Whether you’re engaged or a well-seasoned wedding lover, there are certain weddings you see that just get engrained in your mind. There’s that certain something that makes it so special and so magnificent that you can’t help comparing all other weddings to it and you continue to use it as inspiration for your big day or just for some mid-morning eye candy. For me, all of the moments captured through the lens of Emilia Jane Photography of this elegant wedding at the breathtaking Assumption Catholic Church and University Club of Chicago sit well within this category of unforgettable weddings. So prepare your inspiration boards and notebooks and dive into the gallery right here.
From the Bride… Our wedding was everything I could have hoped for and more. They say that there is always something that goes wrong, but I was either lucky enough not to notice it or the day was as perfect as it seemed. When we started planning our wedding, it was a whirlwind. We knew we wanted it to be in Chicago, our hometown, and that we wanted all of our friends and family to know how much the city means to us. We made Chicago a focus by using antique postcards of the city as our save-the-date cards and by using different locations throughout the city as our table names. Another theme of our wedding was the fleur de lis — I have always found it a beautiful symbol, especially since I studied abroad in Florence. We carried the theme throughout our invitation suite, place cards and stationery.
One of the most special things we did in the wedding was our guest book. We enjoy wine (who doesn’t?), and I collect the corks of the bottles we have drunk at special occasions. We had our guests sign these corks as a guest book, and my husband is going to use them to make a table that will always serve as a reminder of our family and friends and our special day. Our favorite memory is our first dance. We took lessons beforehand, and while we may not have looked fantastic, we felt like professionals. It was one part of the wedding where it really just felt like the two of us alone in the room, totally soaking up the moment.
The best piece of advice I received, and what I would tell any future bride, is don’t forget to spend a moment just the two of you before you go into the reception. That is really what the day is all about, and it will fly by, so it is incredibly special to have that particular memory of just enjoying everything that has and will go on during the day.
Wedding Photography: Emilia Jane Photography / Ceremony: Assumption Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: University Club of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design: Toni Lenzi of Simply Flowers Design Studio / Band: Front of House via Arlen Music Productions / Wedding Dress: Marisa via Macy’s / Hair + Makeup: Sonia Roselli / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Men’s Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse