Shannon’s first night as a Chicago resident was a snowy Tuesday in December of 2013. She and her roommate were holed up at a local pub over celebratory drinks, when they were approached by two boys. One of these was an acquaintance of Shannon’s roommate from their time studying abroad in Spain. As the two of them swapped old stories and caught up, Shannon struck up a conversation with the second boy, who introduced himself as Brandon. The two of them made a connection instantly, and met up again that Saturday. It was the beginning of a long friendship for the two of them. Two years of memories, inside jokes, and nights on the town together later, Shannon and Brandon began dating officially.

When it finally came time to propose, Brandon had a plan. When in their early stages of friendship 4 years earlier, they had watched an episode of “Freaks and Geeks” together, in which the character Jason stages a romantic atmosphere in his parents’ basement and serenades the object of his affections to Styx’s “Lady”. At the time, Shannon had mentioned how she thought that would be the best way to get proposed to. Brandon was already taking notes. On December 27th, 2018, Brandon set about filling their Chicago apartment with candles and mood music by – you guessed it – Styx. The plan went off perfectly, and the two longtime friends began planning their future together.

The wedding day was set amidst the rustic elegance of Benton Harbor’s Blue Dress Barn. An abundance of bright floral and vibrant greens filled the venue and adorned the banquet tables, while string lights sparkled in the barn’s loft above. The celebrations began early that clear morning along the waters of Lake Michigan, and went well into the night with lively music by Motel Breakfast keeping the dance floor packed.

Shannon’s Gown: Pronovias
Catering by On the Spot BBQ
Venue: Blue Dress Barn
Cakes and Desserts by Sarah Paulson and Chris McNeil
Live entertainment by Motel Breakfast
Floral by First Avenue Flowers
Appetizers by Veronica Soto

Hair and Makeup by Nicole Marie Salon

9/10/2016 -

Nicole and Bob are the quintessential Chicago power couple: She a visionary designer, and he a successful contractor. As fate would have it, their professional conquests brought them together nearly 20 years ago when Nicole sought out a contractor to do a job for her. Fast forward to 2014, Nicole was embracing a "Summer of YES" with an attitude of complete openness to the world and willingness to take on new adventures. Fittingly, it was at the end of this summer that Bob proposed, on opening night of the David Bowie exhibit on the steps of Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art.

This pair is delightfully offbeat and full of quirk, class, and good humor. So it goes without saying that their wedding day would be just as unique. They planned a lavish affair set in a rustic barn, the oldest one in Three Oaks (1860s). Live music infused the evening with nostalgic sounds of the 1930s, compliments of Chicago's own jazz band, The Fat Babies. Generous flowers (many from the bride's own garden!) adorned every table, banister and shelf with an air of effortless luxury. The history and depth these lovers have together is inspiring, and every bit of their wedding day was meaningful, to the point that I got goosebumps as Nicole explained the story behind each little thought-out detail. (Nicole had 5 generations of wedding invitations saved along with hers, dating all the way back to 1893. The shrug she wore belonged to her great grandmother. I could go on and on!) Without further ado, here is a sneak peek from Nicole & Bob's truly unforgettable celebration.

Coordinated by Misha Newgren of Nouvelle Events

Florals by Heidi at Field & Florist

Venue: Middlebrook Farm, Three Oaks, Michigan