What I love about this week’s wedding, is that it is so obvious this couple made their wedding exactly them. Mixing traditional and vintage elements with fun unexpected details (dinosaur cake topper anyone?), Ashley and Adam created something truly them. You can tell everyone just had fun and made it about the love! And it doesn’t hurt to have some gorgeous pics from Paige Winn to look at either!
The stunning bride Ashley gives us the details:
Adam and I met post-college in Chicago, our hometown, and started a friendship in 2007. Soon after, we began dating and Adam proposed in August of 2010-two days before we packed up our life and black labrador, Kingsley, and moved to Raleigh, North Carolina! From the moment we became friends to this very day, our larger group of friends and families have been a huge part of our lives. We chose to get married at St. Catherine Laboure Church in Glenview, Illinois, as we were both raised Catholic, and decided to keep the ceremony traditional. No reveals or pre-ceremony meetings. It was important to us that the first time Adam see me on that day, was when I started walking down the aisle.
For our bridal party, we wanted everyone to feel comfortable and actually be able to wear their dresses, suits, etc… again. (Many brides claim this is possible, but let’s be serious…) I bought the ‘maids black, convertible dresses from Venus.com (one-size-fits-all is possible!) and chiffon, kimono cardigans in a light blush pink from Forever 21. Clearly, I wanted something reasonably priced, but I also wanted them to look weather appropriate, and of course, beautiful. BONUS: I love Marrimekko and the jackets were adorned with Marrimekko-like floral sketches in faint black. Pair this with black legwear, black shoes and jewelry from J. Crew and we were in business! Our groomsmen all had different tastes so each one wore their own black suit and we strived for that “Mad Men” look with black ties, white shirts, pocket squares and tie clips.
Our choice of transportation was a big. yellow. school bus. Enough said.
My mother, Elyse DeVries, created all of the florals for the wedding, which were reflective of my obsession with greenery. I really wanted a wild, natural looking design to match our ecclectic reception site: The Art Center of Highland Park. Our goal for the reception decor and the ceremony bouquets was to combine an artistic element with a natural, somewhat wild appearance. For example, the moss-covered lady and man for the fireplace mantle were made from various ferns and greenery.
To Adam & I, the wedding ceremony was the main reason for the entire day. Whatever happened was irrelevant and we approached the day with ease, a supportive family, and great friends who have known us both independently and as a couple. Before we arrived at the reception, there was apparently a fire drill, so I am still waiting to see the pictures of our guests climbing on the Highland Park fire truck… Overall, the wedding was better than I could have ever expected and all of our guests truly enjoyed the food, drink and dance.
Photography | Paige Winn Photo
Venue | The Art Center
Catering | Catered By Design
