We had the wonderful opportunity to photograph Bailey and Michael's wedding which was in July. We decided to ask them a few questions and share their story with you. 

Who popped the question and how?

He did, of course. After returning from a fishing trip, Michael told me he had brought back some special gifts. Expecting to open a silly gift or cheesy t-shirt I was presented with a tiny box with a beautiful bow. The presentation caught me off guard, but it wasn’t until I saw a one of a kind “Michael Foster” designed engagement ring that I freaked out. The proposal was perfect- very us; simple yet personal and unforgettable. After slipping the rock on my finger we headed to my parents house to share the exciting news. When we turned onto the street all the trees were wrapped in pink tulle, as we pulled up we were greeted with friends and family waiting to join in on the celebration.  The champagne -filled day was perfect!

What was the inspiration for your decor or styling?

It was important to me that everything be personal at the wedding. I wanted their to be pictures of us and family everywhere. When guests walked into the reception there was a table with a variety of wedding photos of family member including parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends. This component added a unique touch and set the tone ; letting our guests know how much they were loved and how personalized we wanted our wedding to be. In addition, it also served as a subtle way to honor those who weren’t able to be there in person. I wanted the wedding ceremony and celebration to reflect who we are as a couple. Most people approach their wedding by picking a color- for me it was picking a fruit ;lemons. With the creative help of both my mom and sister the day was classically designed with lemons, splashes of yellow and natural greens as well as a whimsical yet personal touch.

When I walked into the room and saw huge lemon trees and bowls overflowing with lemons and gorgeous yellow roses, hydrangea, and candles everywhere I was stunned. It was the perfect balance of whimsy and elegance and definitely captured our personalities. The head table was a bright yellow staggered with tons of flowers, trees, lemons, greenery and candlelight and was such a gorgeous focal point. Over the dance floor we carried through the shape of the lemons with big chinese lanterns that added and extra pop of fun. The whole day was centered around such fun- from the Cubs band at the house, to the trolley all the way to the fun menu we chose- we really wanted it to feel upscale but super comfortable.

What was the most memorable part of your day?

- getting reading, walking down the aisle, seeing mike, etc.

That’s hard- there was so many perfect moments during the day. I loved the process of getting ready in the morning with my sister. Because I didn’t want to look like a “made-up”bride we opted to do our hair and makeup ourselves; if Kate Middleton can do so could we! The moment before walking down the aisle was perfect; with my teared filled dad in one arm and a stomach full of butterflies I couldn’t wait to get to my awaiting fiance. Seeing Michael was the ultimate moment in the ceremony- I was simply overjoyed.

What was your favorite detail?

There was a tremendous amount of detail that went into our special day. The programs may have been the greatest detail of ANY wedding. Due to our shared profession of being teachers we created a yearbook program. We had pictures of our wedding party as kids and aptly named each of them with  “most likely to” or “voted best.”  We even had a special inset that you could pull tissues from with a clever snoop dogg quote. My sister worked with our great family friend who also happens to be an incredibly gifted designer which made them even more special.

My other favorite moment was surprising Mike with a Cubs Dixieland band back at my parent’s house before the reception. We took his love of baseball and created a “Day at the Ballpark” themed cocktail hour with mini chicago hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and Old Style. It was a nod to his love of sports and his job as a Coach, so I just loved that we were able to surprise people with a fun little party in between!

What was the funniest memory from your wedding day?

The vows for sure. Our priest insisted that we memorize our vows, in addition to writing and reading aloud a love letter to one another. Initially I was concerned about it , however it turned out providing the ceremony with a sincere and personal touch. When asked to recite the vows Michael started stating the exchange of rings vows. I gave a funny look and before you knew it was giggling out loud; everyone joined in on the moment and it the picture ended up serving as the cover to our thank you cards.

Where did you go for your honeymoon?

Maroma Beach. After doing our homework we booked our stay at Secrets Maroma Beach and oh my was it wonderful. It was a small slice of paradise where we stayed for a week soaking up the sun, and taking advantage of the spa, beach, speciality drinks, food, and adventure.

Credits:

Dress: Reem Acra, from Bella Bianca

Bridesmaids: BCBG

Florist: Dennis Kovar

Video: Rogie Cruz of RAC Visual

Menus/ Programs: Joe Kessen

Invitations: Kimberly Fitzsimons Letterpress

Venue: Midlothian Country Club, Doug Shiple

Band: The Glen Traeger Orchestra

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals Chicago

Dixieland Band: Banjo Buddies