Jen and Dom, Chicago Botanic Gardens Wedding–Glencoe Illinois –
Jennifer and Dom got ready at the Marriott Suites O’Hare in Rosemont, where they also did their first look. Dress and Veil by VIP Occasions in Elmhurst.
Jennifer’s make up was done by the talented Dori Mae, who I always recommend because she always makes the brides beautiful and never runs late 🙂
Hair by Amie Miller of Golden Girl Chicago.
Picture perfect and beautiful!
The ceremony and the reception both took place at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe IL.
The happy couple braved the heat and humidity (90+ degrees!!!) for some beautiful pre ceremony photos.
LOVE the next two.
I also love small bridal parties 🙂
Ceremony time.
Rev. Alan Owens performed the ceremony.
A few post ceremony portraits.
Loved their “Tea” theme!
The Botanic Gardens has the best food! A big thank you to Kristina and Abby for making this day perfect.
Cake by Oak Mill Bakery.
Erica from Toast and Jam was the rockin’ DJ.
From Jennifer and Dom…
‘Photographer: The Talented and Incredible Hilda Burke. By far the best investment we made was in Hilda. Not only is Hilda incredibly talented and creative, but she is also practical and a great source of information. She advised us on several occasions and was patient in answering all of our questions. We are both camera shy, but felt relaxed and even excited in Hilda’s capable hands. What sets her apart from other wedding photographers is her eye for capturing the artistic image. We were also delighted to work with her kind and funny assistant Carol.
Ceremony & Reception Location: Chicago Botanic Gardens When Dom and I first visited CBG in October of 2009, we were instantly captivated by the imaginative landscaping and tranquility of the garden. The view of the lake from the McGinley Pavilion was a perfect backdrop for our June wedding ceremony and reception. Kristina and Abby were helpful throughout the planning process and on the day of the wedding. The food was delicious—by far the best wedding food we have tasted.
Bakery: Oak Mill Bakery. Our wedding cake was delicious- devil’s food cake with raspberry mousse and lemon cake with lemon curd filling. The butter-cream frosting did not melt in the 90 degree heat and tasted e excellent.
Officiant: Rev. Alan Owens of http://idoweddings.tv/. We highly recommend Rev. Alan to brides and grooms out there. Rev. Alan was professional and prompt in his communication with us. He was also easy to talk with and very funny.
Toast and Jam lived up to their reputation as the best wedding DJs in Chicago. Our DJ Erica blended music styles perfectly to keep the dance floor rocking all night. We highly recommend them!
Florist: Anthony Gowder. Greta was a pleasure to work with. The maid of honor’s flowers and the arrangements placed on the gift/favor table looked lovely and lasted forever. However, every other arrangement that was delivered was lackluster and not worth the investment.
Videographer: Tom Hartmann of Blink of an Eye Productions. Tom was a pleasure to talk and work with. He captured memorable details of the day while fading into the background. It was clear from my conversations with him that he is dedicated to helping couples share their story of the wedding, not just filming random shots.
Transportation: Aries Charter (for guests); Viatas (for limousine) Our driver from Viatas limousine service was prompt and friendly, even when helping me in and out of the car with my train and veil.
Hotel: Marriott Suites O’Hare in Rosemont. We reserved rooms for our family and friends at the Marriot Suites O’Hare in Rosemont. Lisa was patient in helping me to arrange the rooms and post-wedding brunch. The staff congratulated us with a surprise plate of chocolate covered strawberries on our wedding night!
Dresses: VIP Occasions in Elmhurst. My maid of honor’s dress, my wedding gown, and my veil were ordered from VIP Occasions in Elmhurst. The maid of honor’s dress was by Jim Hjelm. My wedding gown was a custom design for the store. The gown was ivory satin with embroidery and beading in the shape of vines and chrysanthemums—perfect for a garden wedding! The seamstress Adela was patient while helping me to decide on a bustle style for the dress. My jewelry was purchased from Nordstroms and Macys. My hair comb and shoes were purchased on sale from Zappos.com.
Makeup: Doris Rohr of http://www.dorimaemakeup.com/ I actually found Dori through Hilda’s blog. (You were right Hilda—she’s awesome!) Dori was such a pleasure to work with. She works quickly, yet focuses on every detail. She is also one of the kindest people I have met: when I got sunburned a few days before the wedding, she calmed me down and helped me find a solution for my skin (airbrush makeup and a custom airbrush tan). Ultimately, the makeup she applied looked beautiful (and lasted) throughout the heat.
Hair: Amie Miller of Golden Girl Chicago. I found Amie through Dori. Amie was so calm on the morning of the wedding. My hair looked beautiful, but most importantly, felt like my natural hair, and stayed in place despite the humidity. The emergency spray tan I needed before the wedding was done at Golden Girl Chicago. I recommend Golden Girl to all Chicago brides needing a spray tan. The staff was able to squeeze me in on short notice and made my skin look natural, not fake orange.
My favorite wedding purchase (besides the awesome photos from Hilda!) would be my jewelry. The earrings (Macys) and bracelet (Nordstrom) had a vine pattern that complimented my dress and milgrain edges that matched my wedding band. I look forward to wearing the bracelet to future events. I am also glad I hired Dori for my makeup.
Jennifer: One of my favorite memories from the wedding was seeing Dom for our first look. He looked so handsome and calm. I will never forget the beaming smile on his face. I also enjoyed watching my sister, new brother in law, and friends dance together while Dom and I danced. Dom: There was a point near the end of the reception, when I realized that everyone was honestly enjoying themselves. I felt good that I had contributed to their happiness. At the very end of the reception, Jennifer and I gazed at the moon above the lake. It’s not everyday that you pull all your friends and family, especially from another the country, together in one room for your wedding.
In hindsight, I wish I had visited more florists, especially at smaller shops. I also wish I had worn my veil for more photographs; it looked so lovely. I also wish that I had taken more time for myself to relax and de-stress before the wedding. To future brides, try to tune out any negative “chatter” you hear from yourself or others. Try not to get overwhelmed with all the tiny details—just focus on the important parts that everyone will appreciate. Relax and live in the moment of the day.’
More photos on Facebook. 🙂