Parisian Inspired Chicago Wedding by Melissa Hayes Photography

Another wonderful Wedding Wednesday is upon us, SMPers – and you know what that means.  A morning, noon and night of gorgeous inspiration, all courtesy of NINE downright glorious weddings guaranteed to make your heart sing.  So, sit back, relax and prepare yourselves for a day of all caps LOVELY – and don’t forget to check out those galleries for even more pretty!

Up first in our fabulous lineup is a Chicago wedding that will, put simply, rock.your.world.  It’s a Parisian-inspired love fest with pretty pink hues, beautiful blooms by Cornelia McNamara Flowers and a bride who gives new meaning to the word stunning.  (She’s GORGEOUS.)  The ever-amazing Melissa Hayes Photography snapped up all of the love-filled details and the gallery is a definite must-see.  Join me there for more.

From the Bride… My husband and I wanted a wedding that was elegant, but also fun and memorable. Originally, we booked a different venue, but we found out five months before the wedding that the venue was closing! We were so lucky to have found the Blackstone — it was meant to be! We used the historic Blackstone Hotel as our inspiration. We opened the windows in the ballroom to show our guests Grant Park. We used soft pastels so that we did not compete with the breathtaking ballroom. I told our florist to use springtime in Paris as her inspiration for the flowers. I think she captured it beautifully. Our wedding had a French feel, which was perfect since we went to France for our honeymoon. It’s hard to pick one moment, but one of my favorite memories is of the first dance. The band learned the Adele version of “Make You Feel My Love,” and I remember just being so unbelievably happy. Every time I hear that song, it brings me right back and I smile. 

During planning, I browsed Style Me Pretty everyday with my morning coffee.  I found a lot of my vendors from weddings that I liked on this site. My advice to brides is to do your research. Your vendors can really make or break your day. My other advice is to steal a few moments with your husband during the wedding day, and remember that the day is about your love for each other. Our wedding day was truly everything that we hoped for and more. We extend our utmost thanks to our family, friends and vendors for their support throughout the planning process.

Wedding Photography: Melissa Hayes Photography / Ceremony: St. Michael’s in Old Town in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: The Renaissance Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design: Cornelia McNamara Flowers / Wedding Day Coordination: Tara Moser of LOLA Event Productions / Wedding Cinematography: Wedding Films / Wedding Cake: Cake (Formerly Take the Cake) / Wedding Invitations: By Invitation Only / Calligraphy: Ever After NY / Paper Products: Vanessa Weinstein / Place Cards: Sunny & Co. / Ceremony Music: Daniel Stucker (dstucker@strikes.org) /  Band: High Society Orchestra / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Bracelet: A Gift from the Groom / Bride’s Earrings: Borrowed from the Groom’s Sister / Bride’s Veil: Weddings 826 / Hair: Erin Graham (skinpact@gmail.com) / Makeup: Kristen Repta / Bridesmaid’s Dress: Watters / Groom’s Tuxedo: Jack Victor