Bess and Josh are a perfect match. Their Wedding was truly their own. I loved that they got ready in adjacent rooms, and were up for traveling to some scenic spots for photos of just the two of them. From the unique ceremony and reception location, touching Ceremony, emotional speeches and first dance/parent dances and amazing food, to the raucous dance floor, it was an event that I was supremely proud to be a part of. Bess and Josh are such amazing people, and I think you can see the love through the photos! Check out the Q&A with the Couple to learn more about them and their big day! Following that, you can see some of my favorite images from the Wedding day.
Looking back, what were some of your favorite parts or moments of the Wedding day?
We loved getting ready in our gorgeous suite at The Langham, which overlooked the Chicago Marathon. We got to see all the runners from such a fun angle! We also loved taking pictures at Sixteen at the Trump and behind the Chicago Theatre, listening to all the wonderful speeches from our family and friends and dancing to our favorite songs all night long.
The broaches from my wedding bouquet! There were just under 20 broaches in total, which made the ivory and blush roses sparkle SO elegantly. We spent over a year collecting them, all of which were from the Randolph Antique Market!
We were very focused on modern elegance and romance. Embeya is such a beautiful restaurant with warm colors and a sophisticated vibe. We wanted to simply enhance the atmosphere vs. transform the space. We added lots of candles, a few statement pieces and crystal flower walls which gave us the perfect combination we were looking for!
One hour before the ceremony, Josh and I got really hungry. We hadn’t had any breakfast, since we were busy taking pictures around the city all day. We came to Embeya early (around 4:00pm) and Josh ran down the back alley to Jimmy Johns for a quick bite. He brought our lunch back and we sat at the bar (in our tux and wedding gown!!!) eating Turkey Toms and visiting with the staff, just minutes before our guests started to arrive. There are even a few iPhone pics floating around as no one could believe we were eating those subs 🙂
Surround yourself with people that you “click with” during the planning process. Take your time meeting with vendors and understand that your visions need to be in sync. Josh and I spent a lot of time meeting with folks that understood what we wanted this day to be about. You will receive lots of opinions, but stay true to your values and be patient with one another – it gets intense!! Oh, and of course, hire Victoria as your photographer (obvi!!!).
We had a BLAST!! 3 nights in old San Juan and 7 nights in Vieques!!! It was the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation! We got to go horseback riding, snorkeling, experience the Bio Bay kayak tour and spent plenty of time on the beaches, just reading and getting lots of sun 🙂 More advice: Go on the honeymoon WAY after the wedding. I would never had enjoyed the trip as much, if we went right after the wedding. Wait a few months, let the dust settle, and ENJOY!
Marriage is a blessing and if you’re lucky, you’ll wake up every day with a smile.
Vendor Credits
• Shoes: Badgley Mischka
• Décor: Stemline Creative
• Lighting: MDM Entertainment
• Invitations: Magnificent Milestones
• Dessert: Vanille Patisserie
• Jewelry: Givenchy
• DJ: DreamHouse Productions
• Hair: Nataliya from Michael & Michael
• Make Up: Daniel Howell
• Linens: Windy City Linens
• Officiant: Bob Andorka
• Hotel: The Langham, Chicago
• Rings: Sydel & Sydel and Luo M Jewelers
