Fit For a Princess

Nicola & Jess

She wanted fairytale princess; he wanted rustic and simple. Reny Pederson of Bliss Weddings and Events struck a balance and created a memorable nuptial celebration that was both elegant and modest. Nicola and Jess’s wedding at the Ivanhoe Country Club was a gorgeous display of outdoor influences with the potential for glamor.

“The ballroom is very neutral,” Pederson says. “The bride’s love of ivory, champagne, bronze, and brushed gold was perfect for this space.” The palette was complemented by the occasional presence of rich, brown curly willows and bursts of bright, white lilies. Crystal-studded accessories, including the bride’s bouquet of ribbon-bound orchids, also dotted the event and added an understated sparkle in the midst of the wood-beam construction and mahogany chair details. Gold-rimmed wine glasses and regal taupe damask linens added to the drama of the ballroom design, and amber-lit, ivory fabric backdrops made for a romantic, candlelit glow, creating “that perfect balance of warmth and formality,” Pederson says.

 PHOTOGRAPHY: Fandl Photography

CEREMONY VENUE: Holy Cross Lutheran Church (Libertyville, IL)

RECEPTION VENUE: Ivanhoe Country Club (Mundelein, IL)

PLANNING: Bliss Weddings and Events

CATERING: Ivanhoe Country Club

FLOWERS: Jesse Deckard of Event Creative

BRIDE’S DRESS: Priscilla of the Boston Jewel Collection

GROOM’S ATTIRE: Calvin Klein