Text: Merry Mayer
Photography: Jill Douglas Photography
When choosing a place to hold their reception, Lindsay DeBates and Steven Ward looked no farther than Lindsay's grandmother's backyard.
The location had more meaning than just a familiar spot from childhood—it also was where Lindsay's parents had their wedding and reception in 1981.
/br>
Lindsay and Steven met through friends, but actually knew the same people growing up. "I had known Steve's younger sisters since grade school, but our paths had not managed to cross through all the years of school and other events until this moment," says Lindsay.
"We got engaged while we were vacationing in the Bahamas with my family for Thanksgiving. We were on the balcony of our room looking up at the stars; he mentioned their likeness to diamonds and then got on one knee and asked me if I would wear his," she says.
They knew choosing to hold the reception at her grandmother's would mean more work, so Lindsay hired Wedding Planner Elizabeth Wray of Elizabeth Wray Design to help.
The day began with a beautiful ceremony at Baker United Methodist Church in St. Charles, IL, a beautiful old stone church. The bride wore a gorgeous Barbara Allen strapless dress with a ruched waist and pickups on the skirt from Veiled in Elegance, Geneva.
From there, everyone went to Lindsay's grandmother's backyard. A large willow branch arbor decorated with fresh flower bouquets and a rose petal path brought guests to the veranda for cocktails and the tent for dinner and dancing.
"The night before the wedding we had a torrential downpour," remembers Planner Elizabeth Wray. "The tents held up, but it was quite cold that evening, [so] I asked that the tent sides be kept down to keep it warm…when the dancing started everyone asked for the tent ceiling fans to be turned on."
"The yard was lovely, we had a pond with a waterfall, a pool and veranda area," says Lindsay. To increase the ambience, Elizabeth Wray's team placed dozens of candles in clusters. Candles also lit the rose petal path to guide guests as they left.
To increase the sociability quotient, the tent included a "club" area with white leather benches and club chairs for extra seating. "The club tent became a fun after dinner hangout where Moveable Feast created candy and snack tables," says Lindsay. There was also a cupcake table, with Steven's favorite cupcakes from Bittersweet.
When looking back on their wedding, Lindsay and Steven say that their favorite moments included riding in the trolley with their wedding party to the reception and seeing the beautiful tent.
At the end of the evening, Wedding Planner Elizabeth Wray had one more surprise for the couple. Moveable Feast had a picnic basket of the reception food waiting for them in their hotel suite. They could sit back, enjoy the food and relive the wonderful evening.
|
|
CEREMONY SITE
Baker United Methodist Church St. Charles, IL
RECEPTION SITE
Brides’ Grandmother’s backyard, Tent, draping & lighting design as well as the custom monogram “gobo” spotlight-Elizabeth Wray Design and Party Time Productions. Party Time Productions installed the tent, draping and lighting.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jill Douglas Photography, Aurora, IL 630.896.2060
VIDEOGRAPHY
A Touch of Music, our DJ service offered this service
OFFICIANT
Rev. Melinda Hinners-Waldie
WEDDING CONSULTANT
Elizabeth Wray, Elizabeth Wray Design, Inc., Geneva, IL 630.232.1975 elizabethwraydesign.com
BRIDE’S GOWN
Barbara Allen from Veiled in Elegance, Geneva, IL. 630.208.7133.
SHOES
Stuart Weitzman
HAIR
Eddie Caruso (Renee) St. Charles, IL
MAKEUP
Bridget owner of Odalisque Beauty Apothecary, Geneva, IL, 630.232.2070
FORMALWEAR
Tommy Hilfiger from Men’s Warehouse
INVITATIONS
Sage Creek (Christina) Wasco, IL
FLOWERS
Elizabeth Wray Design, Inc., Geneva IL 630.232.1975 elizabethwraydesign.com
MENU/CATERING
Moveable Feast, Geneva, IL 630.845.EATS
MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT
A Touch of Music
WEDDING CAKE
Bittersweet, Chicago, IL - 773.929.1100
FAVORS
The bride and her family-forget me knot seeds in a tiny tin placed inside mini clay garden pots, tied with personalized Midori twill ribbon (ordered by Elizabeth Wray). A little message card was attached on each created by Sage Creek
WEDDING NIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS
Herrington Inn & Spa, Geneva, IL, 630.208.7433
HONEYMOON
Kauai & Maui Hawaii
LIGHTING
Tent, & lighting designed by Elizabeth Wray Design & Party Time Productions
|
