Real Weddings: Amanda + Matt

Rustic but elegant, beautiful but relaxed, Lydia and Joel’s wedding at the gorgeous Narnia Estate in the Chicago suburb of Lemont is oh so lovely and lush.  These two didn’t let a little downpour stand in their way! After moving their planned outdoor ceremony into the cocktail hour tent, they married to the sound of raindrops softly falling on the roof, and Lydia walked down the aisle to Trumpet Voluntary in D major after Joel surprised her with a trumpeter for the ceremony.  Inside the reception tent, the chic color palette of golden yellow, green and purple was brought to life by the unique planter-style arrangements and loose, organic bouquets from Moss Flowers.  Sit back and enjoy all of the beautiful images captured by Jennifer Kathryn Photography!

Happy Monday everyone! We hope you enjoyed lemonade week last week. Kicking off August are the so incredibly cute Amy and Adam who were married at Lincoln Park in Chicago, such a fantastic backdrop for photos by Steve Koo Photography. I’m in love with Amy’s bouquet and even more in love with the fact that it was done by her mom! Making it even more special were the pin (her maternal grandmother’s), and the lace (from her mother’s wedding dress) that both tied around the base of the bouquet. What a special thing to be able to carry that down the aisle and what a beautifully timeless wedding with lots of handmade and heirloom details. So pretty!

Ben and Kristin married in purple-infused wedding in the park!  I adore Kristin’s purple suede shoes, the potted herb centerpieces and perfect purple veined calla lilies used throughout the bouquets.  All of these gorgeous images are by one of my lovely friends, Jessie from Simply Jessie Photography.

Summer and Eric’s Chicago wedding, photographed by Danielle Aquiline, is anything but ordinary! The couple created all of the elements of their wedding themselves, and held an intimate ceremony, officiated by a friend, in the Lincoln Park Conservatory Gardens and a reception at the outdoor wine bar, Volo.

I have been so busy with wedding season that I have fallen behind a bit on sharing lovely weddings with all the fabulous EAD readers. But I am so happy to be able to share a truly stunning and inspirational wedding from Labor Day weekend with all of you.

Sarah & Benjamin wanted guests to feel like they were entering a magical world when they arrived at their wedding and the day was full of awe-inspiring details which made that vision a reality. From getting married at the castle-like Wonderland Cluj Resort, to the horse-drawn carriage fit for royalty, to the show-stopping, jaw-droppingly lush, floor-to-ceiling florals by Elena Bodea – Las Floristas that filled both the ceremony and reception, guests were transported into a fairy tale for the day. Add to that that these two look like they walked out of a magazine themselves, and this may be one of the most dreamy weddings ever! The gallery is full of more incredible photos by Ioana Porav Photography, from the stunning rose petal seals on the stationery by Invogue Art, to Sarah’s romantic Milla Nova wedding gown (a nod to her Hispanic roots), to even more photos of their unbelievable florals, and trust us, you absolutely want to see them all!

Almost instantly, a wedding in Washington, DC has visions of ultimate grandeur. Jen and Nick wed in the early spring at the Four Seasons and they left no stone unturned when it came to the ins and outs of their wedding design. Jen’s favorite blooms are the ever-stunning and lush magnolias and with that color inspiration as their jumping point, they coveted a white/ivory and green wedding with gold accents. Florist Amy from Amy Lauren Floral Designs expressed and continued the color palette by using sumptuous white peonies and white roses along with the glossy magnolia leaves. This wedding has too many impeccable elements to it, both in design and in personality. We’re just glad that Kristen Gardner captured all the splendor in full!

There’s no better place on earth than Chicago in the summer, and no more beautiful spot in the city than Lincoln Park! The park’s stunning Cafe Brauer was the setting for Nina and Graeme’s beautiful wedding, in a lovely and unique palette of dove, lavender, and shades of purple. The fresh palette was a perfect match for the season! Bridesmaids chose their own dresses from Nordstrom’s Wedding Suite in shades of deep purple and gray, and their bouquets from Scarlet Petal also featured blooms in varied shades of purple—a lovely and unique look! Both ceremony and reception were held in Cafe Brauer’s Great Hall, and Five Grain Events transformed the room during cocktails from stately, classic ceremony to colorful and chic reception where guests danced the night away to the Stephanie Rogers Band. We love every little detail of this classic Chicago wedding from Shane Welch Photography!

Colorful and chic, with a bride that simply radiates style, Jackie and Keith’s wedding at Hotel Bel-Air has left me breathless! Botany created the most stunning fuchsia floral crown and lush bouquet for Jackie—they perfectly complement her elegant Vera Wang gown. Plum lace bridesmaids dresses by Diane von Furstenberg are swoon-worthy with each maid’s choice of black heel. And don’t even get me started on the fabulous images by Adrienne Gunde! This Los Angeles wedding designed by Kimberly Bradford Event Planning and Design is one we won’t soon forget!

From the story told in these images from Blue Rose Photography, Ariel and Collin couldn’t have chosen a more perfect, light-drenched place for their wedding than Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop, Washington! The mountains in the backdrop are majestic and gorgeous partnered with the mossy orange and gold fall florals from Patti Bosket Au Naturel, especially the wreaths hanging on freestanding doors that “open” up to the ceremony. The rust-orange color repeats on stationery from Carlson Craft. Navy bridesmaids dresses from H&M are a great alternative to black and look fabulous paired with the bold flowers. Ariel was practically floating in an Essense of Australia gown—we love the tiers of ruffles on her skirt! Stop by the gallery to enjoy all of the images from this stunning autumn wedding!

Michelle and Marty live in New York, but they chose Michelle’s hometown of Chicago to celebrate their big day. We’re drooling over their rich color palette in fuchsia, blue, and purple, and although their reception was held at the Chicago History Museum, it was totally elegant and modern! The flowers by Kloeckners are absolutely amazing and really pop both as centerpieces as well as against the soft gray of the bridesmaids’ dresses. The event was stunning! The team at Greatest Expectations did an incredible job and these photos by Gerber+Scarpelli Photography have surely brightened our day!

Modern and fresh Room 1520 was the setting for Alex and Charlotte’s gorgeous Chicago soiree! The ceremony beautifully brought together Charlotte’s Presbyterian background and Alex’s Jewish heritage, and, inspired by a sweet Southern summer, the couple, along with their wedding planner Beth Bernstein of SQN Events and florist Hello Darling, transformed the raw, industrial loft space with lovely garden-style arrangements, mercury glass vases, and a cozy lounge area. Working from a palate of soft grey, smoky lavender and sage green, the narrow rectangular tables created an intimate dinner party feel for the evening reception. We love Charlotte’s natural, curly updo and beautiful Monique Lhullier gown—she and Alex radiate love in the beautiful images from Olivia Leigh Photographie!

Amanda and Sean’s California Dawn Ranch Lodge wedding was a beautiful day full of friends, family, love, and pretty floral arrangements. But what you can’t tell from the photos is the even sweeter meaning behind all the details: The stunning lace veil that was passed down, the bottles of wine that Amanda’s father bought the year she was born (for her wedding!), hand-painted table numbers, and so much more! It’s details like those that make a wedding memorable and special to your guests, and I’m sure Amanda and Sean’s guests will remember their wedding for years to come! We are so lucky to share these special details with you today through the lens of Lyndsay Undseth!

Love was blowing through the Windy City on Carrie and Mike’s wedding day, and these breathtakingly sweet photos showcase the elegance of it all! The couple wanted guests to have a real taste of the city, and the downtown Chicago Cultural Center was just the right venue for their ceremony and reception. Jesse Deckard of Event Creative made sure Carrie had a classic all-white bouquet to accent her White by Vera Wang gown – Carrie is a drop-dead gorgeous bride and we have to admit to being just a wee bit smitten with her! We love details like the moss reception table numbers wedding planner Lauren Carter of Lola Event Productions found, and the foam fingers that guests used to welcome Carrie and Mike to their reception. Such a fun day captured by Bobbi+Mike!

Weddings are all about showcasing the bride and groom’s personalities, and Shannon and Patrick knew they wanted a down-to-earth but elegant affair. Mission accomplished. From the slightly industrial but beautiful location at Salvage One in Chicago to the lovely and casual peach, pink, cream, and green arrangements from Asrai Garden, this wedding is all about kicking up your heels and having fun. Gorgeous pictures from Steve Koo Photography highlight the most dramatic touches of the day, like Shannon’s lace-covered, scalloped Marisa gown and the jaw-dropping city skyline. We adore the natural look of the glowing Chicago sign, the perfect backdrop for a star-crossed couple on their special day.

Over the river and through the woods to Heather and Nick’s breathtaking ranch wedding we go! The natural setting of Rock Springs Ranch in Bend, Oregon, went hand-in-hand with the couple’s vision for a laid-back affair punctuated with casual but pretty details like wildflower bouquets and trees potted in burlap-wrapped containers from Cascade Garden Center. Heather’s twin sister stood near the ceremony arch—crafted from branches and surrounded by more purple and yellow blooms—in a breezy, orchid-colored chiffon dress that complemented the bride’s elegant, gauzy gown, both by Vera Wang. Heather and Nick sent guests home with ready-to-plant white pine trees from the Arbor Day Foundation to cap their day of happy memories. Enjoy these images from Michelle Cross Photography.

Anna and Jonathan were married under a large tree at Sonnet House in Leeds, Alabama. So fabulously Southern, wouldn’t you agree? Well, the Southern touches didn’t end there. There were mason jars, burlap, cigar boxes and Southern foods galore, but in addition to all of the rustic and casual details, Anna and Jonathan’s wedding was also artistic and vibrant with lots of colorful snapdragons, hydrangea, and garden roses in unique containers by Proper Measures. I love the laid-back, easy Southern charm in these lovely images from Crimson & Clover Photography!

There’s so much to love about Liz and Brian’s classic Chicago wedding!  After a ceremony at the iconic Fourth Presbyterian Church on Michigan Avenue (you may remember this gorgeous church from the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding), the wedding party moved to the hip new theWit for rooftop cocktails and an elegant, modern reception full of orchids, hydrangea, and fabulous views of the Chicago Loop.  The always amazing Ali Phillips of Engaging Events by Ali flawlessly pulled together all of the details, showing the couple’s 180 guests the best of the Second City.  Sit back and enjoy these dreamy images from YazyJo Photography!

I’m so completely in love with Danielle and John’s Chicago wedding. Personalized details filled the day from their monogrammed accessories, to the all-over use of lavender (a nod to Danielle’s French roots), to the cannon that John’s grandfather fired at the end of the ceremony (a tradition in their family)! They’re a stunning couple with impeccable taste and the absolute cutest and hands-down best idea for a card box ever!! It’s no surprise the bride is an event planner herself. I adore every single detail about their modern elegant wedding and every wonderful photo by Paul Gero!

I was in serious need of some color therapy and Michelle and Scott’s fabulous Arizona wedding is just what the doctor ordered! Held at the beautiful DC Ranch Country Club beneath the mountains of Scottsdale, Michelle and Scott’s wedding from Victoria Canada Weddings & Events was bold, eclectic, and romantic. I love the variety of color, styles, and textures used by Avant-Garde in the florals for the event as well as the driftwood and iron candelabras used as centerpieces. A big thank you to photographer Drew Brashler for the this fabulous eye candy today!