A Romantic Gray, Peach, and Coral Wedding at an Art Museum in Chicago

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Olivia Leigh Photographie

Although Virginia and Matt first met in a college engineering class, it was art that ultimately brought them together. Six years into their relationship, on June 16, 2012, they tied the knot at The Art Institute of Chicago, surrounded by 165 loved ones and spectacular masterpieces.

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The Location

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With its lakefront views and downtown location, The Art Institute of Chicago provided a striking setting for the couple’s nuptials. Inside the venue, famous artwork and neutral walls helped all of their special details really come to life.

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A Large Keepsake

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The father-of-the-bride framed a poster-sized version of the couple's save-the-date and displayed it at the wedding. The vintage-style announcement was created by Alexander & Company.

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The Fashions

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The bride wore Monique Lhuillier's "Candy" dress, a Twigs and Honey veil, and BHLDN shoes and jewelry. The groom donned a Brooks Brothers "Fitzgerald" suit accented by silver envelope cufflinks with a small letter from Virginia inside, engraved "I love you."

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A Special Accessory

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Virginia found a dazzling clutch at London's Portobello Market and stitched in a custom label made by NameMaker. The bespoke tags were also sewn inside Matt's suit, her gown, on the back of the groomsmen’s ties, and in the flowergirls' tutus.

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The Bridal Party

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The bridesmaids picked out their own peach and coral dresses and accessorized them with aqua earrings from Anthropologie.

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Pretty Posies

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The five bridesmaids carried smaller variations of the bridal bouquet that consisted of roses, ranunculus, scabiosa, dusty miller, seeded eucalyptus, and brunia berries.

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The Rings

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An aluminum box bought on a pre-wedding trip to Turkey housed a small pillow covered with a vintage handkerchief.

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All in the Family

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The bride's young cousins acted as flower girls and ring bearers. Here, the little ladies show off their tutus by TutusChicBoutique and Forever21 headbands.

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The Grand Entrance

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A pair of flower girls, holding nosegays, led the bride and her parents down the staircase to the ceremony.

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The Ceremony

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The service took place on the Women's Board Grand Staircase with the bridal party and immediate family witnessing from the landings and guests from the balcony. Because the venue was quite grand, decor was kept minimal -- just two large floral arrangements. The bride's uncle (in his favorite kilt) officiated the secular ceremony, which included self-penned vows, a reading from The Velveteen Rabbit, and a performance of "Till There Was You" sung by the sister-of-the-bride.

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Pictures Around Town

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The couple and their photographer, Olivia Leigh, traveled around the city for portraits. One of the stops included the industrial West Loop neighborhood, where they posed by railroad tracks, bridge underpasses, and this ivy-covered wall.

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Works of Art

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Virginia and Matt also posed inside the museum. Here they are in front of Georges Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte".

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The Specialty Cocktail

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Basil gin martinis were made even more festive with "Eat, Drink, Marry" straw flags.

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The Escort Cards

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Virginia's mother created large watercolor paintings that were cut into tags and calligraphed by Angelique Ink. Each was hung with baker's twine from a stenciled screen the couple brought from their apartment.

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The Reception

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Guests moved outside for the al fresco dinner in the venue's McKinlock Court. A fountain in the middle, along with a replica of Carl Milles's Triton Fountain, made a great centerpiece.

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The Reception Decor

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Flowers were showcased in mercury glass vessels and glittery paper numbers handcrafted by the bride marked each table.

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The Menu

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Bon Appetit prepared the dinner that included a beet and goat cheese salad, pomegranate sorbet, lamb tagliata with polenta, halibut poached in lobster oil with seasonal vegetables, and paneer.

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The Favors

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Green Jordan almonds were packaged in white sliding boxes then wrapped with marble paper leftover from the invitation envelope liners. A sparkly velvet ribbon finished them off.

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A Personal Touch

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Virginia framed silhouettes of herself and the groom to mark their seats.

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Camera Ready

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During the reception, guests popped into the Magbooth photo booth, and hung their picture strips on a string nearby for all to see.

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The Guest Book

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The bride personalized the opening page of their Velvet Raptor album and set it out for guests' well-wishes. Tape was also handy for affixing photo booth strips into the keepsake book.

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The First Dance

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The newlyweds chose "You Are the Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne for their dancing debut.

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A Musical Moment

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Matt and his mother danced to "You Are the Sunshine Of My Life" by Stevie Wonder.

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The Sweets

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A trio of cakes featured five different flavors: lemon with sour cherry filling, chocolate with hazelnut ganache, chocolate with apricot ganache, red velvet with sweet cream filling, and banana with butterscotch ganache. The buttercream and fresh flower-covered confections were created by Flour Cake and Pastry and, like the other delicacies on the table, were displayed on vintage serving ware sourced on Ebay and Etsy. Guests also enjoyed Champagne marshmallows, Mexican hot chocolate marshmallows, and assorted truffles from Truffle Truffle; and macarons by Vanille Patisserie.

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A Sweet Saying

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A sign read "First comes love, then comes dessert."

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The Dessert Signs

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Virginia printed out labels, bordered them with a scalloped trim, and then affixed them to cardstock.

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Sources

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Photography: Olivia Leigh Photograhie

Location and catering: The Art Institute of Chicago

Wedding planning: Hilary Schwartz of Estera Events

Music: Dolce Strings

Flowers: Fleur

Cakes: Flour Cake and Pastry

Stationery: Paisley Quill

Rentals: Private Label Linens; Modern Event Rental; Precision Sound and Lighting

Calligraphy: Angelique Ink

Photobooth: Magbooth

Hair and makeup: Bride Style Beauty

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