Wyndham Grand Chicago Wedding

It's been more than two years since Ryan and I got married, but I'm just now getting around to writing our wedding story.  It's amazing all the things you can accomplish while "social distancing" due to the coronavirus crisis around the world.  I hope you all are staying healthy and finding ways to appreciate the solitude.

Ryan and I wed on Saturday, November 4, 2017, at the Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront, also known as Batman's penthouse.  It was a foggy, rainy day, and we spent the morning getting ready with our loved ones in our separate suites.  Eliora, my stylist from We Only Do Pretty, helped to calm my nerves while feeling anxious about the rain and how it might affect our day.  My close friend, Loretta, beautified my bridesmaids, and then we all practiced our group dance to "Tearin' Up My Heart," which we learned during my bachelorette party at Duet Dance Studio (talk about an amazing time!).  I'll never forget the joy and laughter at dancing around our suite with our champagne flutes in our robes and socks or slippers.  We also sang a sweet rendition of Happy Birthday to my niece and flower girl, Madeleine, and shared a toast (with OJ for the flower girls).

The rain slowed down enough for us to grab our first-look pictures on the penthouse balcony, and then switch plans from our outdoor shoot to taking group photos at the Chicago Cultural Center.  We got a late start after corralling the groomsmen who were living it up in the hotel bar, but Anna and Jacob Ginda, our photographers from Ginda Photography, captured the most stunning shots!  Once the rain stopped, we paused for a handful of pictures along the riverwalk before our 5:30 PM ceremony.

Our ceremony was facilitated by our good friend, Joe Hopkins, along with Reverend Wendy Witt.  Words cannot express the love felt by those in the room, and the ache felt for those who were missing.  Ryan and I chose to write our own vows, and we were both surprised that we were able to make it through the joyful tears.

Following our ceremony, we enjoyed mingling with our guests during the Happy Hour, and dancing the night away during our reception.  We opted to learn a rumba for our first dance under the expert teaching of Heather Zubkova from Chicago Dance and were proud to pull it off to the surprise of our guests; I think Ryan was more nervous about this than anything else on our wedding day.  After the opening dances, we spent the rest of the evening dancing the night away with our friends and family, celebrating our loving community and the start of the rest of our lives.

We could've never pulled off our big day without the support of our amazing vendors:

Dress:  Allure Bridals from Annabella Boutique
Suit:  Custom from Tie Bar
Jewelry:  Swarovski
Venue:  Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront now Royal Sonesta Chicago Riverfront
Bridal Hair and Makeup:  Eliora from We Only Do Pretty
Bridesmaid's Hair:  Loretta Medeiros
Flowers:  Anthony Gowder Designs
Photography:  Ginda Photography
Videography:  Bella Tiamo Photo and Video
Cake:  Bittersweet Pastry Shop

Vendor Reviews:
We Only Do Pretty:  Eliora made me look my best on my wedding day!  My hair and makeup were absolutely perfect, and I received so many compliments.  I truly appreciated how she listened to exactly what I wanted during my trial, and executed it beautifully on my big day.  Hair and makeup was one of the things I was most nervous about for my wedding, and I cannot tell you how happy I am that I found We Only Do Pretty. 

Loretta Medeiros:  Loretta took the time to get to know exactly what I was looking for for my bridesmaids.  She worked quickly, and adjusted the style to suit each girl's different hair lengths and types.  She put everyone around her at ease, and was an amazing sense of calm on a hectic day.

Anthony Gowder Designs (Floral):  I really loved working with the team at Anthony Gowder.  While they were pricier than some others we considered, my favorite part of working with them was that they allow you to do a preview day before your wedding.  On this day, they create a sample centerpiece from your design, and show you some of the other decor pieces you are considering.  After this preview, we made significant changes to our initial design because it helped us to realize that what we first envisioned was not the best choice for our look after all.  The team was incredibly flexible and helped us work within our budget.  On the day of the wedding, the flowers were delivered on time and in impeccable condition.

Ginda Photography:  My husband and I are so thankful that we chose Ginda Photography to capture our special day! Anna was incredibly flexible from the start, scheduling phone calls or Skype meetings with us since her studio is located in the suburbs and we are in the city. We were able to customize our photography package to include our engagement session, two photographers for our wedding day, all our photos with their rights, and a photo book. My husband and I definitely put Anna and Jacob's skills to the test, as our engagement photos were taken on an INCREDIBLY windy day, and our wedding day put them through poor indoor lighting, fog, and rain. We even did a last minute change on our wedding day to move our photo shoot over to the Cultural Center since we weren't able to capture everything we wanted to outside due to the rain. Even with the elements against them, Anna and Jacob were able to capture absolutely beautiful photos that we couldn't be happier with! I cannot tell you how many compliments we have received on our photos. If you're looking for a responsive, kind, flexible, and artistic photographer that will capture your day with high quality and stylish photos, then look no further than Ginda Photography!

Annabella Boutique:  I had a wonderful experience with Annabella Boutique!  I visited four other Chicago boutiques, and Annabella's had the best inventory BY FAR.  I could not imagine how many beautiful wedding dresses they were able to pull for me that exactly matched what I was looking for.  I always thought I'd have a hard time finding a wedding dress that I would love, and instead I found at least 6.  This made my decision very difficult, but with the guidance of Rosa, Cathy, my parents, and my maid of honor, I was able to settle on the perfect dress.  The ladies were incredibly patient as I tried several dresses on more than once, and were in no way pushy.  Once I said YES to the dress, we toasted with champagne and exchanged lots of hugs.  The ladies here really make you feel like you're part of the family.

I have very few complaints about my experience with Annabella's.  My main complaint was that they have their own tags in each dress, so you do not know which brand/designer you are trying on until you purchase the gown.  If you shop around online prior to visiting the store, though, you may have a good idea of which designer you are trying on if that is a factor in your decision.  My other complaint is that their seamstress does not work evening hours (most appointments had to be made before 4:30), so plan to take an afternoon off work if you choose to use them for alterations.  In the end, I am happy that I utilized them for alterations, though, because they turned out perfectly and they were even able to add an additional layer of fabric between the straps and my body since the bead detailing was itchy.  The seamstress's attention to detail was unbeatable!

Overall, I highly recommend Annabella Boutique for your wedding gown.  I cannot tell you how many compliments I received on my dress on my big day, and how happy I am that I found it at Annabella's.