One look at the pictures and you can see how gorgeous this wedding is. But WHAT I CAN’T GET ENOUGH of is Alina’s wedding dress. It is just so stylish and unique….no wonder she bought it as soon as she tried it on!
Alina & James | March 27, 2010 | Chicago, Illinois
How he proposed
He surprised me with the ring at my favorite outdoor cafe in New York City.
The ceremony
Our ceremony had colorful flowers hanging from bronze branches — the lighting made it feel like a fairlytale. We also wrote our own vows which was a definitely hit with our guests.
The moment Alina will never forget
My husband’s vows — I couldn’t believe how honest he was in front of our 200 guests.
The reception
During the reception we wanted our guests to have fun. We had lots of food (some of it Russian because that’s our background) and, of course, plenty of alcohol. That combo is a sure way to make your guests ready to party.
Savings and Splurges
We splurged on flowers and alcohol. We did pick a cost conscious location opting for the suburbs of Chicago instead of downtown. We opted to host our wedding at The Pavillion in Northbrook, Illinois which was an amazing venue.
How she knew her wedding dress was “The One”
This was the second (yep, for real) dress that I tried on. It was the day after I got engaged and I was shopping with my mother. We bought it right away.
Her advice for other brides
Get a day-off wedding planner. It’s worth the splurge and will make sure you’re never the stressed out bride.
