A Chic Black and Gold Wedding at Jen’s Guesthouse

Oh, what a day! Kate and Kevin FINALLY tied the knot with a chic black and gold wedding at the stunning Jen’s Guesthouse in the Chicago suburbs. After what felt like endless setbacks with planning a wedding during a pandemic, these two finally got their day and I couldn’t be more excited for them!

The vibe for the day was classy yet modern, with elements of glam. Stunning tones of gold, black, and ivory tied together beautifully. I knew I was in for a treat once my Associate, Ashlee, and I started photographing Kate’s bridal details in the morning.

Like come on! Tell me their invitation suite isn’t perfect. And those rings?! HELLLOOOO gorgeousness.

Kate’s bouquet featured peonies, a flower that she adores. The side of her parent’s house is lined with some of the most giant and most beautiful peonies. She grew up loving them, and her florist knew how much she admired them, so she made a special order just for Kate to have a few sprinkled in her bouquet. Not only the peonies, but Kate’s bouquet had a few family heirlooms too! Kevin’s grandmother’s necklace dangled close to Kate right next to Kate’s grandmother’s wedding band throughout the day. This wedding band has been on all of Kate’s sisters’ wedding bouquets, so it was a special tribute to Kate’s grandmother, which I thought was extremely special.

You might be wondering (or maybe not because unexpected snowfalls are normal in Illinois in March, haha!), but Kate and Kevin had REAL LIFE SNOW for their ceremony! Ok, maybe not REAL snow, but they did have a snow machine that sprinkled flurries for their day! Their original date was supposed to be in the winter. This was a fun surprise for the guests 🙂 As well as a fun addition for portraits! Dreamy!

These two wanted their guests to be as cozy as possible for their outdoor ceremony, so each seat held a sherpa throw for guests to cozy up with as they witnessed these two say, “I do.”

The couple’s pup, Lionel, made a special appearance on the drink stirrers for the specialty drinks! I love it when my couples incorporate their fur babies in their day.

After some of the most heartfelt toasts, we popped outside for a few nighttime portraits with Kate and Kevin’s custom sign and danced the night away!

Vendor Team:
Photography: Ashley Dahl Photography
Florist: Anne Czarnecki/A Pocket Full of Posies
Venue: Jen’s Guest House
Makeup: Alyson Lee Makeup
Dress: Martellen’s Dress and Bridal Boutique
Hair Stylist: Samantha Staisiunas
Tux: Black Tie Formalwear
DJ: Tim/DJ One Chance/Spark Entertainment 
Cake: Sharon’s Custom Designed Cakes
Invitation: Monica Rose Designs
Limo Service: Signature Transportation Group