Illinois Weddings

Just in time for the 4th of July, we have an engagement that is infused with love and some good old fashion sparklers. Because, really, who doesn’t love sparklers, or love for that matter? I’m President of the Love and Sparklers Fan Club and I happen to think this sweet engagement captured by Ashley Biess Photography should be our anthem. See more from these two firework wielding love birds right here.

From Ashley Biess of Ashley Biess Photography … Emily and JT had so much fun with their engagement photos! As residents of Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood, they wanted to wander around the streets, park, and beach near their home to show friends and family members where they will be starting their new life together. Emily used Pinterest as inspiration for outfit and prop ideas for the shoot. The couple came to their session prepared with sparklers, a cozy blanket, bubbles and pinwheels. What more could a photographer want? They are super playful and so obviously in love. It was a real treat taking their photos!

Photography: Ashley Biess Photography / Location: Montrose Harbor, Welles Park + Ravenswood, All in Chicago, Illinois

Get ready for what this bride has coined as an “eclectegant” wedding (eclectic and elegant) and I couldn’t agree more after viewing these captivating images by JPP Studios. I’m absolutely enamored with all of the DIY details by the bride and groom which harmonized beautifully with floral arrangements by Asrai Garden. Tasteful style mixed with quirky touches isn’t always easy to pull off, but this couple has done it gracefully. For more inspiring images check out the full gallery here. 

And here’s a link to the wedding trailer by Leap Weddings:

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From the Bride… With my family living in North Carolina and Anthony’s across the pond in Ireland, our families have never been able to meet given the distance. So we figured there was nothing like a wedding to bring everyone together! When we looked at our options, we thought it made sense to for everyone to meet somewhere in the middle. Sadly Atlantis was unavailable (we heard it sunk, bummer) so we decided on Chicago — convenient because that is where we live! We knew we wanted to have a wedding in the traditional sense to bring everyone together, but we also wanted our own non-traditional and quirky touches. We were looking for something eclectic, yet elegant … eclectegant, if you will.

We were lucky enough to be able to have our ceremony at the beautiful Bond Chapel on the University of Chicago campus. (That business school degree finally paid off!) Bond Chapel is nondenominational and really embraces a variety of viewpoints, so we were able to craft a ceremony that was truly the most honest version of who we are. Working on our ceremony was project number one, and whenever I got stressed out about wedding logistics, I would read our vows and refocus on the big picture. When we first visited our reception venue, the more-than-a-little-quirky Salvage One, we knew we had found our spot to celebrate. We figured if our friends and families were having a hard time understanding each other with the variety of Southern and Irish accents, at least there would be a lot of interesting scenery!

Once we picked our venues, we spent the better part of 18 months putting together my dream wedding. Much to Anthony’s chagrin, the DIY train left the station at 100 mph, and the months were a blur of thrift store shopping and craft projects. He may need a lobotomy to rid himself of all of his newfound knowledge of Pinterest and Etsy. It was such a wonderful experience tackling the wedding planning as a team, and some of my favorite memories are of my manly, 6’5” husband hand stamping delicate invitation hankies on our dining room table and getting excited about the dessert bar menu he designed. In the end, all the effort was worth it. Looking around at all of our favorite people in the entire world (literally, our farthest guest flew in from Singapore) was one the most overwhelming, wonderful, exhilarating moments of my life, and I know we will cherish the memories forever.

Wedding Photography: JPP Studios / Ceremony: University of Chicago Bond Chapel in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: Salvage One in Chicago, Illinois / Event Planning: Get Hitched Weddings (Formerly Samantha Hamilton Weddings) / Floral Design: Asrai Garden / Wedding Cinematography: Leap Weddings / Photo Booth: ShutterBooth Chicago / Vases, Dessert Stands, Birdcage Veil, Flower Girl Wands, Hand-Stamped Handkerchiefs, Paper Goods, Welcome Bags + Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Table Runnners: DIY by the Bride’s Mother & Sister / Cake Table Cloth: DIY by the Bride’s Grandmother / Wedding Dress: Cymbeline “Ebru” (Discontinued) / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

This couple is so lucky. Obviously they are lucky for falling head over heels for each other and pledging a life of love. And obviously they both got quite lucky in the looks department, don’t you agree? But they also got SUPER lucky to have Stoffer Photography capture their engagement session, because each one of the love-filled images in the full gallery is frame worthy, and that, my loves, is priceless.

From Stoffer Photography… On a warm spring morning in Chicago, we met David and Catherine at Humboldt Park. They decided to have an intimate, vintage-themed picnic in the grass, which paired perfectly with the soft morning light. We then shared our favorite spot in Wicker Park for a sandwich and latte with this sweet couple. These two cuddled up perfectly as the light poured in.

Photography + Styling: John + Maura Stoffer of Stoffer Photography / Location: Humboldt Park in Chicago, Illinois

My hat goes off to the Pantone pickers this year, because the Pantone Color of 2012 – Tangerine – is just FUN. Particulary when it lands in the hands of talented folks like LoveBird Events, Life Made Pretty, Stacey Shapiro Calligraphy, Sugar Chic Designs and Jennifer Kathryn Photography. They took tangerine and SMP’ed (new verb?) it to the max giving us one stylish shoot to swoon over! See it all here!

From Jennifer Kathryn Photography… Inspired by Pantone’s color of the year, Tangerine Tango, Meghan Andalman of Lovebird Events, Loreen Hospodar of Reenie Rose, and Jenn Gaudreau of Jennifer Kathryn Photography styled this intimate first anniversary celebration for “Emily and Charles.” The shoot took place in The Landmark Room at VenueSix10, one of Chicago’s premier modern venues. VenueSix10 features clean architectural lines, bright light and gorgeous city views – the perfect backdrop for a reception honoring this contemporary and artistic couple. A simple color palette of white, gold and various shades of orange, beautifully complemented the boldness of Tangerine Tango. The room was styled around a stunning painting of the bride’s wedding bouquet, created by Reenie Rose, and given as an anniversary present to Emily and Charles. Taking inspiration from the bridal bouquet painting, Adriana Amarei of Life Made Pretty created centerpieces featuring orange and white roses, Tangerine Tango ranunculus, gold paper ranunculus and wood roses artfully arranged in modern metallic gold containers.

Meghan Andalman of Lovebird Events styled the couple’s sweetheart table using a combination of white contour and marmalade shantung linens from BBJ Linen, armless ghost chairs from her own collection, gold-rimmed white china place settings from Susan Fredman at Home, and custom place cards featuring various love poems written by Stacey Shapiro Calligraphy. The sweets table, designed by Amy of Sugar Chic Designs, included a handful of the couple’s favorites: cake pops, macaroons, and gummie candies, along with some unique treats of tarts, chocolate bars, shortcakes, gold-foiled chocolate balls, and, of course, tangerines. As a finishing touch, Charles and Emily’s anniversary tier was decorated with a tangerine ribbon and vintage brooch and displayed alongside a “Love is Sweet” sign. Artistic elements such as paint palettes as charger plates, hand-painted miniature canvases as tabletop signage and vintage sheet music as plate liners were incorporated throughout as finishing touches. Emily and Charles, our gorgeous models, were Jaime Lynn Henderson and Patrick C. Cunningham of Lily’s Talent Agency. Jaime wore BHLDN’s Vivacity shift dress and her own accessories. Patrick’s wardrobe was his own.

Photography: Jennifer Kathryn Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: Venue Six10 in Chicago, Illinois / Invitations, Chairs, Pillows + Event Styling: Meghan Andalman of LoveBird Events / Floral Design: Adriana Amarei of Life Made Pretty / Painting: Loreen Hospodar of Reenie Rose / Calligraphy: Stacey Shapiro Calligraphy / Sweets Table: Amy DiTomasso of Sugar Chic Designs / Linens: BBJ Linen / Place Settings: Susan Fredman at Home / Bride’s Dress: BHLDN “Vivacity” / Models: Jaime Lynn Henderson + Patrick C. Cunningham of Lily’s Talent Agency / Makeup: Makeup by Jaycie

The moment I see the words DIY pop up on my computer screen, I get a little giddy.  Actually, I get a LOT giddy, because, well… there’s nothing I love more than a sweet, homegrown affair.  And this fabulous Oak Park wedding?  It’s everything I adore about a labor of love soiree, with smiley faces bursting from every moment and some downright crafty details to boot. (Check out those fab place cards!)  Thank goodness the oh-so-talented Alix Klingenberg Photography was on hand to snap up all of the pretty, because the gallery is literally overflowing with HAPPY.  Join me there for more.

From Alix Klingenberg Photography… I met up with Malena and Andy in their amazingly cool apartment in Wicker Park where they got ready in tandem, avoiding seeing each other only after they were in full attire. The casual and loving atmosphere was a lovely contrast to the usual getting ready process. After running around Wicker Park for a few photos, we headed to Oak Park’s Pleasant Home. Pleasant Home is “a landmark Prairie Style house museum” and is one of the most beautiful venues I’ve had the pleasure of working in. My favorite moment was the traditional tea ceremony they incorporated into the ceremony to honor their parents.

From the Bride… Andy and I left Ohio and Seattle and met each other during our first semester of architecture school in Chicago. We are very close with our families and friends back home, and it has not been easy being away from them for so many years. We saw the wedding as an opportunity to throw a big party for the people we love and for them to finally get a glimpse of our lives in Chicago. We tried to make the wedding as personal as possible, finding many opportunities to employ our talent as designers and crafters. The day went by too fast, but my favorite moment is when we were finally married. I was so happy and relieved! The second moment is right when we entered the dining room and saw all of our family and friends. Having all of them together in the same room with us is something I’ve wanted for a long time. People still tell us our wedding is one of the best weddings they’ve been to. It makes me happy to know we met our goals and that all the work put into making the wedding our own paid off.

Wedding Photography: Alix Klingenberg Photography / Wedding Venue: Pleasant Home in Oak Park, Illinois / Bouquets: Asrai Gardens / Reception Flowers: Purchased via Kennicott Brothers + Arranged by a Friend / Food + Bacon Truffles: Lou, A Friend of the Couple / Cakes + Tartlets: Vanille Patisserie / Italian Ice: Miko’s Italian Ice / Drinks: Beer Brewed by the Groom, The Couple’s Favorite Regional Wines & Beers + Fig Soda Made Lou, by a Friend of the Couple / Wedding Invitations: Spark Letterpress via Paper Doll / Response Card Design: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Ceremony Violins + Cocktail Hour Piano: Steckman Studio of Music / DJ: DJ Harsh / Place Cards: DIY by Friends of the Bride / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Quilt: From the Groom’s Grandmother / Wood Box: From the Groom’s Father / Wedding Dress: San Patrick via Dimitra’s Bridal Couture / Dress Alteration: Fit ‘n Stitches (312-772-2230) / Bride’s Shoes: Enzo Angiolini “Merryann ” / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Designed by the Bridesmaids + Sewed by the Bride’s Mother, Using Fabric Selected by the Bride / Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers / Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan “Air Adams” / Groomsmen’s Suits: Monitor Formal Wear / Men’s Ties: The Tie Bar / Bride’s Rings: Custom by Anne Sportun via Virtu / Groom’s Ring: DIY

What better way to cure a case of the Mondays than with a sweet-as-sugar barn wedding? This little beauty, by Kristin La Voie Photography, combines the cutest couple with tons of DIY-details and personal touches (I’m loving the handmade birdseed favors!) You’ll definitely want to catch the rest of this celebration in the full gallery!

From Kristin La Voie Photography… Mandy and Cale, the sweetest couple, had their hand in every detail of their beautiful, fully-DIY, rustic barn wedding at Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake, Illinois. DIY projects included: menus, programs, cake, twinkle light trees, table decor and birdseed favors. Just being in this couple’s presence really gave me the warm fuzzies. Mandy and Cale had a beautiful and intimate first look, followed by photos and a cocktail hour before the outdoor ceremony. The evening concluded with a wonderful reception inside the barn with great food, great music and great fun!

Wedding Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography / Wedding Venue: Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake, Illinois / Floral Design: Entwined / Wedding Cinematography: StoryMix Media / Catering: Chef Tim / Band: Matt Stedman Band / Menus, Programs, Wedding Cake, Twinkle Light Trees, Table Decor + Birdseed Favors: DIY / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Hair + Makeup: Studio 21 / Bride’s Headband: J.L. Johnson Bridals / Bride’s Purse: Handmade by Carol Nelson, The Bride’s Mother / Bride’s Earrings + Bridesmaid’s Purses: Picardy Shoe Parlor in Brookfield, Wisconsin (262-784-3434) / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: Charming Charlie / Tuxedos: Jim’s Formal Wear / Rings: Helzberg

Clary Photo deserves a standing ovation for this traditional beauty, because not only is it timeless, it’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Really, it’s classic perfection – the definition of an elegant affair that will never go out of style. And with a Bride this beautiful and a Groom this smitten, I’ll be giving more than one round of applause for this fancy fête in the full gallery!

From the Bride…When it came to planning our wedding, every element we selected was part of a cohesive overall vision. From venues, to florals, to our mode of transportation; we wanted a classic, traditional feel as the backbone of the day. We then infused plenty of personal touches, great style, and antique accents.

Photography and a fantastic venue space were our most important planning decisions. We booked Clary Photo because we knew no one could capture the essence of our wedding to be like she could. Architectural Artifacts was an easy choice for us because my family is full of antique collectors! The space is incredible and gave guests a feel for Chicago without being an obvious venue choice.

I LOVE fashion, so styling our wedding wardrobe was a treat. My wedding gown needed to embody my personality, while remaining timeless and sophisticated. Vera Wang Chicago was the perfect partner to make it happen. The tulle detailing on my skirt was reminiscent of a dress my late maternal grandmother wore to her high school prom. When my mother told me I looked like her in the dress, I knew it was the one.
Another major styling priority was moving away from traditional bridesmaid looks. I wanted my favorite women to look like they were going to a fabulous black tie ball in dresses that were perfectly suited for them. I styled each of my bridesmaids from head to toe. Hair styles, dresses, vintage jewelry, and shoes. The jewelry was certainly a project. I searched for months looking for vintage earrings and bracelets to suit each dress and the lady who would wear it. It was so exciting to give the pieces as gifts to my bridesmaids on our wedding day. We contrasted their black gowns by dressing the groomsmen in classic ivory dinner jackets and black pants. For Andrew, a traditional black tux with tails worked perfectly.

I never thought I’d get so into selecting our Save the Dates and invites! The second I conceptualized our Save the Dates (they are meant to give the feel of opening a package with an antique inside), I was hooked. I realized that invitations truly set the tone for the wedding day – it’s like a preview for the guests. We worked with The Aerialist Press to make our beautiful letterpress invitations and ceremony programs. I made the invitation wraps myself. All of our calligraphy was done by my extremely talented bridesmaid, Krystle Ansari. She also made custom sketches of the bridal party as a gift to us.

Forgoing a standard “wedding colors” theme to dictate our decor, we infused traditional bridal colors, ivory & black, with antique gold and dark wood. Florals provided a hint of spring colors in lavenders and peaches. The colors accented both our classic church and our modern venue space.

Candlelight is one of my favorite things, so a romantic, glowing ambiance at the reception was what we went for. My parents and I sourced about 50 vintage brass & crystal candlesticks from local thrift stores. They were arranged on half of our tables, along with small antiques from Architectural Artifacts, and short floral arrangements. The other half of our tables had tall, branchy arrangements with flowers woven in like the first buds of spring. Votives candles hung from the branches. Stemline Creative did a spectacular job! My mother made customer scalloped table runners in patterned black and ivory material to accent our linens. Finally, we had to select a beautiful chair to complete the tables. They’re a bit of a splurge, but do so much to complete the vision of the room. I chose the Contempo style chair in fruitwood. Our party-musts were plentiful food, a well-stocked bar, fabulously decadent cake, amazing music provided by DJ Demchuk, and a late-night quesadilla snack (it was Cinco de Mayo, after all).

Everytime I think back on our day, even just rehashing all of these details, I am filled with so much happiness. We are fortunate to have amazing family and friends to share in our joys. They are what made our wedding the most special of days, second only to the love Andrew and I have for one another. There is no possible way to express how grateful we are for having the wedding of our dreams, and the promise of a beautiful life together.

Photography: Clary Photo / Save the Dates: DIY / Invitations and Programs: The Aerialist Press / Calligraphy: Krystle Ansari / Musicians: Quartet Parapluie / Bride’s Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Jewelry: Vintage / Bride’s shoes: Fendi / Bridesmaid Jewelry: Vintage / Hair: Brian Kalz, Frankie/ Make-up: Jean Ramos, Agnes Buda / Groom and Groomsmen Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse / Transportation: The Trolley Car & Bus Co. / Church: Bethany United Church of Christ Chicago / Flowers: StemLine Creative / Venue: Architectural Artifacts / Catering: Catered Productions / Rentals: Hall’s Rentals / Cake: Lovin Oven Cakery / DJ: Cage and Aquarium / Day of Coordination: Camille Victoria Weddings

 

A Chicago wedding 11 years in the making and you can expect to be blown away…brace yourselves. This romantic celebration by Cristina G Photography captures all of the Chicago’s classics: fantastic food, great wine, fun music, stunning floral arrangements by City Scents and of course, great company. With white orchids and tulips lining the aisle (and an adorable flower girl and ring bearer) this wedding truly has it all! Be sure to see more of the stunning photo’s from this windy city wonderland by clicking here.

And here’s a fun video from the day, courtesy of Sally Films:

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From the Bride… Mike and I both really know what we want in life, and that same philosophy followed for our wedding. We have been dating since our sophomore year in high school, so this wedding celebration was 11 years in the making! Finding a great venue was very important to us, especially since we wanted to have our ceremony and reception at the same place. Walking into Germania Place for the first time, I knew that second our wedding was going to take place there. Built in 1888, the character and charm that Germania Place has is breathtaking. All the other little details just fell in place. The first wedding dress I have ever tried on was the winner! I wore a Marisa dress purchased at Gigi’s Closette in Glenview, Illinois. What made my dress unique was the brooch we had sewn on. This brooch was given to me by my grandmother, and it made my dress one of a kind. My bridesmaids wore black, short, taffeta J.Crew dresses and the groomsmen rented from Men’s Wearhouse. I love the classic black look, especially against my ivory dress.

Taking pictures around Chicago was number one on our list. We stopped at LaSalle Street Bridge and Olive Park. Our photographer, Cristina G, was able to capture all Chicago has to offer — you couldn’t ask for a better backdrop! We wanted to create a romantic ceremony. We lined the aisle with a trio of deconstructed flowers and candles. This really gave focus to us standing at the altar. The flowers that lined the aisle had a dual purpose: when the room was flipped for dinner, they functioned as our centerpieces. My mom came up with this clever idea!

Our reception had few special touches: our place cards, which had the same monogram as our invitations; our delicious “signature cocktail” of Goose Island beers in mini beer steins; and our black dinner napkins, which were wrapped with a purple ribbon and included a live Kermit Mum and our delicious menu. we also had our amazing guest book that our photographer created using photos from our engagement shoot. The best part of our reception was the live music provided by Stitley Entertainmment. The dance floor was packed all night! Every second of our wedding was filled with joy. We wanted to create a romantic ceremony and a reception filled with dancing, and we definitely accomplished that! Thanks to all the great venders we worked with — we had our dream wedding!

Wedding Photography: Cristina G Photography / Wedding Venue: Germania Place in Chicago, Illinois / Wedding Day Coordination: An Event Less Ordinary / Personal Flowers, Cocktail Flowers + Napkin Detail: Artifactgirl (773-398-1397) / Ceremony + Reception Flowers: City Scents / Wedding Cinematography: Sally Films / Wedding Invitations, Programs + Menu: Mi-Te Fast Printing / Wedding Cake: Oak Mill Bakery / Band: Stitley Entertainment / Accommodations: Sutton Place Chicago / Wedding Dress: Marisa via GiGi’s Closette (847-729-5110) / Bride’s Brooch: From her Grandmother / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Hair: Jackie Cassidy / Makeup: Lauren Frenden / Groomsmen’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

This is what life is all about. Lucky for us, Visions Event Studio has captured this Chicago proposal so perfectly that we get to share in one of the best days of a couples life. From dream ring to dream proposal this groom-to-be has thought of every detail, including a video that brings a tear (or two). Click here to see more of this couple’s happily ever after.

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From Visions Event Studio…Bryan approached Visions Wedding & Event Boutique regarding our On Bended Knee Proposal Service, to assist him with his wedding proposal that his soon to be bride was not at all expecting. We fell in love with the idea of this man that wanted to propose and completely throw her off track by doing it six months earlier than she had expected. Their two year anniversary fell in September and they had already planned a trip to Mexico, so naturally she thought that was the time he would pop the big question. Bryan, however, knew that the element of surprise in a proposal is priceless, so we started brainstorming right away to try and figure out how we were going to set up this elaborate proposal without her even knowing it. We consulted with the bride to be’s mother to get a direction on her personal style and what details we could bring into the proposal that would melt her heart. And through this discussion we formulated a “fake” corporate event that we were going to stage in order to get her to the proposal location: Hotel Sax.

I contacted Katie, introduced myself as a “Think Thin” employee, and said I was in charge of coordinating this event for Katie and her mother. You see, Katie’s mother had worked for this company for some time and had encouraged Katie to start using the product, which is an all-natural nutrition bar. Throughout the planning process, I kept in contact with her as the “Think Thin” employee as to guide her through what to expect on the day of. We had such a wonderful proposal planned for her — the beautiful Hotel Sax set the backdrop for the proposal, and the table that we designed for her was put together solely from stalking her Pinterest page to get inside her head. Everything from video to makeup was arranged, and we had a story to back up all the details so she went right along with our story.

The day of went off without a hitch. She was absolutely beautiful as I picked her up in the limo to bring her to the proposal she knew nothing about. We wanted to catch Katie getting out of the limo without me, so of course I made up an excuse for why she should just meet my inside the hotel lobby. Once inside, the cinematographer did a fabulous job setting up Katie with a microphone without her having a clue. She thought she was going to do a brief testimonial on the product, and while I was “checking us in” to the event at the lobby, everyone was getting everything all set for the proposal moment that was to unfold moments later. I walked her into the Crimson Lounge of Hotel Sax, to the middle of the room, where I turned her so she could get a clear shot of Bryan and said to her, “Katie, I want to introduce you to the rest of your life!” It was beautiful — she was so surprised! Bryan said a few words and knelt to one knee. All she kept saying after the proposal was, “Oh my gosh, how did you do all this? This is exactly my style!” She was thrilled to learn that I am a wedding planner and assisted Bryan with pulling the proposal together. After dinner the two of them went up to their hotel room to call all their family and friends to share the exciting news. This is one of the most fun proposals we have done, and such a sweet couple to work with.

Photography: Vrai Photo / Proposal Location: Hotel Sax in Chicago, Illinois / Proposal Design + Planning: Visions Event Studio / Floral Design: Natural Beauties / Cinematography: XO Pictures / Food: Ruth’s Chris / Chocolates & Sweets: Le Chocolat du Bouchard / Transportation: Southwest Limousine, Inc. / Hair + Makeup: Beauty on Call / Tanning: Ortanic

How many little girls grow up dreaming about the day their prince charming will sweep them off their feet (on a horse nonetheless!?) This real-life couple stepped into that dream for a Princess Bride themed inspiration shoot by Mercy Turner Events and Studio Rebekah Photography. An incredible group of vendors created a full-on magical forest in the middle of Illinois and left no detail unimagined. The enchantment continues in the full gallery and you won’t want to miss the stunning film crafted by Highway 61 Films.

The styling, by Kelly of Intertwine, combined natural elegance with woodsy, farm inspired details. Charming arrangements of lilac, scabiosa, and tweedia created a handpicked feel with a palette fit for a princess.
Thanks goes to Studio Rachel Photography for second shooting and various other vendors for their donations and support.

Bobby and Olivia entered a “Love Story Contest” in order to be the featured models of this inspiration shoot. Having been newlyweds themselves, (they were married 11.5.11) they were eager to participate in the roles of Princess Buttercup and Wesley. Their love story was just as inspirational as the fairytale’s. It involved many years of waiting and ultimately, “Mah-wige”!

From the Bride: Our love story started out about 7 years ago… I was 16, he was 24. Although Bobby had no idea who I was, I was very aware of who he was. During that time he was a firefighter and I was just a freshman in high school and a lifeguard. A few lifeguards were asked to help out with the fire training one night and test their new body suits in the water. They let me be the first to volunteer. I was ‘rescued’ by, of course, Bobby! I had seen him around town plenty of times and often joked about how I was going to marry him someday! It was known that I had a huge crush on him and I was very willing to share it with anyone!

After about 5 years, I had a boyfriend and I was content. However, for a week straight, we (Bobby and I) kept running into each other. I jokingly asked if he was ‘following me’… He laughed and said ‘I guess, haha.’ All I could think of was that he actually noticed me!!!! Then I heard he was available.

One weekend not long after, Bobby was out with a couple of mutual friends of ours. I was with my mom at a wedding. I was leaving the reception and received a text from one of our friends and told me to meet them out. So I went and there he was, I was excited, nervous, and somewhat thought I was crazy! That night we we had talked about everything under the sun. And for the next week, we went up to the firehouse until the sun came up talking about our pasts, presents, and futures… I knew in 5 days I would marry this man! I hoped my dream would come true and it did. November 5, 2011, I became his wife!

Photography: Studio Rebekah Photography  / Event Planner: Mercy Turner Events / Floral & Event Design: Intertwine / Videography: Highway 61 Films / Second Shooter: Studio Rachel Photography  / Venue: Stateline Stables / Stationery: Aberdeen Affairs to Remember / Dress: Pronovias from Here Comes the Dress / Desserts: Tonya’s Patisserie / Calligrapher: Jane Schreiner / Hair & Makeup: Bethza Makeup Artist / Boots: Silcott’s Shoes / Horse Owner & Horse: Sandy Dorrian & Chloe

This adorable e-session by Bellow Blue Photography has me totally wanting to grab my hubby and hit the streets of Chicago just like this cute couple did! I love how they toured the city and struck poses anywhere and everywhere. We can’t wait to see their wedding this December! Click here for even more.

  Click here for the FULL e-session!

From the Bride to be: Shortly after Doug moved back to Chicago from San Diego a mutual friend Eric came to visit him for the weekend.  Eric and I became friends while attending Wright State University together several years prior. Our friend insisted that the both of us that we should meet one another.  I didn’t think much of this at first, but Eric had actually told Doug before we met that he better be invited to our wedding. The first time I met Doug was after a long weekend of male bonding (ie: lots of adult beverages), but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.  The following Friday we met up for drinks after work and continued to talk until the sun came up the following morning.  We both knew how lucky we were at that point to have met one another and couldn’t be more thankful for our friend’s introduction.  

The Proposal: Doug and I drove a little over 2 hours to the most Southern point of the United States on the Big Island of Hawaii to see the Green Sand Beach. Once we parked the car we had to hike about an hour to see the beach.  It was an adventure for the two of us, and it was breathtaking.  On the hike back to the car, Doug decided to take a picture of the two of us. As soon as he had snapped the picture, I turned around and he was on one knee asking if I would marry him.I said yes! It was truly an unforgettable day.

Photography: BellowBlue Photography

What may look like a lucky-in-love couple enjoying a picnic on a sunny afternoon, is one well thought out engagement shoot chock full of sweet symbolism. Gina Christine Photography accompanied the adorable duo to their favorite biking trail at Horsetail Lake, and while they played and smooched on vintage bikes and enjoyed cheese and wine they picked up in France together – she snapped up these pretty pictures for us to enjoy. You simply must see the rest of the sunset sweetness, so be sure to check out the full shoot for more!

 Click here for the FULL shoot!

From Gina Christine Photography… Nick and Laura wanted an engagement session that symbolized their relationship. The location was a spot that they love to bike together, called Horsetail Lake in Palos, Illinois. Because they love to bike, but did not want to use modern mountain bikes, they borrowed two vintage bikes. Laura also always wanted to have a sunset picnic with Nick, that is where their wine and cheese picnic idea came from. The bottle of red wine is a bottle they purchased together in France, they both love to travel together. Nick proposed in an apple orchard, hence the ring and apple image. Nick and Laura are having an October wedding in downtown Chicago. 

Photography: Gina Christine Photography / Location: Horsetail Lake in Palos, Illinois

Settle in because you are in for a gorgeous albeit insanely long post. You see, Kina Wicks takes really pretty pictures. The kind of pictures that tell a tale of one very lovely couple and their garden-inspired affair at Cafe Brauer. They also are the kind of pictures that are too gorgeous to edit down. Read: I made seventeen boards and could have easily made ten more. The good news is, you get to reap the benefits of my board ramblings below and  can then mosey on over to the gallery for a wee bit more.

Click here for the FULL wedding gallery!

From the Bride and Groom… The first and most important part of our wedding to us was the setting. We spent countless hours looking into venues that matched our personalities. Rachel, being a floral designer at a high end floral design company in Chicago, had been to several of the city’s most prominent wedding venues which made it all the more challenging to rule out so many great options. After visiting Cafe Brauer up close without any decor in it, Rachel knew that this was the canvas she wanted to work with. It had the park all around it which was appropriate as we are both huge nature lovers, as well as the beautiful view of the skyline in the background. That combined with the old architecture of the building made this venue the obvious choice for us. Once that was decided, it was time to paint the canvas.

The desired mood we were after was that of a garden party. To capture that mood, the tables were adorned with a luscious mixture of Ranunculus, Peonies, Sweet Pea, and Garden Roses as well as a dash of Rachel’s ever favorite succulents. We wanted to incorporate as many do-it-yourself touches to make our larger wedding seem smaller and more intimate while still being able to include everyone on our big day. Instead of the traditional guest book, we opted for a wish tree where guests could leave little notes, pieces of advice, or warm wishes for us and hang them on our Olive tree. We also created our own favors, wildflower seed matchbooks, using a template found on the Martha Stewart Website, for guests to take home.

All of our vendors worked seamlessly together. Matt, our DJ, was outstanding and kept the dance floor busy all night and even honored our special request of the bulls theme song introductions. Kina, our photographer, was there to capture every moment along the way. We feel so lucky to have been able to share our special day with all our family and friends, many of whom traveled long distances to get to Chicago. Our wedding was more beautiful and special than we ever could have imagined.

Photography: Kina Wicks Photography / Ceremony: Holy Name Cathedral / Reception: Cafe Brauer at Lincoln Park Zoo / Catering: Blue Plate / Cake: Sweet Mandy B’s / DJ: Matt of Okyne Media / Flowers: Jessica Griffin of Botanicals / Favors, Programs, Invitations: DIY / Bride’s Dress: Enzoani Bridal / Bride’s Heels: Kate Spade / Bride’s Flats: J.Crew / Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale via Bella Bridesmaid / Getting Ready: Swissotel Chicago / Tuxes: Black Tie Formalwear / Hair & Makeup: Vanessa Yttre

Balloons and sunlight are all out magic makers when it comes to taking fabulous photographs. Plus the added spark of engaged love lends a fresh ” We love life and it loves us right back” feel to these pretty images by Cassandra Eldridge Photography. It’s a smile-inducing love fest straight from the shores of Lake Michigan and you can catch it all right here.

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From Cassandra Eldridge Photography… Amanda is one of my oldest friends, so its safe to say we’ve been through just about everything together. Including a multitude of failed relationships.  All of that ended (for her, anyway) when she met Jay. I still remember riding in the car with her on our way to one of our nightly workouts, and she just had this different look about her. She was relaxed, ultra-confident — she was the girl I knew before guys entered the picture. She was assured. I poked at her for the secret … desperate to find out what had my best friend looking so, well, fabulous. All she said was a name. Quickly followed by a million little things she was already loving about him: his style, the way he always had something unique planned for their dates, his charm, his wit. My girl was smitten, and there was no disguising it. Amanda’s days of failed relationships and horrid first dates had come to an end.

When Amanda and Jay had asked me to shoot their engagement session, I was over-the-moon excited. Of course this was something I had been scheming in my head for months … and I probably would have forced them to pose in front of my camera even if they DIDN’T want me to photograph them. We met over on Lake Michigan just before dusk, and it was so insanely lovely, although the wind tried to give us a run for our money. I was not the only one who wore worry on my face, especially considering the ENORMOUS bouquet of balloons that assisted us, but luckily, it was magical. The wind carried the balloons giving them movement and so much life. They wrapped around Amanda’s curls and gave each and every photograph a touch of whimsy. I am so in love with how this session turned out and even more in love with the subjects. These two people are so deserving of love, and I feel so honored to have the opportunity to stand beside them as they say “I do” next summer.

Photography: Cassandra Eldridge Photography / Location: Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois

Be still our peplum loving hearts for this wedding attire just might be the death of us. It’s the fiercest of the fierce dresses by Marchesa coupled with a wedding that has a gorgeous modern edge made even more so by its surroundings at the Art Institute of Chicago. Even the flowers by Kehoe Designs are works of art in and of themselves and the images by Amanda Wilcher do the whole affair a beautiful justice. Get your wedding art on right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… Both Steve and I love clean lines and a modern look. We were 99% set on a different venue when we decided to take a look at Terzo Piano, located in the Art Institute of Chicago. The moment we saw it, we knew we were going to make the switch and even had to change our date to make it happen. With the perfect venue, everything else seemed to fall into place. The beautiful architecture, interior design and, of course, the art, made for the perfect foundation to start from. It was the epitome of the modern style that I love, so it made decisions for complementing floral and decor elements easy.

Most important to us though, was the overall vibe of our wedding. In the end, we just wanted everyone eat, drink, dance to great music and have as much fun as we were. The band was great — they got everyone dancing all night. Our choice to have elements like the food stations, gelato bar, outdoor photo booth and a candy station for favors was all so that everyone could move around and socialize all night, Steve and me included. We didn’t want to get too caught up in the “formalities” that can take over a wedding.

Wedding Photography: Amanda Wilcher Photographers / Ceremony: Griffin Court at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: Terzo Piano + Bluhm Terrace at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design + Lighting: Kehoe Designs / Day Of Wedding Coordination: Michelle Tisdall of Silver Fern Events / Wedding Invitations: A Milestone Paper Co. / Catering: Bon Appetit at the Art Institute of Chicago / Wedding Cake: Mindy Segal / Gelato Bar: Black Dog Gelato / Live Music: Entourage via Arlen Music / Wedding Dress: Marchesa / Bride’s Shoes: Jerome C. Rousseau / Hair: Alma Bosco of M Salon / Makeup: Lisa Trunda / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Butter by Nadia / Groom’s Tuxedo: Isaia / Bride’s Ring: Reuven Gitter Jewelers / Groom’s Ring: His Father

We can’t thank Five Grain Events enough for bringing us this stylish soiree that is traditional with a twist. And who doesn’t love a little twist in their tradition? We happen to be head over heels for it, and when it all goes down at Salvage One with a couple that couldn’t be cuter and an event designer as talented as Caleb Yono – we know we simply MUST share the goodness. So share we shall, and thanks to Anna Guziak Photography you can see every pretty bit in the in the full gallery of images!

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From Joan of Five Grain Events… Emily and her bridesmaids started the day at the Crowne Plaza, and the suite was abuzz with excitement as they primped and preened. Hair and makeup were provided by Salon 1800. Emily’s color scheme was so chic: gray accented with pops of bright magenta, peacock blue and mustard yellow! The ladies wore peacock blue bridesmaid dresses by Amsale, and Emily purchased her Vera Wang dress as a sample! What a find! Emily and Cam were married at St. Mike’s in Old Town. It is a stunning and grand church, but despite the size, the ceremony felt very intimate. The recessional was played by a bagpiper! After the ceremony, the bridal party hopped on their limo bus, provided by Exquisite Limo, for some stunning photos at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond in Lincoln Park captured by Anna Guziak Photography. Following photos, the crew headed to Salvage One where the party was just beginning. After a festive cocktail hour, guests headed upstairs. There were too many wonderful elements at this wedding to count: from the gorgeous collection centerpieces designed by Fleur, to the ruffled wedding cake created by Flour Cake and Pastry, to the delicious station-style dinner prepared by Blue Plate — the room absolutely glowed! Em and Cam have been together since high school and have lots of friends and family who have watched their love grow from the beginning. Their friends and family gave heartfelt toasts, and more than a few tears were shed. The rest of the evening was spent getting down on the dance floor to the tunes of DJ Zebo of Style Matters. Emily and Cameron hand-selected Zebo after hearing him spin at Evil Olive, one of their favorite late night hangouts! There were also mini cheeseburgers, shakes and cheese fries passed around by Blue Plate to round out the evening.

Wedding Photography: Anna Guziak Photography / Ceremony: St. Michael in Old Town in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: Salvage One in Chicago, Illinois / Wedding Coordination: Joan of Five Grain Events / Floral Design: Kelly Marie of Fleur / Event Design: Caleb Yono of Fleur / Wedding Cinematography: Tom Buttaccio of XO Pictures / Catering: Blue Plate / Wedding Cake: Flour Cake and Pastry / Bagpiper: Chicalba Bagpiping Services / DJ: DJ Zebo of Style Matters / Transportation: Exquisite Limousine Chicago / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Hair + Makeup: Salon 1800

Kitchen Chicago is by far one of my favorite venues in the Windy City with its industrial + rustic backdrop acting as the perfect blank slate for any style wedding. This gorgeous couple kept it simple with paired-down florals by Cattleya Bridal & Floral Design and minimal, yet whimsical, décor. Photographer Agnes Malorny hit the jackpot when the bride and groom brought in a teal blue 1955 Chevy…well, hello gorgeous!  See the rest of this modern beauty right here!

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From the Bride… When we first started planning our wedding, we knew we wanted it to feel modern with a touch of vintage, but most importantly very personal. I wanted to create and design everything myself, which was both fun and challenging. From the save-the-dates and invitations to the wedding website and all of the pieces for the reception (menus, placeholders, step-and-repeat backdrop for our photo booth, the candy bar, welcome signs, etc.), everything was a DIY project. We designed the entire wedding ourselves, from the tiniest detail of how to set the tables and where to place the candles, to the larger details of how to drape the fabric and where to seat the guests. We truly did it all ourselves.

Our venue was a very modern loft with tall ceilings and brick detail. We wanted to highlight its architecture, so we didn’t add too many decorations to the space itself. We draped the space in beautiful white fabric for the ceremony and opened it fully for the reception. We wanted to it be airy and welcoming and let the guests have room to move around and interact. There was a balcony in the space that allowed the guests to see the everything going on, and we placed a photo booth up there for some extra fun!

Because the space itself was very modern, we played a lot of music from the 1950s during the cocktail hour and reception to add to that vintage charm. Our first dance was “Only You” by The Platters, which is an incredible vintage song. We also had a 1955 Chevy 210 that drove us away from the ceremony and was a great prop for wedding photos. It is such a classy vintage car, and the color was so bright and modern. It was perfect! My dress was also a mix of modern and vintage, as it was a fit and flare with gorgeous detailed lace. I added a belt to it for some bling and shine, and it was exactly how I wanted to look: timeless, neither too vintage nor too modern.

Wedding Photography: Agnes Malorny of Agnes Malorny Photography / Associate Photographer: Margaret Lach of Agnes Malorny Photography / Wedding Venue: Kitchen Chicago in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design: Cattleya Bridal & Floral Design / Room Decor: Art of Imagination / Officiant: Judge Bruce Falk / Catering: Pure Kitchen Catering / Desserts: Delightful Pastries / Wedding Cake: Oak Mill Bakery / Design of Wedding Invitations, Menus + Place Holders: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Wedding Dress: Marisa via Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Colorful Creations / Bridal Preparations Location: Rafaello Hotel

Ladies and gentelmen-take note, because this is EXACTLY how to go about proposing to your other half! The incredibly creative groom behind this sweet engagement shoot really upped the ante by ending their session (and completely surprising his bride!) with a custom puzzle spelling out “Will You Marry Me?”  The emotional day was captured brilliantly by Ashley Biess Photography.  Don’t miss the rest of this sweet shoot and be sure to take a peek at that sparkler…swoon!

Click here for the FULL proposal!

From Ashley of Ashley Biess Photography… Where to begin! Manisha and I met back in the first grade at Salt Creek Elementary School. She was new to the school and as soon as I saw her, I KNEW she had to be my friend. I was a super-shy and quiet six-year-old and not really great with words. I gathered up my courage, walked up to Manisha one day, and asked her, point blank, if she would be my friend. Much to my relief, she said yes, and we spent the next eight years glued at the hip! So when, 20 years later, she asked me to do a photo shoot of her and her boyfriend/soon-to-be-fiance, I was ecstatic! Little did Manisha know, as soon as she scheduled the photo session, her boyfriend, Kandarp, began planning his surprise proposal so that I could be there to photograph the big moment.

During their photo session, we did a little bit of everything. Manisha and Kandarp started off in their traditional Indian clothes to celebrate their heritage and culture. Manisha’s sari was gorgeous, and everyone kept stopping to tell her how beautiful she looked! The couple did several different outfit and location changes to get a sampling of their favorite things about Chicago. We took pictures along Kinzie Street Bridge, then headed over to a more industrial setting for photos. From there, we headed to Oak Street Beach for some fun in the sun, water and sand. Manisha and Kandarp’s love for each other is so obvious and genuine — it radiates from their photos. I hardly had to tell them to do anything because they were just so adorable on their own! After the beach, it was proposal time. Kandarp had planted the ring and his special surprise in my camera bag before we headed to our final stop.

We headed up north to Lincoln Park Zoo. (Originally, the plan was to go to Chicago’s Museum Campus, but because of the NATO Summit being held in Chicago that weekend, the city closed off the campus earlier than scheduled and we were forced to make a quick decision for a new proposal spot). I walked the couple across the street to take photos along the nature trails and prairie grass outside of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (one of my favorite spots in the whole city!). I was hoping that would give Kandarp a chance to relax and calm his nerves before asking Manisha the big question. As the sun began to set, we walked over to the Alfred Caldwell Lilly Pool and looked for the perfect spot.

Earlier, Kandarp had given me the pieces to a puzzle he had made by hand for Manisha with their favorite photo of the two of them printed on top. In hopes of keeping the proposal a surprise for a little bit longer, I presented the puzzle, told her that I made the puzzle as a special prop for their photo shoot, and asked if they would assemble the pieces for me. At the end, she discovered that four pieces were missing, and Kandarp confessed he had them hidden in his pocket. As he revealed the missing pieces one at a time, she realized the pieces said “Manisha, will you marry me?” As he presented her with the final piece, Kandarp got down on one knee, presented the ring, and asked her the most important question he’ll ever ask. The surprised look on Manisha’s face was priceless, and I definitely teared up a bit! Of course, she said yes, and the newly engaged couple spent the rest of their evening soaking in their love and joy. I am so happy that I could be there to photograph such a special memory for one of my oldest and dearest friends! I wish the two of them the best of luck and happiness.

Photography: Ashley Biess Photography / Locations: Chicago, Illinois

Ever wonder what would happen if two incredibly talented artists decided to tie the knot in a modern meets vintage DIY extravaganza?!?  Well, lovelies, let me be the first to tell you – it is FABULOUS.  So fabulous, in fact, that my own personal dream wedding (you know, the one I’ve been fantasizing about since the age of five) just morphed into an elegant (+ FUN) black and white soiree, complete with vintage lace handkerchiefs, candlestick-lined tables and the world’s coolest art gallery location.  Turner Creative Photography snapped up all of the glorious details and, trust me, you can’t afford to miss a single minute.  See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Jason and I met while we were both studying art at the same university in St. Louis. For our wedding, we knew we wanted something very personal and uniquely us. After discussing a few options, we agreed to a summer wedding in downtown Alton, Illinois, a beautiful historic district with cobblestone streets and antique shops located on the Mississippi River close to where I grew up. The vintage charm of an old stone cathedral and nearby art center proved to be the perfect locations. The art center was an old furniture store that had recently been converted and renovated into a gallery and artist studio. Jason and I loved the idea of hosting our reception in the center and tying back to our first meeting in a graphic design class. With the venue selection complete, like artists, Jason and I dove straight into “project wedding.” We researched Alton’s history, cut out images of things that inspired us and created an inspiration board that we could use to guide us throughout our planning. Our inspiration was modern vintage. Modern represented our personal taste, while the vintage stayed true to Alton and its long history. Because most vintage pieces are very detailed, it was important that we kept the color palette simple. Black and white played an important role throughout the décor.

Along with our modern vintage inspiration, we envisioned our wedding to be fun, casual and an intimate party for our closest family and friends. Our wedding was a family project. Jason and I, along with our families, created almost everything for it by hand. Jason designed the wedding invitations to mimic a vintage handkerchief. His sister sewed and pressed each one before they were wrapped around an antique inspired map, based off one we found in the Alton Historical Center. We spent months going to estate sales and antique shops, gathering vintage silver and antique napkins to use on our tables. My sister-in-law and mother-in-law made the photo booth props and linen table runners. For the centerpieces, we used wine bottles, which we gathered from family, friends and a few trash cans! Along with the wine bottles, we mixed in floral arrangements that we created using hydrangeas, cushion mums and silver filled with candies. In the end, we polished over 600 pieces of silver, washed and pressed over 200 napkins, cut out over 850 flags, signs and programs, and stripped off the labels of over 250 wine bottles, custom cutting each candle to fit it perfectly.

Shopping for the dress and veil was also a family experience. My father, mother, sister-in-law and mother-in-law were all involved. My dad was the one who actually picked out the dress, and my sister-in-law made my veil. An entertaining highlight of the ceremony was when all five of our nephews came up the aisle ringing bells and announcing “the bride is coming.” For our dance, we created t-shirts for them with the saying, “We rang the bells…now it’s time to shake’em.” All of this played into our humor and underlining bell theme, which first started with our RSVPs and carried out into our ceremony programs and reception décor. The reception was perfect. It began with cocktails in the studio, where guests could eat from a snack bar filled with the our favorite treats and have their photos taken with props. After cocktails everyone moved into the art gallery, where the glow of the candles reflected beautifully off the wine bottles and vintage silver, creating a cozy and romantic atmosphere. This set the mood for the remainder of the night, which was filled with an incredible amount of dancing and personal conversations with each of our guests. At the end of the evening, Jason and I knew that all of our labor and preparations had paid off. Our wedding day was a beautiful, personal event, and it was wonderful to be able to share our love and hard work with our closest family and friends.

Wedding Photography: Turner Creative Photography / Ceremony: Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Alton, Illinois / Reception: Jacoby Arts Center in Alton, Illinois / Bouquets + Boutonnieres: Sue Weist / Reception Flowers: Family Members of the Bride & Groom / Wedding Stationery: Custom-Designed by the Groom / Letterpress + Silk-Screen Printing: All Along Press / Catering: Gentelin’s On Broadway / Rentals: Weinhardt Party Rentals / Wedding Dress: Enzoani / Bride’s Ceremony Veil: Made by Sister of the Groom / Bride’s Reception Veil: Etsy / Bride’s Sash: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Bride’s Purse + Jewelry: Vintage / Bride’s Hair: A Cousin of the Groom / Bride’s Makeup: Kim Stuart / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Groom’s Suit: Bar III via Macy’s / Groom’s Shoes: Ted Baker

We’re kicking off another gorgeous week here at SMP Illinois with this classic and elegant Chicago wedding by Pawinski Photography and Orange Wedding Films. The bride’s dress is absolutely divine as are all the florals and we’re soaking up each and every pretty detail right here in the full gallery.

Don’t miss the stunning trailer of this gorgeous wedding by Orange Wedding Films:

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From Orange Wedding Films… Lori and Ross rocked their wedding. I don’t know how else to put it. Lori surprised Ross with a brand new Gibson acoustic guitar in the morning, which had their wedding date engraved on it. I thought that was one of the coolest gifts that I’ve seen (I’m a guitar lover!). Lori was so relaxed and simply had fun all morning with her girls. It was a little bit windy outside for a photo shoot, but we had a great session with downtown in the background. The ceremony and reception was held in Architectural Artifacts. The location was extremely well-lit throughout the entire day and night, which was simply awesome. Everyone at the wedding was having so much fun, and we were so happy to be a part of it.

Wedding Photography: Peter Pawinski of Pawinski Photography / Wedding Venue: Architectural Artifacts in Chicago, Illinois / Event Design + Planning: LOLA Event Productions / Floral Design: Event Creative / Wedding Cinematography: Orange Wedding Films / Wedding Dress: San Patrick / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Hair + Makeup: Sonia Roselli