DIY has come a long way. From overly crafty to perfectly classic, it’s amazing how SMPers have made doing it yourself oh-so-chic. This gorgeous Bride is the perfect example. She took DIY and made it all her own. Her timeless, jewel tone-infused soiree captured by Jaclyn Simpson Photography will have us smiling for days, and you can see all the reasons why right here.
From the Bride… My style is classic, but I inherited a love of bold retro colors from my dad, so our color scheme became jewel tones. A punchy purple was brought out in the bridesmaid dresses and peonies, while our paper products added bold blues, pinks, and greens. My love of art deco and glamour came out in the smaller touches like my shoes and jewelry, so as not to haunt the groom.
Our wedding was filled with DIYs, from all paper products to the cake to peony arrangements in the centers of the reception tables. The ladies in the family called our wedding “a labor of love,” and I’m so grateful for the late night alternations sessions, flower arranging, and invitation printing I shared with so many women in my family and Evan’s. They ultimately brought us closer together.
Holding the ceremony in Evan’s home church in Elmhurst made our service even more personal. Choosing Carlucci in Downer’s Grove as our reception venue enabled us to have a relaxed atmosphere with indoor eating and outdoor cocktail hour and dancing, our ideal plan. And being an Italian restaurant, the food was second-to-none. Our DJ, Clint, just “got us” and played music that kept the party going well past midnight.
Jaclyn Simpson, our photographer, was my favorite vendor to choose and ultimately made us the happiest on our wedding day and for the months following. She wasn’t invasive at all (in fact, I barely noticed her) but she was able to capture moments in such a way that it feels like I’m reliving them from such a close proximity. If I can advise one thing to brides – choose a photographer whose personality and style you love because it will make for a pleasant wedding day and the happiest physical memories afterwards.
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Wedding Photography: Jaclyn Simpson Photography | Ceremony Venue: Yorkfield Presbyterian Church in Elmhurst, Illinois | Reception Venue: Carlucci Restaurant in Downers Grove, Illinois | Floral Design: Phillip’s Flowers | Hotel: Marriott Suites in Downers Grove, Illinois | Outdoor Photo Venue: Morton Arboretum | Wedding Cake: Alissa Stormer, family | Reception Music: DJ Clint from The Pros | Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston | Bride’s Earrings: Nadri via Nordstrom | Bride’s Bracelet: Vintage | Bride’s Shoes: Ivanka Trump via TJ Maxx | Bridesmaids’ Attire: J.Crew | Mens Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Hair + Makeup: Shear Encounter (630.968.0201)