“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.

 

“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.