From my first chat with Meg’s mom, Maureen, I knew this was going to be a blast of a wedding.  There was so much joy in her voice as she described plans for her daughter, Meg, and her soon-to-be son-in-law, Sanjay’s Labor Day Weekend celebration!  When the big day arrived it was just as fun as we had imagined.

Wedding day morning was easy-peasey.  Meg’s bridesmaids got their hair done at Zazu Salon before returning to the Hilton Oak Brook Hills to get dressed and ready.  My longtime pal, Rebecca, of Rebecca Marie Photography met us at the hotel to capture all the prep.  Sanjay spent the morning at the driving range with his groomsmen and then decided to keep his “getting ready” time quiet before all the excitement of the day began.

The midwest celebration was “Part 2” of the wedding festivities–the California wedding (where Sanjay hails from) had been a couple weeks prior–and so many of their details had been meticulously planned down to Sanjay’s custom cufflinks engraved with each wedding date.

Sanjay and Meg shared their first look at Butterfield Country Club.  The rain had been teasing us all day long, but it stopped just before the crew took photos all around the property.  The bouquets created by The English Garden were bursting with bright and joyful colors.  I just loved Meg’s tea length dress.

The ceremony, held under a stately tree glowing with cafe lights, was perfectly tailored to the couple.  Guests waved colorful ribbons to celebrate the bride and groom once they made it official.

The reception was held in Butterfield’s tent.  You couldn’t have picked more perfect details for a summertime celebration.  From the crisp sky blue table linens, to the brilliant floral arrangements, to (my favorite addition) the table numbers hand-painted by the bride’s mother, it was certainly one to remember.

Following a delicious dinner and some truly heartfelt toasts, Talk of the Town Big Band kicked off and kept the dance floor filled until the end of the night (and then some!).

Meg and Sanjay, you two were a joy to work with and it was such a pleasure getting to be welcomed into your families for the weekend.  Cheers to many many years of celebration!

Courtney and I were introduced in late 2018 by Courtney’s family friends whose two daughters’ weddings Five Grain had been lucky enough to be involved in. She and her fiancé, John, were at the very beginning stages of their planning process and were ready to get support from start to finish.

Courtney’s parents had been married at The Drake Oak Brook and so we knew right away that was the place it had to happen (though we took a couple other tours just to be sure). Planning went along swimmingly for their 8/08 (or “BOB” after her dad) 2020 wedding…right up through their menu tasting on Leap Day of that year. We all know what happened next.

Despite the stressors of planning a wedding through a pandemic (AND both moving across the country and dealing with a family health scare to boot) Courtney and John were a delight to work with. After their third separate wedding date, they were excited to have a fabulous party with their friends and family to celebrate this perfect match–and thankfully we were able to finally deliver in June of this year.

The morning began for the ladies at Courtney’s family home where her long-time hair stylist, Debbie Musso, did all the ladies’ hair. Andie Cumber worked in her parents’ sun-soaked dining room to ensure faces were made up to perfection.

Lindsey Kay Photography and Smiling Toad Video were on hand to capture all the preparations including the gift of some very nice perfume from the groom.

Meanwhile, the gents were getting spiffed up at The Drake. Once everyone was dressed, Aries Charter Transportation gathered up the groom and groomsmen and brought them to where the ladies were for Courtney and John’s first look. It was such a sweet moment for the happy couple after a very long wait.

The group headed around town to take some photos. They made a special stop at Courtney’s home church, St. Peter’s in Elmhurst, to take a few photos. They had hoped to celebrate their wedding service there but with too much pandemic-related uncertainty in the lead up, we opted for an onsite ceremony at Drake. It was important they were able to get some of the traditional portraits done there.

The wedding ceremony was held in the stunning Flower Room at Drake Oak Brook. Flowers for Dreams brought in the gorgeous backdrop to frame the space and the ceremony was officiated by Courtney’s pastor from St. Peter’s, Amanda McEvilly. The personal vows the couple wrote to one another were sweet and heartfelt–I’m sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Cocktail hour was buzzing with excitement as guests finally had the chance to say hello and embrace after a too-long absence from social interaction. It had been raining and raining in the days leading up to wedding day but June 27th blessed us with absolutely perfect weather.

Lindsey Kay Photography captured some stunning photos fo the bride and groom during golden hour.

I am certain the Three Oaks Ballroom at Drake Oak Brook has never looked more beautiful.  The deep blue and purple tones of the Flowers for Dreams floral brought a deep sophistication to the space, while the mixed table shapes and mirrored stage front planners were an unexpected bit of decadence that tied the space together perfectly.

The Drake’s staff effortlessly served the delicious multi-course meal while Courtney and John’s friends and family gave some of the best toasts I’ve ever heard (and, trust me, I’ve heard MANY).

After dinner it was time to really kick off the party.  The Mix brought the energy and fun and guests packed the Drake‘s light up dance floor until the very end of the evening.

I absolutely loved this recap video that Smiling Toad put together which encapsulates this incredible group of people and all the gorgeous details.

Courtney and John, wishing you both the very best.  Thank you for giving us all a reason to celebrate!  Here’s to many more years of joy to come.