“Victor + Blanca’s ceremony and reception were filled with pure elegance, romance and a touch of classic vintage. Their winter day’s elegant events started with a Catholic ceremony at St. Mary of the Angels Church in Chicago. The reception venue of Evanston Golf Club located in Skokie was a short drive from their downtown cathedral church ceremony location. With the cold and Wintery weather mix outside, we opted to head to the reception early for some indoor photos inside and around the couple’s reception and the private golf club venue. It was our first visit to Evanston Golf Club and we were impressed with the number of photo opportunities, exceptionally decorated and designed interior with grandeur, chandeliers, dark colors, golden hues, and multiple wood burning fireplaces. And the couple’s second floor rooms were decorated with a touch of B+V’s personal wedding style. Before heading to the club, while stopping at one outdoor picturesque Chicago shooting location, Victor did everything he could to keep his gorgeous new bride Blanca warm. We kept saying just imagine yourselves already on your honeymoon in the sun and on the beach in Mexico. In the end, heading inside although was necessary, but we soon found was also a great idea.

 

All the day’s touches, from the unbelievable detailed european style cake draping with lilic colored flowers, to Blanca’s understated elegance yet simplistic Spanish designer bridal gown from one of my personally favorite dress designers La Sposa, the day was distinctively a total reflection of Blanca’s style. With Victor’s love of classic and vintage vehicles, they booked a stunning, white 1939 Classic Packard stretch limousine getaway vehicle. The reception was a lively event not only for both the bride & groom, but also very entertaining for the guests. With two forms of live entertainment, a 12 person mariachi band playing during the cocktail and dinner, and Victor’s surprise to Blanca of folkloric dancers from Blanca’s families home town of Guadalajara in Mexico at the start of the dancing. ( The art and beauty of the Guadalajara folkloric dance was amazing. )

 

The reception also incorporated Spanish inspired wedding traditions and games, one called “La vibora de la mar” which is basically like London Bridge is falling down. For this game, it was mostly men versus the women, but everyone held hands and moved in a large ring around the groom and bride who stood on chairs in the middle of the dance floor creating an arch by Blanca’s veil under which everyone passed under. Instead of the London Bridge song being sung as the old saying goes, there is no song and instead the rhythm of music is followed and when the music gets faster and faster, the participants struggling to keep the “snake” of people around the room together, while running through tables, chairs and the couple. It was a truly a smiling event and amazing to witness. We loved it.

 

After the “vibora de la mar” there was one more game that followed at the party called “El Muertito” which basically translates to “The Dead Man”. That is when the groom’s friends strip him of his shoes, socks, sometimes his shirt, and carry him like he was dead. The guys tease and joke that since the groom is now married he is as good as dead. Actually, it is supposed to symbolize the death of the groom’s bachelorhood and the beginning of his new life as a lucky married man. :) The groomsmen propelled Victor in the air with some serious height, tossing of the groom.

 

Victor + Blanca we are very thankful in being there to capture the joy of the day and events. We enjoyed documenting the celebration that honored both of their families and heritage. We wish you luck and happiness together. Congrats!”

 

 

 

 

Blanca + Victor’s day incorporated this list of amazing Chicago and North Shore wedding vendors:
Church: St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church, 1850 N Hermitage Avenue, Chicago
Reception: Evanston Golf Club in Skokie
Bridal Gown Collection: 2010 La Sposa Bridal Collection Barcelona, Spain
Bridal Shoes: Martinez Valero
Make-Up: Erika Gonzalez Giorgio Armani Beauty + Make Up
Hair Stylist: Octavio Trujillo from Estilo Salon
Suits: Calvin Klein
White Classic 1939 Packard Stretch Limousine: Cosmopolitan Limousine Service, Long Grove, IL
Cake: Oak Mill Bakery
Flowers: Bonnie Flower Shop
DJ: Frequency DJ Entertainment
Mexican Folk Dancers: Ballet Folklorico Revolucion – dancers and drummers – as a nod to the bride’s Guadalajara Heritage
Mariachi Band: Mariachi Oro y Plata
Honeymoon: Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Mexico Resort in Riviera Maya

 

Revisit Blanca + Victor recent vintage car engagement and high-fashion engagement photography session’s blog post.

“When Chi-Wei + Kam invited us to capture their big day, we knew we were in for artsy and modern style wedding. It was exciting seeing how their day’s plans fully developed. The day was filled with anticipation, Chinese wedding cultural traditions, the last of the Fall season’s tree colors, sun shine, and close family and friends joining in on the vows and celebrating in the Chicago suburb of Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

 

You may remember us talking about how Kam’s a natural in displaying her creative talents in reading our last blog post from our engagement session with C+K. With Kam being a graphic designer, she definitely did not hold back a bit on being creative and dressing up her own wedding with designer graphics and colorful artsy design elements. Her ornate and butterfly inspired graphic designed monogram incorporated her purple + brown wedding colors… Chi-Wei + Kam’s wedding venue Belvedere Banquets in Elk Grove Village hosted both the couple’s ceremony and reception. Kam decorated the room with her designs and created a digitally printed backdrop which matched in style cohesively to her stationery items, programs, menu cards, place cards and invites. Not only did Kam do a gorgeous branding their fabulous Fall wedding day, but we noticed C+K’s kept their day very personable. It had all the makings for rock-star wedding status… especially with Kam having three sets of bridal shoes, and changing three times into three different wedding day dresses!

 

We enjoyed while photographing learning more about the Chinese wedding traditions Kam had briefed us about while out on their engagement session. We learned culturally the color red symbolizes good fortune and joy and is traditionally used symbolically as the color of happiness. Kam had mentioned that each of their families spoke opposite languages of China with only a little English, so Kam was often busy translating Cantonese and Mandarin to each of their parents. Especially during each the bride and groom’s family’s Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony festivities. The tea ceremonies were the first events of the day taking place individually at each of their Chicago area family’s homes. During the Chinese tea ceremony, the parents each expressed words of blessing and provided gifts to the couple.

 

Another Chinese tradition we captured was the Chinese Wedding Door Game. While Kam was waiting upstairs for her groom, Chi-Wei was trying to enter the house but first had to complete tasks set forth by the bridesmaids at the doorway. This game is a Chinese wedding tradition in which the groom and his groomsmen are forbidden to enter and see the bride until they satisfy certain requirements set forth by the bridesmaids and friends. This tradition is the girls block the door to demonstrate their unwillingness to marry off the bride because of their love for her and is all done in good fun. Before the ladies allowed the groom to head upstairs to fetch his bride, he was asked to answer questions relating to their courtship, reenact the marriage proposal, sing love songs acappella style, complete silly tasks such as dancing, and other embarrassing performances. The groomsmen stood by Chi-Wei helping to complete the fun tasks. In addition, the groom and groomsmen also had to bargain and buy their way through the door by offering money in lucky red envelopes to the bridesmaids. It is tradition to keep the money which is given to you in the envelopes. To our surprise, before leaving the home Chi-Wei + Kam present us their photographers with two red envelopes. We greatly appreciate the bonus and thank you C+K! It was a very unexpected surprise.

 

Chi-Wei + Kam we loved getting to know you both over the past few months, and are so glad you shared your big day with us. Hope you enjoy the pictures… and they bring back memories of your fabulous wedding day. Many cheers and congratulations!”

 

 

 

Chi-Wei + Kam’s wedding incorporated many DIY elements. Below are a few highlights:
Ceremony + Reception: Belvedere Banquets, Elk Grove Village, IL
Veil + Brides Wedding Dresses: House of Brides
Bridal Shoe(s): Nina Shoes
Jewelry: Swarovski
Hair: Rachel Pierce
Makeup: Mario Triocci
Bridesmaids Dresses: A mix of House of Brides, David’s Bridal, 1 hand made, and 1 out of town
Suits: Men’s Warehouse
Cake: Rolf’s Patisserie, Lincolnwood
Flowers: Arranged by Chin-Wei Lin, Freshroses.com
DJ: Brian Test from Sound Test Entertainment
Honeymoon: Hong Kong and Bali in May 2011

 

Revisit Chi-Wei + Kam’s Summer Chicago engagement photography session blog post.