Cover Photo by Stephanie Wood Photography, showcasing engagement ring from Razny Jewelers

A burgeoning engagement is a thrilling and exciting time. You’re about to embark on a lifetime union and the wedding process will come with lots of decisions. The first big decision (after choosing your partner, of course) is your engagement ring. Before we share some of our favorite Chicago-Style engagement rings, let’s go over some shopping groundwork:

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Photo by Rachael Schirano Photography

The wedding dress shopping process and purchase is frequently one of the most magical parts of the wedding planning process. But after the vows are said and the reception dance floor is empty, what happens to this beloved dress?

Just as you saved memories with beautiful photography and videography, don’t forget to properly preserve this part of your wedding day as well. Step one of that process begins here. We spoke with Jonathon Reckles, VP of Marketing at CD One Price Cleaners, to answer questions surrounding wedding gown preservation.

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To describe the Chicago bride is to rattle off an adjective soup in vain. Because what makes her her cannot be pinned into explanation, she just has it. She doesn’t need to define herself with fashion trends or aesthetic boxes, she makes a name for herself by just being present.

So when the It Girl falls in love and decides to wed, the Chicago streets welcome her in. When it comes to wedding planning, there’s no reason to look beyond Chicago’s graffitied alleys and remnants of World’s Fair charm for inspiration. The It Girl bride is playful, vibrant and a purveyor of fine things — and her wedding matches. “The 2023 bride is the epitome of the modern woman,” mused stylist Catherine Vreeland of Mira Couture. “She is a cool girl, intelligent, confident, electric and, of course, stylish.”

The Windy City’s home run roster of vendors and artistry energizes. Skipping through West Town in eclectic couture pieces, come step into the world of our It Girl bride.

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WRITTEN BY Cora Gold, Revivalist | Featured Photos by Katherine Salvatori (See the rest of Kailee & Joey’s wedding here!) 

Pictures are a beautiful way to remember your wedding day. They capture memories you’ll remember forever and moments you may not notice while they’re happening. They deserve more than a picture album, especially for the standard cost of a wedding photographer’s time and skill.

Check out these creative ideas for what to do with your wedding photos. You’ll find new ways to use your favorite pictures and continue celebrating your big day long after it’s over.

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WRITTEN BY Michael J. Calabrese, Principal of Calabrese Associates, P.C.

It’s not glamorous to talk about, but couples engaged to be married often consider whether to have a prenuptial agreement or, less frequently, a postnuptial agreement. Breaking down certain provisions of Illinois law can be helpful in making this decision with your partner.

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Photo by Rachael Schirano Photography

Starting your new life as a married couple comes with many exciting changes. One of the biggest changes is a new identity (so to speak). Let’s not make the assumption that everyone who gets married changes their last name. In fact, data analytics show that about 20-30% of women keep their maiden name after marriage. But that does leave 70-80% of newlyweds who do take their partner’s last name upon marriage.

While the origins of taking your partner’s last name are admittedly outdated, the sentiment behind the practice remains. Many couples like having the same last name, as it makes them feel more unified. Other couples like the idea of creating a singular identity for when they plan to add children to their family. Others might just not like the sound of their maiden name! And every reason is perfectly valid and a good enough reason to take part in this age-old tradition.

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With every wedding season comes new trends in wedding attire. While there are some styles that will never go out of fashion, there’s always room for new ones! From alternative colors to reimagining of classic bridal textiles, here are some of our favorite wedding attire trends we saw at New York Luxury Bridal Fashion Week Fall 2023.

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Photo by Rachael Schirano Photography

You’ve just had the wedding of your dreams surrounded by some of your favorite people, many of which showered you with generous gifts. How can you ever properly express your gratitude? It might seem like a small gesture, but handwriting personalized thank-you notes goes a long way. Good, old-fashioned thank-you notes are greatly appreciated, whether you received a gift in the form of an item, money or the presence of someone.

As a starting point, we asked industry professionals what their rules of thumb are for sending thank you notes.

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WRITTEN BY Honeyfund and Alexandra Dillard | Display photo by Rachael Schirano Photography

The utterance of the word “honeymoon” conjures visions of limbs intertwined in the sand, couples massages at sunset and clinking Mai-Tai glasses. If this sounds like a luxury, it’s because it is! The benefits of taking a honeymoon are great, as we will outline here shortly, but there’s an elephant in the room. Household income plays a natural part in who can afford to take a honeymoon. And since 92% of couples pay for their honeymoon on their own, heavy barriers emerge.

When discussing honeymoons, two factors rise to the top: the marital benefits and the financial costs. To address both of these subjects, we turned to none other than Honeyfund and its CEO and co-founder, Sara Margulis.

If there’s anyone who knows about honeymooning and funding a honeymoon, it’s Sara!

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By Maura Keller | Photos by Holly Leitner

Whether it’s champagne or brut or prosecco, there’s an art (and science) to making bubbly, exceptional sparkling wines. In light of the upcoming holiday season and all the wedding celebrations that will take place during it, it’s time to dive into the wine aisles. We asked Beth Tumas, owner of the Bottle Shoppe in Lake Geneva, WI, to share her insights about the various bubbly options and how to choose which is right for each situation.

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By CD One Price Cleaners

Every newlywed’s wedding gown is an excellent reminder of their special day, something they will cherish for the rest of their lifetime. 

Perhaps, many brides consider the wedding gown selection and purchase to be one of the most significant parts of their wedding planning. Therefore, they may wish to preserve that garment that signifies so much love, happiness and celebration. It’s unfortunate that the wedding gown is only worn once and then left untouched. But to make sure your gown doesn’t go forgotten and dusty in the back of the closet, it is essential to clean and carefully preserve this gown. With appropriate wedding dress preservation, the gown may be used by another family member – such as a sister, cousin or daughter– to wear on their wedding day too. Interested? Here’s all you need to know about maintaining your wedding gown and its importance for generations to come. 

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Our summer 2022 issue of Chicago Style Weddings is out now, so of course we had to celebrate with a release party! With over 300 wedding industry professionals, real Chicago newlyweds, and friends of the magazine in attendance, the evening was a real blast!

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Flowers and lace defined the vision behind this country garden styled shoot at Wandering Tree Estate. Designed by Wandering Tree Estate and Alicja Events, this showcase of femininity illustrated a romantic setting for the most timeless of love stories. Thoughtfully set up alongside the pond and gazebo, dining tables were sheltered by cream Mediterranean teak umbrellas from Well Dressed Tables. Place settings were thoughtfully adorned with vintage china from Royal Table Settings and Dupioni napkins hand-tied with lace. Showcasing the exquisite beauty of the private estate, this shoot incorporated English-countryside aesthetics and vintage details to evoke a step into a simpler, more serene time. If a country garden afternoon is what you’ve been dreaming of, look no further!

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Photo: Ed & Aileen Photography

The ceremony and reception get a lot of attention — as they should! — but there are a lot of other events surrounding a wedding. For a full celebration, pre- and post- wedding parties are not to be overlooked. Get the soirées started with these options … and keep them going! You certainly don’t need to take part in all of these, just do whatever fits you, your relationship and your culture best!

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With every wedding season comes new trends in wedding attire. While there are some styles that will never go out of fashion, there’s always room for new ones! From alternative colors to reimagining of classic bridal textiles, here are some of our favorite 2022 – 2023 wedding attire trends.

PAINT IT BLACK

Who says bridal clothes always need to be white? Black wedding dresses are having a dramatic moment and we are here for it. For example, take inspiration from celebrities like Christine Quinn (Selling Sunset), Sarah Jessica Parker and Shenae Beech (90201) , who all wore black dresses to their own weddings.

Left to Right: “Georgina” by Madeline Gardner, available at Here Comes the Bride. “Addilyn” by Casablanca Bridal, available at White Satin Bridal. “Spiked Gown” by Ritual Unions. “Norvinia” by Sottero & Midgley, available at Volle’s Bridal & Boutique.

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