Illinois Weddings

This Forest Lake wedding by Joseph Kang Photography is proof that you don’t need a barn or a remote wheat field to host an amazing rustic celebration.  With loads of eye-popping details from the adorable jars of homemade jam to the perfectly wild centerpieces this couple brought a little bit of country to a classic white tent setting for a result that is elegant and playful all at once.  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

Get up and personal with all the gorgeous details with this film by Leap Weddings…

From the bride… We decided that we wanted to have a rustic/country wedding.  Also, to make the wedding as personal as possible, I chose to DIY several different wedding projects including our save the dates, wedding programs, napkins, out-of-town bags, my hair fascinator, moss letters to tie on the backs of our chairs, strawberry jam place cards/favors, and activity/snack buckets for our young guests. I chose light dove grey dresses for my bridesmaids.  The dresses were A-line with a sweetheart neckline in a soft chiffon.  All of my girlfriends look absolutely stunning in them.  My florist and I decided on rustic, textured flowers in light pinks, creams, peaches, and yellows.  All of the bouquets were wrapped in beautiful light, burlap ribbon and the boutennieres were wrapped in natural twine.  Our florist also incorporated dusty miller and brunia into the floral pieces to really tie in the rustic feel of our wedding.  

Our traditional Catholic wedding ceremony was held at the church where I had my first communion as a child.  We then proceeded to our wedding reception.  When we were researching venues, we thought that a wedding in a tent would just fit the elegant yet playful wedding we wanted to have.  We immediately fell in love with the marquis tent at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort.  The beautiful white fabric draping and the chandeliers that lined the center were just gorgeous.

During our cocktail hour, we had a traditional Korean pae-baek wedding ceremony.  During this time, we bowed to show our respects to our elders and they shared their well wishes for us on our marriage.  They then threw chestnuts and dates for us to catch in a cloth to represent the number of children we will have (the chestnuts represent boys and the dates represent girls). We decided against having a traditional guestbook. We knew it just wasn’t something we would be looking at in the future.  So to tie in the rustic theme of our wedding, we had a bench made for our guests to sign and write messages to us.  It turned out absolutely beautiful and it is proudly displayed in our home. The evening ended with all of our guests dancing until the final few minutes of our reception.  Seeing everyone have fun and enjoy themselves at our wedding was the icing on the cake.  We are so thankful for all of our loving friends and family that were able to celebrate with us.  Their presence was what really made our big day spectacular. 

Ceremony Venue: St. Bernardine Catholic Church / Reception Venue: Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort / Photography: Joseph Kang Photography / Cinematographer: Leap Weddings / Flowers: Vale of Enna / Hair: Livia Caporale / Makeup: Sonia Roselli / Dress: Enzoani / Veil: Sandra’s Designs / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: After Six via Bella Bianca / Cake: Oak Mill Bakery / Honeymoon: Barcelona and Paris

I’m always blown away when a couple can create a wedding that is so chic and full of style yet is so simple and understated at the same time.  What this sweet pair put together for their romantic Chicago affair by Victoria Sprung Photography with just a few sweet, modern touches is just incredible.  The barely there centerpieces only enhance the urban elegance of the venue and let the guests focus on the love, celebration and guitar hero!  Click here to see it all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Victoria of Victoria Sprung Photography… LeeJean and Frank had a relaxed, non-traditional wedding at a local restaurant’s beautiful upstairs space. They wanted to eat well, spend time with friends and family, and play ROCK BAND! There was no wedding party, so I got to spend a lot of time photographing just the two of them. LeeJean’s bouquet was gorgeous, and Frank’s boutonniere was a simple yet elegant black calla lily. It was one of my favorite weddings of the year!

From the bride… We wanted our wedding to be simple and casual, with the focus being on family, friends, and food. We liked the overall modern look and feel of Zed451, and the private upstairs space allowed us to have both the ceremony and reception in one place. The outdoor rooftop deck was also the perfect setting for cocktails. We had mini card games available, like Scrabble, Uno, and Monopoly, for guests to play throughout the evening, and set up an Xbox with Rock Band. At one point, guests gathered around the Rock Band area and started singing along as the ‘band’ played Living on a Prayer. Our wedding wasn’t very traditional, but it turned out exactly how we had hoped.

Photography: Victoria Sprung Photography / Venue: Zed451 / Cupcakes: More Cupcakes / Flowers: Asrai Garden / Dress: J.Crew / Hair: Beauty Parlor Chicago / Makeup: Beautiful Yu

It wasn’t long ago that we spent an entire day obsessing over every last ounce of this stunning Chicago soiree, so it pretty much goes without saying that we were ECSTATIC to spend even more time wrapped up in this wonderful affair.  Yep, thanks to the geniuses at I Do Films, we’re devoting our Friday to all things modern, all things stylish and all things fabulous.  And with 4 minutes and 23 seconds of contemporary goodness jumping from our computer screens, it just doesn’t get much better than that.  Enjoy!

From Lori of I Do Films… Gabrielle and Nick started dating in high school, but actually first met on the playground just outside each of their Chicago residences. After spending a number of years in San Francisco together, they came back to Chicago, to live and marry in the city that had first brought them together many years earlier.  Appropriately, they had their first look overlooking the Chicago skyline. They were married in a beautiful ceremony at the Art Institute of Chicago. From their days on the playground, to the high school prom, and finally to their wedding ceremony, you get a sense that Nick and Gabby have always had a fun and playful relationship.

Cinematography: I Do Films

Isn’t it amazing how a wedding can completely transform your day?  One minute you are lost in emails and working away… and the next moment a plethora of gorgeous details, fabulous inspiration and sweet, sweet love is filling every inch of your computer screen.  Yep… Instant. Happiness.  Even better, when that bundle of wedding goodness comes courtesy of a pretty Bloomington soiree by averyhouse and is bursting with lovely traditional touches and magical moments planned by Bliss Weddings and Events… well, there isn’t a second of your day that you won’t spend just smiling away.  And how’s that for a fabulous Thursday?!?  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

Oh, and we’re not done just yet.  We have one VERY amazing film by Leap Weddings to add to this pretty, pretty day!  Enjoy!

From the Bride… The style for our wedding can be described as “sophisticated, elegant and charming with threads of subtle preppy whimsy woven throughout.” Our day was intimate and warm and most importantly, Dan and I both wanted to take care of our guests and make sure that they knew how grateful we were to have them be part of this important day. Our ceremony was held at my childhood parish, a traditional Catholic church where many of my family members and friends had been married previously.  Cocktail hour was held out on the terrace underneath a white pole tent featuring tailored fabric treatment and scalloped draping along the perimeter.  Once guests were inside the tent (after being escorted by country club staff with coordinating navy and white stripe umbrellas), the space included white lounge furniture, high gold chivari chairs, two bars, cabaret tables and high boys scattered throughout.  The cabaret tables were decorated with small floral arrangements designed in mirrored cases featuring varied tones of peach/apricot flowers: spray roses, garden roses, ranunculus and peonies and the high boy tables featured a simple vase with a stair-stepped pair of coral peonies.  Custom gold pillows adorned the couches and the center table featured a shallow bowl with floating gardenia and candles to set the atmosphere.  Our guests were fed small bites inspired by some of our favorite Chicago restaurants and sipped on classic mojitos and champagne cocktails.

After cocktails, guests were ushered indoors from the terrace into the dining room for dinner. The guest tables each had a tall silver candelabra with a trio of lush “satellite” arrangements at the base designed in worn gold vessels. The florals included white/cream/champagne colored roses, garden roses, peonies and ranunculus and a trio of 12×3 ivory pillar candles to fill out the tables. The head table was a long rectangular harvest table with two silver candelabras with a collection of coral and peach floral arrangements and chunky pillar candles in varying sizes lined down the center the table to lend the look of a rolling landscape. Following dinner, the dancing and reception was back under the tent where dessert, lots of dancing and drinks were held and pashminas were provided for the ladies to keep warm.  

It is hard to even describe the day and the feeling you get when looking around and seeing those that you love all gathered together to support and celebrate in your love and next step as a couple.  There were plenty of moments throughout the day that I simply grabbed my new husband’s hand, took a step back and really took it all in.  I wanted to make sure that I was present and could remember as many moments as possible and I can say with certainty that I do!

Wedding Photography: averyhouse / Wedding Ceremony Venue: Holy Trinity Catholic Church / Wedding Reception Venue: Bloomington Golf Club / Wedding Coordination: Kara Superfine from Bliss Weddings and Events / Florist: Heaven on Earth / Wedding Stationery: Fabulous Affairs + Clementine Ink + Paper / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang Ethel (Fall 2010 Collection) via Vera Wang Chicago / Ceremony Music: Paddy Homan / Band: Standing Room Only / Cake Artist: Michelene Hundman / Photo Booth: Smilebooth / Cinematography: Leap Weddings / Jewelry: Family + Borrowed / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Tux + Shoes: Hugo Boss / Rentals: Formally Modern Tuxedo / Bowtie + Braces: Carrot and Ginger / Transportation: Elegant Limousine / Honeymoon: French Polynesia

Brace yourselves, SMPers.  Your Wednesday is about to take one GIANT leap up in the pretty department… and we have this Morton Arboretum affair and the beyond fabulous stylings of Elizabeth Wray Design to thank for spicing up the day.  Yes, from the stunning setting to the gorgeous bride and groom to the sweet, sweet shades of teal blue, we can’t seem to get enough of this traditional meets modern affair.  And don’t even get us started on those breathtaking bouquets.  We LOVE.  Thankfully, Allori Photography was on hand to capture every last ounce of pretty, because today is going to be a gallery gazing kind of day.  Join us there for more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Elizabeth Wray Design… It was a blend of vintage and modern styles that characterized the day. White fluffy peonies, ruffled ranunculus, and soft garden roses contrasted by textural gray succulents nestled in white square and pedestal containers, along with glass candlesticks were scattered among square and rectangular tables with crisp, dove gray linens, in the ballroom. The neutral pallet of soft gray and shades of white was brought to life with touches of bold aqua blues… from the bridesmaid dresses to small aqua fleur de lies vases, little accents of blue tied together a very relaxed and fun wedding full of splendid details.

From the Bride… The day was unbelievable.  Everything I ever wanted.  Our first task in wedding planning was to find a venue.  We visited the Morton Aboretum and didn’t have to visit any others.  We loved it right away! Most of my inspiration for the wedding came from my sister’s wedding the year before.  She had so many handmade touches that made it so personal and perfect.  After she was featured on SMP, I was hooked to the blog.  While planning, I would visit the site (SMP) at least once a day if not more.  (Still do!) Many of the ideas I had for the day I got from there.  I bought most of the personal touches on Etsy.

Wedding Planning, Floral Design & Decor & Printed Materials: Sarah Davis with Elizabeth Wray Design / Wedding Photography: Eric O’Connor of Allori Photography / Bride’s Gown: Mikaella via The Crystal Bride / Bride’s Hair Accessories: Mikaella via The Crystal Bride / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Officiant: Phil Landers of “I Do” Weddings / Wedding Venue: The Morton Arboretum / Hair & Makeup: Sonia Roselli / Wedding Ceremony & Cocktail Music: Windy City Brass / Videographer: Lexoria Inc. / DJ: Something 2 Dance 2 / Wedding Transporation: Spare Wheels / Reception Activities: Magnolia Photo Booth Co. / Wedding Cake: Cocoa Bean / Late Night Snack: Cold Stone Creamery / Signs: Etsy

Remember this lovely little fete? We certainly haven’t forgotten it and loved it so much we just had to share this sweet, little film by I Do Films, that totally completes the picture of this classic soiree. I Do Films has captured the feel of Chicago and the meaningfulness of this sweet couple’s special day.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/33844782?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0 600 338]

Film: I Do Films

The countdown is here, you fancy pants’ed LBBers, and I’m betting we’re all getting our glittery stilettos, sequined dresses, and gold dipped champagne flutes ready for Saturday night. But instead of sending you out blindly into your New Year weekend, we’ve got a little count down of our own – five of our most fabulous New Years Eve weddings from last year (and, man, you ROCKED the NYE weddings last year Chicago). This way, you can infuse your obviously-fantastic NYE soirees with a little somethin’ a la Style Me Pretty. Lot’s of kisses from us to you on midnight, and we’ll see you in 2012! xoxo

Beautifully soft, and oh-so-magically chic Charlotte NYE vows between a golfer & his gorgeous wife.

A fresh & modern take on the Ball-Drop wedding in a fabulous inspiration shoot.

Glamorous Chicago New Years nuptials featuring race car drivers, peacocks, and a cake to die for.

A masquerade ball turned New Years wedding, fabulous and straight from the Windy City.

Another fantastically done Chicago affair, taking the new year to a whole new romantic level.

This week at a pretty, pretty glance:

an Old Hollywood theme done right in Pennsylvania
a fresh California soiree filled with what have to be the best smelling florals
a New Jersey wedding that more than gracefully outlasted a hurricane
a perfectly preppy South Carolina fête we LOVE
a breathtaking soiree straight out of Pennsylvania that has left us speechless
a Michigan wedding with the most stunning dress, bride, AND video
a soiree fit for film in South Carolina
a perfect New York NYE bash, with perfect advice.

Can you even believe this is the last wedding on SMP Illinois for 2011? Well, if we have to end this year of pretty we might as well end it in some serious style – that is the SMP way. And boy do we have a stylish soiree to end the year with a bang thanks to avery house! They sent along this fabulous, timeless, and flawless fête for us all to toast to – so pop a bottle of bubbly and join me in the full gallery of images to celebrate!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We started Wednesday night at Piece Pizza for all the out of towners. Thursday, our rehearsal dinner was at our favorite neighborhood restaurant, Socca, where the managers know us by name because we sit in the bar for dinner at least once a week (if not more). The rehearsal was just for the wedding party, but after the rehearsal dinner on Thursday, we invited everyone over to Sheffield’s Bar, where Ryan receives a “regulars’ discount.” We really wanted the wedding to be about showing our friends and family what we love about Chicago and having them feel included. The most important thing for us at the wedding was that all of our family and friends have an amazing time.

Wedding Photography: avery house / Getting Ready Location: Elysian Hotel / Ceremony Location: Historic St. Michael in Old Town / Reception Location: The Ivy Room / Coordinator: Lauren Knuepfer of LK Events / Florals: STEMS / Caterer: Food For Thought / Entertainment: DJ Chicago / Cupcakes: Sweet Mandy B’s / Wedding Dress: Rivini / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Christmas is over, but that doesn’t mean the pretty party has ended. We still have so much to celebrate here at SMP Illinois…like this gorgeous (believe it or not) budget friendly wedding photographed by Megan Thiele Studios and designed perfectly by Eleanor Kahn. We’re totally in love with the bride’s beyond gorgeous dress, the sweet vintage-eclectic feel of the decor, and how personal the couple made their special day by paying tribute to their theatre background and hosting the reception at an historic theatre in downtown Galena. Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We are happy to say that being on a tight budget did not keep us from having the perfect wedding day for the two of us. In fact, we think the budget was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed us to leave out the unnecessary and focus on what was truly important to us. Thus, every detail was carefully considered and we ended up with a great amount of personal, meaningful details. With the help of our good friend and wonderful designer Eleanor Kahn, we were able to infuse our celebration with bits of charm, elegance, and personality, while maintaining a simplicity perfectly matched by our backdrop of the lovely, historic town of Galena, IL. It was the perfect setting for our families and friends to come together and celebrate with us.

Will and I met doing summer stock theater, also in a small, historic, Midwestern town, so once we settled on Galena as a wedding location, the pieces started to come together. Galena has many wonderful bed and breakfasts, an amazing Main Street full of shops and local businesses, and much more making it a perfect weekend getaway for our guests. Eleanor’s design incorporated vintage touches such as antique books and trinkets, lace, and simple signage, which fitting for our personalities and the atmosphere of Galena.

We held our ceremony in a private, secluded garden in the hills of Galena and were married by the man who introduced us – our theater director and now a wonderful friend of both of ours. We worked together to write a ceremony that was meaningful for both of us. I went to grad school for vocal performance, so naturally had the perfect vocal ensemble of some of my best friends to provide stunning music during the ceremony, and Will’s father played classical guitar for our processional. I wore a dress made by my mother (who had sewn her own dress 30 years ago for her wedding day) and a garter embellished by the charm from her bridal necklace. My engagement ring is a family heirloom, passed down to Will from his grandmother. The earrings and bracelet I wore were hand made for me by a friend’s mother. My two sisters served as my co-maids of honor, and my two brothers the ushers, while two of Will’s close friends were his groomsmen.

Following the ceremony, rather than separating from our guests, we walked with them through the streets of Galena to our reception location, a historic theater in downtown Galena. Of course, this was an obvious choice due to both of our theater backgrounds and our own history together. It was a unique location that set an appropriate casual but creative tone for the evening. Before we knew it, we were dancing the night away with our family and friends, much thanks to Quain Tull of Rockstar DJs.

Last, but not least, our amazing photographer Megan Thiele-Lorenz of Megan Thiele Studios complemented our own style so beautifully with her creativity and talent. She captured so many amazing moments and was a warm, friendly face that we were so happy to include in our big day.

All in all, we feel so fortunate to have planned and experienced such a fantastic celebration of our love and the support of our friends and families.

Ceremony Location: Linmar Gardens / Reception Location: Turner Hall / Event Design, Floral Design + Invitations: Eleanor Kahn / Wedding Photography: Megan Thiele Studios / DJ: Quain Tull of Rockstar DJs / Rentals: Bel Aire Rentals + Inside Décor / Linens: Linen Tablecloth / Dinnerware: Greenfeet + Webstaurant / Flowers: Valley Perennials / Bridal Gown: Bride’s Mother / Bride’s Jewelry: Friend / Bride’s Shoes: Nine West / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Bride’s Engagement Ring: passed down from The Groom’s grandmother / Wedding Rings: Eli’s Jewelry / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew / Officiant: Friend (and director of the theater in which they met) / Ceremony Music: Father of the Groom + Friend / Catering: Mary Ann Michel

It might be that Bing Crosby is crooning about chestnuts roasting, or maybe it’s the yummy eggnog in my hands, or even the smell of evergreen flowing softly through my house… but honestly, we all know it’s this adorable couple, picking their Christmas tree, in this engagement session from Studio This Is + Clementine Custom Events that has got the Christmas Spirit on full blast on this side of the computer. And because we are getting ready to bid farewell for the holiday weekend, we knew it was time to share this fantastic Christmassy sesh with you – so the Christmas Spirit can amp up on your side of the computer. Make sure to check out the gallery here, whilst singing Jingle Bells at the top of your voice!

Click here to see the full gallery of images!

Zack and I met in high school and have been together since (eight and a half years!). One of the best aspects about celebrating our engagement is that all of our family and friends know us, not only as individuals, but as a couple! We met in the training room of our high school gym (during fall sports season) – which is fitting because being active together has been a consistent part of our relationship. In fact, Zack proposed  while we were on a long hike in Utah over Fourth of July weekend! 

We spend a lot of time outdoors (warm or cold, rain or shine!) so we wanted to have our engagement photoshoot outside. With the weather changing, Jeremy and Katie at StudioThis Is decided to stage a Christmas-inspired shoot and we were up for anything!  The session was very fun and relaxed – it turned into a very memorable day! 

Since we are both from Chicago and we wanted to have an outdoor wedding, the Chicago Botanic Garden was the perfect location for both our ceremony and reception.  We’re really looking forward to working with Jeremy and Katie at StudioThisIs this summer! 

Photography: Jeremy Bustos, Studio This Is / Wedding Planner: Clementine Custom Events

I’m still having a hard time trying to decide which detail I love the most in this festive Celtic wedding! Sure, the kiddos are adorable in their tutus and kilts, but then there’s the gorgeous bride and her kelly green shoes and birdcage veil. Clary Photo was on hand to capture all the pretty moments and if you’re like me and can’t get enough this Celtic day, definitely head over to our new and improved galleries for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Matthew and I both wanted to tie in our Irish heritage for our wedding. However, we were very careful to not cross the line into a theme. We gracefully added bits such as my kelly green birdcage veil, dressed the men and boys in kilts from Pipeline, spritzed the flower arrangements with Bells of Ireland, created a new Carney-Lynch family crest, clad the head table with tartan plaid, requested bagpipes during the ceremony and an Irish punk band, Red Rebel County, play the reception.

We both love to entertain and truly wanted this to be an event everyone would enjoy. The intimate church provided a close feeling between us and our guests. We made sure to provide travel arrangements for everyone as if they were all our children! We wanted to keep the crew together from beginning to end! Ridge View Winery provided a gorgeous backdrop and setting for our beautiful reception. It was truly one big party with specialty foods by Chef Dave Ritzo, obviously including fish and chips. The band played Irish cover songs such as Little Lion Man, Shipping Up to Boston, and Drunken Lullabies.

The smartest thing Matt and I could have planned for was to have Clary Pfieffer photograph our special day. She was able to capture not only the big moments but all of the little in betweens that a bride and groom look back fondly on and smile with tears.

Wedding Photography: Clary Photo / Ceremony Location: Sacred Heart / Reception Location: Ridge View Winery / Bird Cage Veil: The Ballroom Oxford in England / Flowers: The Bride / Lavender: L’Occitane / Wedding Cake: The Icing on the Cake

The library is by far my favorite place in the world to be, so it warms my heart when I see a fabulous soiree boasting a sweet literature theme.  And this stunning Chicago affair captured by Mattson Pictures is all about the library love (and then some) with a bundle of charming book-themed details, including novels as centerpieces and some darling vintage book photo frames to showcase family weddings.  LOVE that.  Plus, the escort card table was crafted using antique card catalogs and that’s always a good thing.  Thankfully, the gallery is literally overflowing with amazing moments, because you don’t want to miss a minute of lovely.  Join me there for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Phil and I met during law school at DePaul in Chicago so when we became engaged, we knew immediately that we wanted to celebrate our wedding in the same city where we laugh, love and live together. We have attended St. Michael’s Parish in Old Town as a couple for the past five years and it is home to us. Originally built in 1852, St. Michael’s is an awe-inspiring Catholic Church with beautiful old-world architecture, a magnificent clock tower that captures the essence of the historical area, and a sense of warmth and community that makes everyone feel welcome. Finding a reception location was a bit more difficult because there are so many unique venues in Chicago that it is hard to choose! We found the Murphy Auditorium unexpectedly after I saw a photo of the venue in a Chicago Bridal Magazine. When we walked into the Murphy for the first time, we fell in love with the ornate details, stained-glass windows, and the feel of old-world European architecture.

The overall theme first began with my wedding dress. I found a beautiful silk Christos by Amsale gown with a rich champagne tone that really complimented the classic, old-world Chicago look that we wanted to create. We wanted to incorporate books into our day since we spent lots of time together in the library during law school and Phil’s mother is the Director of a library in their hometown so literature is near and dear to us. Over the next eighteen months, I collected and crafted items with the help of my amazing friends and family to pull together our theme. My favorite projects were creating escort card boxes out of my mother-in-law’s antique library catalog, and creating photo frames out of old books to showcase photos of our family members on their wedding day.

We feel so fortunate that we had the opportunity to work with amazing vendors, like our photographers Karen and Doug Mattson, who are creative and unique in their work, who made us feel like a priority, and who we got along with very well from the start. We were also very lucky to have our day of coordinator, Tiffany Munster, because she orchestrated the event and made it seamless- if anything went awry, I still do not know about it!

My favorite moment of the day was standing on the altar at St. Michael’s, reciting my personal vows to Phil. I had written my vows weeks in advance and said them over and over to myself but standing up there, and for the first time, saying my vows aloud to Phil, I felt a deep sense of overwhelming joy and love for him. Everything about our day was absolutely perfect and we were so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who love and care about us! Our day was truly a reflection of us as a couple and what we love.

Wedding Photography: Mattson Pictures / Wedding Gown: Amsale / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Hair + Make-up: Beauty on Call / Floral Design: Mark Weber of Kloeckner’s / Ceremony Location: St. Michael in Old Town / Officiant: Fr. Tom Donaldson / Reception Location: The Murphy Auditorium / Caterer: Jewell Events / Ceremony Musicians: St. Michael’s Choir / Day-Of Coordinator: Tiffany Munster of Soirée Weddings & Events / Invitation + Save the Date: Friend of Couple, Kari Swenson / Wedding Cake: Bittersweet / Band: Out of Control / Wedding Videography: Jenny Tunberg Productions / Calligraphy: Tasha Holland of The Purple Squid

We are known for bringing it in a big way but today we are going huge with a heavy duty dose of inspiration.  We searched high and low on the main page to bring you our favorite Illinois weddings and, boy oh boy, did we find some good ones.

We headed over to the Little Black Book for this gorgeous inspiration shoot by Nakai Photography.  The look is vibrant, modern and bursting with so many steal-worthy details!

This Chicago wedding by Dettagli Weddings, Erin Hearts Court and Hello Darling is absolutely stunning and has catapulted itself up to the tippity top of my most favorite weddings list ever.

Last, but certainly not least, an urban beauty to make all your modern-loving hearts go pitter patter.  Olivia Leigh Photographie delivered the killer images, and Hello Darling all the fabulous details, for this city chic celebration.

So there you have it, not one, not two, but three seriously gorgeous Illinois weddings to get your creative juices flowing.  Pick your favorite and spend some time in the full galleries!

I absolutely ADORE a winter wedding, so it pretty much goes without saying that I have fallen head over heels for this stunning Chicago affair by Heather Parker Photography.  Yes, with a room all aglow in candlelight and Christmas tree lights, this is one seriously gorgeous fête.  Plus, when I first laid my eyes on that cake by The Peninsula Chicago, I didn’t know what to do with myself.  Have you ever seen a more fabulous creation?!?  Swoon.  It’s a good thing that I have an entire day left to take in all of this lovely… a very good thing.  Join me in the gallery for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… When Dave proposed, I was excited. And then I had to plan a wedding and that excitement turned to anxiety and frustration. Living in a city like Chicago and having the Internet at my fingertips, I realized that the enormous variety of vendors and options to choose from was a blessing and a curse. It was so overwhelming at first to try and choose the right vendors to help us create a memorable event without breaking the bank. Talking to other brides to be on various website message boards became a godsend as it helped me realize I wasn’t alone. Even better was that the other brides helped me with vendor selections, DIY ideas and offered suggestions when I was stumped for ideas.

I spent a lot of time researching before we made decisions, but once we started hiring vendors and making selections, the planning turned from stressful to fun. Dave and I wanted to make sure we planned a wedding that was beautiful and fun. Both of our families live outside of Illinois so we wanted to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves. We chose The Peninsula Chicago because of its stellar reputation of service. We timed the wedding date perfectly as the hotel was decorated the night before for Christmas. Our photographer, Heather Parker, knew exactly how to create the most memorable pictures using our decorations with those of the hotel. I wanted to keep the flowers for the tables simple as I felt the room was beautiful enough with the lighting and the floor to ceiling windows overlooking Chicago.

Perhaps the easiest decision about the wedding was the color theme. My favorite color always has been purple and I thought chocolate brown would compliment that with the room. I didn’t want to be completely traditional as a bride who wears all white. I wanted to wear purple too! Not only did I wear purple shoes, but I also found gorgeous purple earrings and had purple flowers in my bouquet. Perhaps the most special part of my outfit was the row of heart shaped buttons that Zuzu’s Petals added to the handle of my bouquet. They were buttons from my great, great grandmother’s wedding dress that my mom had on her veil for her wedding day!

It was cold but sunny on our wedding day but we didn’t care. We were blessed to have so many friends and family make it from out of town. It was fun seeing their reaction to all of the details we planned for them. We had lots of DIY projects throughout the room, Dave created the place card poster thanks to a bride’s blog from the internet. He also took all of the pictures around Chicago that became the centerpieces for our table numbers. We painted our aisle runner. Making our wedding invitations and menu cards added to the color theme. My mother helped by hand beading my veil, making my bracelet as well as bracelets for all of the girls in the wedding party and making her famous chocolate covered toffee to be added to the candy buffet that everyone enjoyed! Along with the candy buffet, we had a photobooth that was a constant hit all night as we saw many of our guests acting silly and enjoying themselves.

The day went by fast but I haven’t forgotten a minute of it. The food was amazing. The cake was gorgeous. The toasts were funny and touching. My brother surprised me by getting up and reading a letter written by my grandmother and aunt who couldn’t make it that night. Tears were shed and laughs were shared we felt love from everyone in the room on a night that exceeded all of our expectations.

Wedding Photography: Heather Parker Photography / Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal / Musicians: Harpist Kari Gardner / Men’s Attire: Black Tie Formalwear / Wedding Gown: Kathryn Bridal / DJ: Dancetrax Mobile DJ Entertainment / Floral Design: Natalie Willett of Zuzu’s Petals / Photobooth: Magnolia Photobooth Company / Location, Caterer + Cake: The Peninsula Chicago / Escort Cards Sign: The Groom

This gorgeous garden wedding is so perfectly simple and beautiful that I’m not exactly sure where to even begin. I could start by expressing my complete adoration with the bride’s gorgeous Sarah Seven dress, or I could tell you all how in love I am with the pink and white hydrangeas, or how cute it is that the groom proposed while playing Scrabble and how the couple re-created that board for their wedding day. But I think I’ll let the pretty images from Bryan Swisher Photography do the talking…And, as always, there’s so much more waiting for you in the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Softness and simplicity was what I wanted to be surrounded by on my wedding day. The blush color scheme of the roses and hydrangeas decorated our day, making it everything I envisioned it would be. The vintage clutch my foster sister gave me, my Sarah Seven dress and it’s incredibly ethereal feel, the understated diamond studded earrings my mother-in-law lent me, and the beautiful hint of blue from my bridesmaids’ dresses were all the tiny touches of something old, new, borrowed, and blue. The garden location right outside of Chicago lended itself perfectly to the romantic, simple backdrop I had dreamed of. For our reception, we wanted to subtly incorporate Scrabble since that was how my husband Adam proposed. The words on the gameboard show that we are laidback, easy-going people and we wanted nothing more than for that to radiate on our wedding day. We also love traveling together and wanted to incorporate the places we have visited by using Scrabble tiles to name our tables after countries like Morocco, New Zealand, Ireland, Costa Rica, etc. Every detail we kept small, but many were abound, creating the most romantic day.

Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven / Floral Design: Lisa Atterberry of Cattails / Wedding Photography: Bryan Swisher Photography / Wedding Venue: Itasca Country Club / DJ: Kristin Marks of Toast & Jam / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung via Cenzina’s Boutique / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Clutch: Vintage / Placecards + Calligraphy: Mary Fiala

There’s just something about a Chicago wedding that gets me every.single.time… and these stunning nuptials captured by Gerber + Scarpelli are certainly no exception.  From the beyond breathtaking florals by Fleur Inc to the traditional meets uber-chic vibe, this gorgeous affair takes every single detail I ADORE about the Big Day and wraps it all up into one breathtaking bundle of wedding goodness.  Plus, with every moment planned to a tee by Simply Perfect by Melissa, there’s an entire gallery of pretty just waiting to be adored.  Don’t miss a moment… join me there for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Simply Perfect by Melissa… Jessica and Jordan are a sweet couple from the Cincinnati area who planned a Chicago destination wedding. Jessica wanted to add some quintessential Chicago elements while creating a soft, feminine feel with a mix of vintage and contemporary.

Her day started off being pampered and treated like a princess in the famous Princess Diana Suite at The Drake Hotel. The couple tied the knot in a beautiful Catholic Church- Holy Family Parish. Guests were transported around town in trolleys allowing them to take advantage of the sights of Chicago. The 95th Floor of the John Hancock Building at the Signature Room for her reception brought in classic Chicago, along with some skyline touches here and there.

Guests were seated at square tables covered in gunmetal grey with each place setting perfectly set a with beaded charger and ornate silver trimmed plate topped with a personalized round menu, and stemware to match. Her soft floral shades, gorgeous billowing dress, and the overall inviting ambiance of her celebration created a perfect combination bringing her vision to life.

Wedding Photography: Gerber + Scarpelli / Floral Design: Fleur Inc / Wedding Coordination: Simply Perfect by Melissa / Wedding Ceremony Location: Holy Family Parish / Wedding Reception Location: The Signature Room at the 95th / Getting Ready Location: The Princess Diana Suite, The Drake Hotel / Lighting: Chicago Lighting Design / Bridal Gown: St. Pucchi via Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Band: Jeff Sandler Orchestra / Linens: BBJ Linens / Place Settings + Chairs: Tablescapes / Invitation + Paper Goods : Bold Paper Design / Transportation: Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Bus + Empire Limousine / Favors: Frango Mints

How utterly fabulous is this Chicago affair by Melissa Hayes Photography?!?  (Answer: VERY.)  With its vibrant green bridesmaid frocks, awesome venue (Epic Restaurant) and succulent-filled bouquets by Fleur Inc, I haven’t stopped swooning yet.  And don’t even get me started on those gorgeous paper goods, which are not only spectacular, but also DIY!  This, my friends, is why I love, love, LOVE a modern soiree.  Click here for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Melissa Hayes Photography… Sometimes things just fall into place effortlessly. Our engagement session with Jen & Eric was just that… effortless.  When it came time for their wedding, I wasn’t surprised how well the day turned out… more specifically the candid session and group photos.  Though I have to confess, I did do some scouting for locations earlier in the week, but no matter how much you plan things may or may not turn out the way you envisioned.  As we made our way out for group photos, I told Jen & Eric of this spot that I had picked out… an old Chicago Firehouse.  To my surprise, I quickly learned that both Jen & Eric have family members that are firemen which made the location all the better.  Its definitely going into my book of favorite photos!

Wedding Photography: Melissa Hayes Photography / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: Epic Restaurant / DJ: Toast & Jam / Wedding Cake: Rolf’s Pastisserie / Photobooth: 312 Photobooth / Make-Up: Morgan Baul / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bridesmaid Dresses: Bloomingdales / Programs + Menu: DIY / Floral Bouquets: Fleur Inc

Good morning and a happy Friday to you, SMPers!  If you are looking for a lovely affair to keep you swooning through the weekend, then you most certainly came to the right place.  Yes, this stunning Chicago soiree is delivering all kinds of swoon-worthy details and then some, including a lovely purple color palette, beautiful blooms by The Wishing Well Florist and a breathtaking reception space.  And with Wes Craft of Modern Image Studios on hand to capture all of the pretty, it’s the perfect way to start your day.  Click here for more.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Ever since I was a little girl, I envisioned being married in a castle in Ireland. When I got engaged, a destination wedding in Ireland was completely out of the budget, so for me, the next best thing was getting married in my home town of Chicago. My husband is from small town Ohio but has come to love the city of Chicago as I do. I knew I wanted the feeling of the wedding to be very ethereal, romantic, and vintage with influences of the Medieval and Renaissance eras. We started to visit reception venues and when we walked into Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center we were in awe. I actually had goose bumps as we walked throughout the hall. The architecture is absolutely stunning with marble mosaics, gorgeous light fixtures, and the most breathtaking Tiffany glass dome, the largest in the world! The extra large windows looked out onto the most gorgeous view of Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park. We were sold at that very moment!

We had our ceremony at my church and kept the decor very romantic with hurricane candle holders set on each pew along with bunches of lavender. I wanted to include my Irish heritage in both the ceremony and reception so we had Celtic inspired programs and a bagpiper lead us out of the church. We had guests throw lavender buds at we exited the church which was quite lovely especially with the scent of lavender blowing through the air. Believe it or not, this wedding wasn’t only about me! We chose a Trolley company that had green and yellow trolleys as an ode to my husband’s grandfather. He had owned a John Deere Dealership for quite some time where most the men in the family had worked so we wanted to honor him and the company. For the reception, I knew I wanted to go light on décor and table centerpieces since Preston Bradley Hall is filled with so many intricate details. I didn’t want anything to take away from the natural beauty of the hall. My florist took the lavender from the church and created centerpieces with lavender and hydrangeas.

I grew up Irish dancing with my three sisters so of course we had a special performance for our guests that included our bagpiper and Irish step dancers kicking off the party. I was so happy that I was able to share such a historic building in Chicago with husband’s family and our guests and also share a part of my heritage by having the sounds of the bagpipe waft throughout Preston Bradley Hall as the Irish dancers kicked their legs into the air. Not to mention, dancing with my husband under the Tiffany glass dome was magical!

I am also proud to say that I bought my dress at Brides Against Breast Cancer at their yearly event in Chicago. The dress was made in Italy by Galizia Spose. All proceeds from the dresses bought at the event go to women with Stage 4 Breast Cancer. It was so meaningful to look at myself in that dress on my wedding day and know that it wasn’t just special to me but that it made a positive impact on another woman’s life as well.

Photographer: Wes Craft of Modern Image Studios / Wedding Venue: The Chicago Cultural Center / Caterer: Jewell Events Catering / Florist: The Wishing Well Florist / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Bride’s Dress: Galizia Spose via Brides Against Breast Cancer / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale via Bella Bridesmaid Chicago / Bride’s Makeup Artist: Marla Del Angel / Bride’s Jewelry: Tejani + Etsy

I love a bride and groom who throw themselves into the planning of their big day… and this darling Deer Park duo did just that (and more) with their fabulous rustic chic soiree.  Yes, each and every detail was a true “labor of love” and, with the help of family and friends, these two sweethearts pulled together one seriously spectacular barn fête, complete with gorgeous bunting, photobooth props and lovely paper goods.  Awesome.  Thankfully, Megan Anderson Photography was on hand to capture all of the pretty and there is even more DIY goodness to be seen.  Click here for it all!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… The minute we drove up to Vehe Barn in Deer Park, IL, we were sold. The grounds were breathtaking–large oak trees, beautiful wildflowers, a butterfly garden and pond, and, in the middle of it all, the most striking restored 19th century barn. We decided to hold our ceremony outside, surrounded by old wooden structures and a steel windmill, and move inside the barn for our reception. The theme for our rustic wedding was vintage travel–both my husband and I love to travel, and we loved the fact that we were starting a journey together as we were getting married. I was inspired to incorporate vintage touches because of a cherished photo of my grandparents from the 1950s.

My husband, Cory, drew an antique-looking compass which we incorporated throughout our wedding. It was on each piece of our invitation suite (which we designed, printed, & put together ourselves) and our thank you notes to guests. It was even stamped on travel tags which we tied to our favors! We carried the idea of a journey throughout as well. Our entire wedding was a labor of love–we DIY’ed everything! Cory’s mother sewed bunting with our colors (gray, slate blue, blush pink, & white), our friend Andrea made Oreo pops to use as favors as well as all of our photobooth props, my mom tied twine around who knows how many jars, & Cory and I made pretty much everything else.

I spent our entire engagement scouring the Internet for inspiration & found most of my ideas through wedding blogs (thank you, SMP!). We really wanted our wedding to be about us as a couple but we also wanted it to be relaxed and fun for our guests (since most of them traveled from California & Indiana!). We served BBQ for our meal & pies as dessert (we figured we were getting married in a barn, why not!). Cory’s cousin, a cake designer, gifted us our beautiful cake in the shape of a vintage suitcase which we used for the cake cutting (and which is now stored in our freezer for our one year anniversary!). We also included photographs of our parents, grandparents, & great-grandparents on the tables. The entire day, which was planned entirely by me and my husband, came together perfectly!

Wedding Photography: Megan Anderson Photography / Wedding Venue: Vehe Barn / Catering: Famous Dave’s / Wedding Cake: Layered Designs (The Groom’s Cousin) / Pies: Essenhaus Bakery / Floral Design: Oh My! Floral / Wedding Dress: Running of the Brides / Dress Alterations: Ms. Couture / Necklace: Great-Grandmother’s / Pearl Earrings: Borrowed from Mother of the Bride / Pearl Bracelet: Gift from Mother of the Bride / Hair: Appease / Bridesmaids Dresses: Various / Groom’s Suit: Express / DJ: DRM Entertainment

Oh Chicago, how in the heavens have I never visited you before? You look so splendidly pretty, and are host to some of the most fabulous fêtes. For instance, this city chic affair by Denver Smith Photography – it’s full of gorgeous green hues and fabulous city views, so gawking over this wedding just makes me feel like I need to book a trip to the Windy City ASAP. But you don’t have to hop on a plane to enjoy all of the pretty – you can see it all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Denver Smith Photography…I knew Victoria and Nick’s wedding day was going to be fun after shooting their engagement session. I just had no idea HOW fun! The bridal party was a blast, and the event itself was absolutely gorgeous! The W Hotel City Center did an amazing job executing on Victoria and Nick’s vision of their wedding, with style and class. The day began in the bridal suite with all of the bridesmaids and myself, up to my normal shenanigans. During planning, I dropped the idea of doing the First Look in the center of LaSalle Street in front of the Board of Trade. I full expected Victoria and Nick to say “uhhh no way.” Instead, they jumped at the chance and loved the idea! So from the hotel, we made our way to the location for the First Look, and while standing in the middle of traffic on a Saturday afternoon (and luckily neither myself nor my second shooter Doug getting hit by said traffic), we were able to witness along with all the bystanders on the street, the first time Nick was able to see his beautiful bride Victoria on their wedding day.

Victoria and Nick wanted a bunch of locations photographed during their formals before the ceremony. They began by doing a First Look in front of a large crowd of people and traffic in the middle of LaSalle, right in front of the Chicago Board of Trade. While not the typical setting for a reveal, it was awesome and definitely unique. She gave me a near 4 hour window to capture photos throughout Chicago. After the First Look, we began our Trolley Photo Safari, where we traveled around Chicago to various places important to the two of them and photographed the couple and the bridal party. We visited the Franklin Street Bridge, Wrigley Field where they had their names on the marquee, and the South Pond in Lincoln Park. We had a blast, and even though we had another wedding party stalking us to nearly every location, we were able to get a lot of great images! Sadly, I wanted to do a wedding party show down shot, but the other photographer with the other wedding didn’t seem to keen on it.

Victoria and Nick decided to go with our “DropTheFun” Photobooth at their wedding, which is essentially a portable studio setup that I bring along to the wedding reception. My assistant was clicking away for 3 hours during the reception, and the crowd seemed to have a blast taking the photos! And the photos…well let’s just say they were a whole lot of fun as well! (for images from the photobooth, check out: http://bit.ly/su26LV )

In addition to that, my favorite part of the day was actually the bridal party. They were a lot of fun to be with, and they kept in mind the reason everyone was there together. There was no drama, just a whole lot of fun!

Wedding Photography: Denver Smith Photography / Second Photographer: Doug McGoldrick Photography / Ceremony + Reception Venue: W Chicago – City Center / Bride + Bridesmaid Fashion: Watters / Bridal Salon: B. Ella Bridal / Bride + Bridesmaid Shoes: Nina / Groom + Groomsmen Fashion: Calvin Klein / Floral Design: Flora Chicago / DJ + Reception Entertainment: Okyne Media Lab