Illinois Weddings

Museum Religious Institution

Settings

Styles

A Jewel Tone Wedding Palette? See How It’s Done!

From Amor In Motion… Anthony Marlowe, NASCAR team owner also recognized among the “Youngest CEOs Under 30” as featured on Inc. Magazine’s List of “Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies” marries the DASHING fit-to-be a princess, Julia Dirks.

An urban city wedding with timeless glamour and luxury. White, off the shoulder Calvin Klein bridesmaid dresses, all-white peonies and roses, men decked out in the finest of Vera Wang tuxedos in the immaculate historical architectural beauty of Chicago, the Field Museum, is what it took to pull off this timeless, classic, romantic wedding.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

View All Collections

I could go on and on about the design of this day. The rich, jewel-tone color palette. The beautiful Chicago setting. The Rosa Clara dress with an Old Hollywood vibe. But what really, really gets me? The love story behind it all. I’m talking childhood friends who were reacquainted as adults and married in the city near and dear to their hearts. Art of Imagination provided the ceremony backdrop at The Langham, Chicago, the bride planned every detail, and Clary Pfeiffer shot the unforgettable gallery. Pssst: the film below from Amor in Motion is everything.

[iframe https://player.vimeo.com/video/155767440?color=dedede 600 338]

Colors

Seasons

Winter Weddings

Settings

Ballroom Weddings Hotels + Resorts Weddings

Styles

A Boho Horse Farm Wedding With Loads of Style

From The Bride… Sometimes I still cannot believe how absolutely perfect our wedding day was. From the vibrant jewel tone flowers to being surrounded by so many friends and family, our day felt like a fairytale. Our day came together even better than I could have imagined thanks to the talented vendors that we worked with. As we reminisce (often) about the many wonderful moments it is so hard to pick favorites.

One of my favorite moments was seeing my dad for the first time. There were some challenges with my dress prior to our wedding day so finally getting to put it on and feel like a bride was such a special moment. My dad was one of the first people that I saw and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. He walked in, looked at me and with a huge grin on his face said “magnificent.” I’ll never forget that moment.

My mother-in-law always makes a point to recognize when moments happen that aren’t planned. One of my other favorites on our day was one of those unplanned moments. When we walked out to the Chicago Riverwalk to start taking pictures there were a 4 men playing some street music. All of a sudden they started playing songs like “At Last” for us which prompted Kevin and I to brush up on our dancing skills before our official first dance later that night. Kevin and I are both born and raised Chicago and live only a quarter mile from where we got married so it was such a sweet moment to dance on the streets of where our love story began, just the two of us, before the chaos of the day really began.

When we started having conversations about our wedding ceremony Kevin felt strongly about writing our own vows. I’m a crier at almost anything so I didn’t trust myself to be able to speak or receive Kevin’s promises without being a huge puddle but I agreed to write our own because I thought maybe the adrenaline of that day would allow me to keep it together. I cannot believe that at one point I didn’t want to write our own vows. We agreed on the word count and then never talked about them until we shared them with each other. I’m still shocked at how perfect our promises fit together. Getting to stand before Kevin and our community, I got to promise my heart, my support and my life to him. And I got to receive similar but different promises from Kevin. Hands down, the best.

Kevin and I have actually known each other our entire lives. When our moms were twenty somethings they lived in Chicago and ended up working together which started a life long friendship between our two families. When we were kids our families would go on vacations to Disney World and the Rocky Mountains together. Kevin just felt like another older brother.

But the story gets weirder. Three years ago, right around this time, my brother was three months from getting married to my mom’s other best friend’s daughter. Yes, it sounds made up but it’s real. I’ve known my husband and my sister in law my entire life thanks to my mom. I had just gotten out of a serious relationship and didn’t have a date to the wedding. One afternoon I was sitting in the Fort Meyers airport with Kevin’s mom waiting to fly back to Chicago together and she mentioned I should take Kevin to the wedding. She noted that he’d already be there, he’s good friends with my brother, he’d be a great date, he’d dance with me and tell me I looked pretty but there would be no expectation at all. That sounded perfect. I picked up the phone two weeks later and invited him as my date.

As we danced the night away together at my brother’s wedding, it was the first time that we ever spent time together as adults and we realized there might be something else there besides just being close family friends. I like to joke with Kevin that it was the beginning of the end. But it really was the beginning of the best “beginning” – us together. The rest of that summer we spent lots of time together trying to figure out what we were and eventually realized that we didn’t want to do life with out each other. A year and a half later, Kevin proposed on a Tuesday night over a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne and frozen pizza in my little one bedroom apartment and made our close family friends officially family.

When “home” is a private estate outside of Chicago, it’s a no-brainer to have an at-home wedding. The family horse farm was the perfect venue for this fun duo to create their dream day — complete with an all-night dance party thanks to Toast & Jam and endless fun with Smilebooth. And thanks to Averyhouse‘s gorgeous photography, we have lots pretty for you to explore in The Vault!

Colors

Seasons

Backyard Outdoor Weddings

Settings

Styles

Rustic

From Averyhouse…If the thought of a tented backyard wedding complete with a horse stable, wild flower arrangements, and the perfect Summer breeze makes you gush with excitement then Lauren + Nick’s wedding is right up your alley. We got to know Lauren + Nick during their Oak Park Engagement Session when these two made the big move from Chicago to their new home together. Nothing gets us more excited for a wedding then when we know our client’s unique style is such a great fit with ours. Nick had mentioned to us that the wedding would be on his family’s private estate and we really had no idea what to expect. From Lauren’s perfectly whispy gown for her outdoor affair to their pastel color palette we couldn’t help but share these beautiful details with all of you. With some sunshine above, but rain on the forecast these two had a simple + sweet ceremony followed by custom cocktails (and local beers) on the lawn. Not to mention some mouth watering hors d’ oeuvres for guests to pick on before being led to a white tent adorned with locally farmed flowers planted just for their wedding. With Toast & Jam keeping the dance floor packed and Smilebooth to document all of the late night shenanigans we’ll be dreaming about this unique tented wedding for years to come.

Sleek + Sophisticated Winter Chicago Wedding

According to this gorgeous Bride, she and her new hubs “wouldn’t change a thing about our Chicago wedding in late November 2015.” And honestly? Neither would we, because every detail — from the lovely white bouquets to the gray and gold color palette — makes us feel as happy as this guy. So, do yourself a favor and head to The Vault for all kinds of pretty, thanks to Winsome and Wright!

Colors

Seasons

Winter Weddings

Settings

Urban Space

Styles

An Industrial-Chic Wedding Like You’ve Never Seen!

From The Bride…To be fully honest, we wouldn’t change a thing about our Chicago wedding in late November 2015. From having all of our family and friends in one place at one time to every single vendor making this “Type A” bride as calm and happy as could be, the day truly was the best ever. The big decisions for the wedding came easily – the venue, the caterer, the DJ, the florist, the photographer – because we fell in love with each one as soon as we met them!

Our favorite part of the day was all of the personal touches we were able to put on our wedding day: Our friend, Wyatt, and Ryan’s cousin, Joni, played guitar and sang at our ceremony. Not a guest in the room had a dry eye at the end of their version of Better Together! Anna’s coworker and friend, Angela, read a personalized piece at our ceremony that epitomized us. Faith from Winsome + Wright, as you can see, took our breath away with how flawlessly she captured our big day. Ryan’s uncle, Gary, performed our ceremony and made it so personal for us by integrating our family into our vows to each other. Anna’s bridesmaid, Kendall, made all 20 of the individual, absolutely delicious, table cakes. She’s a champ. Ryan’s groomsman, Jason, and a family friend, Jerry Rumler, home-brewed, personalized craft beer for our cocktail hour and reception that were huge hits! Tiffany from Foraged Floral is a dear friend that flew across the country to provide florals for our big day that couldn’t have been more beautiful.

We hand-wrote personalized place-setting notes for each of the 140 guests to emphasize how important each guest was to us! We wanted each guest to know how truly thankful we were to have them there with us to celebrate our forever commitment to each other. We not only hope that our guests had a great time that day, but that they’ll also remember us and our love for each other for a very long time. We know we will never forget them and our perfect wedding day!

I never gave a second thought to March Madness – this is, until it came to the pages of SMP. We brought you March Madness, real wedding style and we’re continuing the countdown to your bracket winner. But first, let’s stop and spend some time with this chic little number that took home the “modern” crown. It’s a urban wedding designed by Foraged Floral with an industrial-chic twist, and thanks to Olivia Leigh Photographie the party can continue in The Vault.

Click below to see all the reception details!

Industrial Chic Restaurant Reception

View Slideshow

Industrial Chic Restaurant Reception

View Slideshow

From Foraged Floral…Christina and Howard had a vision of an intimate and naturally styled wedding in downtown Chicago. They were inspired by the unique decor that The Kitchen (a completely new restaurant and venue – we were one of their first weddings!) offered with its industrial charm, but also wanted the environment to be cozy, and intimate, for their guests to enjoy and relax. They decided on not having a bridal party at all, so their friends and family could all relax and not stress about anything. We worked together for many months planning and perfecting the vision they had, which included many seasonal inspired florals to compliment the botanical prints they loved, as well as some beautiful handcrafted pieces.

Their ceremony took place at Bond Chapel, on the University of Chicago’s campus, where Christina attended. The chapel has beautiful stained glass windows, amazing wooden details and a cozy atmosphere. We brought in a classically trained pianist to serenade guests with music that you wouldn’t find at your normal wedding (more classical piano pieces from operas and theatrical events, no Canon in D here!), which really set the tone for a sophisticated and unique ceremony. After the ceremony, guests were transported to The Kitchen, just along the river in downtown Chicago, for a delicious and unique family style dinner among long, wooden communal tables and lounge areas.

As their florist and event designer, I really loved designing their arrangements and bouquets, but some of my favorite details were the smallest ones – the vintage botanical print book that Velvet Raptor made into a guestbook, the fact that they hand wrote each couple a letter on handmade paper, which designated where they would sit at the family style tables with calligraphy by BUSHYL, and even the signature drinks they crafted together. I have to admit, watching each guest open the envelope with their seating assignment listed on it, only to find a handwritten note from the couple was the sweetest thing, and something I know they will cherish for a long time.

The florals used for Christina and Howard were something special and I spent many weeks planning out exactly what flowers I wanted to used to fit their theme and warm palette. We incorporated a large amount of seasonal flowers like local dahlias, garden roses, fall foliage, scabiosa, and we were lucky enough to get peonies too! :) SO rare in October, but we were so happy!

Olivia Leigh, who is nothing short of amazing, captured the day with film and digital images, which I love! Olivia truly knows how to make everything pop and was so impressed with the images she passed along to us after their wedding.

Nothing was missed, as they wanted their guests to feel at home, comfortable and loved. Christina and Howard are some of the nicest, most gracious and wonderful people out there, and they deserved nothing but the best for their October celebration in Chicago! Congrats to Christina and Howard!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Wedding Dresses

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

View All Collections

Wedding Dresses

Alvina Valenta

Fall 2015

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

View All Collections

Romantic Downtown Chicago Wedding

Wanting to bring their love of the outdoors in, this darling duo turned to a talented team of vendors to bring their spectacular vision to an awe-inspiring reality. Think gorgeous floral creations from HMR Designs, a stunning Anne Barge gown from Fabulous Frocks Of Alexandria and brilliant captures from the always-amazing Cristina G Photography. All set against a breathtaking Ivy Room backdrop, this, loves, is an absolute must-see. Head to THE VAULT for more.

Colors

Seasons

Outdoor Weddings Weddings in Historical Venues

Settings

Styles

Al Fresco

From The Bride… I am a romantic at heart and appreciate historic buildings not only for their architecture but for the stories they tell us about the people who lived or worked in them. When Mike and I decided to get married in Chicago, I wanted to find a space that told a story and to which I could bring what I love the most, nature. I find timeless beauty in the simplicity of plain wood, grass and fresh flowers. I imagined how beautiful it would be to have a candle lit dinner, in the woods, surrounded by people we love. That image inspired every detail of our wedding reception, from the white flower and green foliage garland centerpiece to the candle lit wood plank chandeliers and the three wedding cakes simply decorated with soft fondant ruffles, small flowers or light gold paint.

That same vision was the inspiration for the dinner menu. I wanted to offer our guests an exquisite plant-based (exclusively vegan) menu that would highlight the flavors of fresh vegetables, nuts and whole grains. Our wedding turned out better than I imagined. Old and new friends met in a space where Mike and I felt joy, as although we met at work we truly bonded running outside… along the Charles River in Boston.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Anne Barge

Spring 2012

Fall 2012

Spring 2014

Fall 2013

Fall 2014 Couture

Fall 2014 Black Label

View All Collections

Rustic + Contemporary Elegant Ballroom Wedding

Julie and Tom’s elegant ballroom wedding is filled with enough pretty that it’ll surely fill your Pinterest boards, but more than that? It’s a sweet celebration of boy meets girl that’s both organically chic and elegantly urban at the same time. With the talented averyhouse behind the lens this is one gallery that is sure to turn ballroom weddings up a notch, and we’ve got it all waiting in The Vault!

Colors

Seasons

Hotels + Resorts Weddings

Settings

Styles

Whimsical

From averyhouse… Still running off the good vibes from Julie + Tom’s Nature Boardwalk Engagement Session we couldn’t believe it was already time for their wedding at the W City Center! A country girl at heart, we were thrilled to hear to hear that Julie was planning a romantic & elegant wedding that was the perfect mix of city chic all the while maintaining an organic spirit. Both Julie and her husband to be got ready at the W’s City Center and with it’s centralized location we were able to easily make our way over to the Art Institute’s South Garden for their first look. With it’s stunningly beautiful locust trees in full bloom we took advantage of the gorgeous weather for portraits of their blush and burgundy clad wedding party. Guests of the ceremony were literally taken aback by the stunning beauty of the gold chandeliers and flickering candlelight that lined Julie + tom’s aisle. And as Julie took her first steps towards becoming a wife you can see the excitement beaming from her huge smile. The enchanted garden theme carried through from the luxurious escort card table topped with moss, oak, and ivy to their extravagant reception. Looking for a fun way to tie in unique details to your wedding day? These adorable gold horses that held guests escort cards were a cute nod to Julie’s horseback riding days. After Tom’s emotional speech to his new wife everyone hit the dance floor HARD and the party continued until well into the evening. We think this wedding is pure magic!

Romantic Racquet Club of Chicago Wedding

Infused with the loveliest green hues and elegant styling throughout, this chic Chicago wedding at the Racquet Club Of Chicago is prettiest in its purest form. With Two Birds Photography behind the lens to ensure every moment was captured in the most perfect of ways, we are all left with a gallery too gorgeous to ignore. See it all in the VAULT.

Colors

Seasons

Spring Weddings

Settings

Ballroom Weddings Religious Institution

Styles

Tented At Home Chicago Wedding

From The Bride…Waking up on a surprisingly sunny, 75 degree early May day in Chicago, Elizabeth and Ben knew their wedding day would be special from the start. Ben put the final touches on his groom’s speech at home, while Elizabeth had a quiet breakfast with her Mom who would preside at their ceremony.

The festivities kicked off with their first look in NoMi’s wine cellar at the Park Hyatt, where Ben proposed in a suite overlooking Lake Michigan 15 months before following a whirlwind engagement scavenger hunt.

Two Birds photography captured their favorite photos of the day with the wedding party at iconic Chicago landmarks before arriving at the church.

An intimate ceremony full of positive tears was exactly the family gathering they envisioned. Their Racquet Club reception was characterized by great food, a packed dance floor, and speeches that captured the authentic love and meaning of the day.

Elizabeth and Ben topped off their perfect day with a shared slice of wedding cake at 2am while reading through the guestbook well wishes of their best friends and family. What a day to #sayyestothehess.

My favorite moment was being serenaded with “Set Your Heart on the Higher Gifts” by an all-family choir during the ceremony.

Ben’s favorite moment was kissing Elizabeth as family and friends cheered his groom’s speech with a standing ovation.

My very favorite weddings are typically classic as can be. I’m all about elegance and formality paired with family and tradition. Oh and if a Monique Lhuillier ballgown happens to be involved, you certainly won’t hear me complaining. So just imagine my excitement once I got my hands on these images from Jose Villa. True to form, he perfectly captured a celebration inspired by decades past, brought to life by Kehoe Designs and Reva Nathan. Follow me to The Vault for a glimpse into the moments that made up this day.

Colors

Seasons

Backyard Outdoor Weddings

Settings

Styles

Al Fresco

From The Bride…Our wedding was at our family home in the suburbs of Chicago. It was important to both of us to get married in an intimate setting where we could create the vision we had for the evening without a ton of constraints. We were inspired by images with lots of greenery and exuberant amounts of delicate flowers. With this in mind, we wanted to highlight the natural beauty of the venue and create an environment dripping in decadence. Our main goal was to try and create an over-the-top party inspired by decades past with elements of art deco and an abundance of gold – these juxtaposing ideas were executed flawlessy by our event team by utilizing a transparent tent and lining the tent was with trees. This gave the illusion that guest were dining al fresco while the tables had overflowing boxes of flowers and endless amounts of vintage pastel China lending to the air of luxury and extravagance.

Through the entire planning and execution of our special day we wanted our personalities to shine through and make a lasting impact on all who were in attendance. Since I am a Chef & Brian loves to eat, food was a huge part part of the puzzle for us and we added little surprises all along the way to pay homage to our other true love- some of the highlights included a sushi station by our favorite local restaurant (sushi dokku), an entire tent fashioned into a bakery named after my pastry company, Sweet Lyon, complete with a neon sign and all! The pastry tent was stocked with desserts from all of our favorite bakeries across Chicago and there was custom packaging branded for the day to send guests home with goodies. Late night we had a pancake food truck (Baby Cakes) and a portable wood burning oven making the most delicious pizzas for guests to take on the buses back to the city by The Nomad food company.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

View All Collections

Romantic Candle Lit Wedding at The Ivy Room

The secret is out, The Ivy Room wins when it comes to wedding day venues. For not only does this stunning hidden gem provide a beautiful courtyard, but it’s also got a ballroom that makes you feel like you’ve entered a private oasis. So it comes as no surprise that Brooke and Brian’s nuptials at this stunning venue were gorgeous to say the least. Complete with a Vera Wang gown and thoughtful details through, Britta Hundertmark captured every moment to share and it’s waiting for you in The Vault!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/139925877 600 338]

Colors

Seasons

Classic Chicago Wedding at the Rooftop Terrace in Millennium Park

Settings

Event Venue

Styles

Romantic

From Britta Hundertmark… Brooke and Brian were married at the lovely Ivy Room, in Chicago. If you have not yet seen this venue, it is a stunning hidden gem, with a beautiful courtyard, and a ballroom that makes you feel like you have entered someone’s private home. The space feels naturally romantic and cozy, but also exquisitely grand at the same time.

The morning of Brooke and Brian’s wedding we were greeted with temperatures will into the 90s, with high humidity (Oh, Chicago in the summer). The original plans for an outdoor ceremony were changed at the very last possible minute, to assure that guests would be comfortable. I watched in awe as the amazing teams from HMR designs and the Ivy room quickly transformed a portion of the reception space into one of the most beautiful indoor ceremony space I could have imagined.

Every piece of this day was carefully chosen by Brooke, who has an incredible eye for style. Her Vera Wang gown paired with Ivanka Trump flats created the perfect bridal look, that will always feel timeless. The reception details were exquisite. Every detail, from the china, to the vases, to the addition of mirrored tables, art deco inspired cake, and gorgeous cocktails, made the guests feel like they were walking into a dream. The entire day was filled with one magical moment and detail after another. The speeches were heartfelt and the dancing was on point. I couldn’t have enjoyed photographing this day any more.

[dotted]

More Wedding Day Looks Right Here!

Old Hollywood Gowns | Lace Gowns | Beaded Gowns | Classic Gowns

Give me a rich color palette, a killer dress, a candlelit reception plus the cutest crew of littles you ever did see, and officially won my wedding loving heart. Add in the planning talents of Bliss Wedding & Events, and Tec Petaja behind the camera and it’s officially next level. Join me in The Vault to see a city celebration done so very right.

Colors

Seasons

Outdoor Weddings Religious Institution

Settings

Styles

Elegant Fall Chicago Wedding at The Standard Club

From Tec Petaja… Claire and Peter knew from the start they wanted their wedding to be an intimate affair. Their goal was to have everyone feeling like dinner guests in their home, in the heart of downtown Chicago. They chose the Harris Rooftop Terrace in Millennium Park for its location but wanted the vast space to become warm and cozy.

To do this, they hired Renny Pedersen of Bliss Weddings & Events to transform the space to achieve their dinner party vibe. Renny partnered with Jesse Deckard, design chief at Bliss, to drop the 30 foot ceiling down to 15 feet to create a soft, warm tented effect.

Candles, seasonal floral in deep jewel tones, herbs in terracotta pots, topiaries, succulents, and grasses covered the mirror-top tables creating a glamourous yet comfortable feel. Natural linens and hundreds of other textures were used throughout the design and the garden-meets-city vibe. It was a chilly Chicago evening, but walking into the reception guests would never know it thanks to the ambiance (and space heaters!)

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Elizabeth Fillmore

Fall 2013

Fall 2014

ON - Going

Spring 2013

Spring 2014

View All Collections

In between the city scenes and glowing candlelight, this day captured by Shaun Menary Photography is layered with an irresistibly warm love. A love full of tradition and heirlooms, of newlywed glances and giddy cake cuttings, just for starters. Make sure to catch the entire wedding story in The Vault!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/150561120 600 338]

Colors

Seasons

Settings

Ballroom Weddings

Styles

Organic Botanical Inspired Downtown Chicago Wedding

From The Bride…Introduced by our sweet and amazing hairstylist, who we are forever grateful to, I realized after our first date that Dani was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and took a chance and began documenting our first 40 dates. This eventually became part of our proposal.

Born in Chicago, raised in Dallas, I knew I wanted to take our special day to the city that held my most precious memories with family. And for the groom being raised in Dallas with a large family, primarily from Israel, it was important for us to find a way to combine both of our traditions. Luckily my mother and best friend, is a Certified Meeting Professional, so I had the best partner helping us bring our visions together.

The Standard Club, situated in the heart of Chicago’s business and cultural community, became the perfect location to bring family and friends together from all over the world. An elegant atmosphere with large open spaces, beautiful hardwood floors, Baccarat Crystal chandeliers, and historic detail, provided the beautiful backdrop for this celebration. The ceremony was a total dream with a chuppah romantically lit with hanging candles and attended by those closest to us.

There were many features that made our wedding, beautiful, elegant, and romantic, but it was the smallest details that most people were unaware of that brought the most meaning to our ceremony. I wore a garter and our late nana’s watch that my sister wore at her wedding. I carried a handkerchief that belonged to my late grandfather accompanied my something blue. Diamond earrings from my most fashionable grandmother, who also helped select my dream wedding dress, and my gold wedding band created from jewelry belonging to my great-grandmother. In addition, during the ceremony, Dani and I were wrapped in his late grandfathers Talis that’s over 100 years old.

We enjoyed every minute of our wedding, and as everyone says it goes by entirely too fast, we made sure to stop and take in those extremely special and rare moments.

Lastly, there are not enough good things we could say about Shaun Menary Photography. Shaun and Shannon were such a dream to work with, and the value of their photos is beyond incredible. We feel exceptionally lucky to have such a beautiful record of our most wonderful day.

This dream Monique Lhuillier gown is the wedding dress equivalent of business in the front and party in the back. And truth be told? I’m wholeheartedly obsessed. It’s the kind of dress that sets the scenes for only the prettiest of days, and the designers at Foraged Floral didn’t disappoint. Go ahead and bookmark this baby, because Olivia Leigh photographed a gallery you’ll want to revisit time and time again.

Colors

Seasons

Eatery Religious Institution

Settings

Styles

Timeless + Elegant Chicago Fall Wedding at Jacob Henry Mansion

From Foraged Floral…Christina and Howard had a vision of an intimate and naturally styled wedding in downtown Chicago. They were inspired by the unique decor that The Kitchen (a completely new restaurant and venue – we were one of their first weddings!) offered with its industrial charm, but also wanted the environment to be cozy, and intimate, for their guests to enjoy and relax. They decided on not having a bridal party at all, so their friends and family could all relax and not stress about anything. We worked together for many months planning and perfecting the vision they had, which included many seasonal inspired florals to compliment the botanical prints they loved, as well as some beautiful handcrafted pieces.

Their ceremony took place at Bond Chapel, on the University of Chicago’s campus, where Christina attended. The chapel has beautiful stained glass windows, amazing wooden details and a cozy atmosphere. We brought in a classically trained pianist to serenade guests with music that you wouldn’t find at your normal wedding (more classical piano pieces from operas and theatrical events, no Canon in D here!), which really set the tone for a sophisticated and unique ceremony. After the ceremony, guests were transported to The Kitchen, just along the river in downtown Chicago, for a delicious and unique family style dinner among long, wooden communal tables and lounge areas.

As their florist and event designer, I really loved designing their arrangements and bouquets, but some of my favorite details were the smallest ones – the vintage botanical print book that Velvet Raptor made into a guestbook, the fact that they hand wrote each couple a letter on handmade paper, which designated where they would sit at the family style tables with calligraphy by BUSHYL, and even the signature drinks they crafted together. I have to admit, watching each guest open the envelope with their seating assignment listed on it, only to find a handwritten note from the couple was the sweetest thing, and something I know they will cherish for a long time.

The florals used for Christina and Howard were something special and I spent many weeks planning out exactly what flowers I wanted to used to fit their theme and warm palette. We incorporated a large amount of seasonal flowers like local dahlias, garden roses, fall foliage, scabiosa, and we were lucky enough to get peonies too! :) SO rare in October, but we were so happy!

Olivia Leigh, who is nothing short of amazing, captured the day with film and digital images, which I love! Olivia truly knows how to make everything pop and was so impressed with the images she passed along to us after their wedding.

Nothing was missed, as they wanted their guests to feel at home, comfortable and loved. Christina and Howard are some of the nicest, most gracious and wonderful people out there, and they deserved nothing but the best for their October celebration in Chicago! Congrats to Christina and Howard!!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

View All Collections

To say that we’re majorly color crushing on Liann and Kyle’s Big Day would be putting it lightly. Because not only did these two plan the perfect fall celebration complete with soft grays and saturated seasonal hues, but they also enlisted the ever-so-talented Jacqui Cole Photography to capture every happy moment and we’ve got to say we’re obsessed. See it all in THE VAULT!

From Jacqui Cole Photography.. Chicago gave Liann and Kyle all of its’ beautiful colors on this perfect October day! Liann and Kyle chose to wed at the historic Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet, IL. Many of Liann’s decor items were DIY with the help of family and friends. When you were at the wedding it really felt like every guest had put a piece of their heart into planning the day. One of the best moments of the day had to be when a few of the guests broke out into a Jimmy Fallon ‘lip sync battle’ at the reception! To say the crowd couldn’t stop laughing is an understatement! SO many congratulations to the beautiful couple – I’m so very happy for you both!

From the Bride… Kyle and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity we had to customize each decision there was to make. We didn’t want to be confined by traditions or strung along by the day. We envisioned a day that would intentionally involve those closest to us, that would honor our parents and grandparents, and that would celebrate a love that we were taught to know. When choosing colors, we always wanted to pick colors that would be timeless. When we chose a Victorian mansion as the venue, we knew the colors needed to be neutral to not clash with the vibrant ones in the church and reception space. Kyle loved the idea of charcoal suits, and I wanted floor-length dresses in the taupe family.

We incorporated many DIY elements in the wedding day. My mom and sister designed the centerpieces themselves, collecting mercury glass from friends and various stores. Any signs at the reception were put into frames that went with the Victorian décor. There was also a photo tribute to my grandmother who had passed away a few months before the wedding. The flowers were designed by my friend Jenny of Petals Design Co. She did such a great job keeping it neutral, but tying in some deeper tones to compliment the elegant setting. The cake was designed and made by my friend Marla Wang. We aren’t the biggest icing fans so we knew we wanted a “naked” cake, but Marla took it from there! My gown was designed by Ellis. It was a complete surprise to me, and was honestly nothing like what I thought I would pick. Actually trying on dresses is such a game-changer, and the one I chose was definitely the one I could not stop thinking about. In lieu of favors, Kyle and I made a donation to GRIP, which is a non-profit that was created to meet the needs of fatherless teenagers in the city of Chicago.

Some of my favorite moments from the day were before the ceremony. The time getting into my dress with my friends, sisters, and mom, the first look with my dad, and the first look with Kyle. Each time helped to calm my nerves and provided such sweet moments with my favorite people. My favorite crafted detail would have to be the invitations. The materials came from Paper Source, and my friend Heather LaHood designed them, even down to the fonts that were used!

Some of my best advice to future brides would be to take one thing at a time. All the details of planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but sometimes making one decision can decide others. I found it easier to let my vision develop as we went rather than forcing it to happen. I didn’t know I would be getting married at a Victorian mansion, but that helped me pick colors, a dress, etc. that would compliment the setting well. Enjoy it! The process will be as stressful as you let it.

[dotted]

See even more head-turning trends here!

Elegant Urban Wedding in Chicago at Prairie Productions

For as long as I have been writing about weddings, I know one thing – Chicago just gets it. They know how to do city chic in a way that is fun and approachable, and weddings in the windy city always make me wish I made the guest list. Sprinkle in the talents of The Ideal Day and Field & Florist with amazing photography from averyhouse, and we’ve all struck city wedding gold.

Colors

Seasons

Settings

Urban Space

Styles

Chic Modern + Contemporary Gallery 1028 Wedding in Chicago

From averyhouse…A wedding venue that truly reflects a couple’s personality is such a joy for us to photograph. Case in point, the chic, sophisticated, and wonderfully bright space that is Prairie Production. Meeting Julia + Phil and witnessing the love that they share is absolutely a breath of fresh air and now we can understand exactly why they chose Prairie Production as the location for their vows and (let’s be serious) all out dance party. We fell for Julia + Phil when they told us their story of having lived apart for WAY too long and finally moving in together in Chicago’s West Loop. When we asked what one of their favorite memories was while shooting their West Loop Engagement Session their answer was that it wasn’t necessarily a memory, but a favorite spot-their patio. The same patio that has since hosted dinners with friends + family and important discussions with moscow mule in hand. It only makes sense that Julia and Phil would have their first look on the Public Hotel rooftop with sweeping views of the city before heading to the lush Lurie Garden for photos with their wedding party. Shortly after we were whisked off to Prairie Production for a tear jerker ceremony (we cried too!) and enough champagne to feed a small army. We can pretty much promise that with one look at Julia + Phil’s beautifully elegant wedding and you’ll fall hard for them too.

Abby Capalbo

Design, Styling, Parties

Abby Capalbo Styling

At first glance this wedding is all about the pretty, but dive deeper and you’ll find the real meaning behind Allison + John’s special day. Love. Proving that this pretty comes with a purpose and with Kristin La Voie Photography capture every pop of pink, and Toast And Jam spinning tunes, this is one gallery that you’re going to need to witness. See it all in THE VAULT!

Colors

Seasons

Settings

Urban Space

Styles

Classic Lincoln Park, Chicago Wedding

From Kristin La Voie Photography…No amount of rain or bad weather was going to keep Allison and John from enjoying every moment of their big day. Trump Hotel was the perfect place to start our day with the lovely couple. Allison wore an incredible Jenny Packham gown that was just made for her. John looked handsome as ever in a J. Crew tux. While the rain came down, we arranged their first look in the popular Trump tower walkway with the sparkling river view at our fingertips. The terrace at Trump was our next stop for the most incredible portraits of the couple and their wedding party. Everyone looked amazing in front of this stellar backdrop. We arrived to the transformed Gallery 1028 ceremony space, with the most breathtaking ceremony arch by Stems. It was completely jaw dropping. After the couple exchanged their vows, the venue flipped the room for the reception, which turned into a romantic, candlelit dinner for their closest family and friends. Everything was perfectly planned (thanks to the super organized groom!) and just spectacular.

[dotted]

See even more head-turning trends here!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Wedding Dresses

Jenny Packham

Bridal 2016 Catwalk

View All Collections

Wedding Dresses

Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

View All Collections

Bridesmaid Dresses

Jenny Yoo

Spring 2014 Maternity

2016 Bridesmaid Collection

2016 Bridal Collection

Spring 2017 Flower Girl Collection

Spring 2017 Bridal Collection

Spring 2017 "Jenny by Jenny Yoo" Collection

Spring 2017 Accessories Collection

Fall 2016 Separates Collection

Spring 2017 Lingerie Collection

Spring 2017 Separates Collection

Spring 2017 Bridesmaids Collection

Spring 2018 Bridal Collection

Spring 2018 "Jenny by Jenny Yoo" Collection

Spring 2018 Flower Girl Collection

Spring 2018 Bridesmaid Collection

View All Collections

In my opinion, the very best weddings are the days layered with meaningful moments. And this Chicago celebration is chock-full of them. The couple chose to marry in a city that played an important role in their love story, and sprinkled in bespoke details that made the day feel all their own. The groom wrote the music his bride walked down the aisle to, and their dearest friends read poems and scripture through the ceremony for a cozy, intimate feel. See more in The Vault from The Great Romance Photo.

Colors

Seasons

Spring Weddings

Settings

Religious Institution

Styles

From The Bride… Ever since we were young, we dreamt of being married in Chicago. It was the city we both grew up in, studied art in, moved away from (and moved back to). We are both so inspired by the architecture, the sounds, the colors, the busyness and the art. Our first date was in this city and we are making our first home here too. We got married in the spring. We took photographs under blooming, flowery tree and escaped the rain for our honeymoon.

Our wedding ceremony was in Lincoln Park, at a cozy, old church on Fullerton. We loved the simplicity of the churches white walls, dark brown accents and stunning stained glass. A small church kept with our intimate feel. Our ceremony was a reflection of God’s deep love for us and our love for each other. Jonny wrote the music that I walked down the aisle to. We had dear friends read poems, scripture and play our favorite Ryan Adams song. We declared our love for each other through our vows and walked out as husband and wife to Frank Sinatra.

Our florals and decor captured the romantic, classic and intimate vibe with a palette of black, ivory, blush, dusty greens and subtle gold accents. Hundreds of candles adorned the space and set the mood. The reception venue was nestled in our favorite Chicago neighborhood, The Gold Coast. It overlooked Rush Street which is a bustling street with designer shops and the most incredible food. Our reception was dark and intimate. We danced to Nat King Cole, some more Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Classic Chicago Wedding

Effortlessly weaving classic stylings with chic, modern details, this stunning Chicago affair is all sorts of fabulous. From the sleek florals from Dilly Lily to the breathtaking Chicago History Museum locale to the fab reception with all-night dancing courtesy of the Matt Stedman Band. Oh, and that dress. See it all captured beautifully by Ann & Kam Photography & Cinema in THE VAULT.

[iframe https://player.vimeo.com/video/145959163 600 338]

Colors

Seasons

Museum Religious Institution

Settings

Styles