Celebrating 5 Years: Jessie + Eric

You know when two wedding photographers are getting married, it’s bound to be spectacular! And such is Sarah and Matt‘s magical affair at Salvage One. The industrial, whimsical locale was perfect for pastel florals from Fleur, romantic candlelight, and vintage decor from BHLDN. We adore their invites, elegant but fun with silhouettes, from Love vs. Design. Sarah said no to traditional bridesmaids and matching dresses, and instead focused on a gorgeous classic gown from J.Crew for herself paired with glittery Kate Spade shoes. Special touches at the event, coordinated by Liven It Up Events, included desserts from Molly’s Cupcakes, mini burgers from The Slide Ride food truck, and custom cloth napkins by Dot & Army. We’re swooning over the amazing images by Pen / Carlson and we know you’ll agree that it’s one of our favorites of 2013!

Chicago’s Salvage One is an absolutely gorgeous event space—its unique, modern, rustic interior was the perfect backdrop for Erin and Mike’s simple but chic soiree! Captured beautifully by Anna Guziak Photography, their winter nuptials featured candle centerpieces from Fleur that complemented Salvage One’s vintage, mismatched wood tables, and a fabulous all-out dessert table from Sweet Table Chicago. We are absolutely in love with Erin’s sophisticated embroidered gown and lush, hand-tied bouquet—see all of this relaxed and sweet day in the gallery!

Joanna and Erick were determined to find a serene setting in Chicago for the backdrop of their wedding, and they sure found the perfect oasis with Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. The couple brought casual elegance to this refreshing venue with vintage accents like mason jars and milk glass vases bearing pastel flower bouquets created by Fleur for their outdoor ceremony and reception. To go along with their “loose and natural” theme, the bride and groom encouraged their bridal party to embrace their unique sense of style by assigning a color scheme and allowing their friends to choose their own attire. A variety of pies replaced the traditional wedding cake, and hand-sewn teabags were given as favors to all the guests at the end of the evening. We love with the heartfelt touches incorporated into this wedding and Jaclyn Simpson did a fantastic job capturing the day!

I’m over the moon today to share Elise and Bill’s beyond gorgeous Michigan wedding!  Elise is the sister of my dear friend Natalie (the mastermind behind Pemberley Events), and her wedding was infused with so many charming handmade details and the most amazing organic, lush florals from Petal Play Design. The Blue Dress Barn in Benton Harbor, Michigan has such a quaint, rustic feel, and it was the perfect setting for Elise and Bill’s “kind of quirky, eclectic, vintage” wedding.  The wedding was a true labor of love for the family.  Natalie planned and designed the event, Elise’s father made the wooden flower boxes with chalk sides for the centerpieces, Bill made the cake topper, and Elise’s mother sewed the flower girl dress and even made the wedding cake! Elise and Bill have been together since high school, and their love and joy is so palpable in these beautiful images from Harrison Studio!

Lesley and Matthew’s wedding was a blend of old world vintage and romantic with a beautiful and fresh color palette of apricot, gray and french blue. Their ceremony took place on the Tiffany-inspired staircase of Chicago’s Newberry Library, the bridal party lining each side of the staircase as guests looked on. The beautiful florals by the always breathtaking Fleur included some of my absolute favorites: ranunculus, dahlias, and juliet roses, with touches of pale blue hydrangea. I love how the framed table numbers and damask linens add texture to the table without distracting from the incredible flowers. A stunning wedding flawlessly pulled together by Greatest Expectations with gorgeous photos by Jennifer Kathryn Photography!

This morning’s Pancakes & Honey Breakfast shoot featured several handmade wedding projects, and the team of Suzy from Lily Red Studio, Kelly Marie from Fleur, and Jaclyn Simpson Photography have been kind enough to share their DIY secrets with us! They created several projects – click on the links below to jump to the instructions for your favorite:

I’m so excited to show off today’s Inspired Creations Contest idea – it’s retro, vintage, and fresh!  The Chicago team of Jaclyn Simpson Photography, Fleur, and Lily Red Studio created an intimate brunch wedding setting full of scrumptious pancakes and french toast kebabs, on a tabletop set with a handsewn runner, glittering crystal votive holders, and lush blooms. The honey, peach, and tangerine color palette is warm and sweet, and honey dipper favors are the perfect favor.  There are just so many little details to obsess over, so run over and see even more of the images in the gallery!

Modern and sophisticated, Melissa and Michael’s Chicago wedding at Hotel Allegro captivated us from the moment we set eyes upon it! The couple worked with Bianca of Estera Events to bring their vision of a chic, contemporary spring wedding to life. Working with a sleek color palette of silver, white, green, and navy, the always-fabulous Fleur created arrangements with an assortment of candles and white peonies, hydrangea, tulips, and garden roses. Every element down to the gorgeous cake from Alliance Bakery featured snowy white blooms! We simply adore Melissa’s classic bridal updo and natural makeup by Sonia Roselli, a perfect complement to her trumpet gown. Each moment is beautifully captured by Kina Wicks Photography!

Katie and Aaron were married on the same weekend that her parents said “I Do” 31 years prior. After a traditional ceremony at St. Joseph’s Church, the wedding party made their way to The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel, with its dramatic art deco ballroom. They fell in love with the magic of 1920’s inspired floral designs during their planning process, and the fabulous Kelly Marie from Fleur brought the vision to life with clematis blooms, peach cafe au lait dahlias, garden roses, ranunculus and hyrangea. The bridesmaids’ bouquets featured sparkly gold ribbons, which perfectly complemented their floor length navy gowns from Dessy. The couple sprinkled ersonal touches—such as their signature drinks named after their best man and maid of honor and family photo table—throughout the day to honor family and friends, and we love the fun of having bagpipers lead the guests into the ballroom after cocktails! Prepare to fall in love with each image from Sarah Postma Photography!

Sarah and Teddy’s Michigan backyard wedding is a true family affair! Held at Sarah’s aunt and uncle’s farm in Sawyer, their vision was a garden party feel with rustic elements and a bit of DIY flair. Nearly all of their nearest and dearest helped with the day’s details. Sarah’s younger sister created the stationery, her older sister played during their ceremony, and her father lit the reception tent. Teddy is a cellist and composed the song that played during the bridesmaids’ processional, and his father created beautiful pottery vases for the cocktail tables. Sarah’s mother is a photographer and created photo escort cards, while Teddy’s mother handmade a beautiful quilt for the couple featuring family wedding photos. The couple even created favors of pickled cucumbers and peppers from their garden! Stella Event Design designed arrangements in shades of blush and pink to complement the lush gardens on the property, which not only played host to the festivities of the day but also housed many guests who chose to camp out in “Tent Village”. This day couldn’t be more of a perfect labor of love, and we adore the beautiful way it was captured in the gorgeous images from Jen Lynne Photography!

With the stunning University Club of Chicago as the setting, you know you are in for a beautiful, classic Chicago wedding! Kelli and Patrick’s unforgettable day intertwined the spirit of the holiday season with the joyfulness of their celebration, and we are in love. The University Club’s Christmas decorations were a perfect backdrop for the elegant midnight blue, silver, and white reception decor from Hello Darling. The couple enlisted the help of to SQN Events bring their vision to reality, and Jennifer Kathryn Photography captured all of the gorgeous images. See the full wedding in the gallery!

Lauren and Dallas settled on Chicago for the location of their wedding festivities, the place where they first met at Northwestern University. Together they chose Saint James Chapel for their traditional Catholic ceremony and Racquet Club of Chicago for the site of their reception. To tie in with the peach and gray decor scheme, bridesmaids wore strapless Donna Morgan dresses from Nordstrom, paired with peony bouquets from Fleur. Lauren’s embroidered Lazaro gown from Bridal Couture was a classic choice that sparkled with a beaded headband and jeweled shoes purchased from Etsy. A DIY seating chart, a project Lauren and Dallas completed together, set the scene for an elegant but personalized reception with lush florals, vintage touches like mercury glass, and a dessert by Cake on a shiny silver stand. We’re swooning over every perfect detail in these images from Shane Welch Photography!

The rustic location of Jessica and Joe’s Rochester, Michigan, wedding complement the sophistication of the outdoor affair, starting with the venue at Addison Oaks! Peach, green, and cream garden arrangements by Twig & Berries Event Design complement the surroundings, while elements like watercolor fan programs, birchwood vases, and a moss-draped chuppah lend a Shakespearean theme. Peach bridesmaids dresses from Jasmine are lovely outdoors, and Jessica’s Tara Keely gown is simple and beautiful! We love the mix of roses and wood, and the repeat of those elements on the table holding a cake by Home Bakery. Amy Carroll Photography captured this gorgeous day—stop by the gallery for all of the beautiful images!

There are so many gorgeous elements in Jennifer and David’s wedding, held at The Blue Dress Barn in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The site itself is rustic, but touches like feathers and lush blooms in bouquets and arrangements from Posh Petals and Jennifer’s absolutely amazing Paloma Blanca gown—complete with an unbelievable rhinestone-and-lace capelet—upped the glam factor in a major way! French Country details and a chocolate wedding cake festooned with more feathers from Dee’s Specialty Cakes just furthered the sophisticated feel at this woodsy location. The images from Amy Carroll Photography captured the magical, charming sentiment of this wedding. And we totally adore the bride’s lottery ticket wedding favors, tied in festive bags with a penny! We’re somewhat teary just looking at the emotion on Jennifer and David’s faces—what an absolutely breathtaking affair!

When it came time for Nina and Eric to choose a location for their “simple yet elegant” wedding festivities, the New York City-based couple knew they wanted to celebrate in Chicago, where they grew up, met and fell in love. The W Chicago – City Center had just the right amount of ornate architecture and modern design they wanted. Nina and Eric called on Clary Photo to document their day, and we love how the images capture all of the details and romantic moments of the affair. Soft flowers in shades of ivory, pink, and gray—plus a touch of orange—from Fleur anchored the ceremony and reception; the bouquets were a sophisticated accent to the gray bridesmaids dresses from J.Crew. Nina chose a classic Anne Barge gown with a jeweled waist, but as a nod to her Korean heritage, the couple’s mothers were traditional Hanboks during the ceremony. Alliance Bakery continued the sophisticated theme with a four-tier wedding cake topped with more sweet blooms, while Nina and Eric added a punch of fun color with pink and orange serving pieces from Leif.

The picturesque shore of Lake Leelanau in Traverse City, Michigan, was a lovely gathering ground for the wedding of Ilana and Matt, who had family flying in from both coasts as well as overseas. The couple wanted a laid-back party for their “favorite people in the world,” and this one was full of style, too—from the custom sash made of feathers, moss and bark around the waist of Ilana’s J.Crew wedding gown to the casually elegant wildflower and herb arrangements from Bloom. An outdoor ceremony at Crooked Creek Ranch took advantage of the water views, while the property’s rustic barn was a gorgeous woodland scene for the reception, including a delicious four-tier cake from Aunt B’s embellished with a cascading fondant branch and leaves. These images from Harrison Studio make it clear this was one fun event—from the spirited dancing to Lady Sunshine and the X Band to the groom grabbing the mic to serenade his bride with “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.”

Beware – ridiculous amounts of gushing are forthcoming. Deserved gushing. Because I’m not sure there are words to describe just how much I love Kelly Marie and her team at Fleur. No matter what the wedding theme, what color palette is chosen, or what the venue may be, Kelly Marie and her team consistently create gorgeous florals for Chicago weddings of all budgets.

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!

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!

Cozy, soft, and romantic, Amy and Steve’s Chicago wedding is the perfect mix of vintage and modern. Hilary from Estera Events dubbed the wedding style “Granny Chic” and I’m in love! With the clean, modern feel of Room 1520 as the backdrop, the tables were dressed with romantic arrangements of garden roses and hydrangea in milk glass vases from Fleur, custom textured linens, elegant vintage china from Plate, and table names of quirky, vintage playing cards. Who wouldn’t want to be seated at Mischievous Monkey or Silly Goose? Playing off of Amy’s personality, the couple selected the name “Sassy Squirrel” for their intimate sweetheart table. This wedding has so much personality, so sit back and enjoy the beautiful images from I Luv Photo!