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!
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 celebrating Gourmet Invitations, a custom design invitation boutique. Our most recent collaboration with Gourmet Invitations was the Gold Grid Studios launch dinner. Owner Tifany Wunschl created a sophisticated design that not only showcased the Gold Grid Studios icon, but also set the tone for an elegant, luxurious evening.
Tifany, what’s one thing that makes you different than other professionals in your field? Effectively, why should I work with you?
My niche is making invitations that have never been seen before. Working with material link metal, wood, silk and suede; using new printing techniques in a variety of ways; and packaging the invitations to excite your guests when they open their mail box – that is what makes Gourmet Invitations unique.
Why do you do what you do?
I LOVE IT! I wake up every day looking forward to starting my day and going to bed at night thinking about what I will do tomorrow. I love working with clients to make the best day of their life even better.
What’s your favorite part of a wedding day?
The invitation of course! But I also love making the special details for the wedding reception. Having the wedding “branded” makes the event even more special and memorable.
What’s one thing you wish you could tell every couple?
Don’t be so concerned with etiquette or how my mother would have done it. The wedding invitations should reflect your personalities and style of the wedding. Word invitations to please your family, not Emily Post.
What’s the most popular misconception you wish every couple understood differently about your profession?
Misconception: “Everyone just throws the invitation away” They do if it isn’t worth keeping! Most of my clients tell me that guests won’t even return the rsvp card because they don’t want to break up the suite. If you spend a little more on custom invitations, you are going to excite your guests about your wedding and it becomes a keepsake.
Learn more about Gourmet Invitations!
Follow Gourmet Invitations:
https://www.facebook.com/GourmetInvitations/
https://www.instagram.com/gourmetinvites/
https://www.pinterest.com/gourmetinvites/
For more Gold Grid Recommends, click here!
Weddings
Mike & Phil’s wedding at the Keith House in Chicago was the kind of intimate, emotional affair that wedding photographers love! It gives us an opportunity to get to know the couples’ family & friends, and have a great time capturing what is so unique about the day!
Now, Murphy’s Law states that if something can go wrong, it probably will go wrong. Such a statement is always a wedding day fear, and rain is probably the most well-known example of Murphy’s adage. It did indeed rain on this day, though you wouldn’t know it from Mike & Phil’s smiles, and from all the laughter and love at their ceremony and reception.
We talked to their photographer Alissa to get a closer look!
What makes Mike & Phil a unique couple?
Alissa: They have such a strong bond, and their personalities complement each other completely. From the moment I met them, I could just feel the happiness radiating from them!
How would you describe their wedding day?
Alissa: Mike & Phil wanted an intimate, classy wedding to celebrate with close friends and family. I was excited to hear they were interested in in capturing authentic, memorable moments.
What was your favorite moment from their day?
Alissa: Definitely their vows! Both Mike & Phil crafted deeply personal expressions of commitment. They had the whole room in happy tears & laughter.
What’s the silver lining of something like rain on the wedding day?
Alissa: Rain didn’t stop us! Everyone was game for grabbing umbrellas & walking around for some pretty spring rain photos. It’s important to be prepared for weather, and just roll with it. Different weather means you have unique visual opportunities, like reflections on the pavement and interesting colors!
What do you love about intimate weddings?
Alissa: I love when guests are able to spend quality time with each other, as well as the couple. It often means the schedule is a bit more relaxed, allowing for more organic moments and photo opportunities. The key is to think about what you truly want that makes your day special for you.
Vendor Team
Venue: The Keith House // Printing: Minted // Musicians: Chris White // Florals: Mariano’s South Loop // Caterer: Connie’s Pizza // Dessert: First Slice Pie Cafe
Enjoy seeing more Gold Grid couples on the Gold Grid blog, including Mike & Phil’s engagement session!
