Lincolnshire Marriott Resort outdoor wedding | Katey and Don-
I wanted to start this blog post with a WOW! And here she is…the stunningly beautiful Katey. Don is a lucky, lucky man. (Hair and make-up info available upon request)
Dress: Lazaro from Volle’s Bridal in Lake Zurich.
One of my favorites.
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Flowers: Gurnee Flowers by Balmes
Don scored major groom points with this beautiful love letter AND a pretty surprise that came in a blue Tiffany’s box.
First looks are the best!
FAVORITE!!!
Cake: Lovin Ovens
DJ: Toast and Jam, Kate Porter
From the Bride…
‘Venue: Marriott Lincolnshire
We loved that our venue was a “one stop shop”. We got ready there, did pictures on the grounds, had our ceremony on the green, and the grand marquis for our cocktail hour and reception. And then guests could just stumble back to their rooms! Laura Dailey was our coordinator and she was top notch.
Dress: Lazaro from Volle’s Bridal in Lake Zurich
I LOVED my dress! It felt romantic to me and had special detailing that I loved. It made me feel beautiful and that is the most important part! Everyone I worked with at Volle’s, including the owner, was extremely helpful.
Flowers: Gurnee Flowers by Balmes
I was so excited when I saw my flowers the day of. Jeanne captured exactly what I wanted. I gave her a few inspiration photos and we spent some time talking, and she just got it right away and nailed it! I was obsessed with the bouquets, so gorgeous!
DJ: Toast and Jam, Kate Porter
We loved Kate. She was great to work with and we were THRILLED with her work. We left cocktail hour and dinner music pretty open to her discretion and I swear every song she chose was perfect. It was like a playlist of my favorite music. I know it sounds cliche but my Dad couldn’t believe how many people commented they had never seen so many people dance all night at a wedding. The dance floor was packed. The whole night. Awesome.
Cake: Lovin Ovens (contracts with Marriott Lincolnshire)
Don would chime in that he didn’t even get to have any cake (he was too busy busting out his signature moves). I’m sure the cake was wonderful, it was beautiful, i know that. We provide them with a photo of the cake and they recreate our top tier for us on our one year anniversary. So we can open the saved tier from the freezer just for tradition then have the good stuff.
Tux: Men’s Wearhouse Gurnee
Don was not thrilled with them. I guess there were a lot of errors with sizing.
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
What can I say, I loved my shoes. I splurged big time, but I will continue to wear them, as well as just look over at them, adoringly.
Video: Smiling Toad Productions
We are very happy with our video, John and his team did a great job of capturing important moments and we laugh and cry every time we watch it (Don wants to add that he doesn’t cry)!
Invitations, Programs: Beacon Lane (Etsy)
We loved our invitation suite and our programs. Beacon Lane was great to work with, very responsive and the quality was great. I looked for awhile and once I found them I knew their style and aesthetic was just perfect.
Hilda: Angel Eyes Photography
We LOVED working with you, Hilda. It meant so much that you took the time to get to know us. We felt comfortable around you and had fun with you. You helped me to feel relaxed and stay calm throughout the day, you were take charge and kept everything on track. I will never forget when you took me aside and said “uh, these guys are kinda drunk” lol. All I could say was I know, I’m sorry. Thanks for putting up with our crazy groomsmen!!
Favorite purchase would have to be my dress. I secretly want to wear it again, but it’s preserved, so I won’t. I also really loved the etched wine box we bought on Etsy and used during our ceremony. We got a lot of compliments from people who hadn’t seen anything like it and we can display it in our home. Another surprising hit was the “I survived Don and Katey’s wedding” sunglasses we bought to put in the survival kits for guests who stayed at the hotel. The guys wore them for pictures, his grandparents keep them by the pool, they are easy to reach for and fun in a retro way.
Favorite wedding memory: I loved walking down the aisle with my Dad, seeing my groom at the end, and all of my loved ones standing there. It was incredibly overwhelming and emotional, but in the best possible way. The ceremony was really perfect. My Uncle Harry officiated and did a great job. Don and I and Harry created the whole thing and I was so happy with how it turned out.
Something I would have done differently: Not second guessed my decisions. It’s so easy to have sensory overload with pinterest, wedding blogs, magazines, etc. Trust your gut, make your decisions, and move on.
I know everyone says this about planning, but try to enjoy it. Planning can definitely be stressful at times but then it’s over so fast. Enjoy the excitement and anticipation. Choose vendors you trust and everything will turn out just as great as you hope! To each their own, but I sure was glad we chose a relaxing honeymoon destination too!’
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