Illinois Weddings

In a word, this wedding highlight film by Delack Media Group is epic. Before reading the description, I swore I was watching the trailer to the next movie to hit the big screen. Filmed over three days of beautiful and meaningful ceremonies and celebrations, it almost looks too beautiful to be true. But alas, it is very true and VERY drop dead gorgeous. I may or may not have watched this pretty little film over five times, and after you take a glance at it you’ll see why…

From Delack Media Group…Three amazing days rolled into one epic trailer. Parul and Mirab’s wedding weekend was breathtaking. The rich cultures and traditions of a Hindu marriage ceremony were evident throughout all three days.The first day was their Sangeet, which was held at The Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Usually held two or three days before the wedding, the Sangeet is considered a joyous occasion where friends and family of the couple perform dances to celebrate the upcoming wedding. During the Sangeet, a Mehendi party with henna artists also took place. The intricate henna motifs are meant to tempt the bride’s husband.

On the day before the wedding, Parul and Mirab had a Pithi. During this cleansing ceremony, family members rub a yellow paste all over the bride and groom’s face, arms, and legs. It is believed that the paste softens and whitens the skin so that they will be radiant for the wedding. The paste is made out of chickpea flour, turmeric, rose water, and other ingredients. The bride and groom traditionally hold separate ceremonies. Parul’s Pithi ceremony was held in Orland Park, Illinois, while Mirab’s Pithi ceremony took place at the Bartlett Community Center in Bartlett, Illinois.

The final day is where the entire wedding ceremony takes place. The day starts off with the groom’s procession, or Barat. During the Barat, Mirab was surrounded by fireworks and processed with the baraati on a white horse and carriage to the wedding ceremony, which was held at The Meadows Club. What follows next is a beautiful cultural marriage ceremony followed by a reception. We used three cameras, including a Steadicam, and a fourth camera served as a live feed to several screens throughout the banquet hall.

We couldn’t help but mention the amazing peacock-themed décor and design work by Yanni Design Studio. All of this would not have been possible without the hard work and attention to detail by their amazing wedding coordinators, Nirali and Chirag of Symplify Event Designs. Parul and Mirab, we hope you enjoy this trailer as a wonderful memory of your wedding weekend!

Wedding Photography: Gerber + Scarpelli Wedding Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Delack Media Group / Floral + Event Design: Yanni Design Studio / Event Planning: Symplify Event Designs / Ceremony + Reception Location: The Meadows Club

I started developing a serious couple crush on these next two cuties the moment I laid eyes on their Aurora engagement session.  After reading Cassandra Eldridge Photography‘s tearjerker of a story below I am completely smitten.  Theirs is the kind of love that just radiates from their engagement photos.  Through the way they laugh with each other, hold hands, smooch.  Oh, it is all kinds of swoon-tastic romance!  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Cassandra Eldridge Photography… There’s the kind of love that you fight to keep alive.  A love that you want so desperately to survive but it leaves you feeling exhausted, unfulfilled, defeated.  It gives new meaning to the term “labor of love.” There’s the kind of love that turns into a mild-contentment.  A comfort that soon settles into routine. Predictability. A domino affect which leaves you forewarned that if something out of the ordinary happens, you and this love will come tumbling down.. one piece after the other following close behind.

Then, there’s the Eric and Ally kind of love.  The effortless kind.  The kind that leaves you staring as a witness alongside, hoping that their sweet interactions give away some kind of magical hint that lets you, the witness, in on their best-kept secret. She looks at him, and sees her partner.  He looks at her, and sees his other half.  You look at them, and see two people who make perfect sense.
Life radiates with creativity and laughter. There’s a natural comfort between the two that displays an honest, ever-growing admiration.  An underlying mystery that ensures they will spend the rest of their lives, side by side, constantly growing… together.  No fear, no worn-out routines…just an Eric & Ally kind of love.

I was so humbled to receive an email from Eric this past January regarding his wedding to the lovely Ally next September.  It wasn’t an inquiry, per say.  But rather a request.  Eric had made it perfectly clear that he had been following my work, and wanted me as his wedding photographer. And I made it perfectly clear that through hell or high water, I would be alongside him & his bride, documenting every last detail. No question.

We finally arranged a time to get together for their engagement session which I had been desperately waiting for (can you blame me? These two are amazing).  We spent the day venturing downtown Aurora following Eric around to all of these unique industrialized nooks he had discovered on his own. There was so much (so much) laughter – especially between Ally and I – she is the cutest person I’ve ever met – and I won’t lie, quite a bit of complaining between the three of us in regards to the 97 degree heat! But we pressed on, caught those magical moments that they so effortlessly let me in on.. and the best part? I had a front row seat to witness the Eric & Ally kind of love.

Photography: Cassandra Eldridge Photography

Eek!  Can one of my friends please, please, please get engaged stat so I can throw them a bridal shower as super cute as this one from Olivia Leigh Photographie???  Hello Darling+ Clementine Custom Events styled and planned a fun-lovin’, colorful, detail-filled soiree.  I love the bright and bold color palette which brings me back to roller rink birthday parties in the ’80s and summertime sleepovers with my best friends.  This is the perfect party for those of us who grew up on 90210 and Debbie Gibson with a little bit of retro goodness thrown in.  Check out the full gallery to see the whole bash!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Hello Darling… A few months back during “coffee talk”, we all got to chatting about some fun and unusual ideas for a bridal shower shoot. Trying to stray away from an ultra feminine and popular palette of pale peach, buttercream, and gold, we mused over the endlessly stylish “For Like Ever” poster with contrasting colors of bubblegum pink and cherry red and everything began to fall into place. We fell in love with a stunning Graham Atkins Hughes photograph of a woman donning a knee-length, Emerald green dress with colorful balloons spilling out from underneath it, and other blissfully bright textural images from doughnuts to décor. Our inspiration board grew into a playful story of two bridesmaids and a glowingly glam bride.

Take one part 1980’s slumber party, one part Lilly Pulitzer dress and you have our recipe for a stylish and celebratory bridal shower. Bridesmaids, Gwen and Quinn, arrived at Jane’s Restaurant in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood for a bridal brunch greeted by bride-to-be Mimi. The ladies wasted no time toasting to their gal pal at the customizable Bellini Bar. After the clink of a glass, and a few words to honor the blushing bride, the gals grabbed their personalized rainbow lollipops and cozied up in the mod white booth.

Strawberry garnished cocktails, fresh fruit, and scones atop vintage white scalloped gateau pedestals framed color blocked bouquets. Lemon yellow garden roses, tulips, spider mums, and craspedia in white boxes were tucked between mod turquoise vases highlighting luscious pink peonies and oh-so-hot lily of the valley. Without a doubt, these beauties brought the something old and something blue to this celebration. White eyelet-bordered plates wrapped in alternating shades of magenta and tangerine linen napkins held retro-prep, powder blue striped menu cards which tied together the boldly patterned sweets display and centerpieces in a pretty little package.  Layers of glittery polka dot inspired décor hung above the table popping off the crisp white walls turning the modern soda shop into a whimsical oasis in the heart of this windy city. Jane’s first course of quiche and mixed greens was followed by a second course of beautiful strawberry crepes. The girls made sure to save room for the indulgent mini sweets buffet complete with classics like chocolate doughnuts with rainbow sprinkles, chocolate and red velvet whoopee pies, key lime and lemon pies with sugared citrus garnish, pastel pink cake pops and adorable umbrella cookies. The desserts were displayed atop custom fabric-wrapped pedestals and labeled with petite flags which complimented the paper suite.

After opening her brightly wrapped packages and reciting from the pages of her poetic Pablo Neruda paperback, Mimi presented each of her honorable bridesmaids with their own girly gifts. Chic costume jewelry nestled into blush pink peonies filled each of the Lucite favor boxes.  The bridal party made their final toast and grabbing a few pretty blooms and sweets, they waved goodbye to their friend and the enchanted afternoon they all shared together.

Photography: Olivia Leigh Photographie / Floral + Décor Styling: Natalie Walsh of Hello Darling / Planning: Kelly Cavanaugh and Melissa Samek of Clementine Custom Events / Paper Goods: Kara Gordon of Magnificent Milestones / Desserts: Jewell Catering / Place Settings: Tablescapes / Linens: BBJ Linen / Hair + Make-up: Nika Vaughan / Wardrobe + Accessories: Anthropologie + Photographer’s Own (Vintage) / Venue: Jane’s Restaurant / Models: Corey Doyle and Megan Klehr; Grossman and Jack; Sarah Stark

This Illinois garden wedding by Pam Cooley Photography is GORGeous with a big, fat capitol G-O-R-G!  I love the new take on a the mismatched bridesmaid attire.  Each lovely lady was draped in beautiful pastel hues that perfectly coordinate with the fun striped straws, the colorful “just married” sign and compliment their beauteous bouquets.  The entire affair was created with loving care by the bride and groom and they filled their perfect day with absolutely fabulous touches.  You can see them all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Will and I agree that our wedding day was truly perfect. It was exactly what I had envisioned and worked towards. We chose the Pettengill-Morron House as our venue because we both love and appreciate history and architecture. I truly enjoyed all of the planning and DIY projects I took on and to see them enjoyed by our guests was very satisfying. I am so thankful that Will was very involved and offered his expertise, ideas, and support.

My favorite moment of the wedding was, in essence, all of the little moments strung together: getting ready with my bridesmaids, tapping Will on the shoulder and him turning around for our “first look”, holding my dad’s arm tight and feeling his constant support as we walked out of the house, praying with our parents and pastor, watching our guests enjoying the night, and driving away under a sea of sparklers and shouts of well wishes. Will and I feel very blessed to have friends and family that have loved and supported us all along the way.

Will and I chose to see each other before the ceremony, and honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to wait a second longer! Walking out of the house, with his back to me, waiting for him to turn around and see me, was oh so fun. We soaked in the moment, laughing, and enjoying our time together. Spending time with Will before the ceremony gave me a deep peace and joy that lasted throughout the entire night.

From the Groom… When I saw Lindsay and how beautiful she was, I knew that nothing else mattered..all of the little details, all of the big details, seemed to fade in comparison, and suddenly seemed unimportant. I knew all was perfect.

Wedding Photography: Pam Cooley Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Black Olive Photographics / Floral Design: Garden Gate Floral / Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Location: Pettingill Historical Home / Wedding Invitations: The Bride + Groom / Bride’s Shoes: Pour la Victorie / Wedding Dress: Country Bride

This eco-friendly couple decided to nix the details that would increase their carbon footprint and instead opted to focus on their love, friends and family. And it was truly a family affair with the bride’s brother (Cole Denver Designs) and bestie (SaraCakes Photography) snapping photos and her mother heading up the ceremony. Oh, and her gorgeous pink dress? That was constructed from many different vintage dresses. Now that’s green! See that and so much more in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…In the beginning of our engagement, I started going crazy with the details because being a photographer, I know pretty details are fun and add character to weddings! But I soon realized details=decision-making and I am not friends with decision-making. Thus, we went detail free and instead, shifted our only priority to our close friends and family that would be joining us at our Chicago destination wedding. We are also very passionate about being eco-friendly in our daily life so staying true to who we are was our main goal throughout the planning process. My dress was made by piecing together different parts of old dresses from VintageOpulence on Etsy. She did an amazing job!! The grooms suit was simply from his own closet! We are surrounded by extremely talented people so we decided to weave their talents within the wedding: my best friend and brother were the photographers, my mother was the officiant, my brother played guitar while another best friend sang, and my sister and friend applied my makeup.We are so happy to have had such a beautiful day with our loved ones without spending thousands of dollars! We wouldn’t change a thing! (Besides the hurricane-like weather conditions!)

Wedding Photographers: SaraCakes Photography + Cole Denver Designs / Bride’s Dress: VintageOpulence / Bouquet: Whole Foods / Bracelets: Candies / Bride’s Shoes: Vintage / Groom’s Suit: Calvin Klein / Tie: Aldo

Chicago is fantastic. I’m just saying. It’s a big, beautiful city, located on the shores of Lake Michigan, home to Navy Pier, The Sears Tower, and some of the nicest city-dwellers on the planet. Following this line of thought, any wedding that takes place inside the city limits of this beloved town is going to be gorgeous. Especially when it’s planned by Big City Bride, photographed by Robyn Rachel Photography, and unites a NASCAR star with his ab-so-lute-ly stunning bride. Every single detail of this entire affair has elicited a little squeal from this blogger. I’m sure you’ll be squealing along side me in the full image gallery!

I have a huge, Italian family that mainly lives in Chicago so we knew it would be easiest for everyone to have the wedding there. Ever since I was little, I wanted to get married at Holy Name Cathedral because it is the most stunning church I have ever seen and the Chicago Cultural Center really fit in with the vintage glam theme.  The tiffany domes and architecture throughout are breathtaking. Also, the guest list was over 300 so we needed somewhere to accommodate everyone.

The NASCAR race season begins in the beginning of February and ends in mid November so we knew it would be a winter wedding. Once we started looking at the calendar New Years Eve was the date that seemed to make the most sense.  With the date set I started building the theme around that.  New Years is very glamorous and I have always loved the old Hollywood glamour.  I wanted to stick with darker tones since it was winter and purple is one of my favorite colors so I chose plum.  I also really love feathers that I have seen incorporated into weddings but I took it more to the extreme creating a full feathered bar and having ostrich feathers on my wedding dress! Also, my bouquet and the bridesmaids’ had feathers in them.

We had a traditional Catholic wedding and followed the tradition of not seeing each other on the wedding day until I was walking down the isle. I was really happy we did that because when the huge doors opened at Holy Name Cathedral and I saw my soon to be husband standing at the end of the very long aisle waiting for me it was truly a breathtaking, unforgettable moment.

Wedding Planning: Big City Bride / Venue: Chicago Cultural Center / Church  & Church Musicians: Holy Name Cathedral / Caterer: Blue Plate Catering / Photography: Robyn Rachel Photography / Cinematography: Indiana Motion Pictures / Bride & Groom Transportation: Flying Lady Rolls Royce / Guest Transportation: Windy City Limousine / Hair: Nicci Plachno / Make-Up: Juli Valdez / Rock Violin Show: The Cover Girls / Wedding Cake: Amy Beck Cake Design / Lighting:  Video, Light, Sound, Inc. / Floral + Design:  Heffernan Morgan Event Design / Band: Larry King Orchestra / Linens:  Carousel Linens & BBJ Linens / Rentals:  Tablescapes, Halls Rental & Classic Party Rentals / Invitations: Kustom Kreations / Menus, Signage, Place Cards: DG Invites / Interactive Place Card Table:  Redmoon

A vintage, European-inspired shower overflowing with delectable treats and mouth-watering sweets?  I think we may have just entered my own personal heaven.  This Chicago bride-to-be sure is a lucky gal to have such an incredible mom to throw her a lovely and tasty event and to have an amazing planner and designer in A Perfect Event to put the whole sweet soiree together!  Amanda Hein Photography was there to capture all the surprised smiles and gooey goodness.  Get your sugar high on in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From A Perfect Event…Ariel is from Chicago, and Paul from London. They met in Rome when both traveling there for work, while she lived in NYC and he in London. She moved to London to be together, and once engaged planned a beautiful, English Garden style Chicago wedding. As Ariel’s wedding planner and florist I worked with her darling mother to create a surprise bridal shower reminiscent of all the beautiful european patisseries she covets. We designed the entire party around her wedding color palette, apricot, pink and chartruese green. This is such a fun way to see your wedding day decor come to life in advance of the wedding weekend itself. Since the wedding day was a spring weekend in Chicago – the vintage Audrey Hepburn-esque scarves by Pop-n-Go were a throw back favor to add style and panache to a blustery “windy city” day if needed for around town photos.

Photography: Amanda Hein Photography / Hair + Make-up: Beauty on Call / Location: Bloomingdale’s Bridal Registry Room, Medinah Temple Store / Linens: Windy City Linens / Desserts: Cacao Bakery + Julius Meinl Patisserie / Bridal Party Gifts: Pop n’ Go Scarves / Floral + Event Design: A Perfect Event

Today is a HUGE day here at Style Me Pretty!  We are expanding our Style Me Pretty Network with FIVE more awesome local blogs.  We have been racking up our frequent flyer miles with these new local lovelies as we jetset from Massachusetts to Canada to Illinois to Georgia and all the way to Australia!  Each blog features totally unique content updated every single day.  There is so much pretty going on that we wouldn’t blame you if you decided to cross state lines and venture into each and every location! After all, a gorgeous wedding is a gorgeous wedding is a gorgeous wedding no matter where it’s located…so you’ll be sure to find 5 times more inspiration with these new beauts.

And we’ve already hit the ground running with plenty of pretty for you to peruse.  Like this sweet Georgia peach of a wedding…

This darling little ditty from down under…

A chic and sophisticated soiree from Chicago…

Some rustic glam inspiration from our neighbors to the north…

And a playful and polished Cape Cod beauty…

And there is so much more where these came from. The local blogs are the perfect places for us to spotlight the most amazing venues, vendors and inspiration that you can find right in your own backyards!

So get cozy and check out our brand new local blogs – Australia, Canada, Georgia, Illinois and Massachusetts. We’ve already packed each of them with loads of SMP style so there’s plenty of goodies for you to go gaga over!

We’re beyond thrilled to finally have the opportunity to share more gorgeous Illinois weddings with you… and this contemporary Chicago wedding is precisely why. With a sophisticated color palette and beautiful images by Gina & Tony Photographers, this windy-city wedding is beyond lovely. The bride and groom let the gorgeous venue speak for itself with a sleek and stylish look that will most certainly stand the test of time. You can see every the rest of this modern affair right here in the gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Gina & Tony Photographers… Walking into Shelby & Scott’s wedding was like taking a breath of fresh air.  Shelby planned this sleek and sophisticated affair in just over six months.  Their venue, the Chicago Illuminating Company, is a completely blank canvas that let’s you do just about anything.  Shelby chose a classic color palette of white, green, and hints of navy blue.  Their guest list was very intimate, only about 80 people, so they skipped a bridal party and focused completely on the two of them.

Originally the forecast for the day was scary at best.  As we drove through downtown Chicago to the venue, the streets were flooding from all of the rain.  Luckily, it cleared up just in time for the guests to arrive!  It allowed us to get some fabulous portraits right outside in the alley behind the venue.  It was the perfect mix of traditional meets urban.

Shelby’s makeup was done by Chicago’s best makeup artist – Sonia Roselli.  No detail was spared, from her Monique Lhuillier dress to the Badgley Mischka shoes.  During their ceremony, they chose to do a wine mixing instead of a unity candle.  The florals were done by Flowers by Color and Toast and Jam kept the dance floor packed all night!

Wedding Photography: Gina & Tony Photographers / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier via The Ultimate Bride Salon / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Make-up: Sonia Roselli Studio / Hair: Claudia Delia for Sonia Roselli Studio / Floral Design: Flowers by Color / Ceremony + Reception Venue: Chicago Illuminating Company / Caterer: Food for Thought / Wedding Cake: Flour / Wedding Favors: Macaroons via Vanille Patisserie / DJ: Toast and Jam

We are beyond excited here at SMP to welcome all our Illinois brides to our brand spanking new local wedding blog! Here you’ll see all sorts of inspiration, vendors, and venues all within your home state and what could be better than that? Kicking off our super duper debut is this sweet, vintage inspired wedding by Maggie Fortson Photography. Not only is the couple adorable, their taste is so SMP worthy. We’re loving all the vintage details and the letterpress seating chart box is totally genius! For even more vintage goodness, make sure to hit up the full gallery!

Click here to see entire image gallery!

From Maggie Fortson Photography: This wedding was all influenced by the brides love for antiques and creative decor! Amy and Mike, the bride and groom, have been high school sweet hearts and waited for this day for a long time. I just loved all their hand picked touches for the reception. She shopped for old keys for wedding favors and had cameras and old books spread out throughout the tables. The wedding took place at sunset outdoors of a mansion called the “Narnia Estate”. It was a perfect day with a perfect couple!

Photographer: Maggie Fortson Photography / Hair and Make-up: Jean Marie Salon / Cake: Creative Cakes /
Coordinator: Priyanka Vaidya /DJ: Toast and Jam /Caterer and Venue: The Narnia Estate /Dress Designer: Mon Cheri, Filene’s Basement / Flowers: Catherine’s Gardens / Groom’s attire: Formally Modern Tuxedo / Shoes: Irregular Choice / Spoon bracelet: Dizzyjdesigns

Remember all the warm, funny, and quirky interviews of couples in love in the movie When Harry Met Sally? It’s all I could think about while watching this Save the Date Film from Loudbyte Cinematography. This couple is beyond cute, and their loving bickering is so reminiscent of the great couples in Harry and Sally’s film. I love the emotion, the adoration, the laughter that the renowned Loudbyte was able to capture for this couple. It’s such a great way of letting your loved ones get a little peek inside your relationship. With the trend of video Save the Dates emerging, I think something like this is so fabulous, we’ll definitely be seeing more like it! Visit Loudbyte’s blog for more like this!

From Loudbyte Cinematography … We think this save the date film is going to really open up the possibilities for what a couple can get from their engagement or save the date movie. It is a real movie starring a real life couple.

“Just Breathe” is an endearing, hilarious, and very unique look at a real couple. La Trease and Robert plan to mail out their Save the Date DVD to all of their wedding guests.  Their invitations will stylishly fold inside the custom DVD cases.  This is such a fantastic way to send out wedding invitations.

Just Breathe. A save the date wedding film. from Loudbyte Cinematography on Vimeo.

From the groom … It was Summer 2004 when La Trease and I met at a church retreat.  We barely got to know each other and vaguely remember what interactions we had with one another.  After the retreat, three years went by before we actually had a real chance to get to know each other.

It was a winter night in January 2007 when we met up at Borders so I could talk to her about being my client (I was an insurance salesman).  However, when we started talking, the conversation took on a form of it’s own and we never did end up talking about insurance.

That night was the first of many stimulating conversations for us.  Stimulating conversations turned into entertaining dates.  Entertaining dates turned into memorable weekends.  And eventually, we decided we wanted to spend each morning, day, and night together.  So I proposed and she said yes.

Cinematography: Loudbyte Cinematography / Venue: Sip Coffee House, Empress Banquets, D’Amatos Pizza

Attending a fabulous New Years Eve Wedding is now officially on my bucket list. Remember this stunning New Years affair? Well, you can now add another drop dead gorgeous fête to that list. This wedding, captured by the always amazing Avery House, is just one of those weddings that makes me jealous. Jealous of all the lucky guests who got to don the masks, eat the cake, smell the flowers, and party on the dance floor with this adorable couple all night long. Seriously, I could gush all day, but that wouldn’t be fair to you. So instead, I introduce to you, this jaw-dropping wedding. Click here – Avery’s blog has more!

Click here for more!

From Stevi of Avery House … Caily and Paul had a 2010 New Year’s Eve Wedding at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago. Designed by Debi Lilly from A Perfect Event, it was gorgeous. The bride is from Chicago and Groom is from Ireland. Much of the groom’s family and friends from Ireland traveled to Chicago for the wedding and many of them stole center stage on the dance floor. Who knew the Irish were such good dancers? There was so much excitement and energy throughout the night that my husband and I ended up staying four hours longer than we were actually booked. We had so much fun!

Photography: Avery House / Photo Booth: Smilebooth / Flowers: A Perfect Event / Event Design: A Perfect Event / Event Planning: A Perfect Event / Ceremony Location: The Blackstone Hotel / Reception Location: The Blackstone Hotel / Invitations: A Perfect Event / Shoes: Lavender / Dress: Amsale, Bijou / Belt: Reem Acra / Cake Artist: Take The Cake / Veil: Toni Federici / Rings: Flaherty Jewelers / Earrings & Bracelets: Ann Taylor

I must admit, I am ever so slightly jealous of this Chicago wedding. It has more of a green thumb then I could ever hope to muster and the result is a delightfully eclectic soirée in Chicago all caught on film by Lark Photography. The bride and groom wanted to create a day that was not only a reflection of their love and commitment but environmentally conscious (like really, really conscious) to boot and all hand-crafted, sourced, DIY’ed. Impressed? We are too! See the whole eco-friendly shindig in the gallery.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Environmentalism + social justice + a good time.  How to fit them all into one day? From the day we started planning our wedding, to the day before David broke the glass, we kept on scheming up new ways to do things. Everything was DIY.  We printed the invites, painted the jars, folded the signs, sewed the programs, cooked up the favors, and on.

Guests only received one beverage glass, a mason jar, the whole afternoon, table scraps were composted, and no cut flowers were used.  Nearly everything for our day was sourced in a socially responsible manner and forgoing a wedding cake for our 350 guest-count wedding allowed us to donate to some our favorite causes, plus no one missed the cake with the delicious root beer floats they had for dessert!

We tried to make sure that everything was reusable.  Guests filled their one beverage jar at the granola station for a snack on the way home.  Our centerpieces, locally grown potted plants and artifacts from the venue, Architectural Artifacts – an architectural salvage store in Chicago, were free for the taking (well, not the artifacts, just the plants). Our chuppah poles were foraged wood that was returned to the forest and Eli’s parents sewed the fabric for their own wedding 30+ years ago, and our programs were crafted from fast-growing renewable trees. We scoured Etsy for artisan’s whose work fit our vision and put our friends’ talents to use; one of our friends designed our tree logo and painted our ketubah, another, a torah scribe, wrote the text.

We tried (and only somewhat succeeded) in incentivizing our guests to arrive in a carbon neutral manner.  The Eli-Dave Transport Challenge (EDTC) offered prizes like fair-trade chocolate or a tree planted in one’s name for taking carbon-cutting measures or not using a car all weekend.  We even left the wedding on Chicago’s train, the El!

Wedding Venue: Architectural Artifacts / Wedding Photography: Lark Photography / Event Planning and Styling: Anticipation Events / Videography: I Do Films / Band: Stu Hirsch Orchestra / Catering: Karyn’s / Ice Cream: George’s Ice Cream and Sweets / Service Staff: Service Is Us / Wedding Invitations: The Bride & Groom / Centerpiece Bicycles: Ten Thousand Villages

There is just something about Docuvitae. Every wedding they touch just works. Remember this gem? It doesn’t matter if they’re in the middle of nowhere capturing a intimate, DIY wedding or in a big, busy city, working their magic on a luxe, elaborate affair, simply put, they create magic. So when this California wedding hit my inbox, I couldn’t get it open fast enough. And it does not disappoint. The romantic ambiance, the stunning couple, the intricate details, well, it all has that Docuvitae magic. We couldn’t even start to do it justice here, so visit the gallery for even more!

From Hohn Events … Pauline wanted sofas and casual seating as opposed to traditional ceremony seating.  She wanted soft accents to line the aisle in shades of purple.  We built the color palette from her request of purple and silver tones.  When we added Julie Stevens Floral Design to the mix, we built, what I feel, is a mix of Midwest and Napa Valley style.  The city-elegance of Chicago (where Pauline and Christopher live) combined with a touch of rustic wine country.  The Carneros Inn was the perfect backdrop for such sophistication.

When the rain came into the forecast, we had to change things up for the ceremony.  We set up a clear tent near the dining room that ultimately added an incredible atmosphere to the wedding.  Guests experienced the romance of a Napa rainshower and everything smelled fresh and amazing.

The Chicago/Napa Valley style was seen in the dining room by using ivory dupionique linens with hints of purple and silver and the natural greens, candle light, and soft amber uplighting around the room.  The lounge pieces were also purple and silver and there was a strong dose of candlelight.

Photography:  Rebecca and Gennia for Docuvitae / Event Planning & Design: Jenne Hohn Events / Flowers:  Julie Stevens Design / Wedding Gown Designer: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Sash: Handmade from Impressions Bridal Boutique / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Amsale / Cake & Desserts:  Patisserie Angelica / DJ: David Carvalho / Hair & Makeup: Sherrie Long / Venue: The Carneros Inn

LOVE. Love, love this Chicago wedding seen through the lens of Olivia Leigh Photographie. Somehow, this classic American affair with touches of Indian tradition has taken full advantage of all Chicago has to offer. I squeal, you squeal, we all squeal for the beach of Lake Michigan, the skyscrapers on Michigan Avenue, the fabulous Indian couple. And for the wedding. A perfect 10 from Bliss Weddings & Events, we just can’t get enough of this one. Good thing there is more over at Bliss’ blog!

So much more fabulous-ness in the gallery!

After a year and a half of being friends, both of us fell in love. Not wanting to upset the family friendship in any way, we kept it a little secret until we knew it was serious. We dated for just under a year when Cherian proposed on July 3rd in the Signature Room on the 96th floor of the John Hancock skyscraper with a clear view of the spectacular fireworks. I was in absolute shock, but completely thrilled and of course replied with a yes!

As we are both from South Indian families, we wanted to incorporate traditional elements into an American wedding. The church ceremony incorporated two specific ceremonies. The most memorable part was that both my father’s childhood priest and the priest that married Cherian’s parents performed the Indian ceremonies. The Mathrakodi or “Presentation of the Sari” is usually rich silk and brocaded with silver and gold thread. It is a gift from the groom to the bride and is the symbolism that the husband will shelter and care for his wife.

Being in the design field, I have always loved the traditional and intricate Indian floral designs. Along with the help of my best friend and graphic designer, Carmen, we created the pookalam that would be the theme for the wedding. A symmetrical floral motif with clean lines and detail provided the perfect element to add to the simple, clean and modern approach we had for the event. I had them constructed as center pieces for the tables.

Our wedding weekend was truly unforgettable! Having family and friends from all over the world in attendance and the most beautiful 75 degrees, sunny weekend was all we could have ever hoped for – everything else was just extra! From the rehearsal evening with all the arriving guests to the farewell brunch on Sunday, it was filled of so much excitement, love, and joy!

Photography: Olivia Leigh Photographie / Event Coordination: Renny Pedersen at Bliss Weddings & Events / Floral & Lighting Design: Event Creative / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Badgley Mischka / Ceremony: Saint Vincent de Paul / Reception & Catering: The Drake / DJ: Beep Media

This is the reason why we capital L O V E photo shoots. This Chicago wedding inspiration shoot. A Secret Loft Garden theme mixed with so many details our hearts just might be pitter pattering louder than the snare drum in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Rustic wood beams and floors juxtaposed with billowy, soft linens. A sweet springtime color palette and bubbles. And all captured by Nakai Photography. I think this might be what Heaven looks like. Swoon, swoon, swoon and then swoon some more in the gallery!

Event Design and Styling by Sweetchic Events, Inc. Floral by Vale of Enna. SWOON.

From Sweetchic Events … A few months ago, Kenny Nakai and Grace Ha-Kim of Vale of Enna Floral Design moved into their brand new shared studio in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. During a visit, it dawned on me that their loft-style studio – which features amazing hardwood floors, brick walls, exposed ducts, and wooden beams – was the perfect location for a photo shoot! Between the three of us, we had a venue, a photographer, a floral designer and an event planner. Voila! A photo shoot was born.

Luckily, already in the studio were Grace’s amazing wooden work table and Kenny’s vintage factory cart, both of which played a key role in the shoot. The concept for the shoot was to bring a bright, lush, springtime garden into an urban loft. The three hanging globe lights and the rounded curves of the glass candle holders Grace suggested, served as inspiration for the use of glass globes on the table, the escort card holders, draped on chairs, under the table, and especially the bubbles!

The color scheme grew from a wish to see spring colors – corals, pinks, peaches, and yellows – to briefly escape the seemingly endless months of Chicago’s gray winter. Grace’s lush designs truly brought a springtime garden indoors. The fabric draping by Art of Imagination brought a sense of intimacy, softness and romance to the spacious loft.  Mirror and chrome accents were used throughout the tablescape and on the escort card arrangement as a key element.  Accents included a mirrored table runner, chrome cube risers, and one of our favorite details, the mirrored table number which we hung from the beams. I envisioned reflective menus and escort cards and discovered mirror surface paper, on which I asked calligrapher, Mike of Write by Mike to lend his skillful handwriting.

Event Design and Styling: Sweetchic Events, Inc. / Photographer: Nakai Photography / Floral Design: Vale of Enna / Draping: Art of Imagination / Food: Pure Kitchen Catering / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Calligraphy: Write by Mike

After fawning over every perfect detail of this modern wedding, I am 100% positive that a city affair is where it’s at. Of course, the next adorable backyard soiree might have me dreaming of wide open fields but right now I am all about the cityscape. And every detail is exactly suited for this chic little number. The stunning, modern florals crafted by Hello Darling, the FONTastic papergoods by Smock + Spark, the killer images by Olivia Leigh Photographie – how could you go wrong with that lineup? Say I DO to the rest of this Chicago beauty in the gallery.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Olivia Leigh Photographie… The bride and groom, Kristen and Scott, were married on a very rainy day in September. Kristen looked phenomenal (!) in a couture Oscar de la Renta ensemble, complete with a removable peplum skirt and horsehair flower, along with a necklace that converted into a belt later in the evening. The ceremony was held at a historic neighborhood church, Saint Michael’s, that was just breathtaking inside. A family friend presided over the ceremony, making for a still-intimate ceremony despite the grandeur of the environment!  After the ceremony, we went on a bit of a photo adventure to several locations throughout the city, and the wedding party and immediate families also stopped for lunch at a restaurant/bar in Kristen and Scott’s neighborhood, PJ Clarke’s. This spoke to how relaxed the entire day was — it was pretty amazing to see Kristen in Oscar de la Renta and her maids in Vera Wang, eating at a bar in the afternoon! It ended up being a really special part of the day that allowed everyone to slow down and have some fun.

Following photos, we made our way to my always-favourite Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago. With the rain finally cleaning, guests sipped cocktails on the stunning terrace with views looking over all of downtown Chicago. Dinner and dancing followed in the museum’s restaurant, Terzo Piano, where Hello Darling did an amazing job on modern floral decor. Orchids, globes of flowers, succulents, and manzanitas echoed the modern architecture and clean lines.  Kristen and Scott had a lovely set of personalized paper goods that reflected the modern and artistic flair of their event. The reception featured intimate toasts and such a warm, family feeling. Having known each other for over a decade and with both of their families hailing from New Jersey, it truly felt like all of their guests knew one another, and the whole day was filled with such warmth and familiarity. It was such a joy!

Wedding Photography: Olivia Leigh Photographie / Wedding Ceremony Location: St. Michael’s in Old Town / Wedding Reception Location: Terzo Piano of the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago / Wedding Dress, Accessories & Shoes: Oscar de la Renta via Ultimate Bride / Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang / Wedding Invitations & Paper Goods: Smock + Spark via Magnificent Milestones / Floral Design: Hello Darling / DJ: Style Matters / Day of Coordinator & Calligraphy: Marilyn of Honey Bee Weddings / Hair & Makeup: Sonia Roselli

The pre-gamer to your Wedding Day, a.k.a the Engagement Party, can be such a fun way to get your feet wet when it comes to throwing big huge bashes to celebrate your love. Those are the best kind of parties in our opinion and this Chicago installment photographed by Melissa Hayes Photography is quite the stunner. Feast your eyes on some glamy, glitzy goodness concocted by Art of Imagination with even more to pore over in the gallery.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… With Phil being Australian and Chicago my hometown, the tyrannies of distance loomed large when we started planning our big day. Both of us are blessed with large families and a plethora of wonderful friends; we feared we’d single-handedly end the global airline slump with the number of plane tickets needed!

In the end, Phil and I decided to hold formal engagement parties in Chicago and Sydney to celebrate with our friends, and just have our families join us in Hawaii for an intimate ceremony in early 2012. With Sydney sure to sparkle in all its natural beauty, I was determined to show off my hometown and share it’s history, class, and old-school charm with our party guests. I fell in love with The Casino, a members-only club tucked behind the John Hancock Building, after attending a friend’s wedding there years ago. And, thanks to that same friend, we were lucky enough to secure the site for our Chicago reception.

Such an unusual and elegant oasis in the city, Phil and I embraced the club’s art deco splendor from the start, letting it dictate the mood for the entire evening. Guests were greeted by white-gloved doormen and white carnation boutonnieres were pinned on each man in the lobby. Phil’s boutonniere and my corsage had white ostrich feathers, as did the towering centerpiece in the club’s main room. (The women were handed faux pearls, sparkly diamond rings, boas, and flapper-esque headbands later in the evening.) We kept the table arrangements quite simple and opted for simple floating gardenias and candles.

A white tufted-leather circular bar served multiple signature cocktails in saucer Champagne glasses, which were accompanied by personalized napkins with funny facts about Phil and I. Between a cozy living room with a fireplace, a ballroom (complete with a 12-piece band) for dancing, and a petite side room with a photo booth full of props, guests had the run of the place all night long.

At midnight, we opened up a secret late-night lounge to encourage our guests to stay late. Living in Australia, I don’t get to see everyone at home often and really wanted to seize the opportunity to spend time together. Bar food was served and a jazz singer kept the party alive to 2 am! (Phil and I were the very last ones to leave.)  At the door, goody bags with mementos from our respective homes (Chicago Frango mints and Vegemite, of course!) sent us and our partygoers home happy.

Above all, we’d hoped for an evening that would be both fun and personal. The Casino proved to be the perfect venue for us to mingle, dine, and enjoy ourselves amongst all our loved ones and friends. I couldn’t be more proud of my elegant Windy City! And I simply can’t imagine a more perfect wedding … oops, I mean engagement party!

Photography: Melissa Hayes Photography / Event Design: Joseph Leigh Designs + Deborah Weisenhaus of Art of Imagination / Venue: The Casino / Band: The Steve Edwards Orchestra / Floral Design: Joseph Leigh Designs / Catering: The Casino / Makeup: Peter D. Noakes / Hair: Frankie Bush / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Dress: Naeem Khan / Invitations: Reagan Culbertson

Last weekend we featured a couple of wedding films and got the sweetest comments … about waking up on Saturdays, hoping we’d have posted another wedding video! So, Heather, Brittney and Andrea ~ today’s your lucky day. We appreciate your comments more than you can imagine!

We’re featuring a film from LOUDBYTE Cinematography. Although their offices are in Chicago, their passion is in Destination Weddings. So all you couples who haven’t signed on the dotted line with a cinematographer, DO pay close attention to Steve Gribben and Ton-Essa La’Rocque at Loudbyte.

Kemi and Grant’s trailer is SO mesmerizing. She really DOES get you at “I Do” …

from Loudbyte Cinematography on Vimeo

Grant and I first met at a pool hall when we were charged to be the wing-men for our friends’ blind date. A few weeks later, we all met back up at Grant’s house for a BBQ. Sparks flew from the beginning. Now, five years later, we are madly in love and married!

You can read what Kemi and Grant have to say about their experience with Loudbyte Cinematography right here!

Okay you winter brides, I hope you’re ready for this Chicago affair. Our bride has worked for LOLA Event Productions for years, so she obviously knew the amazing staff would be able to make her wedding dream become a wedding reality. And that they did. They were able to take the cold, blustery day in the Windy City and turn it into a warm and cozy Winter Wedding. And thankfully, Steve Koo Photography was there to capture every romantic detail. Read all about the wedding of one of their own on LOLA’s blog!

Don’t forget about the gallery for more!

From Steve Koo … Kristy and Brian had a wonderful, fun winter wedding at Salvage One, which is actually an antique and artifact store and, of course, also a gorgeous, unique event space. It was raining and rather gloomy outside, but Kristy was all smiles from the very start! They had their first look in the lobby of the Hotel Sax Chicago, then we headed straight to Salvage One. Even though we couldn’t go outside, there were more then enough fun places to take bridal party pictures inside the awesome space! LOLA Event Productions had done a beautiful job with the decor and the flowers, and DJ Chris Somera did a great job keeping the dance floor packed all night!

From our bride … When Brian and I first were engaged, we discussed what we wanted our wedding to be. We decided we wanted that warm cozy feeling you get when you’re inside on a blustery winter day, with close friends and family. On top of that, we wanted a rocking good party in a fun place and wanted the day to be stress free. As a bride who has worked for a wedding planning company for years, the planning came easy to me. I spent my time hunting down new-to-me vintage bride and groom cake toppers, picking out a dress, and of course stressing over what shoes to wear.

I already knew which DJ would keep the dance floor packed all night, and that Limelight would overachieve on food, cakes and service. Choosing trustworthy, wonderful vendors definitely helped ease the stress. The ladies at LOLA Event Productions were magic on the day. I let them know a few specifics of what I really liked when it came to floral and décor, explained what I was looking for very briefly, and then turned it over to them. And of course, it came out better than I could have ever dreamed. Despite having the kind of weather ones hopes will never happen when planning a December wedding in Chicago (snow, sleet, wind, cold), I was completely stress free on my wedding day. I wish every bride and groom the pure, unadulterated joy we had on our wedding day.

Hair: Jennifer Galavan / Makeup: City Lights Makeup / Planners: LOLA Event Productions / Flowers: LOLA Event Productions / Photographer: Steve Koo Photography / Entertainment: DJ Chris Somera from Mary Monica Music / Cakes: Limelight / Catering: Limelight / Venue: Salvage One / Host Hotel: Hotel Sax Chicago