Weddings
We can always tell when a couple has been together for a long time. There’s a sense of ease and honesty that only comes with history. Lauren & Zack have known of each other since high school. Though they didn’t really become friends until college, their circle of friends was a tight knit group that has known each other for a long time. The comfort of having so much history made for such an emotional, joy filled day. It comes through in Lauren & Zack’s nature with each other. It’s the little things that make for the best moments. It’s how Zack always knows when Lauren needs a decisive mind, and how Lauren knows the right moment to tease Zack. The elegance of the Hotel Orrington and the breathtaking beauty of Alice Millar Chapel were the perfect backdrops for Lauren & Zack to celebrate their love, surrounded by all the people who helped get them to this special day! Here’s to several more years of comfort and love!
One of the unique aspects of the Hotel Orrington is that they offer options for where you get ready on the wedding day. We love that Lauren & Zack picked the gorgeous rooms at the Orrington (instead of the conference rooms that are sometimes used). The renovations and the slated windows in the suites provide a gorgeous getting ready space for everyone, and allow the comfort and space to set a great tone for the day!
One of the highlights of the day was Lauren & Zack’s first look. The happy couple had decided to write notes to each other before they saw each other. Zack had inadvertently misplaced the card, and quickly wrote down his thoughts on a piece of paper at the hotel. The emotion of his honest, heartfelt message became obvious as Lauren teared up reading it. It was a great example of what really counted on this wedding day: the connection between Lauren & Zack. It’s always amazing to see how relaxed two people become once they see each other, and it’s a clear sign they are meant to be together.
Lauren had always know that she wanted a classic church ceremony for her wedding day. Specifically, she loved the idea of gorgeous stained glass windows. Alice Millar Chapel was an obvious choice. All of the vibrant colors can make it tricky for a photographer, but we love the challenge. Every time we are there, the images are always so unique. Each couple’s day has a slightly different hue, based entirely on how the sun came through the glass on that day!
Another AMAZING moment: The ray of sunlight that came beaming through a window at the reception for their First Dance was perfection. You never anticipate natural light for a ballroom reception, but just as the sun was setting, it shown straight onto Lauren’s dress. We immediately turned off our own flashes and embraced the impromptu, perfect serendipity of it all! Those photos are some of the best of the day, and are among Lauren & Zack’s favorites!
Meet the Team:
Event Coordinator: Tying the Knot // Getting Ready/Reception Venue: Hilton Orrington // Ceremony Venue: Alice Millar Chapel // Men’s Clothing from Jasmine Galleria // Bridal & Bridesmaid’s Clothing from A Joyful Occasion // Printing: Ashley’s Custom Stationery & More // Florals: Phillip’s Flowers // Make-up: Christy Swain Beauty // Band/DJ: DJ Kyle from Stitely Entertainment // Cake: Cake Chicago // Photo Booth: The Traveling Photo Booth // Transportation: Second City Trolley
Weddings
There’s something magical about seeing dreams come true on a wedding day. There are little girls who dream of being a princess…and there are little girls who actually get to BE a princess. Our picture-perfect bride Kortni was once a Disney princess in Orlando, so the chance to put on a ball gown and twirl around the dance floor was a welcome opportunity to be part of a fairytale again! From the stunning wedding dress (seriously, wait until you see the train!) to the elegant reception, this Rockford country club wedding is fit for a princess!
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Kortni’s photographer Rebecca takes us through the highlights of the day. Get ready to swoon!
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Kortni & Derrick decided to see each other before the ceremony, but that does not mean there was no First Look. In true fairytale fashion, this princess and her dad had a special First Look moment that was truly special, full of emotion and heartfelt laughter.
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I just adored the lace cap sleeves on the bridesmaid’s dresses. Any bridesmaid will tell you that comfort is key on the wedding day, and you could just tell how good everyone felt in them. Blue is always a classic color, a perfect mix of elegance and romance.
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The magic was in every reception detail. The candelabras and art deco signage/font on menus were such an elegant touch. Reminiscent of Disney castles and chandeliers, the room shimmered as the guests danced, just like the ballroom scene from Cinderella!
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Every princess needs a prince, and the reception at Forest Hills Country Club in Rockford gave Derrick a chance to win over every heart in the room! The band stopped in the middle of Kortni & Derrick’s first dance, so that Derrick could surprise Kortni with an original song. As he sang and played the guitar, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
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Kortni & her dad’s first dance set the tone for a fun party the rest of the night. A great bookend to their First Look at the beginning of the day, this dance was a mash-up of favorite songs that brought everyone to their feet!
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Meet the Team:
Getting Ready: Radisson Hotel, Rockford // Ceremony Venue: Cathedral of St. Peter // Reception Venue: Forest Hills Country Club // Reception Band: BlueWater Kings Band // Cake: By the Dozens Bakery // Transportation: AAA Limo
Enjoy more Gold Grid weddings now!
Weddings
We hope you’re ready to smile. Emily & Ivan’s day was all about happiness, and we cannot deny the amount of pure joy in everyone’s faces. Is it possible to have a wedding day theme that focuses on an emotion? If so, Emily & Ivan have “happy” covered. Surrounded by their loved ones for an intimate affair in Humboldt Park, they make love look effortless. The straight-forward ceremony and reception allowed for personal touches throughout the day, from the pinata to the unforgettable first dance.
Their photographer Nick told us some of his favorite moments from this happy day!
What makes Emily & Ivan unique as a couple?
Emily & Ivan are spectacular dance partners, but it seems like their partnership extends well beyond that. They don’t just seem like people that like being around each other, but people that are stronger when they are around each other.
How would you describe the look & feel of their wedding day?
Emily & Ivan made their day into a truly personal event. It was intimate enough that everyone seemed as if they knew each other, and every detail seemed to fit Emily & Ivan’s personality. I especially loved the ice cream cart that greeted everyone on the way out of the church on such a hot day.
Is there any wisdom for other couples that could be taken from Emily & Ivan’s day?
Keep it simple. Focusing on the things that mean the most to you will do more than just make you happy on your wedding day. Your family and friends will get a genuine look into your relationship, and what makes it special/unique.
What was your favorite moment from the day?
By far and away it was their first dance. A medley of different latin dances, it wasn’t just an impressive routine but it represented the way that they met and their favorite pastime. People went crazy for a solid 5 minutes watching them, I didn’t see a single person tuning out and looking for more cake.
Meet the Team:
Ceremony Venue: St. John Berchmans // Reception Venue: National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
For more kids who steal the (wedding day) show and make you smile, take a look at our feature on the blog!
Weddings
One of the most exciting aspects of being in the wedding industry is the incredible people we meet. Each wedding day is successful, in part, because of the creative teams that are assembled to support that couple. We’re all about the team experience at Gold Grid Studios, and that extends to industry professionals in other fields. Gold Grid Recommends are the vendors we admire, respect, and always look forward to seeing on the wedding day!
Today, we are excited to tell you about LK Events, a fabulous full-service wedding & event planning company. We always look forward to seeing that a Gold Grid couple is working with LK Events, because we know that we are all in great hands! We talked to Nicole, a vivacious member of the LK team. Nicole is also an active member of the International Special Events Society and is currently the President for the Chicago Chapter.
What’s one thing that makes LK Events different than other professionals in your field?
Why do you do what you do?
What’s your favorite part of a wedding day?
What’s the most popular misconception you wish every couple understood differently about your profession?
There are actually quite a few misconceptions around wedding planners and maybe the biggest one is that we are a luxury. I feel that we are a must-have to every wedding. We can guide you through the the planning process so that you don’t make costly mistakes, and then on the wedding day, your team of event professionals can actually do the job that they were hired to do and not be distracted by the logistics.
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Learn more about Nicole and LK Events!
Follow LK Events:
https://www.facebook.com/LKevents/
https://www.instagram.com/lkeventschicago/
For more Gold Grid Recommends, click here!
Weddings
Erin & Brad are the kind of couple that just light up the room when they are together! It was all smiles and laughter throughout their day, and that infectious happiness had an impact on everyone involved! It was real treat to spend the day surrounded by such joy, and we guarantee there was always a smile on our side of the camera. From the beginning of the day, you could just tell how excited these two were to see each other! We headed to St. Patrick Catholic Church of Merna, where Erin & Brad celebrated their Irish Catholic background with a full mass and Celtic songs. We then spent the evening surrounded by family, friends, and the wonderful team at Marriott Hotel in Normal, where everyone (including Erin’s grandmother) tore up the dance floor!
Their photographer Rebecca told us all about the joyful, laughter-filled day!
What makes Erin & Brad unique as a couple?
When she looks at him, the world slips away and it’s so obvious she’s crazy about him (even while she’s rolling her eyes a little at the hilarious man in front of her). When he pulls her in for a hug, you can feel the love radiate from them. It’s that amazing everyday love kind of comfort that can only mean one thing – “forever together” is looking pretty darn swell for Erin & Brad. It is fun to imagine them as that adorable old couple holding hands while they walk down the sidewalk. She’ll roll her eyes while he cracks that same joke as always – but she secretly loves it.
What was your favorite moment on the wedding day?
Just watching these two when you gave them time alone together. As we finished bridal party photos we had everyone else leave the park so they could have a little alone time. Since they had not seen each other before the ceremony, this was the first time they had by themselves to actually slow down and soak in the fact that they were married. We shot with long zoom lenses so we didn’t have to be too physically close and gave them space. We encouraged them to just go for a stroll through a park and watched as they laughed and giggled, hugged and kissed in excitement of the day. It’s really what it’s all about!
Were there any surprises on the wedding day?
Erin & Brad had a lot of time between after the ceremony & before the reception which allowed us to be picky with photos. We could take our time to make sure everything was perfect for them, including waiting for clouds to move over the sun every few minutes so we could take beautiful photos outside in the park they had picked without everyone having to squint into the bright sun. We usually don’t have that kind of time!
Meet the Team:
Reception Venue: Marriott Hotel // Ceremony Venue: St. Patrick Catholic Church of Merna //Custom Printing: Production Xpress // Bridal Ensemble: Girls in White Satin // Bride’s Dress: Allure Bridals // Bridesmaid’s Clothing: David’s Bridal // Hair & Make-Up: Fox and Hounds Day Spa // Floral: Casey’s Garden Shop // DJ: Absolute Light & Sound // Cake: Janet’s Cakes & Catering // Engagement Ring & Wedding Band: Bremer Jewelry
Enjoy more Gold Grid couples on the blog!
