Meredith + Jeremy: The Details

My previous posts featured Meredith and Jeremy’s ceremony and reception. Today, some of the special details.


All photos by Joy Marie Photography.



I love the buckle on Meredith’s heels.


Here’s a close up of the bride’s beautiful, vintage lace veil.


Meredith pinned a photo of her grandmother to her bouquet.


You normally don’t see shots of the groom’s shoes, but I think this photo is so cool. The carpet is in the couple’s home, which is also pretty cool!


Meredith collected colorful handkerchiefs for the ceremony. She used the A-Z motif as a play off of their respective last names.


Meredith made the escort cards using a variety of patterned papers. I like how nothing about this wedding was too matchy, yet all looked great together.


This may be my favorite guest book yet. Guests signed pages of this Snow and Graham calendar. I would have definitely signed my birthday month, August!


Mason jar vases were scattered throughout the cocktail hour. The labels showcased different quotes and lines of poetry.


Meredith and Jeremy opted for a classic cake with a vintage topper.


Centerpieces included low clusters of different flowers. Meredith and her bridesmaids hand painted these canvases for the tables.


The steps were lined with these glowing lanterns.

Congratulations, Meredith and Jeremy!

Meredith + Jeremy: Part Two

Yesterday I posted about Meredith and Jeremy’s wedding ceremony. Here are some more great photos from their celebration.


All photos by Joy Marie Photography.



The best way to keep the rain away? Buy a big umbrella!
We watched the skies closely and were lucky enough to have a dry day.


Meredith and Jeremy took some photos at the lakefront and around Lincoln Park. Here are a few of my favorites.


The girls carried pale bouquets. I like the contrast against the bold color of the dresses.


The cocktail hour was held outside on the patio at the Chicago History Museum.


Meredith and Jeremy made their grand entrance down the museum steps and had their first dance outside.

Meredith’s sister and maid of honor, Cara, was so sweet. Here she is toasting the bride and groom.

This picture is so fun and colorful. Doesn’t this look like a great party?

The party is a huge success when the bride and her mother lead the conga line!

Tomorrow, I’ll showcase some of the details from this wedding.

Meredith + Jeremy: Part One

Meredith and I met over coffee and chatted about all things bridal. She asked if she could speak to some of my previous brides, and I referred her to Megan, whose wedding I coordinated at Holy Name Cathedral and the Murphy Auditorium. Turns out they were friends from the same gym! Thankfully, Megan must have had some nice things to say because Meredith booked soon after.

Meredith really pulled together some chic and unexpected items for her wedding. I loved how nothing was perfectly matched yet it all looked cohesive. Mason jars full of flowers on the cocktails tables, a basket of vintage handkerchiefs at church, votives wrapped in colorful paper – everything had a casual elegance.

Band: Standing Room Only
Cake:
Tipsy Cake
Caterer:
Food for Thought
Ceremony:
Saint Michael’s in Old Town
Cocktail Music:
Jackson Rohm
Florist:
Flora
Hair and Makeup:
Rachel Reiman
Photographer:
Joy Marie Photography
Reception:
Chicago History Museum
Videographer:
Well Spun Wedding Films

All photos by Joy Marie Photography.

Meredith’s mom brought her dog help celebrate. She even wore a special bow for the occasion. She seems to approve of the bride’s bouquet!

Putting the finishing touches on her look.


Meredith seeing her dad for the first time. She wore a dramatic, unique gown by Angel Sanchez.


The girls got ready at the Ambassador East hotel.


I think this is a gorgeous photo. I loved Meredith’s veil.


The ladies stopped in the historic Pump Room before heading to Church.
Frank Sinatra’s booth is just around the corner!


A shot of the beautiful church.


The inside of the church is also quite elaborate.


Meredith is all smiles. I am happy when my bride is happy!


Walking down the aisle as husband and wife.


Such a great photo! (You can see the detail on the back of Meredith’s dress here.)

Tomorrow: city photos and the reception!

Chicago History + Wedding Dresses



Maybe you’ve been lucky enough to hold (or even wear!) an antique wedding dress,
feel all that history and magic in the fragile lace and intricate buttons. Hopefully you knew the story behind it – maybe have a photo of your great aunt or grandmother wearing it. Sometimes half the fun is imagining the story of the women who experienced the most beautiful day of her life in it.


On May 22 the Chicago Historical Society opens a new exhibit offering an intimate look into the history of wedding dresses.


“I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot” features for the first time more than fifty dresses and heirlooms from the Museum’s Chicago wedding collection and illustrates how society affected the style and tradition of a timeless event. From a shop girl’s simple frock to a grand Givenchy gown, the pieces on display bring to life what weddings were like for our mothers, grandmothers, and even their grandmothers.


The exhibit also promises to include “early items of courtship” from the Frontier days… intriguing!

My Chicago History Museum Wedding

While I am very happy with my wedding plans, I often come up with different wedding plans. Call it an occupational hazard.

If I was getting married at the Chicago History Museum
I would have a huge black tie affair in the evening.

My guests would drink champagne out of glasses like these Marc Jacobs Irene champagne saucer

I would need something amazing classic invitations, like these letterpress Jordan and Michael Ceci New York

My bouquet would have to be anenomes.

Event Review- Chicago History Museum Event

Last week, I went to an event at the Chicago History Museum with a client, A, and her Maid of Honor, J. The event was co-hosted by Chicago Social Brides. One of my favorite museums in Chicago, I absolutely love this venue for a wedding.

While I forgot my camera, I did snap a few shots from my trusty Treo.

A Perfect Event, one of the premiere event design companies in Chicago, designed this table set-up. They incorporated bold black and white with light greens and silver. If I hadn’t seen it in person, I wouldn’t have thought that I would enjoy it so much!

The flowers from Botanicals blew me away. Fuchsia, Black , and White. What is not to love? I love the powerfulness of the décor. It was absolutely beautiful…. And something that I thought that would look great with my future weddings plans, as long as they were tweaked.

Crazy bride that I am, I decided to change elements of my event design weeks before my wedding. I may live to regret this…but right now, I’m enjoying living on the edge.