When I first met Melissa and Josh, I immediately fell in love with their easy-going personalities and fabulous vision for their wedding celebration! They described their idea of a nature-inspired winter wonderland with a vintage twist and wanted to create a warm and inviting atmosphere at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. On their big day, love and joy surrounded them like a thick fog (literally!) and their wedding celebration was more magical than any of us could have ever imagined!

Their day began surrounded by their closest friends and family members. Melissa and her ladies spent the morning at the Thairapy Plus Salon and Spa having their hair and makeup done, then onto the Residence Inn downtown to get dressed. Meanwhile, Josh and his groomsmen gathered at his home for lunch and to get ready. Heather De Camp Photography was there throughout the day to capture all the special moments and details.

With the help of her mother and sister, Melissa slipped into her gorgeous wedding gown. She was an absolutely radiant bride!

Soon it was time for the wedding party to make their way to the celebration’s location, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and for Melissa and Josh to have their first look.  Chicago Sedan & Limo was there to help the bride and groom arrive on time (and not at the same time!).  Melissa and Josh’s wedding day landed on a rare 50 degree December day in Chicago. The air was thick with clouds and fog which created a unique atmosphere for Melissa and Josh’s first look. Heather DeCamp Photography was able to capture their beautiful moment perfectly!

The Wedding Party joined in with the bride and groom for a photo shoot around the museum.

The stunning personal florals and event design were artfully created by the team at Fleur! Working with Melissa’s color palette of dusty purples, white, silver, and evergreens, they fashioned extraordinary florals that coordinated beautifully with the event lighting provided by Elegant Event Lighting. The overall effect transformed the museum and created the perfect ambiance for Melissa and Josh’s celebration!

Just before their Jewish wedding ceremony, Melissa and Josh participated in the traditional signing of the Ketubbah, in an intimate corner of the museum with their Rabbi, surrounded my their parents and witnesses.

As guests gathered for the ceremony, live musicians filled the museum lobby with their melodious sounds adding to the effervescence of the moment!

Melissa and Josh’s wedding ceremony was sublime; filled with so much love, joy, music and tradition, it was absolutely breathtaking!

It was now time to celebrate the new Mr. and Mrs.! As the newlyweds made their way to the bridal suite for a quiet moment together, the rest of the guests made their way upstairs for the cocktail hour near the Butterfly Sanctuary.

Welcomed by delicious drinks and hors d’oeuvres provided from the wonderful catering team at Food for Thought, guests were also able to collect their handmade place cards, and tour different parts of the museum.

Meanwhile, in the main reception hall, the vendor team worked on putting on the final touches for dinner. Fleur outdid themselves with their lush and luxurious tablescapes. Melissa and her mother handmade the table numbers and wedding favors, adding an exceptionally special touch.

Their delectable cake was created by the lovely team at Sweet Mandy B’s!

With tremendous cheers and accolades, the newlyweds were announced into their reception! Dinner began with much love and blessings from both families and their Rabbi.

The night continued on with much jubilation! While Style Matters DJs kept the tunes flowing, guests enjoyed delicious wines with their scrumptious dinners provided by Food for Thought. Throughout dinner, funny and heartwarming toasts were given to honor the happy couple.

The time had come for the bride and groom to share their first dance as husband and wife. The two had worked up a special dance to the Smashing Pumpkin’s song “Tonight, Tonight,” which blew everyone away! It was absolutely perfect!

After dances with their parents, Style Matters DJs encouraged guests to the dance floor, getting the night started with the ever-important Hora. The energy was through the roof, and guests lifted and circled around Melissa and Josh!

Style Matters DJs kept the dance floor full throughout the night! Guests had a blast laughing, dancing, and being together in celebration of Melissa and Josh’s wedding! It was truly a special day!

Melissa and Josh, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your magical wedding! I wish you both continued love, adventure, and joy in your lives together!