It’s always nice to have a little summer inspiration during the dreary winter months, and this client wedding should just about do the trick!  

A wonderful couple of mine was married this past July.  They wanted a wedding that felt seasonal, comfortable, slightly preppy, with a touch of rustic and a hint of whimsy.  Their crisp color palette was simply navy, green and white.

Here was the inspiration board I created at the start of our planning together:

And here’s how it all came together…

The bride carried a fluffy and full bouquet exclusively of white lisianthus.  We worked an heirloom necklace into the ribbon wrap for a personal touch.  The groom wore a coordinating boutonniere, backed by a rich camellia leaf.

The bridesmaids wore simple chiffon navy dresses and carried monochromatic bouquets of ‘green trick’ carnations (!) punctuated with hypericum berries.  All of the mens’ ties were the perfect green and navy stripe.  Loved them, so!

The ceremony took place at St. Clements, nestled on a charming residential street in Lincoln Park.

The happy couple revisit the location of their first meeting over coffee.  Her married monogram was stitched into her dainty clutch for use later at the reception.

[Clockwise from top left:]  

The cocktail hour took place on the beautiful plaza of the Chicago History Museum, where the stripe theme continued with darling custom cushion covers.  

Refreshing mojitos were circulated during the early evening cocktail hour.  

Verdant fern foliage was collected in petite silver julep cups.  

We brought umbrellas to provide a bit of shade from the summer sun (for both guests and the performers we hired from a busy Chicago corner).  

Instead of a traditional guest book, I often will have custom postcards created by our stationer.  The postcards have simple prompts, encouraging guests to write a note to the bride and groom.  At the end of the evening, I collect the postcards and give them to a family member who will [at random] mail them off to the newlyweds throughout their first year of marriage.  It is a very special way to keep the excitement of the day with you long after the celebration ends.

Before guests were invited inside for dinner, they found their seating assignments pinned on boards covered in fresh foliage.  We then move the boards inside to display the scribed postcards. 

 The Chicago Room featured a combination of rectangular, square and round dinner tables and alternated rich navy with crisp ivory table linens.  The elevated centerpieces were simple, manicured bundles of salal foliage, adding a rich pop of color against the neutral backdrop.

The round tables featured a lower collection of white blooms contained in varied vessels.  A trio of shaded lamps provided extra illumination at the table.

Each place-setting was pre-set with a rattan charger, a mason jar water glass and mercury glass votive cups (masking the faux votives required by the venue).  Arrangements of white roses, hydrangea, garden stock and lilies were presented in cut crystal, mossed pots and worn silver.

Jesse made a handsome custom bar of rich wood [to match the chairs] and green and white striped fabric [to match the straws, of course!].  Opposite the bar, across the dance floor was a comfy lounge finished with custom pillows.

Toward the end of the evening, the couple was able to sneak away from all of the excitement…finally sharing a quiet moment together on the beautiful steps of the History Museum.