Real Weddings: Alyssa + Mark

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!

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!

Tiffany and Peter’s Chicago wedding was elegant affair with a fabulously fresh color palette and just the right amount of vintage. But truly? I am obsessed with the flowers from this wedding. Seriously, obsessed. Like, want to print these photos out and just hang them in my room like a Leonardo DiCaprio poster obsessed. Stunning job by Stems! Tiffany looked beautifully vintage-elegant in her lace Monique Lhuillier gown, birdcage veil, and some of my favorite Badgley Mischka shoes (which I happened to wear for my wedding day too so maybe I’m biased). This wedding is for sure one of my favorites!

Katie and Dan planned their nuptials in just four months, but these images from Two Birds Photography show flawless touches and attention to detail that belie the couple’s short engagement! Says bride Katie, “There were three main feelings we wanted our celebration to evoke: a classic feel, a cozy environment, and a fun atmosphere.” We think it’s an absolute success, starting with the venue, Chicago’s The Rookery. “It is such an amazing space with an incredible history that is deeply intertwined with the city,” says Katie. “Both grand and cozy.” From there, the couple looked to Exquisite Designs for florals that would accent the existing decor, including white roses, anemones, ranunculu, sweet peas, and hydrangeas.  In keeping with the chic, sophisticated feel of the day, bridesmaids wore black dresses by Amsale. Katie’s lace Rafael Cennamo gown from Dimitra’s bridal salon is stunning, and we love the edginess her black Jimmy Choo heels provide. Vintage decanters from Rent Vintage Chicago add a sparkle to the reception’s cream and gold decor, as does the gold bride and groom topper set on the cake from Sweet Mandy B’s. How we adore this elegant affair!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Madeline and Audie chose the Chicago History Museum as the venue for their classically elegant Chicago wedding. The bride’s gown, designed by Ines Di Santo, is the crown jewel of this wedding. It’s simply unbelievable, and combined with her gorgeous bouquet and lovely pink Loubouton shoes, this bride look is an all-time favorite.

We love this absolutely classic féte hailing from an illustrious museum in our nation’s capital today. This Washington DC wedding was photographed by one of our favorites, Lisa Blume, and it is elegant and so special and timeless. According to Kelly, she couldn’t take her mind off of the National Museum of Women in the Arts’s design and sweetly, how she could picture traipsing down the staircase to meet her dear dad at the bottom to walk her down the aisle to her beau Jamie (tears!). Speaking of tears, we had to mention this touching detail. Kelly needed to have her grandmothers there in some way, so to commemorate these wonderful women in her life, she shipped in two paintings from North Carolina of them and had her grandmother’s tea cup in her bridal suite. Endearingly, the teacup was a gift her grandmother gave to her sister for her wedding.

Dana and Donte may just be the most picture-perfect couple, and their intimate, backyard wedding under the warm Texas sky has us spellbound! The couple searched high and low for their perfect venue and luckily found a Spanish Mission as a rental home, and the rest, as they say, is history! Though bringing in each and every item for a wedding is a daunting task, Wedfully Yours (where the bride is a lead coordinator) worked tirelessly to make this Big Day perfect. Donte and Dana met in high school and became inseparable after reconnecting two years ago. Dana shares “My mom said I always thought she didn’t like him, but really, she didn’t like that I was so crazy about him. I’d completely lose my mind from the excitement!” Their story—along with Dana’s new not-for-profit business dedicated to hiring people who have fallen into homelessness— touched the heart of Brittany Lauren Photography when we held a wedding photography contest here on EAD earlier this year, and it’s easy to see why. We can’t help but fall in love with this couple, whose love and affection for each other shine through in absolutely every moment. We know you will feel the same!

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!

There’s so much cultural tradition in Becca and Nenad’s wedding ceremonies, and we just adore every aspect! An outdoor Jewish ceremony, a traditional ceremony at Serbian Orthodox Diocese of New Gracanica, and a reception at the Chicago History Museum are all spilling over with gorgeous details. These stunning images from Jen Lynne Photography and AE Stelzer Photography captured lush blooms by Scarlet Petal, a rustic but elegant birchwood chuppah, and Becca’s gorgeous tiered-skirt gown. We just can’t get over the intricate paintings inside the church or the soft pastel colors of the bridesmaids dresses and gray suits with those plaid ties. We’re thrilled to share Becca and Nenad’s day with you!

Dana and James, with the help of Joyce Feuer of Joyce’s Event and Party Planning, threw a soft, pretty wedding that was equal parts city sophistication—after all, the event was held at The Standard Club in Chicago—and romantic chic. Incredibly lush flowers in varied tones of pink by StemLine Creative up the gorgeous factor, and Dana’s Christos gown sends it over the top—check out that sheer overlay and her sparkly heels! The fabulous Artisan Events captured these images, which look like pure art to us—kind of like the cream cake topped with blush flowers from Amy Beck Cake Design. This entire affair glitters like gold!

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!

Eleanor and Andrew’s dramatic city wedding—held at a private Chicago club—is filled to the brim with elegant, jewel-toned floral arrangements by Heffernan Morgan Designs. Blue-gray bridesmaids dresses are a bright pop against the moody, romantic lighting by FROST. And we love Eleanor’s empire waist, cap-sleeve gown and that white fur wrap! The sweetest way to end this evening was with a smooth-as-silk confection from Cake Sweet Food Chicago. We hope you enjoy these images from David Wittig Photography!

From the ceremony at Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church to the reception at The Drake in Chicago, Stefanie and Matt’s weekend was filled with family, love, and lots of tradition the bride holds dear. “One of the many things that I love about Matt is that he has always embraced my Ukrainian heritage, which is a really significant part of my identity,” says Stefanie. The elaborate church ceremony included lush florals by Stems, with pale, mostly white bouquets that popped against taupe and black bridesmaids dresses from the Jenny Yoo Collection. Stefanie dazzled in an Oscar de la Renta gown that was topped off by a big, modern bow on the shoulder. Ukrainian custom called for an overflowing sweets table with desserts from family friends and Shokolad Pastry & Cafe, but the couple still offered a traditional tri-flavored cake made by Sarah’s Pastries & Candies. The lively end of the night included special dancing—the kolomeyka—by Stefanie’s family. We’re swept off our feet by this fun wedding documented to perfection by Melissa Hayes Photography!

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!

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!

Hannah and Eddy’s wedding in Pasadena, California was so soft and romantic, just as the bride envisioned it! As a florist, Hannah wanted flowers to be a central theme of the event, and she created the bouquets and boutonnieres from peonies, lily of the valley, garden roses, ranunculus, anemones, astilbe and berzillia berries, while entrusting a talented friend to create the reception florals. At the reception, guests were invited to wrap up bouquets of lush blooms to take home as favors.  Bridesmaids wore soft blue dresses from BHLDN, and we love the adorable flower girls in tulle skirts handmade by Hannah! The day was captured beautifully by Christine Farah Photography, and we can’t stop staring!