Illinois Weddings

Balloons and sunlight are all out magic makers when it comes to taking fabulous photographs. Plus the added spark of engaged love lends a fresh ” We love life and it loves us right back” feel to these pretty images by Cassandra Eldridge Photography. It’s a smile-inducing love fest straight from the shores of Lake Michigan and you can catch it all right here.

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From Cassandra Eldridge Photography… Amanda is one of my oldest friends, so its safe to say we’ve been through just about everything together. Including a multitude of failed relationships.  All of that ended (for her, anyway) when she met Jay. I still remember riding in the car with her on our way to one of our nightly workouts, and she just had this different look about her. She was relaxed, ultra-confident — she was the girl I knew before guys entered the picture. She was assured. I poked at her for the secret … desperate to find out what had my best friend looking so, well, fabulous. All she said was a name. Quickly followed by a million little things she was already loving about him: his style, the way he always had something unique planned for their dates, his charm, his wit. My girl was smitten, and there was no disguising it. Amanda’s days of failed relationships and horrid first dates had come to an end.

When Amanda and Jay had asked me to shoot their engagement session, I was over-the-moon excited. Of course this was something I had been scheming in my head for months … and I probably would have forced them to pose in front of my camera even if they DIDN’T want me to photograph them. We met over on Lake Michigan just before dusk, and it was so insanely lovely, although the wind tried to give us a run for our money. I was not the only one who wore worry on my face, especially considering the ENORMOUS bouquet of balloons that assisted us, but luckily, it was magical. The wind carried the balloons giving them movement and so much life. They wrapped around Amanda’s curls and gave each and every photograph a touch of whimsy. I am so in love with how this session turned out and even more in love with the subjects. These two people are so deserving of love, and I feel so honored to have the opportunity to stand beside them as they say “I do” next summer.

Photography: Cassandra Eldridge Photography / Location: Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois

Be still our peplum loving hearts for this wedding attire just might be the death of us. It’s the fiercest of the fierce dresses by Marchesa coupled with a wedding that has a gorgeous modern edge made even more so by its surroundings at the Art Institute of Chicago. Even the flowers by Kehoe Designs are works of art in and of themselves and the images by Amanda Wilcher do the whole affair a beautiful justice. Get your wedding art on right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… Both Steve and I love clean lines and a modern look. We were 99% set on a different venue when we decided to take a look at Terzo Piano, located in the Art Institute of Chicago. The moment we saw it, we knew we were going to make the switch and even had to change our date to make it happen. With the perfect venue, everything else seemed to fall into place. The beautiful architecture, interior design and, of course, the art, made for the perfect foundation to start from. It was the epitome of the modern style that I love, so it made decisions for complementing floral and decor elements easy.

Most important to us though, was the overall vibe of our wedding. In the end, we just wanted everyone eat, drink, dance to great music and have as much fun as we were. The band was great — they got everyone dancing all night. Our choice to have elements like the food stations, gelato bar, outdoor photo booth and a candy station for favors was all so that everyone could move around and socialize all night, Steve and me included. We didn’t want to get too caught up in the “formalities” that can take over a wedding.

Wedding Photography: Amanda Wilcher Photographers / Ceremony: Griffin Court at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: Terzo Piano + Bluhm Terrace at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design + Lighting: Kehoe Designs / Day Of Wedding Coordination: Michelle Tisdall of Silver Fern Events / Wedding Invitations: A Milestone Paper Co. / Catering: Bon Appetit at the Art Institute of Chicago / Wedding Cake: Mindy Segal / Gelato Bar: Black Dog Gelato / Live Music: Entourage via Arlen Music / Wedding Dress: Marchesa / Bride’s Shoes: Jerome C. Rousseau / Hair: Alma Bosco of M Salon / Makeup: Lisa Trunda / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Butter by Nadia / Groom’s Tuxedo: Isaia / Bride’s Ring: Reuven Gitter Jewelers / Groom’s Ring: His Father

We can’t thank Five Grain Events enough for bringing us this stylish soiree that is traditional with a twist. And who doesn’t love a little twist in their tradition? We happen to be head over heels for it, and when it all goes down at Salvage One with a couple that couldn’t be cuter and an event designer as talented as Caleb Yono – we know we simply MUST share the goodness. So share we shall, and thanks to Anna Guziak Photography you can see every pretty bit in the in the full gallery of images!

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From Joan of Five Grain Events… Emily and her bridesmaids started the day at the Crowne Plaza, and the suite was abuzz with excitement as they primped and preened. Hair and makeup were provided by Salon 1800. Emily’s color scheme was so chic: gray accented with pops of bright magenta, peacock blue and mustard yellow! The ladies wore peacock blue bridesmaid dresses by Amsale, and Emily purchased her Vera Wang dress as a sample! What a find! Emily and Cam were married at St. Mike’s in Old Town. It is a stunning and grand church, but despite the size, the ceremony felt very intimate. The recessional was played by a bagpiper! After the ceremony, the bridal party hopped on their limo bus, provided by Exquisite Limo, for some stunning photos at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond in Lincoln Park captured by Anna Guziak Photography. Following photos, the crew headed to Salvage One where the party was just beginning. After a festive cocktail hour, guests headed upstairs. There were too many wonderful elements at this wedding to count: from the gorgeous collection centerpieces designed by Fleur, to the ruffled wedding cake created by Flour Cake and Pastry, to the delicious station-style dinner prepared by Blue Plate — the room absolutely glowed! Em and Cam have been together since high school and have lots of friends and family who have watched their love grow from the beginning. Their friends and family gave heartfelt toasts, and more than a few tears were shed. The rest of the evening was spent getting down on the dance floor to the tunes of DJ Zebo of Style Matters. Emily and Cameron hand-selected Zebo after hearing him spin at Evil Olive, one of their favorite late night hangouts! There were also mini cheeseburgers, shakes and cheese fries passed around by Blue Plate to round out the evening.

Wedding Photography: Anna Guziak Photography / Ceremony: St. Michael in Old Town in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: Salvage One in Chicago, Illinois / Wedding Coordination: Joan of Five Grain Events / Floral Design: Kelly Marie of Fleur / Event Design: Caleb Yono of Fleur / Wedding Cinematography: Tom Buttaccio of XO Pictures / Catering: Blue Plate / Wedding Cake: Flour Cake and Pastry / Bagpiper: Chicalba Bagpiping Services / DJ: DJ Zebo of Style Matters / Transportation: Exquisite Limousine Chicago / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Hair + Makeup: Salon 1800

Kitchen Chicago is by far one of my favorite venues in the Windy City with its industrial + rustic backdrop acting as the perfect blank slate for any style wedding. This gorgeous couple kept it simple with paired-down florals by Cattleya Bridal & Floral Design and minimal, yet whimsical, décor. Photographer Agnes Malorny hit the jackpot when the bride and groom brought in a teal blue 1955 Chevy…well, hello gorgeous!  See the rest of this modern beauty right here!

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From the Bride… When we first started planning our wedding, we knew we wanted it to feel modern with a touch of vintage, but most importantly very personal. I wanted to create and design everything myself, which was both fun and challenging. From the save-the-dates and invitations to the wedding website and all of the pieces for the reception (menus, placeholders, step-and-repeat backdrop for our photo booth, the candy bar, welcome signs, etc.), everything was a DIY project. We designed the entire wedding ourselves, from the tiniest detail of how to set the tables and where to place the candles, to the larger details of how to drape the fabric and where to seat the guests. We truly did it all ourselves.

Our venue was a very modern loft with tall ceilings and brick detail. We wanted to highlight its architecture, so we didn’t add too many decorations to the space itself. We draped the space in beautiful white fabric for the ceremony and opened it fully for the reception. We wanted to it be airy and welcoming and let the guests have room to move around and interact. There was a balcony in the space that allowed the guests to see the everything going on, and we placed a photo booth up there for some extra fun!

Because the space itself was very modern, we played a lot of music from the 1950s during the cocktail hour and reception to add to that vintage charm. Our first dance was “Only You” by The Platters, which is an incredible vintage song. We also had a 1955 Chevy 210 that drove us away from the ceremony and was a great prop for wedding photos. It is such a classy vintage car, and the color was so bright and modern. It was perfect! My dress was also a mix of modern and vintage, as it was a fit and flare with gorgeous detailed lace. I added a belt to it for some bling and shine, and it was exactly how I wanted to look: timeless, neither too vintage nor too modern.

Wedding Photography: Agnes Malorny of Agnes Malorny Photography / Associate Photographer: Margaret Lach of Agnes Malorny Photography / Wedding Venue: Kitchen Chicago in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design: Cattleya Bridal & Floral Design / Room Decor: Art of Imagination / Officiant: Judge Bruce Falk / Catering: Pure Kitchen Catering / Desserts: Delightful Pastries / Wedding Cake: Oak Mill Bakery / Design of Wedding Invitations, Menus + Place Holders: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Wedding Dress: Marisa via Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Colorful Creations / Bridal Preparations Location: Rafaello Hotel

Ladies and gentelmen-take note, because this is EXACTLY how to go about proposing to your other half! The incredibly creative groom behind this sweet engagement shoot really upped the ante by ending their session (and completely surprising his bride!) with a custom puzzle spelling out “Will You Marry Me?”  The emotional day was captured brilliantly by Ashley Biess Photography.  Don’t miss the rest of this sweet shoot and be sure to take a peek at that sparkler…swoon!

Click here for the FULL proposal!

From Ashley of Ashley Biess Photography… Where to begin! Manisha and I met back in the first grade at Salt Creek Elementary School. She was new to the school and as soon as I saw her, I KNEW she had to be my friend. I was a super-shy and quiet six-year-old and not really great with words. I gathered up my courage, walked up to Manisha one day, and asked her, point blank, if she would be my friend. Much to my relief, she said yes, and we spent the next eight years glued at the hip! So when, 20 years later, she asked me to do a photo shoot of her and her boyfriend/soon-to-be-fiance, I was ecstatic! Little did Manisha know, as soon as she scheduled the photo session, her boyfriend, Kandarp, began planning his surprise proposal so that I could be there to photograph the big moment.

During their photo session, we did a little bit of everything. Manisha and Kandarp started off in their traditional Indian clothes to celebrate their heritage and culture. Manisha’s sari was gorgeous, and everyone kept stopping to tell her how beautiful she looked! The couple did several different outfit and location changes to get a sampling of their favorite things about Chicago. We took pictures along Kinzie Street Bridge, then headed over to a more industrial setting for photos. From there, we headed to Oak Street Beach for some fun in the sun, water and sand. Manisha and Kandarp’s love for each other is so obvious and genuine — it radiates from their photos. I hardly had to tell them to do anything because they were just so adorable on their own! After the beach, it was proposal time. Kandarp had planted the ring and his special surprise in my camera bag before we headed to our final stop.

We headed up north to Lincoln Park Zoo. (Originally, the plan was to go to Chicago’s Museum Campus, but because of the NATO Summit being held in Chicago that weekend, the city closed off the campus earlier than scheduled and we were forced to make a quick decision for a new proposal spot). I walked the couple across the street to take photos along the nature trails and prairie grass outside of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (one of my favorite spots in the whole city!). I was hoping that would give Kandarp a chance to relax and calm his nerves before asking Manisha the big question. As the sun began to set, we walked over to the Alfred Caldwell Lilly Pool and looked for the perfect spot.

Earlier, Kandarp had given me the pieces to a puzzle he had made by hand for Manisha with their favorite photo of the two of them printed on top. In hopes of keeping the proposal a surprise for a little bit longer, I presented the puzzle, told her that I made the puzzle as a special prop for their photo shoot, and asked if they would assemble the pieces for me. At the end, she discovered that four pieces were missing, and Kandarp confessed he had them hidden in his pocket. As he revealed the missing pieces one at a time, she realized the pieces said “Manisha, will you marry me?” As he presented her with the final piece, Kandarp got down on one knee, presented the ring, and asked her the most important question he’ll ever ask. The surprised look on Manisha’s face was priceless, and I definitely teared up a bit! Of course, she said yes, and the newly engaged couple spent the rest of their evening soaking in their love and joy. I am so happy that I could be there to photograph such a special memory for one of my oldest and dearest friends! I wish the two of them the best of luck and happiness.

Photography: Ashley Biess Photography / Locations: Chicago, Illinois

Ever wonder what would happen if two incredibly talented artists decided to tie the knot in a modern meets vintage DIY extravaganza?!?  Well, lovelies, let me be the first to tell you – it is FABULOUS.  So fabulous, in fact, that my own personal dream wedding (you know, the one I’ve been fantasizing about since the age of five) just morphed into an elegant (+ FUN) black and white soiree, complete with vintage lace handkerchiefs, candlestick-lined tables and the world’s coolest art gallery location.  Turner Creative Photography snapped up all of the glorious details and, trust me, you can’t afford to miss a single minute.  See it all here.

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From the Bride… Jason and I met while we were both studying art at the same university in St. Louis. For our wedding, we knew we wanted something very personal and uniquely us. After discussing a few options, we agreed to a summer wedding in downtown Alton, Illinois, a beautiful historic district with cobblestone streets and antique shops located on the Mississippi River close to where I grew up. The vintage charm of an old stone cathedral and nearby art center proved to be the perfect locations. The art center was an old furniture store that had recently been converted and renovated into a gallery and artist studio. Jason and I loved the idea of hosting our reception in the center and tying back to our first meeting in a graphic design class. With the venue selection complete, like artists, Jason and I dove straight into “project wedding.” We researched Alton’s history, cut out images of things that inspired us and created an inspiration board that we could use to guide us throughout our planning. Our inspiration was modern vintage. Modern represented our personal taste, while the vintage stayed true to Alton and its long history. Because most vintage pieces are very detailed, it was important that we kept the color palette simple. Black and white played an important role throughout the décor.

Along with our modern vintage inspiration, we envisioned our wedding to be fun, casual and an intimate party for our closest family and friends. Our wedding was a family project. Jason and I, along with our families, created almost everything for it by hand. Jason designed the wedding invitations to mimic a vintage handkerchief. His sister sewed and pressed each one before they were wrapped around an antique inspired map, based off one we found in the Alton Historical Center. We spent months going to estate sales and antique shops, gathering vintage silver and antique napkins to use on our tables. My sister-in-law and mother-in-law made the photo booth props and linen table runners. For the centerpieces, we used wine bottles, which we gathered from family, friends and a few trash cans! Along with the wine bottles, we mixed in floral arrangements that we created using hydrangeas, cushion mums and silver filled with candies. In the end, we polished over 600 pieces of silver, washed and pressed over 200 napkins, cut out over 850 flags, signs and programs, and stripped off the labels of over 250 wine bottles, custom cutting each candle to fit it perfectly.

Shopping for the dress and veil was also a family experience. My father, mother, sister-in-law and mother-in-law were all involved. My dad was the one who actually picked out the dress, and my sister-in-law made my veil. An entertaining highlight of the ceremony was when all five of our nephews came up the aisle ringing bells and announcing “the bride is coming.” For our dance, we created t-shirts for them with the saying, “We rang the bells…now it’s time to shake’em.” All of this played into our humor and underlining bell theme, which first started with our RSVPs and carried out into our ceremony programs and reception décor. The reception was perfect. It began with cocktails in the studio, where guests could eat from a snack bar filled with the our favorite treats and have their photos taken with props. After cocktails everyone moved into the art gallery, where the glow of the candles reflected beautifully off the wine bottles and vintage silver, creating a cozy and romantic atmosphere. This set the mood for the remainder of the night, which was filled with an incredible amount of dancing and personal conversations with each of our guests. At the end of the evening, Jason and I knew that all of our labor and preparations had paid off. Our wedding day was a beautiful, personal event, and it was wonderful to be able to share our love and hard work with our closest family and friends.

Wedding Photography: Turner Creative Photography / Ceremony: Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Alton, Illinois / Reception: Jacoby Arts Center in Alton, Illinois / Bouquets + Boutonnieres: Sue Weist / Reception Flowers: Family Members of the Bride & Groom / Wedding Stationery: Custom-Designed by the Groom / Letterpress + Silk-Screen Printing: All Along Press / Catering: Gentelin’s On Broadway / Rentals: Weinhardt Party Rentals / Wedding Dress: Enzoani / Bride’s Ceremony Veil: Made by Sister of the Groom / Bride’s Reception Veil: Etsy / Bride’s Sash: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Bride’s Purse + Jewelry: Vintage / Bride’s Hair: A Cousin of the Groom / Bride’s Makeup: Kim Stuart / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Groom’s Suit: Bar III via Macy’s / Groom’s Shoes: Ted Baker

We’re kicking off another gorgeous week here at SMP Illinois with this classic and elegant Chicago wedding by Pawinski Photography and Orange Wedding Films. The bride’s dress is absolutely divine as are all the florals and we’re soaking up each and every pretty detail right here in the full gallery.

Don’t miss the stunning trailer of this gorgeous wedding by Orange Wedding Films:

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From Orange Wedding Films… Lori and Ross rocked their wedding. I don’t know how else to put it. Lori surprised Ross with a brand new Gibson acoustic guitar in the morning, which had their wedding date engraved on it. I thought that was one of the coolest gifts that I’ve seen (I’m a guitar lover!). Lori was so relaxed and simply had fun all morning with her girls. It was a little bit windy outside for a photo shoot, but we had a great session with downtown in the background. The ceremony and reception was held in Architectural Artifacts. The location was extremely well-lit throughout the entire day and night, which was simply awesome. Everyone at the wedding was having so much fun, and we were so happy to be a part of it.

Wedding Photography: Peter Pawinski of Pawinski Photography / Wedding Venue: Architectural Artifacts in Chicago, Illinois / Event Design + Planning: LOLA Event Productions / Floral Design: Event Creative / Wedding Cinematography: Orange Wedding Films / Wedding Dress: San Patrick / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Hair + Makeup: Sonia Roselli

Ever wondered what Don and Megan’s wedding would have looked like? Makeup artist Nika Vaughan and the photographers of Studio Starling did too, so they created this shoot for Mad Men fans everywhere. It’s a mad mod world at Nellcôte with bold blue baroque chairs, a dainty Exquisite Designs bouquet, a dramatic bow topped veil, and a two chic sheaths too good to choose between. Oh, and a dreamy Don Draper dead ringer. You can stop wondering what could have been and see your imagination come to life in the full shoot!

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Nika Vaughan, Makeup Artist… It all started with the question, “What would Don and Megan’s wedding have looked like?”

From Nicole Radja of Studio Starling… We’re all big fans of the show, and felt like we wanted to see their day. We chose Nellcôte as our location, a cool new restaurant in the Randolph/Halsted St. area in Chicago. It’s cool ’60s French modern vibe and gorgeous decor was perfect. We wanted to have Megan’s flair for fun and unexpected outfits pair with Don’s traditionalism.

Photography: Nicole + Lizz of Studio Starling / Location: Nellcôte in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design: Exquisite Designs / Wedding Dresses + Veils: Veronica Sheaffer / Makeup + Hair: Nika Vaughan, Makeup Artist / Models: Erin Gipson + Gino Sciortino

This shindig is Classic Chicago with two capital C’s. This couple’s style is so capital C, even their engagement began with a trip to Paris. It is only fitting that they chose the St. James Chapel, which is inspired by Paris’s Sainte Chapelle. A Stem Above adorned the University Club with sultry autumn hued flowers for the reception: a traditional love note to the season. The icing on this classic confection: the bride’s bow backed Oscar de La Renta gown. Robin Rachel Photography shot all the couture and classic loveliness and its all here in the full gallery!

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From the Bride… When Jeff proposed, he surprised me with a trip to Paris — complete with him packing Paris-appropriate clothes for me in his suitcase (I thought we were going to Scottsdale after all!). After we wined and dined our way through the City of Light, we were anxious to start planning our Chicago wedding. Chicago is where we met, fell in love and live. And we love this city! I knew from the start that I wanted a classic, yet modern and elegant event. First on my list was my wedding gown. To say that I love my wedding gown is an understatement! From the moment I tried on the Oscar de la Renta gown, there was no turning back. The silhouette, fit, and glamour of the gown were classic and beautiful. Choosing the color palette was easy — a mix of deep fall hues — burgundy, plum, violet and red. I wanted my bridesmaids to wear an assortment of those colors. With the help of my best friend and owner of Bella Bridesmaid Chicago, Erin Casey Wolf, I had the best selection of bridesmaids’ dresses at my fingertips. The girls’ Lela Rose dresses in three similar styles were a perfect complement to my gown and suited fall in Chicago perfectly.

Our ceremony was at St. James Chapel, in the Quigley Center of the Archdiocese of Chicago. St. James is small, charming and modeled after Sainte Chapelle in Paris. The stained glass windows are absolutely beautiful! With the help of Fr. Wayne Watts, our ceremony was personal and intimate — exactly what we wanted.  Chicago has many wonderful venue options, so it was a little difficult to find the perfect one.  But when we saw Cathedral Hall at The University Club, we knew we had found it! It is truly one of the most unique venues in Chicago. The room itself has such character and stunning architecture that we were fortunate to be able to keep our design detail to a minimum. Cathedral Hall has tall ceilings, beautiful stained glass windows and is filled with the crests of various prestigious universities. We took advantage of fall’s deep hues in our floral centerpieces. Our florist incorporated texture through black magic roses, succulents, monkey tails and kale. Cathedral Hall overlooks Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park, providing a perfect backdrop to our reception. The food and drinks were delicious, and the staff was a joy to work with.

Upon meeting with our photographer, Robyn Lindemann from Robyn Rachel Photography, we knew she was a perfect match. Her fresh, modern style perfectly captured our day. Equally as important, we genuinely enjoyed the company of Robyn and her second shooter, Shane! It was as if Robyn and Shane were part of our bridal party — we had so much fun! Now we are so happy to call Robyn, Shane, and Robyn’s fiancé, TJ, our friends! We are so happy with how everything turned out, and it would not have been possible without our wedding planner, Chrissy Magliano, and all of our vendors! Jeff and I were able to actually enjoy our wedding day stress-free! We are blessed and thrilled that our family and friends were able to share in such a special day with us.

Wedding Photography: Robyn Rachel Photography / Ceremony: St. James Chapel at the Quigley Center of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: The University Club of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois / Wedding Planning: Chrissy Magliano of Big City Bride / Floral Design: A Stem Above / Wedding Cinematography: Lexoria Wedding Films / Band: Spoken Four / Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta via Ultimate Bride / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair: Erin Ahern of Salon Buzz / Makeup: Illium Figueroa / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Lela Rose via Bella Bridesmaid / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Nina via Bella Bridesmaid / Flower Girls’ Dresses: Annie Girl via Bella Bridesmaid

The sweet details in this country crowd-pleaser shot by Ashley Biess Photography are playful and colorful-two of my favorite things! Using the beautiful backdrop of On Holden Pond in Oregon, Illinois, this clearly-in-love couple infused their big day with bits and pieces that were truly them, from the stationery designed by the bride to the gorgeous cake handmade by a family friend (cut me a slice of that beauty, please!).  Stroll through the rest of the images right here!

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From the Bride… On a sunny June day, Ryan proposed to me at my graduation party in front of our family and friends, while his brother sang our song, “Luckiest” by Ben Folds. It was the best day of my life, until my wedding, when I really felt like I was the luckiest girl in the world.

Our venue was perfect! Located near the Rock River, On Holden Pond features a beautiful mid-western country farm home that was large enough to house our entire wedding party for the weekend. The pond was beautiful, and the canopy of trees was the perfect setting for our ceremony. One of my favorite parts of the day was seeing Ryan before the ceremony for our first look with our amazing photographer, Ashley Biess. For me, that was the moment when the planning stopped and the wedding started. It was relaxing, but so very exciting and emotional at the same time. I knew it was going to be a great day. The ceremony was very special. Our wedding arbor was beautiful, unique and handmade by my husband. Ryan and I shared bread and wine with our guests, and as a symbol of unity, we washed each other’s feet to show our humility, respect, and love for one another. We incorporated some silliness among the serious with our rendition of the ring BEAR.

We are a happy, fun-loving couple who wanted a real celebration at our reception, and our DJ, Steve, from Luxe Productions delivered just that. Steve did so much to help the wedding and reception run smoothly. He was able to fit our personality into our reception, while making sure everyone had a great time, and that was something that was very important to us. At the end of the night, our guests “ooh-ed” and “ahh-ed” as fireworks lit up across the sky — Ryan’s wedding gift to me. I was simply amazed at the pictures taken by the greatly talented, Ashley Biess. She was able to capture our sincere love, happiness and playful nature in the photographs. Before the party started, she was able to sneak us away from the celebration to give us a moment of peace and tranquility as we soaked up our sheer happiness and love. These photos ended up being some of my favorites from the day. I will always treasure the photographs she took, so beautifully capturing the best day of my life!

Wedding Photography: Ashley Biess Photography / Wedding Venue: On Holden Pond in Oregon, Illinois / Floral Design: Country Floral / Wedding Programs, Fans + Invitations: Designed by Bride + Printed by Davenport Printing Co. Inc. / Catering: Creative Cuisine Catering / Wedding Cake: Donna Tegeler (A Friend of the Family) / Tent, Dance Floor, Lights, Tables + Chair Rentals: Berg Industries, Inc. / Photo Booth: Timestilling Photography / DJ: Luxe Productions / Wedding Dress: Sottero & Midgley “Adorae” — Purchased From Another Bride via Weddingbee / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Bride + Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Madden Girl / Groomsmen’s Attire: Express

It’s gorgeous wedding films like this one from Loudbyte Cinematography that really make you wish you had one of your own to watch over and over again. But I guess I’ll just watch theirs instead! And I don’t even mind because the bride is drop dead gorgeous, her veil is to die for, and their Chicago winter wedding was absolutely stunning. Enjoy!

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From the Bride: We met as fellow interns on the medicine wards four months into residency. Up until then, Andrew’s life was bleak and filled with despair, having fallen into a routine of working, hairstyling, eating, eating, and eating. Grace’s life was equally dim, centered primarily on seeking out opportunities to catch up on sleep, including absconding to nap time on the geriatrics floor. It was crush at first sight. He spent the remaining weeks on the rotation mustering up the courage to ask her out. In the end, his pickup line was, “Good morning. Can I print a patient list for you?” That’s when Grace knew he dug her.

From Loudbyte Cinematography… Andrew promised his best man that he would never marry a doctor. Grace quickly changed that! Grace and Andrew had a downtown Chicago winter wedding. They asked us to infuse a super 8 look into their day.

Wedding Cinematography: Loudbyte Cinematography / Ceremony: Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: The Rookery in Chicago, Illinois / Wedding Planning: An Urban Affair / DJ: Toast & Jam

Chicago wedding photographer Jeremy Lawson is amazingly talented at capturing the personalities of his couples and documenting the quirky moments that make us remember a wedding for years to come. He hit a home run (literally) with this sports-themed soirée held at both Soldier Field and Wrigley Field-during a Cubs game nonetheless! These windy city natives opted for a big day overflowing with funky, eclectic details, oversized balloons and downright FUN. Take a time-out and sift through the rest of the images here!

Click here for the FULL wedding! 

From the Bride… My husband, Corey, and I consider ourselves South Florida’s BIGGEST Chicago sports fans. Though we both grew up in Chicago and have known each other since high school, it wasn’t until our college days that we started dating. One day, after about five or six years of dating, we had this crazy idea…that we would get married and our special day would be a celebration incorporating the things we loved to do most in Chicago with the people we love the most. After rolling this crazy idea around in our heads for a few years, the pieces came into place and we found ourselves planning the ultimate superfan’s wedding! From the beginning, we prioritized three things: our ceremony would take place at Soldier Field, our reception would take place DURING a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, and our photographer would be AMAZING and capture every moment of the day (No big deal, right?). In regards to the last point, we were extremely blessed to have the wonderful Jeremy Lawson hop on board with our crazy ideas. To this day, I still shake my head in awe that we pulled it all together!

We wanted to keep things somewhat traditional as far as the ceremony was concerned. Luckily, the location (the Colonnades of Soldier Field) was PERFECT as far as incorporating our fandom for the Bears (Soldier Field is the Bears’ home stadium) as well as a beautiful, awe-inspiring venue. The memories I have of walking up the steps with my dad and looking down the aisle to see all the people I loved, and my husband — patiently waiting at the end — will stick with me forever. After the ceremony, the wedding party let loose, and we decided to trek across the city! 

Eventually we made our way up to our reception location: an entire floor of a Wrigley Rooftop (Brixen Ivy). Meanwhile, the Cubs were gearing up to play the Washington Nationals. The managers, planners, and owner of Brixen Ivy were an absolute pleasure to work with and helped us see our visions through us as far as bringing in flowers, additional decor, crafts, and our awesome band (friends who we have been following around the local South Florida music scene over the years). There was only one caveat to the events that evening: the game ended up being rained out! To some, this was may have been a little bit of a let-down, but as mentioned before, we rocked out with awesome music. As many couples often remark, the day went by in a whirlwind. But it really, TRULY was one of the best days we’ve ever shared. Above all, we were surrounded by family and friends, and we got to treat them to a day full of fun! 

We know that each visit (and hopefully game-winning celebration) we have at Soldier Field or Wrigley Field will be made sweeter by the memories of our wedding day. As Cubs fans in particular, we eagerly look forward to the day when they finally win it all — it’s become the joke among family and friends that they REALLY owe it to us since the game was not played on our wedding day. In any case, we look forward to moving back to Chicago, growing as a couple and as a family, and continuing to root on for our favorite teams. Bear Down! Go Cubs Go!

Wedding Photography: Jeremy Lawson Photography / Ceremony: The Colonnades at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: Brixen Ivy Rooftop at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design: Asrai Garden / Officiant: Reverend Phil Landers / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: Cupcakes for Courage / Wedding Invitations: DIY via Paper Source / Stamps: Zazzle / Milk Glass Vases, Vintage Candy Tins + Other Decor: Etsy / Band: Justin Enco & The Poor Life Decisions Band / Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta via PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com / Bride’s Shrug, Veil + Alterations: Rohm by Emily Rohm / Hair Flower: Clark & Diversey / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin + Converse / Ladies’ Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Menswear: Express / Groom’s Tie: Burberry / Accommodations: theWit Hotel

There is something special about a wedding on the water and this Chicago beauty shot by Sarah Postma Photography is no exception. A bride in champagne satin, a bouquet in the season’s hottest Pantone color, tangerine, and modern vases filled to the brim with fuchsia tulips. I’d say this one is a winner in my book. Feast your eyes on the rest of this modern fête right here!

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From Sarah Postma Photography… Everything about Sarah and Nate’s downtown Chicago wedding was modern and bright. The fuchsia and orange color palette absolutely glowed from the invitations, designed by the bride’s sister Erin German, to the bouquets and the place settings. Sarah wore a dreamy, champagne-colored, mermaid-cut gown, which was perfected with a cathedral-length veil. The bridesmaids’ bouquets featured fuchsia roses and orange/tangerine tulips — certainly on trend with Pantone’s color of the year! I simply couldn’t get enough when I was photographing all of the modern details at this wedding. Sarah and Nate are truly happy together. Their laughter and joy was evident in every image, and they made my job a true delight from their engagement session all the way to their oh-so-fun reception — such a great party!

Wedding Photography: Sarah Postma Photography / Ceremony: Assumption Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: Chicago Yacht Club in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design: Flowers by Arrangement / Wedding Stationery: Erin German (The Bride’s Sister) / Wedding Cake: Dinkel’s Bakery / DJ: Medleys in Motion / Wedding Dress: Angelina Bridal Couture via Veiled in Elegance / Bride’s Shoes: Angela Nuran / Hair + Makeup: Heather Bear Makeup & Hair / Bridal Preparations: Trump Hotel Chicago / Groom’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank

There’s really nothing like returning to your hometown to marry the love of your life. And that’s exactly what these adorable high school sweethearts did. They found a pretty little vineyard and surrounded themselves with family and friends, and lucky for us, Olivia Leigh Photographie was there to capture all the lovely little details. Click here to see even more.

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From Olivia Leigh Photographie… Abby and Michael are high school sweethearts who live in Chicago but returned to their home of Peoria, Illinois, for their wedding celebration. Abby and Michael’s wedding had a sweet vintage touch to the details and a true friends-and-family feel to the celebration, with many people pitching in to make their day as delightful as possible — lots of emotion during toasts. They were married at a church in Peoria and held their reception at Kickapoo Creek Winery — that’s right, a winery in Illinois! Abby wore a beautiful gown with a birdcage veil and super-chic Vivienne Westwood jelly flats, and the maids wore convertible, wine-colored dresses from Etsy and carried huge baby’s breath bouquets. After the ceremony we stopped at Michael’s dad’s ice cream parlor for a sweet scoop, Grand View Drive (which Teddy Roosevelt called “the most beautiful drive in America”) and then hopped off along the side of the road to take pictures in the cornfields — what ended up being my favorite photos and a perfect set of images to showcase the beauty of Illinois outside of the expected Chicago environs.

Wedding Photography: Olivia Leigh Photographie / Ceremony: St. Bernard’s Church in Peoria, Illinois / Reception: Kickapoo Creek Winery in Edwards, Illinois / Event Planning + Floral Design: Carol Wake (A Friend of the Bride & Groom) / Wedding Invitations: Etsy / Wedding Dress: Unknown Designer via Weddings 826 / Bride’s Shoes: Vivienne Westwood / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Etsy

One regret that I have with my own wedding is not capturing that engagement glow with my soon to be Mr. Hus. It’s an actual thing, this glow I speak of. It permeates the pretty faces of every single couple we come across, including this duo captured by Kristin La Voie Photography. In fact, they seem to be extra glowy. It must be all that love. See the glow and all the engagement images you could possibly dream of right here.

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From Kristin La Voie Photography… I am SO IN LOVE with the engagement session I did with Amber and Nolan! It took place at Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills, Illinois. (I love to always add My Best Friend’s Wedding took place there!) I couldn’t have asked for a more adorable, totally in love couple with the PERFECT backdrops! Amber, who originally found me on Style Me Pretty, was a match made in heaven for me.

Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography / Location: Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills, Illinois / Engagement Ring: Imperial Jewelry Company / Bride’s Cocktail Ring: Swarovski / Bride’s Necklace: House of Harlow 1960 / Bride’s’s Watch: Marc Jacobs / Bride’s Dress: Alice + Olivia / Bride’s Blazers: Guess + Forever 21 / Bride’s Jeans: Joe’s Jeans / Bride’s Striped Tank: Michael Kors / Bride’s Black Heels: Sam Edelman / Bride’s Wedges: Linea Paolo / Groom’s Jacket: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Dress Shirt: Calvin Klein / Groom’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Groom’s Jeans: Guess / Groom’s Watch: Michael Kors

Sweet home Chicago is looking extra sweet today with this wedding by Amanda Hein Photography. Every detail of the day from the bride’s gorgeous necklace (added to my lust list) and stylish cigar station was eloquently delivered. I’m in awe that the couple planned such a sophisticated soirée in only four shorts months, wow! Click here to blow over to the windy city for more pictures.

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From the Bride… Ryan and I wanted a wedding that was streamlined to focus on what was important to us — one wouldn’t grow into an event larger than it needed to be – so we gave ourselves four short months to plan the wedding! We chose not to use a wedding planner, making it a busy four months for us, but we worked with some wonderful vendors who made it fun and easy. We wanted the night to feel like an intimate dinner party, and the Elysian Hotel (now Waldorf Astoria) was the perfect setting for our party of 70 guests. The hotel is a smaller venue with sophisticated design, outstanding service and fantastic food. And we live across the street, so it has personal meaning to us. Our 5 p.m. ceremony was in a small ballroom, and then guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the foyer prior to a dinner reception in the large ballroom. The hotel’s gorgeous décor meant that we could use simple florals, and we chose concentrated pinks. Danielle at Fleur de lis Florist captured our style so well after just one meeting. As a petite bride, I wanted a simpler wedding gown that wouldn’t overpower me. I knew Nicole Miller designs could work well, but I knew I’d found the dress when I tried on a statement necklace that gave the look much more personality. And I loved how fabulous my bridesmaids looked – all wearing rich, jewel-toned dresses of their own choosing. We love going out dancing and wanted a big dance party at the reception. DJ Chicago worked so well with us, and it was everything we’d hoped it would be. We chose many reception details to help us feel connected to each of our guests. When guests were seated at their dinner table, they found a note card addressed to them. Ryan and I spent a lot of time in the week leading up to the wedding writing personal notes to each guest, thanking them for supporting us and why we appreciated them being part of the wedding. We used a magnum of one of our favorite Duckhorn wines as a guest book, and we asked guests to write a short note to us and put it in a sealed envelope. We now open one of these notes each time we open a bottle of wine at home. This has been a really fun way to remember our wedding and how blessed we were to share it with great family and friends.

Wedding Photography: Amanda Hein Photography / Wedding Venue: The Waldorf Astoria Chicago (Formerly The Elysian Hotel) in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design: Fleur de lis Florist / Officiant: Rev. Bruce Otto of Spirited Weddings / Wedding Programs + Place Cards: Wiregrass Weddings / Reception Stationery: Crane & Co. / DJ: DJ Chicago / Magnum Wine Bottle: Duckhorn Vineyards “The Discussion” / Matchboxes: For Your Party / Wedding Dress + Necklace: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Hair: Michelle Forst of GEORGE — The Salon / Groom’s Attire: Canali Exclusive / Groom’s Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo

Glittery heels, a (beautiful) blushing bride, a breathtaking ballroom reception – this stunning soiree captured by Olivia Leigh Photographie is what a wedding blogger’s dreams are made of. We are pretty sure it’s what a blog reader’s dreams are made of too. Best part? It’s not a dream, this is pretty as can be reality – and you can see even more right here!

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For even more of this ballroom beauty, be sure to check out this gorgeous video from Xpress Video Productions…

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From Olivia Leigh Photographie… Kat and Joff had a gorgeous wedding this summer over fourth of July weekend at the historic Chicago Cultural Center. While neither was from Chicago, they found the city to be a perfect central meeting point for their family, who came from across the country on this holiday weekend! While visiting the city, they happened into the Cultural Center and were immediately taken by the incredible Tiffany Domes at this incredible venue! Kat is Persian, so several cultural traditions were incorporated into the day — a joint Persian and Western ceremony was held, with Kat and Joff feeding one another honey and then reciting traditional vows.

Food played a central role in the reception, with course after course offering visual delight and of course, incredible taste! Modern plated courses made for a wonderful dinner, and after-dinner snacks were just a delight, with traditional Persian desserts available for guests, as well as an ice cream cart, mini milkshakes and late-night burgers. Dancing was plentiful and oh-so-celebratory with so many guests up out of their seats! Joff and his groomsmen also prepared a surprise dance performance to an N*SYNC song that had the crowd laughing. :) It was such a gorgeous wedding for truly one of the sweetest couples I have ever worked with!

Wedding Photography: Olivia Leigh Photographie / Wedding Venue: Chicago Cultural Center in Chicago, Illinois / Wedding Coordination: Designer Event Chicago / Wedding Decor: Kehoe Designs / Wedding Cinematography: Xpress Video Productions / Catering: Blue Plate / Wedding Dress: Kenneth Pool / Makeup: Elise Brill of Leesi B Cosmetics

This Chicago wedding by Bliss Weddings & Events is the perfect pairing of preppy meets elegant.  All the little details that were included into the day, the moss initals, fun chalkboard signs and adorable drink stirrers, make this classic celebration feel intimate, personal and oh-so pretty.  Dennis Lee Photography captured the sweetest moments and loveliest details.  See them all in the full gallery!

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From Katie Kozlowski of Bliss Weddings & Events… Whitney and Rob are fun, friendly, family-oriented and have impeccable taste. They wanted to bring special touches of their personality to their inspired Chicago wedding at St. James and the Ivy Room, all while keeping the wedding comfortable, elegant and special. We wanted it to feel as though Whitney and Rob had invited all of their closest family and friends to their home away from home for a special celebration. Using the preppy palette of navy, ivory, pink and natural greens, we complemented the dreamy Ivy Room courtyard with moss-letters in their initials, delicate blooms and cutie details, like stir sticks for the bars with the couples’ monogram and a hand-written dinner menu on a chalkboard (Whitney’s a teacher!). Once guests got inside for dinner, polished tables with mismatched china, tiny lapel wax blooms on each plate, and different centerpieces on each table set the stage. We used a variety of candlesticks, vases and blooms, as well as soft pin-spotting, up-lighting and drapes to welcome guests to dinner. No detail was overlooked, with a candy bar to pay homage to the bride’s love of sweets, and a surprise video-speech from the groom’s brother stationed in Afghanistan. And of course, there was the fun: A Polaroid camera and scrapbook provided guests with a chance to leave their personal message, The Larry King Orchestra kept guests on the dance floor all night, and Chicago-themed late night snacks recharged the dancers.

Wedding Photography: Dennis Lee Photography / Ceremony: St. James Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: The Ivy Room at Tree Studios in Chicago, Illinois / Wedding Planning: Katie Kozlowski of Bliss Weddings & Events / Decor: Kehoe Designs / Catering: Calihan Catering / Wedding Invitations + Programs: Magnificent Milestones / Day-Of Paper Goods: Courtney Callahan Paper / Wedding Cake: Amy Beck Cake Design / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Hair + Makeup: Sonia Roselli

This Holi Festival-inspired wedding shoot by Naturally Yours Events and Shane Welch Photography is packed full of joyful and fun-filled details from the start of the al fresco ceremony to the end of the vibrant, geek-chic reception at Catalyst Ranch.  Pulling inspiration from the Indian holiday that marks the end of winter, this creative team of experts, like the floral-extraordinaires at Pollen, crafted up adorable details that celebrate life, love and lots and lots of color!  Make sure you watch the entire day unfold in the film by Sterling Wedding Cinema and come back this afternoon for a fun DIY project!  See all the details here!

Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is an Indian holiday to mark the end of Winter. Everyone comes together to celebrate spring, life, and love. During the festival, participants douse each other in dyes and colored water. By the end of the day everyone is head-to-toe covered in shades of the rainbow. The inspiration for this wedding shoot is the playfulness and joy of the Holi Festival with a bit of geek-chic.

The ceremony took place in the park where we strung DIY chain-link garland in the trees as a colorful backdrop. Our florist used a Lego version of the comic book villain, Magneto, as a boutonniere and filled the bride’s bouquet with colorful garden-esque flowers. Watercolor invites and paper goods added to the fun and whimsical theme. In keeping with the playfulness of this wedding, we included a juice bar with crazy straws, an Etch-A-Sketch with the couple’s wedding date, funky sunglasses, and noisemakers for guests. After the ceremony, guests greeted the couple with dyes and paints as the Festival of Colors began. Our bride’s dress was once a white point d’esprit silk tulle over cotton muslin dress, and is now colored in every hue.

With bright orange and green walls, Catalyst Ranch was the perfect reception venue for this wedding shoot. Our bride changed into a playful, vintage-inspired cocktail dress and changed her hair to an up-do with victory rolls and a birdcage hairpiece. The couple danced the night away, got dressed up for photos in the Traveling Photo Booth, and ate cake covered in sprinkles.

The sweets table included more DIY elements with a heart art piece shaped by repurposed paper tubes. Some tubes were painted and placed in varied heights for a more whimsical look. The reception table’s decor included a few different retro games in bell jars, a funky yellow and orange tulip centerpiece, and very colorful mismatched plates. Guests found their tables by picking up mini games, like Wooly Willy or pinball, that directed them to a larger version found at each table. At the end of the night, guests could sign and send their wishes to the bride and groom on rainbow-colored wooden Jenga pieces.

Wedding Planning: Naturally Yours Events / Wedding Photography: Shane Welch Photography / Wedding Videography: Sterling Wedding Cinema / Wedding Venue: Catalyst Ranch / Wedding Florals: Pollen / Bridal Ceremony Gown and headpiece: Mignonette Bridal / Bridal Reception Gown and headpiece: Dame Couture / Menswear: Humble Collective / Makeup: Makeup by Pamela / Hair: Debbie Petrielli / Jewelry: Due Sorelle / Wedding Cake: Luscious Layers / Truffle Cake & Sweets: Truffle Truffle / Candies: Get Local Chicago / Stationery: Lily Red Studio / Juice favors: Juice RX / Photo Booth: The Traveling Photo Booth / Linens and Flatware: M&M Special Events / Models: Brittany Clapper and Andrew Bochniak  / Event Design Assistant: Janae Laverdiere

After seeing all the pretty images by R.E.M. Video and Photography, I can’t help but add Chicago to my must-see list of cities around the country. This vibrant couple totally took advantage of all the city has to offer and threw themselves one fabulous soiree! But don’t just take my word for it, see for yourself, right here in the full gallery!

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From the Bride…It was February 13th, 2011.  We were on a family vacation that we had taken my parents on for their 30th anniversary.  With my brothers, their girlfriends and my parents best friends… it was already the best vacation that I could ever ask for!  Little did I know that Matt had a surprise up his sleeve (or in his swimming trunks) that would change my life forever…. As the first few days of the trip were filled with too much traveling and rain, the third day we woke up to a beautiful sunny day.  Given my family’s excitement for nice weather, the pool and of course the swim-up bar… we did just that, had fun in the sun.  While Matt seemed a little quieter and calmer than usual, we didn’t think too much of it.  However, around 2pm the sun started to get blocked by the hotel, so we all made our way down to the beach.  As I had been begging Matt to go for a walk on the beach with me since we arrived, he finally offered to take me.  As we strolled the beach, we made our way to a ledge that over-looked the ocean and where the waves were literally crashing at our feet.  As I sat between Matt’s legs and he started talking ‘deeply’, he finally pulled the ring from his swim trunks and popped the question.  How I did not drop the ring into the ocean, I have no idea!!  I think the best part of the entire engagement was being able to share the news with my entire family immediately after it happened.  While my dad was the only one that knew it was going to happen, the rest of the family was surprised and elated.  Especially Luke, who was  SO excited that he had to throw me in the water when I told him (not that funny).  Regardless of my idiot brother, it meant the world to be able to share such a special moment with the people that I love the most.  Good job Matt.

Photographer: R.E.M. Video and Photography / Florist and Designer: Taylor & Co. / Ceremony Location: The Murphy Auditorium / Reception Location: Fulton’s on the River / DJ: MDM Entertainment / Bridesmaid Dresses:  Pricilla of Boston (now closed)