Real Weddings: Emily + Jeff

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!

We love the pretty pastels woven throughout Su and Ray’s outdoor wedding at Promontory Point in Chicago’s Burnham Park. Lush bouquets of pink and cream ranunculus and peonies mixed with dusty miller by Vale of Enna are the perfect complement to romantic coral bridesmaids dresses by Jarlo. Su’s Vera Wang gown is hands-down one of our favorites ever, with a big structured bow taking the focal point of the gown’s front. To celebrate their heritage, Su and Ray incorporated a tea ceremony into the celebrations, and the red dress Su wore to cut the cake from Bridgeport Bakery is simply stunning! We are swooning over these beautiful images from Kina Wicks!

Amanda and Mike’s big city Chicago wedding portrays a certain sweetness that is both charming and sophisticated! Following a traditional Catholic ceremony at St. Josaphat Parish, the couple and their friends and family headed to the gorgeous Chicago History Museum for a night of great food and dancing, thanks to Blue Plate catering and tunes from Matt Lewis and The Union. Amanda says she wouldn’t change a thing about the day, and we can see why! From the lovely ice blue bridesmaids dresses from Bella Bridesmaids to her own amazing Tara Keely gown, the attire was simple and elegant. Emilia Jane Photography captured beautiful images—we especially adore the iconic photos with the backdrop of the Chicago skyline! We love the mix of baby’s breath, peach roses, and white peonies in floral designs by Revel Décor, as well as the adorable confection by Amy Beck Cake Design—there’s so much to love, catch it all in the gallery!

Traditionally elegant and glamorous, Jessica and Ryan’s Chicago wedding was inspired by Old Hollywood. The stunning church (in which they are parishioners), the beautiful flowers, and the perfect palette of ivory, gold, and hints of pink, really makes this gorgeous wedding reminiscent of a movie set! We’re loving the Palmer House’s opulent ballroom and the floral perfection of Heffernan Morgan. Becky Hill Photography captured this beautiful day and we’re swooning over every last detail!

Anne and Michael blended elements of three cities for their summer wedding. They wed at the River East Art Center in Chicago, where they fell in love. They asked caterer Paramount Events to add Pierce’s Pitt bar-b-que sauce — a favorite from Anne’s hometown of Williamsburg, Virginia — to their pulled pork sliders. And they shared cheese curds from Michael’s old stomping ground of Madison, Wisconsin, with their guests. Just outside the center where the were married, photographer Austin Gros snapped the most beautiful images of the couple with Chicago’s skyline as the background. We also love the classic pink and navy color palette and all the elegant and pretty floral arrangements by Revel Decor!

Jacquelyn and Ryan’s wedding wasn’t just timeless and elegant. It was filled with personalized details that gave a nod to the couple’s relationship, and Clary Photo was there to capture every precious detail. The bride asked The Rebel Florist to fill bouquets and centerpieces with plush peonies because the park in which Ryan proposed was filled with the blooms. They wed inside the Missouri History Museum, beneath a classic white chuppah. For favors, the couple gave a donation to PAWS in honor of their adopted German Shepherd, Moose—each guest found a picture of the pup and a note from the couple at their place setting!

I’m in love with Colette and Luke’s gorgeous rustic and romantic Austin wedding. Classic black bridesmaids dresses and sleek, modern tuxes plus gorgeous florals by Petal Pushers? Adore!  The couple incorporated natural, rustic elements into their wedding without compromising the elegance of the event. My favorite detail is the aspen logs that Colette’s dad hollowed out to be used as vessels for the flowers and programs. You’re going to absolutely swoon over these gorgeous photos by La Dolce Vita Photography!

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!

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!

Lauren and Zach’s Chicago wedding is just as elegant as can be, with soft and sweet details that will be in style forever! The breathtaking Saint Clement Parish served as the location of the Catholic ceremony before the couple’s reception at Galleria Marchetti. Unique bouquets from Cornelia McNamara that included poppies and dusty miller are one of our favorite details of this affair, and the alternating pastel floral and baby’s breath arrangements at the reception have us drooling as well! Pretty pink bridesmaids dresses from Jordan are lovely, and the silhouettes complement Lauren’s Kittychen Couture gown, which she paired with a mantilla veil from Veiled Beauty. In a departure from typical fondant cakes, Lauren and Zach chose a buttercream frosted confection from Alliance Bakery, festooned with lush blooms in shades of pink and peach.The entire scheme is stunning, as you can see in these amazing images from Justine Bursoni!

Oh, how we adore the soft colors and romantic vibe of Mirna and Robin’s Bay Area wedding at Mission Santa Clara de Asis! These images from Caroline Tran are as ethereal as Mirna’s classic Monique Lhuillier gown—and we love the fresh flowers tucked into her sleek updo! Pink and white ruled the day, from flowers by Nicole Ha Designs to the blush-colored cake by Rosewood Sand Hill, also the site of the fabulous reception. Mirna’s bridesmaids wore long light taupe dresses by Saja Wedding to complement the surrounding pale pinks, a color combo that’s classic and fresh. Each carefully executed detail was overseen by Amazae Special Events. This fabulous fete is absolutely stunning!

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!

You can never go wrong with a combination of black and white, and that’s only further proved in the details of Whitney and Andrew’s wedding. Their classic church ceremony at Bethany United Church of Christ gave way to a chic black-and-white reception at Architectural Artifacts in Chicago. We are nearly stunned into silence by Whitney’s amazing Vera Wang—especially the detailed bodice and the knot ties down the back—and the equally lovely black bridesmaids dresses, all different based on each lady’s selection. The always wonderful Clary Photo took these breathtaking images that we’re sharing with you today, and we love the small details the most. Check out the pearl pin monogram on Whitney’s bouquet by Stemline Creative, the sophisticated stationery suite from Aerialist Press, and the icing monogram on the simple cake from Lovin Oven Cakery LLC. See all the gorgeous images in the gallery!

When Liz and Eric went looking for a venue, they were seeking something that could capture the essence of quintessential Chicago. As soon as they saw Cafe Brauer at the Lincoln Park Zoo, they knew it was the place! Elegant, unique and timeless, they also loved the cafe’s central location. Their wedding design was inspired by the cafe’s classic architecture, with just a touch of garden sweetness added in. Oh and speaking of sweetness? The croquembouche to honor Liz’s year in France: swoon! The color palette of floral arrangements by Scarlet Petal includes the softest pinks and peaches in roses, tulips, stock and even some Queen Anne’s lace. We absolutely adore these photos by Alaina Bos Photography and hope you do, too!

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!

Pretty flowers, pale pink dresses, and an elegant outdoor venue… Laura and Steve’s Nashville wedding is garden party perfection! The details of their wedding truly couldn’t be prettier. They chose a palette of pale pink and mint green and selected hydrangea, peonies, and roses in arrangements by Enchanted Florist to decorate the outdoor gazebo at CJ’s off the Square. I love the paper flower escort cards and the gorgeous chandeliers but I can’t stop drooling over her amazing Louboutins! What a marvelous day with marvelous photos by Kristyn Hogan!

Pure magic is created when the right people come together in the right place to create a day filled to the brim with pure love and a healthy dose of style!  Montecito’s beautiful San Ysidro Ranch is the backdrop for Julie and Jason’s intimate and elegant wedding.  Julie is a stunning bride! For the ceremony, she chose a fabulous Vera Wang gown, then changed into a flowy and romantic Claire Pettibone sheath (and literally let her hair down!) for the reception, which featured romantic blush and pink arrangements by Florette Designs, and simple-but-lovely calligraphy table numbers.  We are head over heels for all of the gorgeous images from Jose Villa, and for Julie and Jason’s adorable pup too!

A typical ballroom wedding just wouldn’t do for Erin and Wes—they something a bit more personal and unique. The couple decided Belle Meade, a plantation home and horse farm in Nashville, was the perfect place to host their wedding. In keeping with their surroundings, the couple made escort cards from horseshoes and  horseshoe charms hung from the white and pink bouquets and boutonnieres. Brocade Designs created beautiful centerpieces of roses and dusty miller in mercury glass containers. We love the pop of pink napkins on the gray tablecloths and the chic bridesmaids dresses by Monique Lhullier!

Belinda and Jim’s wedding is not only about as sophisticated and elegant as it gets, but it’s got an utterly fantastic pop of bold color throughout too! Bridesmaids in bright pink BCBG dresses, vibrant pink and red florals dripping with crystals by City of Commerce Flower, and glittering pink favors at each place setting, all set against their stunning venue Athenaeum at Caltech. The venue by itself is amazing, but then add in all these incredible details? I’m 100% smitten. Oh and add in the perfection that is Belinda’s Valentino heels? Make that 110%. Bravo to the whole team responsible for this gorgeous wedding and to Marvin Tsai for the beautiful photos!

The gowns, the flowers, the colors…I absolutely love all of the details from Nina and Michael’s wedding. This beautiful couple celebrated their marriage right on Lake Erie with a traditional and elegant reception at Shoreby Club and an in-credible color palette. I love the rich and moody purple and navy bouquets and the bright pops of fuchsia and lime in their fantastic centerpieces by HeatherLily, Inc. Oh, and Nina’s gown? Love!! Then again, there isn’t much *not* to love from these gorgeous photos by Z MEDIA!