Elyse and Matt’s day was full of smiles, celebration, and just pure unbridled joy. I think the Couple’s words sum everything up, so please read the awesome answers to my questions!
Looking back, what was one of your favorite parts or moments of the Wedding day?
For Elyse, walking down the aisle with her dad and seeing Matt, beaming, near the altar was amazing. It was even better than she imagined what that moment would be like when she was a little girl. We also loved arriving to our reception on a Water Taxi! That set the tone that our reception was going to be a huge party!
What was your favorite piece of fashion or accessory, and where did you get it?
Elyse wore her late Busia’s wedding ring on her right hand. She had passed away earlier in the summer, so it was important to Elyse to have something of hers on the wedding day. Elyse also had part of her mom’s wedding dress sewn into her dress, with both of their wedding dates stitched in blue.
What was the inspiration for your decor or styling?
We really wanted to have a fun, yet romantic city vibe to our reception. The outdoor space at Fulton’s speaks for itself, and was a perfect place for our cocktail hour. Inside, we decorated with paper lanterns to give the space a more fun feel. We also had a photo booth; the scrapbook from that made the best guest book! Since Elyse is a teacher, she asked her students to write marriage advice for us. They came up with some funny tidbits! We also chose to display our parents’ and grandparents’ wedding photos. Our favors were personalized “E M” matchboxes, which was a cool throwback gift.
Mention a funny moment here:
Apparently, there was a very overprotective mother duck in one of the flowerboxes outside at Fulton’s, and it bit 3 or 4 people during the cocktail hour!
Any advice for future Brides and Grooms?
Have fun and take deep breaths! The last few weeks before the wedding were a crazy blur; there were so many details that we didn’t want to overlook. In the end, people remember the experience of the wedding more than anything else. We also took several moments during our wedding weekend to just stop and take everything in. Your guests are so genuinely happy to share your day with you, and the feeling of love and support is amazing. Enjoy it!
Tell us about your Honeymoon!
We went to St. Maartin! Elyse’s parents have a timeshare there, and they were generous enough to gift that to us for our honeymoon. We left the day after our wedding, and spent 8 days enjoying life as newlyweds! We went ziplining, jet-skiing, got massages, enjoyed many Happy Hours by the pool, and got to unwind after the craziness leading up to the wedding. It was a great trip!
Vendor Credits:
2nd Photographer: Nicoletta R.
Wedding Cinematography: Hendzel Productions
Ceremony: Saint Hedwig’s, Bucktown
Reception: Fulton’s on the River, Chicago
Makeup/Hair Stylists: Arch Apothecary
Florist: Bride’s Choice
Cake Designer: West Town Bakery
Band: Hey Jimmy!
