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Real Weddings:

Elise and Marco’s Wedding at Chicago Athletic Club

featuring Olivia Leigh Photographie

Marco is a talented DJ and Sound Designer, and his blushing bride Elise is an interior and event designer in Chicago. Drawing from her professional background, Elise conceptualized every detail of this celebration at Chicago Athletic Association , and was inspired by the Alfonso Cuaron’s 1998 adaptation of “Great Expectations,” with its bohemian ballrooms, textures and greenery. And, commissioning the work of local artists and creative friends was of utmost importance. From the florals by Moon Canyon to stationery suites from Vichcraft Lettering and even her reception gown by Samantha Sleeper– nearly every detail of this celebration was a labor of love from fellow industry creatives whom Elise admires deeply. The couple enlisted the skills of Olivia Leigh Photographie  to capture all their fabulous details and we’re thrilled to share the images with you today!

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What made the wedding special and unique?

From the bride: I am the founder of Forward Fruit, an experiential design and interiors firm, and co-founder of Filigree Suppers, a design-driven supper club highlighting local makers and culinary talent. Needless to say, our wedding was both an expression of love for each other, and a wonderful collaborative creative project. My passion is in creating engaging and memorable environments, so it was only natural our wedding would follow suit. With a deep admiration for the creative event industry, we commissioned the work of independent makers, many of whom were friends, who perfectly complemented the overall design vision. Marco is a sound designer by day/ DJ by night, so music was a really important part of the day. He also weighed in on pretty much every detail, which was a great way to keep us both involved!

I called upon my industry friends who contributed to the overall vision of the celebration – many of whom were standing by our side on our wedding day. This parallels the foundation of Filigree Suppers, which was designed so the makers would attend the gatherings they were a part of, and be engaged in conversation with those who were enjoying the fruits of their labor.
My friend Jenna Blazevich, a Chicago-based graphic designer and owner of Vichcraft did all the lettering and calligraphy. She also did the design for the save the date, which was inspired by the Venetian Gothic architecture of the venue. This design was also carried over to the cake.

Floral designer Kristen Caissie of Moon Canyon designed the flowers and was also a bridesmaid. Many other elements were from independent artisans, as noted in the vendor list.

Rainbow letterpress foil and an envelope liner inspired by “The Equatorial Jungle” 1909 by Henri Rousseau amplified the bespoke invitation suite, designed by me in collaboration with Vichcraft.
The front of the programs and invitation suite were inspired by the architecture of the venue. Small moon & stars/shells/squirrel references were made with an explanation about the symbolism seen through some of the wedding day design and how it told a story of our love. The shell motif was seen on my reception dress, place cards, and even the bread and butter plates!

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

My ceremony gown was previously worn by two generations of women – my grandmother in 1937, and my mother in 1976. For our reception, I switched into a fun, costume style gown which was custom created with Chicago native and bridal designer, Samantha Sleeper.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

A thoughtfully-designed ceremony highlighted our individual heritages. A rabbi married us beneath a floral and lace chuppah in a nod to my Jewish faith, while a lasso ceremony reflected  Marco’s Catholic upbringing. Marco, who is also Mexican and Puerto Rican, called upon his uncle to read a Pablo Neruda poem in Spanish, which was also read in English by my best friend.

​A string quartet played “In My Life” The Beatles for the wedding party. I walked down the aisle to a string adaptation of “Latch” by Sam Smith, a song that was popular our first full summer together. The recession was to “Wedding March” because we love tradition. My parents met playing in an orchestra so this was a nod to them. This was our gift to (and surprise for) my parents.

​Marco and I surprised our parents and guests with a performance by a Mariachi band during the reception!

What was the most memorable part of the day?

We did a lift during our first dance that went off without a hitch! We were so excited we barely finished the dance!

​ ​The most epic dance party either of us had been to. As a DJ (him) and a former dancer (me), that was SO special to have our family and friends with us on the dance floor all night.​

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Neither of us had ever used a dating app, but in the summer of 2013, we both signed up and that first night I was on, I met Marco. A few weeks after that, I went on my first and last blind date. A few weeks after THAT, we both had the feeling that “this was it”!

Marco proposed in 2016 against a sunset backdrop with a stunning emerald (my favorite color) ring on the dock at my family’s lake house. We had just polished off a few pieces of strawberry rhubarb pie. We were married just over a year later at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, a recently renovated, men’s club turned destination hotel.​

Photographer: Olivia Leigh Photographie // Wedding Designer: Elise Metzger (bride) Founder of Forward Fruit and co-founder of Filigree Suppers // Planner (partial): Bianca Hall Estera Events // Florals: Kristen Caissie Moon Canyon // Invitations: Bride made with Vichcraft Lettering // Lettering & Calligraphy: Jenna Blazevich Vichcraft // Venue/Catering: Chicago Athletic Association Hotel // Bride’s Gown Ceremony: Vintage Mother’s and Grandmother’s // Reception Gown: Samantha Sleeper // Bride’s Shoes: Ferragamo (ceremony) SJP (reception) // Bride’s Earrings: JCrew // Bride’s Veil Designer: Blair Nadeau // Bride’s Hair: Angelica Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists // Makeup: Nika Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists // Groom’s Tux: Custom // Groom’s Shoes: Suit Supply // Rings: Hers Both Tiffany & Co Michigan Ave // Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Fame and Partners Online // Groomsmen’s Tuxes: Black Tux // Candles: Creative Candles // Photo Booth: Paper Moon Shoppe // Cake: Cake Chicago // Invite Details: Little Postage House Vintage Stamps // Rentals: Flatware and Vintage Stemware Nimblewell // Ceramics: Ashley Lin Ames // Linens: Dot & Army / La Tavola Fine Linen // Lighting: Kehoe // Chuppah: Chuppah Studio // Cocktail Stirrers: Vintage on Etsy // Toss Flowers: Larkspur Hill via Etsy // Ring Box: The Mrs. Box // Ceremony Entertainment: Innocenti Strings // Reception Entertainment: Mariachi Ameca // DJ: DJ Matt Roan // Videographer: Logan Moore Wholehearted

 

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Real Weddings:

Vanessa and Justin’s Cabo San Lucas Wedding

photography by Ana & Jerome

Vanessa and Justin celebrated with a wedding in Mexico that “felt like a vacation with all of our favorite people!” The Cape, one of our favorite Cabo venues, offers views of downtown and El Arco, with a chic, contemporary vibe. Lynette Dow with Amy Abbot Events planned the day which included modern florals and decor that enhanced the stunning views and atmosphere of the venue while personalized details like graphic letterpress invitations by Hyegraph Invitations & Calligraphy, a short and sweet ceremony by the sea and fireworks made the night that much more special. See all the details in these stunning images by Ana & Jerome.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Mexico is a special place for us and we loved that our wedding felt like a vacation with all of our favorite people!  The rooftop of The Cape has views of downtown Cabo San Lucas and El Arco, making it a stunning and unique place for a wedding.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

I went to a dress shop by myself while out of town and fell in love with the gown’s Josephine embroidery and silhouette. The designer is Atelier Pronovias.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

We were really detailed when picking the music and that made the ceremony and reception feel personal. The DJ was awesome and we didn’t leave the dance floor all night long! Instead of traditional centerpieces and the standard wedding look, we wanted modern flowers and decor that would enhance the stunning views and atmosphere. Our florist totally captured our vision – the orchids and succulents were the perfect compliment the beautiful venue. Having our favorite snacks as late-night food was also a fun personal touch!

What was the most memorable part of the day?

It’s really hard to choose what was most memorable but we both loved the fireworks and the dancing. Justin had forgotten about the fireworks so that was a really fun surprise for him!  The ceremony is a special memory – it was short and sweet and made us both laugh and cry. We also have great memories of the heartfelt speeches from family and friends. The service at The Cape was excellent and we will always remember how special they made our guests and us feel that day.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend. We didn’t know anything about each other and no pictures were exchanged beforehand so neither one of us knew what to expect but it ended up being a great first date! As far as getting engaged, Justin made big plans for our 1-year anniversary – drinks at the same place we had our first date, followed by dinner at a secret location, and a proposal at the end of the night. But things didn’t go according to plan. The day before the planned proposal,  Justin took the ring out of his safe and it started “burning a hole in his pocket” so he drove over to Vanessa’s house and jumped the gun by proposing out of nowhere. It was definitely a spontaneous proposal!  We celebrated our engagement with a vacation to Cabo!

Photography: Ana & Jerome // Wedding Planner: Amy Abbot Events Lynette Dow // Floral Design: Pina Cate // Venue, Catering and Cake: The Cape // HMUA: Blanc Bridal Salon // Invitation Suite: Jacques Oskanian, Hyegraph Invitations & Calligraphy // Printed Material: Bells & Whistles Design // Dress: Atelier Pronovias in Sacramento // Rentals: Del Cabo Events, Pina Cate Warehouse Rentals // Cocktail Entertainment: Smart Music Francisco Alatorre (guitar & violin) // Dj  Entertainment and Lighting: Alex Alanis

 

Real Weddings:

Natalie and Caleb’s New Orleans Wedding

featuring Caitlin B. Photo

You know the vibes are going to be rad when the bride tops her Grace Loves Lace gown with a custom painted leather jacket. Yep—Natalie wins! And her wedding to Caleb at New Orlean’s Race and Religious is just as cool as the painted palms on her jacket. Planned by Southern Couture Weddings, the details include vibrant florals by Root Floral Design, custom illustrated invitations by Scriptura, a courtyard wedding and an intimate dinner under the cafe lights. And what would a New Orlean’s wedding be without a second line? Natalie and Caleb enlisted Caitlin B. Photo to capture their celebratory walk and all the other details of their big day.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Our venue, Race and Religious, was very unique and it really inspired the decisions we made. The wedding turned out to be the garden party of my dreams! The ceremony was held in the main courtyard with a seated dinner to follow. We ate under rows of string lights and were surrounded by brightly colored tropical flowers. I loved that our venue allowed us to have the wedding and reception all in the same place. We actually got ready and spent the night there, too! We also decided not to have a bridal party and our final headcount was 60 guests. It allowed our ceremony to be very intimate and it was important for us to be able to spend time with every guest and that’s exactly what we were able to do!

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

The first time I saw my wedding dress was on Pinterest, I wasn’t engaged but I was OBSESSED. After discovering that the dress designer was located in Australia I decided to follow their instagram account, @graceloveslace, and when the day came to go dress shopping I would attempt to find something similar. A few months later they announced that they were opening their first American store located in Venice Beach! The week after we got engaged my mom and I booked flights to LA and made an appointment at the store. The very first dress I tried on, which ended up being the one, was the exact dress I had seen on Pinterest over a year before! The dress, veil, earrings, and shoes were all Grace Loves Lace. It was so surreal to be standing in the mirror and looking at myself in my dream dress, and I loved that my mom and I have that memory together!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Throughout the entire process I worked with Hannah Trahan at Southern Couture Weddings to ensure we incorporated Caleb’s and my personalities and story into different parts of the day. We focused on making the seated dinner really special for our guests by customizing the entire menu and the place settings along with tablescape to feel formal yet comfortable. The band from my hometown wowed my guests throughout the night; they learned songs specifically for our wedding that were special to us. I had a custom leather jacket hand painted with palm leaves that I threw on over my dress for the end reception and for our second line exit.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The first look really was such a special part of our day. I was strongly against doing one for months but once we started working out timing details I realized that Caleb and I wouldn’t have had any time to take pictures together while the sun was still up. So we opted for doing a first look, and I am so glad that we did. I love that we had a quiet moment to enjoy each other because the rest of the night slipped by so quickly!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Caleb and I met studying abroad in Paris during the Summer of 2014. I only knew one person on the trip and Caleb knew no one! A few weeks into the trip we bonded over the fact that we are both self proclaimed foodies. We decided weren’t going to continue eating the horrible food in the hostel cafeteria and from that point on we went to dinner together every single night for the rest of the summer. About 3 years later Caleb and I went back to Europe on a multi city trip to celebrate his grad school graduation. Paris was our third stop on the trip, and we had already been in Europe for over a week, so I truly didn’t think he would actually hold out or hold on to a ring in a foreign country for that many days. To my surprise he did both and we got engaged in Paris where we met.

Natalie & Caleb Highlight Film from Aperçu Films on Vimeo.

Photographer: Caitlin B. Photo // Wedding Planner: Southern Couture Weddings // Florist: Root Floral Design // Flower Art: Catherine Guidry // Stationery: Mallory Hopkins, Scriptura // Venue: Race and Religious // Wedding Dress: Grace Loves Lace // Cake Designer: Bittersweet Confections // Hair & Makeup: Carli Escurieux with Bleu Salon // Band: Buck Johnson Brazz Band // Videographer: Apercu Films // Rentals & Lighting: Your Event Delivered // Groom’s Attire: Custom Brooks Brothers // Shoe Designer: Grace Loves Lace // Misc: Leaf and Petal (Rug for Aisle) // Catering: Palates // Transportation: Hotard Coaches // Ring Box: The Mrs. Box

 

The Archive:

Kelsey and Michael’s Olympia’s Valley Estate wedding

featuring Lynette Boyle Photography

You know you’re going to get a spectacular color palette in a wedding planned by the fabulous Kaella Lynn Events. Kelsey and Michael’s big day is no exception with its bold, saturated red color scheme—a nod to the couple’s boisterous personalities. Olympia’s Valley Estate set the scene for the lakeside nuptials followed by a barn reception and it’s all filled with spectacular florals by Amanda Vidmar Designs. We absolutely love that the couple had a cake-shaped piñata smashing instead of a traditional cake cutting as a nod to Cinco de Mayo and lucky for us Lynette Boyle Photography was on hand to capture that moment and all the others in these striking film images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

The venue alone was a very special part of our day. Olympia’s Valley felt like a place we could see ourselves in another life – out of the city and surrounded by the beauty of Northern California – with plenty of room for rescue dogs!

The music also made our day very unique – we selected non traditional songs for the ceremony based on our ties to those songs from different points in our lives.

Kelsey’s sister officiating the wedding, along with writing our own vows, made the ceremony feel very unique and especially personal.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it! 

Gown was found at Kinsley James Couture Bridal in Walnut Creek, CA. The design was “Harmony” by Rivini. I had a high-neck halter in mind from the very beginning, so it took a lot of searching to find one.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

The non-traditional ceremony music was selected to represent different parts of our lives, which combined with our own vows made the ceremony extra personal.

Having the bold, saturated color scheme, unusual in the Spring, was also a nod to our boisterous personalities.

Of course, our dog, Annie, walking down the aisle as the flower girl was key.

Gelato was chosen as a dessert not only because it’s Michael’s’ favorite, but traveling to Italy is a fond memory for us.

Being wed on Cinco De Mayo, having a cake-shaped piñata smashing instead of a traditional cake cutting was a fun way to bring our quirky personalities to the reception.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

Michael says his most memorable part of the day was hearing Kelsey’s vows. Coincidentally, for Kelsey, it was the moment just after the ceremony when they were walking away from the crowd – Michael looked over at her, kissed her hand, and said “your vows were absolutely incredible”. Through the whirlwind and nerves of the ceremony, it can make it hard to let things sink in, so she is grateful for that moment when she saw how much her words meant to him. And, the photographer caught that exact moment in a photo, so we are lucky it will last forever.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

True to our generation as early millennials, we met on an app. “Cute pup”, Michael said referencing Kelsey’s profile photo. A couple weeks later, Kelsey showed up late to their first date, explaining to Michael that she was tardy due to taking her “pup”, Annie, to see Santa Claus. Annie soon became Michael’s dog too – and he made sure she was a part of their engagement.

He proposed to Kelsey inside her old apartment (where their friends now live), with Annie in tow. This was the place he walked her home that first night, meeting Annie for the first time and starting their journey together.

Event Planning + Design: Kaella Lynn Events // Photographer: Lynette Boyle Photography // Floral Design: Amanda Vidmar Designs // Paper Goods: Jenna Caitlin Designs // Venue: Olympia’s Valley Estate // Bridal gown and veil: Rivini from Kinsley James Couture // Bridal hair and makeup: Skyla Arts Beauty // Bridesmaids hair and makeup: The Powder Room // Bridesmaid dresses: Reformation // Grooms suit: J Hilburn // Groomsmen Suits: Indochino // Caterer: Paula Le Duc // Rentals: Encore Event Rentals // Votives: Glassy Baby // Linens: La Tavola Linen // DJ: Truthlive // Videographer: Final Frame Studios

 

Real Weddings:

Stephanie and Andrew’s Portland Wedding

featuring Alixann Loosle Photography

Stephanie and Andrew’s misty Portland wedding day is filled with lovely details and stunning florals in a perfectly dusty, blush-centric palette. The couple married and celebrated at Bluehour, an urban restaurant that they transformed into the venue of Stephanie’s dreams. They achieved the look with Anna Mara Flowers‘ dreamy blush-hued bouquets and tablescapes accented by greenery and mauve, peach and blush blooms. Bridal party fashion and reception details are from Anthropologie and BHLDN and paper printing is by Anders Printing Company. The couple chose Alixann Loosle Photography to capture their big day and we’re happy to share the lovely images with you today!

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What made the wedding special and unique?

We used a wedding venue that is not typically used for weddings. It is a restaurant that I transformed into the venue of my dreams. Most of the wedding guests were from out of town, so they had no idea what to expect. When it was raining outside, we had the most wonderful time eating dinner with candles and lights to show the beauty of the flowers and hurricanes draped across the tables.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

My gown was from Ania bridal and I found it on my first time looking for a dress. I knew exactly what type of dress I wanted and when I described it the bridal consultant she went running to the back of the room because she knew she had something that would be perfect. When she brought it back to the dressing room, my eyes lit up because I knew it was perfect. I had not considered wearing a blush dress, but when I tried it on I saw how the blush helped add a little color back to my skin and added a bit of fun to the look overall. I absolutely loved the detailed scalloped work on the lace of the dress. I purchased the dress after a week of thinking and I could not have been happier with how I looked on my wedding day.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

One of my husband’s hobbies is to DJ so he put together all the music for our wedding in advance. At one point in the night, we both went to the DJ booth and played the music for while and had some fun! Music always brings us together and we thought it would be perfect to have it also bring all of our guests together on the dance floor. Another way we added a personal touch was by including our dogs. They were in the hotel room while we were getting ready and they walked down the aisle during the ceremony. Our wedding wouldn’t have felt right without our dogs being there.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

The most memorable part of the day was the first look. Taking a moment to see each other one last time before we exchanged vows and got married was a moment full of excitement and love. Our family and friends were watching nearby and holding back tears and I felt so loved and lucky to be loved. After we had spent some time on our own, everyone came running in for a group hug and I felt so lucky to have so much support on my wedding day.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

We met in Arizona through mutual friends right before we began college. We dated all through college and we then moved to Portland, Oregon where he went on to finish medical school. One day, when he was halfway through medical school, we went to one of our favorite parks that overlooked the entire city and Mt. Hood with our dogs. We sat on a bench enjoying the view and he dropped down on one knee and proposed. When I said yes, my friends from home came running out from behind all the trees and gave us a giant group hug. We all went to a music festival in the gorge to continue the celebration. I was so shocked how he could have planned all that without me finding out. He knew how much it would mean to me to have my friends there for such an important moment in my life.

Photography: Alixann Loosle Photography // Florist: Anna Mara Flowers // Printing (invitations, name cards, welcome sign, seating chart): Anders Printing Company // First Look Venue: American Bank Building (Pioneer Square)  // Ceremony: L’Heure Bleue // Reception & Cake: Bluehour // Wedding Gown: Ania Bridal // Table Numbers, Vases & Hurricanes: Anthropologie/BHLDN // Videographer: Moving Pictures // Bridesmaid Dresses, Bridal Accessories: Anthropologie/BHLDN (veil/bracelet/earrings/halo) // Bridal Heels: Nordstrom // Bridal Slippers: Anthropologie // Bridesmaid Getting Ready Moo Moos: Etsy Shikoco // Bridesmaid Champagne Glasses: Anthropologie // Groom Suit: Duchess Clothier // Groom Watch: MVMT
// Groomsmen Suits: Banana Republic // Groom/Groomsmen Ties & Pocket Squares: BHLDN // MOB & MOG Dresses: BHLDN // Hair/Makeup Artist: Jessica // Cake: Bluehour with flowers by AnnaMara Flowers // DJ: Anthony Nguyen (Friend of Andy. Andy made the set himself)