures. Molly has a gift for bringing out natural moments for each picture and making it fun while doing so.

There were so many memorable moments throughout my wedding day from the excitement of getting ready at the mansion to the anticipation of the start of the ceremony. It was a beautiful sunny day perfect for an outdoor wedding. The time has come for it all to begin. As the string quartet played Mothers Boughs Cannon my dad walked me down the aisle to marry my best friend. Some might say a bride should expect something to go wrong on her wedding day but I can say that my wedding turned out perfect. Everything was exactly as I had imagined and hoped for. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Photography: m three studio | Florist: Flowers By Steen | Cake: The Baking Institute | Makeup: City Lights Makeup Artistry | DJ: Music By Design | Ceremony Music: Artistrings | Venue: Patrick Haley Mansion

You know what really tickles my fancy? Weddings like this one by Cristina G Photography. Why, you ask? Well, it’s the way it seems to effortlessly combine an intimate yet glamourous feel all in a single night. Sprinkle in a whole lot of love, and this, my pretties, is a wedding worthy of your favorites folder. See why here.

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We wanted to create a fairytale wedding that was a combination of both a big city celebration yet still held an intimate, personalized vibe. I brought an outdoor wedding indoors with carefully chosen and vibrantly-colored wildflowers and succulents, fresh yellow lemons, and glass mason jars adorning the round tables draped in celadon greens and buttercup hues. The window ledges of the room were lined with glowing candles as large paper lanterns of green, orange, and yellow hung confidently from the domed ceiling, illuminating the dance floor and adding a unique and beautifully choreographed effect.

I purposefully added some personal touches by hand-making name cards with gold-embossed stamping and handwritten names. I painted vases and had guests write advice in each for my husband and I to read on our one, five, ten, and twenty year anniversaries. After a gorgeous ceremony at the amazing Holy Family Church, my hand-beaded Lazaro gown withstood an evening of dancing with our genuinely-happy family and friends. All of the hard work put into each and every detail of the day paid off when I saw the room for the very first time and broke down into tears of joy. The Great Hall of Cafe Brauer had been transformed into the most beautiful place I had ever seen – and the perfect place to begin a new life of blissful friendship and never-ending love.

Photography: Cristina G Photography | Cinematography: I Do Video By Leo | Floral Design: Kloeckner Preferred Flowers | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Alliance Bakery | Stationery: Jaime Byrdak Designs | Ceremony Venue: Holy Family Church | Reception Venue: Cafe Brauer | Hair Stylist: Tracey Jonusas | Transportation: Avital Limousine | Transportation: Chicago Trolley Co. | DJ/Music: Toast and Jam | Dress Store: Kleinfeld Bridal | Lighting/Lanterns: Frost Chicago | Makeup Airbrush: Samantha Sansone

When I first laid eyes on this gorgeous wedding from Shannon of Shannon Gail Weddings & Events, I simply couldn’t wait to share it with all of you. Let’s just say I was chomping at the bit. Because not only is this wedding filled with so many details you could spend your day pinning every one, but it’s also filled with my favorite detail of all – love. Add some the gorgeous images by Cristina G Photography, and ladies and gents, there goes my afternoon. See it all here.

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From Shannon… Designing and planning Kris and Dan’s Wedding was incredibly enjoyable due to their many hobbies, vibrant personalities, and love for each other. During our first meeting, Kris told us that she had picked Cantigny Park as the site of their wedding because of its stunning gardens and beautiful perspective of nature. She wanted to find a way to mix in her love of gardening with Dan’s outdoorsy personality and her Asian culture, while not allowing it to look too rustic or homemade. I was inspired to add a bit of a vintage undertone after seeing Kris’s ring and gown so our end result was an intricate palette of sherbet-like hues of varying depths with bits of shimmering gold and textures you may not think of combining such as chevron and lace. It was the look that you get when you hand cut a few stems of hydrangea from your home garden and place it under your stunning dining room chandelier for a look that is effortless and refined all at the same time. With a little handyman labor from the Groom (he literally made their wedding canopy) we were able to combine handmade wooden elements with glamorous centerpieces (ala the most fabulous floral designer in Chicago) that, when placed in a room with 360 degree views of the breathtakingly beautiful grounds was the perfect juxtaposition of urban and rural and the perfect melding of Kris and Dan.

Photography: Cristina G Photography | Cinematography: Fig Weddings | Wedding Planner: Shannon Gail Weddings and Events | Floral Design: Stemline Creative | Invitations: Just Invite Me | Stationery: Anna Kate Design | Ceremony Venue: Cantigny Gardens | Reception Venue: Cantigny Gardens | Hair and Makeup: Mia Sorella | DJ: Fig Weddings | Ceremony Music: The Classic Harpist | Chiavari Chairs: Elegant Presentations

Confession: I’ve actually partaken in an apple picking double date. And before you judge, I can honestly say that it was SO much fun. Admittedly, the boys were a little skeptical at first. But once we arrived I swear they enjoyed it more than my girlfriend and I. We’ve since vowed to make double date apple picking a yearly activity and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Styled by Sarah The Architect and captured by Pictilio, there’s a festive  and fun gallery just waiting for you to peek through.

From Pictilio… Fall has officially arrived in all it’s beautiful glory. The temperatures are dropping and the leaves are beginning to turn all kinds of lovely shades. Though we all long for our fall staples such as hot soup and cozy sweaters, I think one of the things that often goes unnoticed is how this time of year brings people together.

We decided to usher in fall with a fun trip to pick apples with dear friends. It was a perfect double date! We did our apple picking at Eckert’s farm in Illinois, but there are farms all over the country for you to enjoy. I often miss my window for apple picking so don’t delay. Grab a few friends and get outdoors before it’s too cold to set foot outside!

And if you’re anything like me, you’ll be wondering what exactly it is that you should be doing with all of your apple-y bounty. Captain obvious would tell you that apple pie is always a good idea (life lesson right there), but how about we take it a step further with a full blown apple-picking party? I truly can’t think of a more worthwhile idea. You can see the full gallery right here, and grab the full how-to right here!

Photographers: Pictilio | Stylist: Sarah The Architect

Kristin La Voie is filling our screens with pretty once again with this beautiful Hotel Arista wedding , and I couldn’t be more thankful. Because this beauty is overflowing with all the pretty things that make me smile, topped off with one seriously in love couple. Making this gallery one fabulous place to be today. Join me in all the swooning here.

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Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography | Cinematography: Robert Cawthorne Wedding Films | Floral Design: Janes Blue Iris | Wedding Dress: Bella Sposa Bridal | Make up: Christy Swain | Hotel: Hotel Arista

Elopements scream romance to me. I couldn’t love them more. Perfectly understated yet fabulously intimate, elopements just seem to get to the core of saying I do. And this couple took a stylish approach to their special day, making this gallery of images from Emilia Jane simply divine. See them all here.

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Photography: Emilia Jane Photography | Flowers: Pistil & Vine | Ceremony Venue: Chicago City Hall | Shoes: Louboutin | Hair: Your Stylist AJ | Bride's Skirt: Dries Van Noten | Getting Ready Location: Waldorf Astoria

When Clementine Custom Events  gets ahold of your bridal shower, you can bet your bottom dollar that good things are bound to happen. This sweet party, dripping in rich pink hues, is pretty much as good as it gets. With an extensive drink menu, a take-home candy station and nary a game in sight, this is one bridal shower I could happily get on board with. Captured by Pen/Carlson, there’s a whole lot more in the gallery.

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From Kelly Cavanaugh with Clementine Custom Events… I’ve been working with Mary for a year to create the perfect wedding of her dreams. The planning process has been going really smooth and we’ve been having a great time with all the details. She decided to get me involved in the bridal shower and it was a blast.

Candy was really the inspiration for the day. She fell in love with a 2 layer sprinkle cake that was only frosted on top – not on the sides. We used the cake as our main inspiration for the shower. Her wedding is taking place in October and she is going to have a lot of deep, rich tones for the wedding so she wanted to lighten it up for the shower, especially since the shower was in August. We chose a pale pink and peach color combo that looked fantastic in the butter yellow room. The 6 table top designs were each slightly different which helped create a lot of interest in the room. She had a stunning candy bar and each guest helped themselves with mason jars so they could take the treats home if they wanted. She had custom signage for her place cards, menu cards, specialty drinks and candy bar and it all came together perfectly.

The concept of the restaurant: each guest helps themselves to a delightful harvest table that included many amazing items from salad, fruit to banana French toast. Then the chef’s each prepared a meat dish to pass and share. The chef’s came around to the tables to explain what they prepared. Along side the meats was family style cinnamon rolls, chicken & waffles, thick cut bacon and much more! While the couple opened their gifts the guests helped themselves to the candy buffet. We also passed out some advice cards and all the guests filled them out with fun comments about Mary!

From the Bride… If I had to sum up the shower in a few words, they would be: girly, fresh and light. In the beginning stages of planning, all I knew was that I did not want to play any games, that I wanted the color pink to be everywhere and that I wanted candy to always be within arms reach. From there, Kelly helped us find amazing flowers that helped add to the fresh and light feel that I was looking for. Kelly also led us to our venue. Zed 451 was the perfect venue, not only because the food is amazing, but because their decor is very earthy and they have these amazing Juliet doors that were opened during the shower to add a fresh air element without making everyone sweat in August — woo hoo for AC! I loved that the menus, cake pop place cards, and table numbers all added a personalized element to the day that our guests really enjoyed. The food, venue, candy bar, flowers, and paper elements all added up to a really gorgeous and cozy day that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Photography: Pen/Carlson | Event Planning: Clementine Custom Events | Flowers: Hello Darling Event Design | Stationary: Magnificent Milestones | Bridal Shower Venue: Zed451

When a garden affair is on the agenda, my day is made. And today’s soiree just so happens to be a garden affair complete with barn, ring bearer in seersucker, and pretty amazing light, captured so brilliantly by Kristin La Voie Photography. And the love at the center? Blog worthy, to say the least.

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From the photographer… This is a stunning rustic barn wedding at Byron Colby Barn, just outside Chicago. Nestled between fields and charming homes, this venue is one of my favorite hidden gems in the suburbs. The barn was completely transformed into a gorgeous affair fit for a queen with Forget Me Knot’s amazing florals on every table, the perfect Loveseat placed at the sweetheart table, and the adorable trees strung with lights and doves. Not to mention, the most adorable ring bearer on the planet, Michael (Joe & Diana’s son) was dressed in the cutest seersucker suit and bow tie. The bridesmaids all wore the most unique dresses I’ve ever seen (which the bride found on Etsy). It was a perfectly sweet garden affair!

Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography | Flowers: Forget Me Knodt | Wedding Dress: Brides by Demetrios | Cake: Chef Paul's Catered Events | Ceremony Venue: Byron Colby Barn | Reception: Byron Colby Barn | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Armour San Anguish | Hair & Makeup: Shelby George | DJ: Just Press Play Productions | Suits: Men's Wearhouse | Belt: Etsy Seller Get Noticed | Earrings: Mikiye Creations | Headpiece: Gilded Shadows

Have I mentioned just how much I adore a traditional Chicago affair?  Because, I so, so, sooo do.  There’s just something about classically elegant details paired with a fabulous Windy City backdrop that makes my heart pitter patter, and when it’s an oh-so-sophisticated day like this one captured by Stacy Able, there’s really no describing my excitement.  From the beautiful florals from Ashland Addison Floral to the crazy cool Public Hotel backdrop to the fab paper goods from Minted, I’m calling this the epitome of perfection.  See so much more right here.

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From the Bride… We chose the Public Hotel first because it used to be the old Ambassador East, home of the historic Pump Room, and has been re-imagined by hotelier Ian Schrager. When my Nana was a stewardess and living in Chicago many years ago she actually lived in the Ambassador East, so the hotel holds a lot of meaning for our family. Once we saw it’s new design we were sold.

When the day came, it was a wonderful feeling. We woke up, had coffee and breakfast with the bridesmaids and got started on hair and makeup. It was a very calm morning, which is exactly what I imagined. Our suite at Public was beautiful and we were just enjoying the morning and each others’ company. We opened a few bottles of champagne and once everyone started getting dressed we were really excited to get the night started! The Public Hotel has a beautiful terrace overlooking the city, so we were glad to use that as the backdrop for some of our pictures.

Photographer: Stacy Able Photography | Florals: Ashland-Addison Florist | Invitations: Minted | Bride's Shoes: Ivanka Trump | Food: Jean-Georges Vorgerichten The Pump Room | Makeup: Orlando Barsallo | Hair: Hair- Rachel Miller – b. A Salon on Armitage | DJ: Style Matters DJs | Venue: Public Hotel | Brides Gown - Place Purchased: Macy's | Bridesmaid Gowns: JLM Couture, Inc | Film Development/Scanning: Pro Photo Irvine | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Men's Tuxes: Formally Modern Tuxedo