For those couples that are looking to switch things up, allow us to show you this vibrant non-traditional bridal shoot at Waldorf Astoria! Coordinated by The Gilded Aisle Weddings, this shoot is a perfect example of how to try something new! Photographed by LaCour Images, we are loving this inspiration!
The Design Inspo
When deciding on the location for this shoot, one place came straight to mind. The courtyard of the Waldorf Astoria Chicago was a perfect spot for your not so traditional church or ballroom. It’s circular stone driveway with a stunning fountain in the middle would make for any great wedding and it lies in the heart of the Gold Coast area surrounded by Chicago buildings.
The extremely talented Andre LaCour of LaCour Images was the first to jump in and couldn’t have produced a more fun shoot. Lara, with Old North Film Company, delivered stunning video throughout the day, capturing the uniqueness of the shoot.
Lori, the owner of Bijou Events by Lori, created the most colorful breathtaking watercolor invitation suites that include a hand painted picture of the Waldorf Astoria. To compliment the invitation suites, we created an escort board with a larger version of the hand painted pictures.
Finally, our signature cocktail built by Ross, the owner of UnMuddled Bartending, created a bright purple vodka-based drink with eye-catching glitter and floral décor surrounding the glass.
The Details
The fantastic flower cart came together with a few amazing vendors. The sweet cart was provided by Sweet Carts Rental & Decor which was the perfect look for a mix of dessert and flowers and fit beautifully in the courtyard. Surrounding the cart were vases full of bright florals put together by Anthony Gowder Designs giving us true French flower market vibes. The fabulous bouquet was hand tied executed with vibrant summer colored florals.
The full look of the dessert cart provided by Sweet Carts Rentals came together by adding the most deliciously looking cupcakes and cake created by Sugargoat Bakery. The cupcakes included a variety of fun flavors such as Cheez-it and All The Chocolate. The cake was two tiered buttercream cake, decorated with a bit of a rustic yet sophisticated theme, and topped with beautiful florals.
The Beauty
Mira Couture, one of the most fabulous bridal salons in Chicago, provided us with our stunning unique dresses. The first dress was an eye-catching V-neck fit and flare gown with peplum overlay. Lining of gown has a subtle polka dot fabric, covered with lace and applique. Our bride then changed into a vibrant pink ruffled dress by Stephen Yearick, perfect for dancing in! James Ciccotti owner of James Ciccotti Bridal Shoes & Accessories provided several pairs of stunning shoes for our bride to wear. A light pink pump with a peep toe complemented the first dress covered in florals where we then switched to a more rebelliously high shoes in white to give our pink dress that pop of traditional white.
The jewelry so graciously provided by Ivy & Rose, truly made our bride sparkle. The bride wore a morganite set engagement ring in 14k rose gold with floral embellishments with a 14k rose gold wedding band with an eternity rose design. To complement the stunning rings, our bride first wore the earrings and necklace watermelon tourmaline set in 14k yellow gold. In the second vibrant pink dress our bride wore morganites set earrings in 14k rose gold with jacket backs and a pink ombre tourmaline set necklace in 14k yellow gold.
Our fabulous beauty team did an outstanding job glamming up our bride. Elise Brill, owner of Leesi B. Cosmetics, gave our bride dreamy eyes with layered shadows and layered lashes followed by a heavy smokey eye with bottom lashes added for the second look. Nicci Loiacono, owner of Luxe Brides by Nicci, gave our bride a blown-out bob with bangs for the first dress and a half slicked back pouf for the second look.
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