Real Weddings: Casandra + David

We’ve got a beautiful city wedding for you today, just wait until you see it! Cameron and Kristopher were married at the super-chic W City Center in downtown Chicago and then the party moved to Sepia where guests dined and drank to celebrate the newlyweds. Lots of love went into this wedding, from the flowers by their friend Beth Gill, owner of The Aspen Branch in Colorado, calligraphy by the bride’s cousin, Calligraphy by Cristine, and can you believe that Cameron’s 85-year-old grandmother made her gown…without a pattern? We love when the bride and groom have talented friends who all pitch in to create a day that is unique to the couple and their loved ones. Thanks to T & S Hughes Photography for these fantastic photos and to SQN Events for putting it all together!

Marguerite and Nicholas had a quintessential Chicago wedding at the landmark Drake Hotel!  Their ceremony was held at the stunning St. Clement Church, the same place where both Maggie’s parents and grandparents were married. Phillip’s Flowers did a beautiful job blending classic and modern, mixing glittery floating candles with elegant white blooms such as ranunculus, orchids, hydrangea, roses, and calla lilies. Olivia Leigh did a fantastic job capturing this beautiful couple, their amazing venue and all the gorgeous details!

This sweet little Chicago wedding showcases so much of my lovely city!  From the portraits on Wacker Drive to the reception at Fulton’s on the River, Andrea and Rob chose locations that reflect the best of Chicago, and Jessie from Simply Jessie Photography captured all of the images with her always amazing eye.  Fluffy white flowers and navy blue accents from Fleur complemented the view of the water from Fulton’s, and Greatest Expectations made sure the day ran off without a hitch.  Andrea is stunning in her classic Marisa gown and mantilla veil.  Oh and there is a pup - I love pups in weddings!

Washington, DC is magical in the winter, and the snowy streets of Georgetown were the gorgeous setting for Monica and Christopher’s chic soiree. The couple selected Sequoia, with its sprawling views of the Potomac River and the Kennedy Center (where the couple first met!) to host their celebration. The blown glass chandeliers became the inspiration for their decor, which featured a seasonal palette of blue, white, and silver with splashes of gold and sparkle and florals by Edge Floral Event Designers. The ceremony was a reflection of their families’ traditions as well as their own personal touches, with favorite quotes from books and movies included, as well as music from two of Monica’s close friends. Their Ketubah used traditional Hebrew and English text, written by Chris, and was designed and printed by Monica. We couldn’t imagine a more perfect setting, or a sweeter couple, and we are in love with the stunning images from Audra Wrisley Photography!

William and Claire were married on a warm Chicago summer day at Lincoln Park’s gorgeous Cafe Brauer. Though neither are from Chicago, the couple have made their home in Chicago for the past 6 years and their friends were an important part of their big day. Their best friend officiated the ceremony, while others dear to the couple sang and played the ceremony music. William is a music teacher and classically trained singer, and both sang to Claire during the ceremony and played Somewhere Over the Rainbow for Claire and her father’s reception dance. The historical reception hall is beautiful on its own and needed little more than gorgeous centerpieces from Stems and romantic candlelight for ambiance. Claire’s Enzoani dress is light and airy, and fresh makeup and loose waves by Sonia Roselli accented the gown’s beautiful lace. We’re head over heels for the beautiful images from Natalie Probst Photography!

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!

Jordan and Joe’s Chicago wedding is all about classic, timeless glamour. After a ceremony in River North’s Holy Name Cathedral, the couple selected the venerable Millennium Knickerbocker for their reception—a venue with an old Chicago feel—and its stately ballroom with its gold gilded ceiling was the inspiration for their decor. Sarah from Vale of Enna worked magic in the ornate ballroom, creating romantic and lush centerpieces of candelabras, greenery, and white and ivory blooms. We simply adore this couple’s elegance and style, and the gorgeous images from Emilia Jane Photography!

Syreeta and David’s at The Peninsula is modern Chicago elegance. Kehoe Designs worked with a clean color palette of silver, black, and ivory to transform the Peninsula’s ballroom for the ceremony, with a classic white uplit chuppah and lush florals elevated in black urns. The guest list was comprised of immediate family, so in lieu of a traditional reception, everyone was treated to cocktails followed by an intimate dinner at a feasting table with a lush rolling landscape of white floral, woven between gorgeous black candelabras. We have to gush over this incredibly fashionable couple: David is the epitome of the dashing groom in a Yves Saint Laurent tux, Tom Ford tie, and Prada shoes, and Syreeta is absolutely glowing in a J. Crew gown, BHLDN headpiece, and sparkly Christian Louboutin heels. We love the easy elegance of this beautiful wedding from Justine Bursoni Photography!

Chicago is glorious during the summertime, and Alissa and Jeff made the most of the stunning surroundings by holding their June nuptials at River Roast, set along the Chicago River. Sheila from Ipomea Floral Design accented the modern space with lanterns and candlelight, for a soft and romantic feel. Bouquets of blush and white peonies with juliet garden roses accented Alissa’s gorgeous Alvina Valenta gown from Bella Bianca, and her ladies’ flowy Donna Morgan dresses. The couple and their wedding party visited some of the city’s most iconic locations, from Buckingham Fountain to Michigan Ave, where Kina Wicks Photography captured these lovely images. We are smitten!

We are head over heels for Lauren and Taylor’s chic blue-and-white San Francisco wedding! Lauren, a wedding planner herself, immediately began pulling together ideas after Taylor’s proposal, so that—with the help of Ryder Sloan Events—they could have an outdoor affair to remember. She started with the location, Stable Cafe. The urban garden space was a great backdrop for a collection of blue-and-white ginger jars filled with florals from Mandolin Flowers. Plumosa fern garlands and cafe lights added an air of sophistication, while classic arrangements of hydrangeas, anemones, and roses accented tables covered with Swiss dot linens from La Tavola. Lauren wore her cousin’s couture Carolina Herrera Bridal gown with embellished blue Manolo Blahnik heels, a Christmas gift from Taylor; her bouquet was wrapped with long pieces of vintage lace and blue velvet ribbon. Amy Nichols Special Events ensured the day ran smoothly from start to finish, which included transforming the courtyard after the ceremony into a luxe space for dinner and dancing, along with lounging areas outfitted with seating from One True Love Vintage Rentals. Later in the evening, guests sipped warm spiked cocktails from the DIY coffee bar, the perfect accompaniment to a salted caramel wedding cake from Cake Coquette—the design of the dessert mimicked the ginger jar pattern. We are just in total love with all of these fabulous images from Julie Mikos!

Ahh we just adore the crisp, clean look of Emily and Chris’s modern but timeless black, white, and gray wedding! A classic church ceremony at Church of St. Cecilia gets a mod twist with white bouquets trimmed with black and white striped ribbon streamers from Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling—we love the gorgeous poppies! Black bridesmaids dresses from J.Crew are a perfect contrast with Emily’s Vera Wang gown and veil. We’re loving the metallic silvers and grays throughout this affair, from contemporary stationery by Amy Hunt to Emily’s sparkly Jimmy Choo heels and the silver-embellished cake by Rosa’s Cake Gallery at the reception, held at the chic Cafe Lurcat in Minneapolis. Letting the sophisticated decor at the cafe guide them, Emily and Chris opted for lots of candles interspersed with black and white details that are elegant and refreshing. We’re swooning over this perfect affair and the images from Two Bird Studio!

Speechless is the word to describe how we feel about Shannon and Matt’s stunning Chicago wedding! These images from Emilia Jane leave us breathless from beginning to end, starting with the strapless column gown from Manuel Mota for Pronovias that Shannon paired with a long, simple veil from Mira Couture and a headpiece she made herself from a Nadri necklace. Shannon’s modern princess look was topped off with gold platform Brian Atwood shoes. Soft peony and garden rose blooms in pink, peach, and cream by Vale of Enna Flowers created a romantic atmosphere. Custom sequin linens by Ryan Turner of Stemline Creative add a sophisticated shot of glamour, and the centerpiece of the setup–a tinsel chandelier by James McDermott–had the bride swooning most of all. “Everything dazzled all night as the light twinkled off of the tinsel and bounced on to the walls,” says Shannon. Changing out of her gown into a bespoke reception dress by Azeeza, Shannon joined Matt on the dance floor for a non-traditional first dance before cutting into their gold leaf-accented cake by Tipsycakes. We’re in total agreement with Shannon when asked what our favorite part of this beautiful wedding is: all the sparkle!

We’re firm believers in elegant simplicity, and that’s precisely what Esther and Jeremy’s LA restaurantwedding delivers! In these sweet and sophisticated images from Alders Photography, what stands out most is the lush cream and green florals by Dandelion Ranch. All other decor is kept minimal for both the ceremony and reception at LA’s mod and earthy Campanile Restaurant. Esther stuns in a column-style Vera Wang gown that features an ecru-colored embellishment on the waist, defining the dress with an extra-special touch we adore! Likewise, the understated boutonniere on Jeremy’s Ermenegildo Zegna suit is a classic but stylish detail. This day was perfect for the bride and groom, who just wanted to celebrate and enjoy the occasion surrounded by family and friends.

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!

Cristi and Chris infused themselves into every detail of their big day. From their chic style to the hand-stamped sugar spoon favors and Cristi’s personalized wedding gown, the whole day was a true reflection of this couple’s personalities and their love for each other. Their ceremony venue, the popular Vancouver wine bar Brix, had a stunning brick-walled courtyard with a glass roof and climbing ivy. It was the ultimate urban-chic backdrop, and we’re just loving the fabulous images captured by Jamie Delaine!

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 completely in love with today’s wedding from Emily Takes Photos!  Not only are Nicole and Chudi a stunning couple (the amazing portraits on the streets of San Francisco are some of my favorites ever) but this wedding has a little bit of everything fabulous – a chic, modern reception at Axis Cafe with organic and exotic florals, a cable car (natch), and even traditional Nigerian wedding attire!  Nicole and Chudi are head-over-heels in love, and their radiant smiles and genuine happiness makes this wedding a joy to see!

Married at the beautiful The Morton Arboretum outside Chicago, Ashley and Jake’s summer wedding was beautifully natural and simply elegant. White hydrangea and lisianthus were mixed with textured greenery in arrangements by Hinsdale Flower Shop. Ashley chose several of her vendors through Etsy, giving their wedding a sweet, crafty feel. From the beautiful trees of the venue, perfectly fresh florals, and the tangible adoration between Ashley and Jake, these wonderful photos by Simply Jessie Photography are full of life and love!

Jessica and Zach both have an incredible eye for design and their modern North Carolina wedding was a reflection of each of their tastes and talents. While Jessica styled all the decor including the beautiful centerpieces and bouquet, her husband-to-be, Zach, designed all the stationery for the event. The ceremony was held at Jessica’s mother’s 1930’s bungalow in historic Hillsborough, NC where friends and family enjoyed a catered lunch with the couple afterwards. The new husband and wife then took off for an amazingly hip costume change (I love EVERYTHING about the couples’ outfits), headed to an entirely separate sit-down dinner at ACME Restaurant, and then danced the night away across the street at DSI Comedy Theater. These gorgeous photos by Graham Terhune tell a story of a truly amazing and intimate celebration!

Deciding on Galleria Marchetti in Chicago as their venue was one of the easiest choices for Emily and Tom. It wasn’t as easy, however, for Emily to keep Tom from wanting to hang streamers from the tent. Either way, their colorful wedding looks like it was a blast! The florals by Fleur are stunning (love the limes!) and Emily’s necklace makes me want to dig through my mom’s jewelry and find a brooch to steal just so I can have it made into my own necklace by Elva Fields. The couple is very lucky to have some extremely helpful friends. Emily’s sorority sister, Amanda Hein, took great photos of the day, the one of the bridesmaids shoes is my fav!