A Blush-and-Green Wedding at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Blush Brushed

Sugared Fig Paperie created the couple's invitation suite with handmade paper, calligraphy, and letterpress and digital printing. "We wanted it to match our garden theme with the green envelopes and sage letterpress on blush handmade paper," says Teresa. "We loved using green and blush."

One and Done

Teresa only needed a single day of browsing bridal boutiques with her mother, sisters, and friends to decide on her strapless and embroidered trumpet Monique Lhuillier wedding dress. "I had also screenshotted the exact dress months before, never thinking it would be the one I would actually get!" she says. "I knew it was the one because I kept coming back to it, and it was truly the one I felt most beautiful in. It was also the only dress my mom got emotional with."

Toffee Break

Floral designers from Splendor of Eden created "loose and organic" bouquets for Teresa and her bridesmaids, incorporating dried ferns with white, ivory, dark blush, and tan blooms. "I really wanted toffee roses and my florist had said they wouldn't be available," says Teresa. "However, she got them last minute!"

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In the Black

Kyle chose a classic black tuxedo from The Black Tux, adding cuff links, a bow tie, and suspenders for a more custom look. "We tailored it, which is very important and made it look very classy on the day-of," says Teresa.

Petal Power

The couple asked Kyle's nieces to serve as flower girls, choosing tulle skirts with blush-colored ribbons and adding flower crowns made by the bride. "I completely forgot to ask our florist to bring flower petals for them or make baskets," says Teresa, "so they had been practicing tossing petals and we had to tell them to just walk down the aisle. It is one of those things that only we would know about—because they were so cute, no one even noticed."

Hooked on a Feeling

Deciding to hold their ceremony at St. Mary of the Angels was "a no-brainer," says Teresa. "The inside just takes your breath away with the colorful stained-glass windows and high ceilings," she says. "It had a pipe organ, which was my father's one request. When we walked in, the church definitely felt very special, and we couldn't let go of that feeling."

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Saying "I Do"

Teresa and Kyle exchanged vows in a traditional religious ceremony—the first time they saw each other on their wedding day. "We wanted that surprise of seeing each other," Teresa says. "Walking with my dad down the extremely long cathedral aisle and seeing each other for the first time that day was so surreal and breathtaking—something that I will remember forever."

Walk It Out

Guests cheered as the newly-minted newlyweds recessed out of the church.

'Maids and Men

Teresa chose blush-colored satin bridesmaids' gowns from Australian brand Bec and Bridge. "I loved them because they did not look like your traditional bridesmaids' dresses," she says. "We got so many compliments on them!" Kyle's groomsmen wore black tuxedos for a "classic and elegant" look. "[The men] always look good, but that day, they were on point," says the couple.

In the Garden

The reception space at the Chicago Botanic Garden felt like a perfect fit for the nature-loving couple. "We both love being outdoors, but did not want to do a destination," says Teresa. "The reception venue was so in-your-face beautiful that it was the easiest to pick. It was romantic and had so many cool spaces—I also absolutely love flowers, so it was perfect."

Guest Book Alternative

In lieu of a traditional guest book, the pair set out a polaroid camera so their loved ones could snap sweet memories in real time.

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Plant Wall

A cheerful potted plant display reinforced the surroundings.

Change of Heart

Teresa had always planned to change into a traditional lehenga during the wedding, so she snuck out after the pair's first dance to swap her ceremony gown for a custom look, accented with jewelry she picked out during a recent trip to India.

A Perfect Fit

Teresa designed her blush and green lehenga at Crossover Bollywood Se in Deer Park, Illinois. "I knew I wanted green in it to go along with our theme—and because Kyle and I love that color—and the pink came about because it looked so good with the green embroidery," says Teresa. "We went in with some ideas and she drew out designs and multiple drafts; then they make a sample square of the embroidery and you are able to tweak it as you want. When it arrives back from India, they fit it perfectly to you. Kyle was super blown away by it, so it was a very exciting process."

Card Counting

A sculptural vase on the escort card table was filled with the same ivory, toffee, peach, and white flowers that made up the bouquets, and surrounded by classic tented cards.

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Glass Act

Delicate blooms in simple bud vases surrounded table numbers that matched the green and blush palette of the invitation suite. Shimmering cut glass and brass votive holders and ivory taper candles reflected candlelight throughout the space.

Dining Al Fresco

The menu from Culinary Landscape included grilled beef with sweet corn puree, grilled onions, potatoes, and chimichurri; and butter-basted chicken with squash gnocchi, roasted mushrooms and parsnips, and tarragon cream.

A Sweet Moment

Alliance Bakery provided an almond cake with fresh berries and pastry cream, which the couple's florist decorated with leaves and blooms that tied into the rest of their décor. "The cake was absolutely fresh and delicious," says Teresa—though neither she nor Kyle made it to the dessert table in time to get a slice during the reception. "We were kind of bummed that we didn't get any of our wedding cake, but happy that everyone enjoyed it," she says. "Then when we got to our hotel room, there was a whole tier of cake waiting for us there! That was such a fun and sweet surprise."

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Just Dance

For their first dance, Teresa and Kyle chose an artist they had loved since the beginning of their relationship: Leon Bridges. "We ended up going to his concert in Milwaukee and then saw him at Lollapalooza in the beginning of our relationship," says Teresa, "which is why we picked his song 'Coming Home' for our first dance—because it reminds us of the beginning of our relationship and how much fun we had. After our first dance, we had our DJ play 'Love on Top' by Beyonce, and our family and friends all flooded the dance floor. It was really special and fun to go right into dancing. We were looking forward to having the dance party, especially after COVID, so that was really exciting."

Sources

Photography, Kristin LaVoie Photography
Venues, St. Mary of the Angels (ceremony); Chicago Botanic Garden (reception)
Event Planning, Clementine Custom Events
Catering, Culinary Landscape
Flowers, Splendor of Eden
Videography, Vaughter Films
Stationery, Sugared Fig Paperie
Cake, Alliance Bakery
Music, ArtiStrings (cocktail hour); DJ Bryen Hall (reception)
Bride's gown, Monique Lhuillier (ceremony); Crossover Bollywood Se (reception)
Bride's accessories, Ultimate Bride veil; Stuart Weitzman shoes
Hair, Hair by L+A
Makeup, Shannon O'Brien
Bridesmaids' dresses, Bec and Bridge
Groom's attire and menswear, The Black Tux
Lighting, MDM Entertainment
Transportation, Charter Empire; Second City Trolley
Guest book, Etsy
Photo booth, Fotio
Streaming, Oak Street Films