Guest Blogger: March 15th at A New Leaf

finally, the day we were planning for ... a chilly, snow/slush/rain-free March day full of warmth, laughter and love!! i say it all the time, but a new leaf is the kind of venue where a couple has the opportunity to paint the space with themselves, making it their own for the day. i cannot wait to see what tara and her hubs did with it! thanks for letting me guest blog, and thanks to all those who read or commented!

view mini album here

we made a day of it! rise and shine and meet at 9:30am!
the girls and i started by meeting at gro salon in bucktown, where we nibbled on yogurt and granola and muffins from milk+honey. from there, we picked up my gown from home and headed to hotel 71 arriving around noon for more primping. after doing make-up and picking out which jewelry to wear, we nibbled again on tofu or chicken wraps (i didn't want my girls to go hungry; the boys were eating buffalo chicken or skirt steak wraps themselves) and we all slipped into our dresses a little after 2pm.

photo shoot 2:30-5:30pm
admittedly, we ladies were behind schedule, what with visitors stopping into the suite and girly get-up fun ensuing.

hotel 71 penthouse:
finally, i was ready to head up to the penthouse ball room to await my first glimpse of my husband-to-be. if you saw dark knight, this is the ball room where the mayor was having his fundraiser and the joker takes maggie gyllenhahl all hostage like. i stood in the center of the room with my back to the entrance awaiting his arrival. my heart was pounding! as soon as i saw him, he melted all (almost all) my jitters away! i was so happy, that i completely over-smiled in nearly all our photos (i don't usually see my gums, i must have been one ecstatic lady!).

chicago "tour:"
we cruised to michigan avenue, nbc plaza, wrigley building, then up to wrigley field/addison el station, then stopped for st. patrick's day pub shenanigans (woah, how did that happen?). the crowds were fantastic with us.

let's get married!
we used this venue likely in a way that most do not. such is the beauty of a new leaf! it is each couple's own sanctuary for a day, to use in whatever way they wish, making each event there a unique reflection of the couple within it. i loved it! i still love it. and i am a little obsessed with the place! since our march wedding, i attended a wedding reception there as a guest of a friend, and also was the day-of-coordinator there for patrick's co-worker's july garden wedding! it was so fun taking on a different role in the same place i myself got married ... but back to our day:

we had the majority of our guests stand on the mezzanine level:

we did our processional from the front door area to the arch leading to the large center room, which was a procession that went toward our guests, instead of coming from behind them:

our parents, brother, sister, grandmother, and parents of flower/feather girl and ring bearer (also family) were sitting in about a dozen chairs on the first level.

as soon as we were announced as mr. and mrs. .... guests on the mezzanine level opened up envelopes filled with feathers for a feather drop. it was really pretty, though wasn't really captured in the photos.

we recessed to the apartment level and did our family portraits. we had our wedding party join the cocktail hour after one more quick photo with us so they could join the fun below. we snapped away with the fams, then did a grand entrance with just us, joining all our friends and family as husband and wife for the first time.

our guests died at the fact we had miniature hot dogs with mini buns and mini condiments as part of our passed hors d'oeuvres, the speeches were amazing, our guests loved the small plates themed buffet tables, patrick and i were able to steal a moment to ourselves to take it all in, then we celebrated and danced the night away! we were absolutely beaming ~ such a special day in our hearts!

Comments

[Jaime @ "It's A Jaime Thing"]

Awww, beautiful! Congratulations...I just LOVE that dress!

[Riley (aka Rachel)]

What a beautiful wedding!! I can see why his co-worker would hire you as a DOC!
And your dress is absolutely beautiful on you! Really really pretty!
Congratulations!

[Kathryn]

GORGEOUS! Simple and chic.

[Melissa's Greetings]

Your wedding and all of the details were amazing! I love the feather drop and your dress is so pretty!