The best piece of wedding advice I have ever heard is to throw out the rules. Write your wedding like you write your story – fabulous, personal, and with you at the center. When this Chicago couple could not land on the perfect wedding venue, they simply decided to hold the big event at their favorite restaurant and LOLA Event Productions was up to the task of making it perfect. When the stunning bride couldn’t find her dream dress off the rack, she turned to Dame Couture to custom design the perfect gown. And when contemplating how to capture it all, this smart couple picked Jeremy Lawson Photography. A decision we can all thank them for once visiting the gallery!
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From the Bride… Like most couples, we wanted to have a wedding that truly represented who we are while still incorporating the traditions that are important to each other and our families. After evaluating all the standard “Chicago Wedding” locations, we knew that we would have to look at some non-traditional wedding venues for our reception. One night, we went to our favorite local restaurant in Evanston, and we realized that we had to have our reception at the restaurant. Heather and the team at Union Pizzeria were more than accommodating, and we managed to have the “fun” wedding reception we had dreamed of! Our reception had the atmosphere of a party. We choose not to have a formal dinner but rather open seating with food served throughout the entire night. Josh and the Empty Pockets rocked the night away playing non-standard wedding music, but allowing our guests to bust a move on the beautiful dance floor of SPACE.
The women of Dame Couture, also located in Evanston, made me the most beautiful dress I could have ever imagined. When I was unable to find the exact dress I was looking for in the stores, I approached Holly at Dame Couture and without even seeing a picture of what I was looking for, she sketched my dream dress. Crizen Hasegawa very patiently did makeup and hair for the entire wedding party and made us all look absolutely radiant. Our main objective with our makeup and hair was to ensure that we kept our individual styles without looking too “overdone.” Andrea Allen provided floral arrangements that accentuated the beauty of the chapel but still had an aspect of “funk.” In addition, the subtle decor she placed through the reception venue allowed us to have the romantic feeling we were looking for, without taking away from the beauty of both Alice Millar Chapel and Union Pizzeria. LOLA Events was my absolute savior. Kristy and her team made sure that I had nothing to worry about and made the entire day seamless. I felt as though I was working with someone that I had known for years, even though we just met that month! It was a relief to have someone you trust, ensuring the success of your wedding day. And finally — Jeremy Lawson! Really, his pictures speak for themselves. I can’t imagine anyone else shooting our wedding.
Wedding Photography: Jeremy Lawson Photography / Ceremony: Alice Millar Chapel at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois / Reception: Union Pizzeria + SPACE in Evanston, Illinois / Floral Design: Andrea Allen / Event Planning: LOLA Event Productions / Wedding Invitations: Lovely Paperie / Band: Josh and the Empty Pockets / Accommodations: Hilton Orrington/Evanston / Custom Wedding Dress: Dame Couture / Shoes: TOMS / Makeup: Crizen Hasegawa Hair & Makeup