Personal touches and pretty pink details filled out Lauren and Tom’s wedding decor, but the surprises and stories from the day are even more compelling. Unexpected heartache days before the ceremony and severe storms on the day of definitely impacted emotions during their wedding, but the couple made those dark clouds show their silver lining. Be sure to put on your bunny ears and view the incredible wedding film at the end of the post!
Lauren + Tom | August 4, 2012 | Chicago, Illinois | Dress Listing:Â Monique Lhuillier, Aspen
The Ceremony
In the days and hours leading up to our ceremony, we experienced an impossible string of bad luck. Three days prior, my father unexpectedly passed away. Then, on the day of our wedding, a months-long drought gave way to a downpour. Even the darn bus broke down, forcing the girls and I to make quite the entrance via taxi in the rain!
As I made my way down the aisle alongside my stepdad, the string quartet playing “Canon in D” in the background, the stress of the preceding days reached a breaking point. Emotions ran high, and all I needed was a hug from my boyfriend. I dashed to the end of the aisle, threw convention to the wind, and wrapped my arms around him one last time as his girlfriend.
The ceremony only got more special from there. We wrote our own vows, which were uncannily similar. At one point, I actually stopped the ceremony in disbelief. Neither of us could not believe it! It was the perfect example of how perfect we are for each other. And it really proved to our friends and family firsthand why we were all there in the first place. What a special half hour. I expected the reception to be my favorite part of our wedding, but at the end of the crazy day, the ceremony actually took the cake.
The Reception
We wanted a seriously stylish wedding that didn’t take itself too seriously. Something glamorous, elegant and classy — but not without a little personality. So in contrast to a chic color scheme, fancy décor and the grandiose backdrop of the Chicago History Museum, we included personal touches like rabbit-themed cake pops for place cards, a Kleenex holder on our programs quoting Snoop Dogg (“Don’t cry. Dry your eye.”) and bride and groom chair signs with unconventional titles (“Big” and “Little”.) Our first dance? A piano version of Skrillex’s “Cinema.” Our reception kept it classy. But with top shelf spirits, non-stop dancing and even some impromptu karaoke, we certainly didn’t let the posh surroundings dissuade us from having a raucous good time.
Lauren’s Dress Search
I always knew I wanted a form-fitting trumpet or mermaid gown. And when I began my dress search, I had a specific gown in mind. To my surprise, it looked horrible on me in real life! So I kept looking, and eventually, my decision came down to two dresses: a Vera Wang and a Monique Lhuillier. The Vera Wang was so sexy and fun; it made me want to dance on the tables!! But the Monique Lhuillier … the Monique Lhuillier made me want to get married. And that’s when I knew it was “The One.”
How Lauren Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Like a bride 🙂
Why Lauren Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
As every bride on this blog says, I truly wanted this incredible dress to live to see another wedding day. It makes me sad to see it just sitting in my closet. And if I could help let another lucky lady make her dream of wearing a Monique Lhuillier come true in the process, even better. It was difficult to decide to let go to such an amazing garment, but as they say, “If you love it, let it go.”
LAUREN + TOM from Michelle Wodzinski on Vimeo.
