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!

It was the first night on our new motor home (where we stay at the various race tracks. We are in it almost as much as our actual homes) that Kyle and I had designed together at Daytona International Speedway.  I was getting ready for bed and Kyle brought me into the living and was commenting on how much he loved our new motor home and how it was special because we designed it together.  Then he started talking about us and how happy he was and our lives together and our future and he told me how much he loved me. As he was saying this he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I was shaking and crying and of course said YES.

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

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