Xiomara and Faustino are kind, funny, wonderful people who had a Wedding day to match. From the beginning, they trusted me and were super easy going. They were such a great Couple to work with, and I’m so excited to share their images with you! First, here is a marvelous Q&A with the Bride and Groom:
Looking back, what were some of your favorite parts or moments of the Wedding day?
Definitely, the moment right after the ceremony when we stepped aside before making an exit from the church. We hadn’t seen each other before the ceremony, so it was our first private moment as husband and wife. It was really special as a result. But, it was also a moment where we both breathed a sigh of relief thinking of all the hard work we put into the wedding, of the significance of being married, and of the fun time we were going to have at the reception.
What was your favorite piece of fashion or accessory, and where did you get it?
Xiomara: My favorite piece was my dress belt. The ribbon I thought gave the dress some detail in back while the sparkle overload in the front made it a statement piece to compliment the dress. I bought the belt with the dress at House of Brides.
Faustino: Bow tie from Brooks Brothers.
What was the inspiration for your decor or styling?
We didn’t have one inspiration per se. We discussed themes, styles, etc. and in the end just tried to choose décor that we would want in our house or reflected on style that was an elevated version of our everyday style.
For example, a big thing for Xiomara was for her bridesmaids to be able to reuse their dresses, accessories, etc. so she and the girls opted for a LBD (we expected much higher July temperatures than we received though!).
Our décor & styling goal was really to strike a balance between classic timeless touches and contemporary practical ones too.
Mention a funny moment here:
The funniest moment was when Xiomara finally got up to the altar and our offiant, welcomed everyone, and then turned to Xiomara and said “what’s next?” He was clearly just very nervous and forgot the ceremony order. Xiomara hadn’t memorized the ceremony order either so between she and the judge they spent about a minute mulling over what was next – we couldn’t all help but chuckle!
Any advice for future Brides and Grooms?
Definitely do your research on vendors and get a day-of coordinator. Once you’ve made entrusting choices from the onset, you can have full piece of mind on your wedding day and take the space to pause and realize how special it is to have all of your loved ones united in one place just for you.
Tell us about the honeymoon!
We spent our honeymoon in Italy and France. We flew into Rome and worked our way up to Paris stopping in Florence, Chianti, Cannes, and Monaco on the way. Europe in the summer is amazing – it’s so full of color and life.
Other Vendors and team members:
2nd Photographer – Nicoletta R
Lighting Assistant – Thane M.
Ceremony site – Allice Millar Chapel in Evanston
Getting ready and Reception site – The Westin Michigan Avenue
Makeup & Hair – Jen Bean Artistry
Florist – Scarlet Petal
Cake Designer – Oak Mill Bakery
Officiant – The Honorable Mark J. Lopez – friend of bride
Caterer – The Westin Michigan Avenue
DJ – DJ Chicago, Gil
Rings – K. Fine & Company
Macaroon Favors – Rebecca Weber of Weber Bakery
