“Congrats goes out to Valentin + Nicole who were married this winter in downtown Chicago. Oh, how we love working with creative people and Val + Nikki most definitely are that. Remember when Nicole brought creativity to her and Val’s high-fashion engagement session with us last Summer? As you can see, that was just a small taste to the ideas and creativity she incorporated into the big day. A few details we especially enjoyed capturing as their Chicago wedding photographers were the couple’s first glance in Union Station, fun but frigid moments outside in the snow, the numerous and amazing reception details, dancing, performances, tears, smiles, the fun times with V+N guest’s friends and family, interpreting the guest’s photo booth marker board notes, and so much more. Nicole + Val added to their wedding coverage our popular reception Rock the Drop photo booth. Nikki decided to customize the guest’s experience and mix in a creative guestbook idea all in one. Her photo prop was bringing along dry erase marker boards where guest’s were to leave a surprise message to the bride and groom on signs during their portrait. Everyone joined in, the booth was crowded, and the sign idea was a hit.

 

Nicole’s executed her and Val’s winter wonderland theme wedding fabulously deciding on wintery yet monotone, white and metallic elements of snowflakes, icicles, white puffy snowballs, ice cubes, fur, feathers, crystals and metallic embellishments in the reception, bridal party jewelry and ceremony’s decorations. The reception’s ballroom was luxurious, dreamy and a nostalgic setting with draped metallic white fabrics and had a punch color with dark & light blue up lighting. Val + Nicole’s first dance was magical… complete with real falling snowflakes overhead! A sleek and modern, a Winter wonderland setting with vintage elegant touches. V+N did an amazing job planning the perfect Winter wonderland themed wedding.

 

I asked Nicole if she’d like to share any special memories that I could blog about from the day. Every couple we are photographers for and their memorable day’s are all so very different and it’s interesting in learning the couple’s inspiration behind the day, perhaps a favorite memory, or if they find they have any inspired advice to provide to other brides who are in their planning stages. Read on to learn what Nicole had to say in response…

 

The bride Nicole writes: “I am a very detail oriented and sentimental person. So that being said, almost everything in the wedding was custom designed. The fur wraps on the bridesmaids and flower girl were sewn for them from etsy, with their names inside. The bridesmaid necklaces were designed by me. Each girl had a unique vintage snowflake pin embedded and I used quartz in the necklace. My shoes were purchased online, but the beading was taken out and replaced with fox fur trim. I also used vintage snowflake clip earrings as shoe clips. I had always envisioned a Winter wedding since I was a little girl…something about the winter is just so romantic to me. That being said, my absolute dream was to have it snow during our first dance. Val and I worked with Jay (our dj & event/lighting) to make my dream a reality. I absolutely wanted to put together a wedding that I’d never seen and so I went to pull in my inspirations. I got to thinking and imagined what about winter I love and I wanted the atmosphere to have a “cool” affect with blue lighting but everything else white. My overall inspiration for the day was a combination of vintage ( feathers / crystals ) and modern ( lighting / design ). My favorite memory of the day was meeting Val at Union Station for our first glance. It allowed me time in the limo while Miller + Miller was setting up to take 5 min alone to soak in the day. It was also the only time Val and I really had alone so I enjoyed it!”

 

Val + Nicole, we had a wonderful time spending the big day with you and getting to know both over the past year. In seeing these photos, it makes us want to see snow falling outside the window right now. We enjoyed documenting your wintery white wedding’s details. From your vintage fashion and decadent cake and treats, to the flowers, stunning room and the decor, the entire event and your creativity was amazing. We wish the best to the both of you.”

 

 

 

 

Nicole and Val’s suburban and Chicago wedding vendors included:
Ceremony: St. Hyacinth Basilica Chicago church wedding ceremony , 3640 W. Wolfram, Chicago
Winter Reception: Venuti’s, Addison
Prep Locations: Parent’s homes in Roselle and Des Plaines
Dress Designer + Bridal Shop: Demitrios from Brides by Demitrios, Schaumburg
Bridal Shoes: White satin shoes purchased online but designed by Nicole with added embellishments of fox fur and vintage earrings
Hair by: Michael from Rockstar Salon, Roselle
Bridal Makeup by: Cynthia from Cynthia Sally
Vintage Birdcage Veil: Edward Berger Veil
Bridesmaids Shoes: The ladies selected their own heels
Bridesmaids Dress: Mackenzie Michaels
Tuxedos: GQ Formalwear Tux, Schaumburg
Limo Bus: Limo Envy
Menu: Guests on the night of had the choice of Ribeye, Chicken Breast Francese or Orange Roughy served with twice baked potato and asparagus
Cake + Sweets Table: Oak Mill Bakery
Flowers: Palomino Floral Designs, Schaumburg
DJ, Fabric, Lighting and First Dance Snowfall by: Jay of Something 2 Dance 2, Schaumburg
Hawaiian Honeymoon: Oahu, Waikiki Beach in Hawaii
Reception Photo Booth and Backdrop: Miller + Miller’s Rock the Drop photo booth ( contact us about this upgraded photo service we offer, your guest’s will love it )

 

 

Be sure to view our featured blog photos from our Summer session downtown with
Nicole + Valentine photographing them in our high-fashion Chicago engagement photography style.

 

 

 

Looking to reserve a limo for your wedding or bachelorette party? Check out Val’s family owned limousine company called Limo Envy. Limo Envy covers the Chicago area limousine market from the City of Chicago to the burbs. With a massive fleet of livery options, we recommend contacting them for both weddings and other events because they offer limos for as little as 6 and up to a 56 passengers. Visit Val’s company’s web site by clicking the preview images below, use this link www.limoenvy.com or call them at 773.357.5466.

 

“Steve + Ashley’s were married in the evening on New Year’s Eve day. And once the day’s festivities began, the party basically never ended! It was a combo of both a fabulous New Year’s Eve party and romantic wedding with a TON of celebrating. What a fun way to ring in the year in attending a Chicago New Year’s Eve Wedding! Ashely coordinated a theme… the day was full of sparkle and TONS of bling. The bridal gown, the ballroom’s tables and centerpieces all were glistening, shimmering and glitzy with bling, diamonds, twinkle lights, fluffy white plume feathers, white florals, and burning candles.

 

With Christmas being less than a week before, remnant shades of green and red, holiday wreaths, and decorated trees were trimmed aside the bridal party and Steve + Ashley while on stage during their 5:00 PM evening ceremony. It was a romantic setting for their winter ceremony. The romantic aisle was lined and illuminated by flickering candles along the path down the narrow chapel’s aisle at the historic La Grange First Congregational Church. The church’s rich dark wooded pews and beams of the chapel and windows featuring stained glass warmed the room creatIng a cozy environment. Smiles, tears and vows were exchanged during the emotional ceremony.

 

Being Winter with a limited time for daylight photos, Steve + Ashley though creatively choosing a unique Lombard wedding photography shooting location which was very close by their Westin Hotel’s reception ballroom. The bridal party went bowling! – and we loved the modern photo backdrop the dubbed Hollywood iconic bowling alley Lucky Strike Lanes Lounge in Lombard offered. With black lights, moody lit lanes, and vintage hollywood decor, the style was fitting for the couple’s excitement of their NYE date. A special thanks to S+A in getting creative in picking the location and in reserving the couple of lanes for us. The later part of the day was packed full of energy, entertainment, and of course a few choreographed dance performances ( naturally with the bride being a professional dancer. )

 

Steve + Ashley’s New Years Eve evening’s reception events, cocktails, heavy hors d’œuvre dinner, dancing, photo booth, midnight countdown, and fireworks all ringed in the year at Harry Caray’s Ballroom in the Westin in Lombard. The bridal party’s arrival into the ballroom was one definitely not one unnoticed, nor unheard as each couple entered blowing into personalized vuvuzelas blow horns which everyone was madly honking as Ashley and Steve were announced! You would think that after an amazing dinner, special dances, speeches, and guest’s rockin’ our “Rock the Drop photo booth“, the night couldn’t get any more fabulous, but after the strike of midnight, the celebration moved outdoors onto the terrace where guests watch a spectacular NYE fireworks show over the pond. The Westin’s Harry Caray Ballroom has inside a perfect neutral decor with floor to ceiling windows and doors leading onto a private, outside terrace which overlooks a pond. A great venue not only inside, but giving room to roam outdoors with accessible outdoor terrace space.

 

The strike of midnight was EPIC! Guests were having a great time on the dance floor for the countdown, balloons and confetti were floating in the air, and everyone was on their feet. The rest of the night was one huge dance party with an unbelievably spectacular fireworks show on the terrace at 12:15 And who could forget the abnormally warm, fifty degree weathered day, which made it easy to be outdoors enjoying the amazing fireworks show. Steve + Ashley… spending New Year’s Eve with you is definitely one we’ll never forget! We loved, loved, loved working with the two of you! Thank you in choosing us as your engagement and wedding photographers. We enjoyed being there on such a big day in your lives and we wish you MANY wonderful years of happiness in your new lives together. Congrats!”

 

 

 

 

A few more details from Steve + Ashley’s amazing Chicago New Year’s Eve celebration:
Church: First Congregational Church, La Grange, Illinois
Reception: Harry Caray’s Ballroom in the Westin., Lombard
Bridal Session: Lucky Strike Bowling Alley, Lombard
Dress Designer: Rina Di Montella
Dress Shop: A L’Amour, Barrington
Bride’s Shoes: Jessica Simpson
Jewelry: The Wedding Etc., Downers Grove
Hair: Via Moda, Lisle
Make Up: Jodi Carey Makeup ( A good friend of Ashley’s … who does not only bridal and also make up for HGTV )
Custom Made Veil and Garters: Sandra’s Designs, Lombard
Bridesmaid Dresses: Belsoie
Tuxedos: Black Tie Formalwear, Naperville
Food: Harry Caray’s ( pasta station, carving station, mashed potato station, sweet station )
Cake: Creative Cakes
Flowers: Shamrock Garden Florist, Lombard
DJ: Fun Times DJ
Honeymoon: Riviera Maya
Reception Fireworks: The Mad Bomber
Miller + Miller’s Reception Backdrop: Our Rock the Drop photo booth ( ask us about this optional upgraded photo service we offer )

 

Other Fun Details: New Year’s Eve guest favors included New Year’s hats, noise makers, confetti shooters, feather tiara crowns, and personalized blow horns with Steve + Ashley’s names and wedding date. Decorations featured tons of clocks ( tying in the NYE countdown as a theme ) which they put all over the reception hall, tables, bars. And the “bling theme” was developed with bling touches of silver diamond brooches put on the cake, bling-ing table number frames, diamond jeweled dress and jewelry, bling on the centerpieces, cake cutters, and cake topper, and a tad of bling in the bridal veil. Vuvuzela horns were a tribute to Steve’s love of soccer and Ashely, the DeForest Dance Academy teachers, and bridesmaids did a dance to “Single Ladies”.

 

 

Viewed the engagement session in Chicago with Steve + Ashley yet?
Click here to see their modern Chicago engagement photography session’s blog post.