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With a modern Cinderella revival and the second season of Bridgerton on its way, it's no wonder we've got fairytale fever at the moment. This shoot is sure to give you your fix until the next sumptuous period piece mini-series is streaming. It's got everything from beautifully corseted tulle ballgowns to satin pumps, and it is absolutely dripping in jewels! If you've always dreamed of a fairytale wedding, or just need a little fantasy to brighten your feed, you're in the right place.

The Gilded Aisle Weddings pulled together some of Chicago's most elite wedding vendors at the famed Four Seasons Chicago for this whimsical fairytale shoot. Anthony Gowder Designs created these bright florals that are bursting with lavender, magenta, and even a hint of blue. These photos by Lacour Images capture every ounce of this fantasy, and if that wasn't enough, Old North Film Company was there and got it all on film. Need more of this inspiration? Check out the full gallery. Read on to hear more from Lynne Kennedy of The Gilded Aisle Weddings. 

SOME DECEDENT INSPIRATION

Four Seasons Chicago, which just recently reopened in 2021, couldn’t have been a more perfect place for our shoot. The venue is breathtaking the minute you step off the elevators into the lobby with a stunning grand staircase, rooftop views, and a fabulous ballroom overlooking the lake providing us with the classiest shots. Four Seasons's extraordinary pastry chef showed us what a true wedding cake should look like standing a few feet high, with ornate features, and topped with beautiful florals, provided by Anthony Gowder Designs, to match the sweetheart table and bouquet. He didn’t stop there when creating the most perfect dessert table including various delicious desserts such as cake pops, donuts, and much more! The incredibly talented Andre LaCour, of Lacour Images, was the first to dive into the collaboration and truly captured all of the glorious details while bringing out the elegance and joy from our bride in every shot. A stunning video was taken by Lara, with Old North Film Company, who beautifully shot all aspects of the day.

FIT FOR A PRINCESS

Our fabulous beauty team did an outstanding job glamming up our princess bride. Elise Brill, owner of Leesi B., first gave our bride a glowing yet sophisticated look with a pop of lip color, then transitioned the look into a softer tone. Nicci Loiacono, owner of Luxe Brides By Nicci, gave our bride a soft high messy updo transitioning into a soft romantic bun. Mira Couture, one of the best of the best of the bridal fashion stores in Chicago, IL, brought multiple timeless gowns to make our bride feel like a true princess. The first dress worn by our bride was a blush strapless ballgown by Otilia with corset detailing. Our bride then wore a more classic white ballgown by Netta Benshabu with lace detailing on the skirt and beading throughout the top. 

What bride doesn’t love shoes? James Ciccotti, owner of James Ciccotti Bridal Shoes & Accessories, provided several pairs of stunning shoes for our bride to wear, showcasing a perfect variety of classic white shoes as well as pops of color to match the colorful florals in the bouquet. The jewelry was so graciously provided by M.J. Miller & Co, who truly made our bride sparkle. Our bride first wore a few eye-popping pieces from their pink diamond collection to match her first blush dress and then changed into stunning white diamonds where our bride was dripping in jewels. And what is a princess without her jewels?

A ROYAL FEAST

Anthony Gowder Designs brought the floral vision to life beyond expectations with a mix of blush, pinks, and purple florals mixed with bright greenery. The fabulous cascading bouquet provides a hint of blue florals to give it a little extra pop in color. The sweetheart table is one only seen in fairytales with florals overflowing from the top of the table onto the floor and surrounded by candles. Also on the sweetheart table is a detailed blue linen provided by BBJ Linen with garland-like swirls in silver and gold with Four Seasons’s classic table setting and a monogrammed velvet napkin with an engraved silver napkin ring. Nicole, the owner of Emery Ann Design, created the most elegant and classy invitation suites using thermography in silver on dusty blue paper with intricate designs surrounding the border. To match the invitations, Nicole also created a menu with savory dishes that Four Seasons provides to their wedding clients. Ross, the owner of Unmuddled Bartending, created a dainty vodka-based drink with a hint of glitter to give it that extra sparkle for our signature cocktail. The drink is then topped with a lemon peel for garnish.

We partnered with The Gilded Aisle Weddings to bring you this fairytale inspiration. Thanks as always for supporting our sponsors! 

• Accessories & Lingerie: James Ciccotti
• Cakes & Catering: Four Seasons Chicago
• Event Planning & Design: The Gilded Aisle Weddings
• Flowers: Anthony Gowder Designs
• Hair, Makeup & Beauty: Leesi B
• Hair, Makeup & Beauty: Luxe Brides By Nicci
• Jewelry: M.J. Miller & Co
• Linens & Chargers: BBJ Linen
• Models: BMG Global
• Paper Goods & Calligraphy: Emery Ann Design
• Photographers: Lacour Images
• Specialty Cocktail: Unmuddled Bartending
• Venues: Four Seasons Chicago
• Wedding Dresses: Mira Couture
• Wedding Films: Old North Film Company