Natural History

Sarah and Martin met in 2006 while working at a northwest suburban restaurant. He was a bartender and she was a server. The two had been friends for about a year when Martin called Sarah one day with a serious revelation.

“He just called me one day and said we were supposed to be together,” Sarah recalls. “I was like, ‘You know, what? You’re right.’”

After dating a little more than a year, Martin took Sarah to a Ray LaMontagne concert in Chicago. During Sarah’s favorite song, “Empty”, Martin got down on one knee in the aisle of the venue. In the moment, the couple completely forgot about all the people around them.

“He started saying, ‘It’s you and me,” Sarah says. “I was just crying. We were both crying. We didn’t really notice anyone else.”

A romantic chapel in the garden of Peabody Estate in Oak Brook set the ideal scene for Sarah and Martin’s fall wedding.

 Glowing candles at various heights decorated the altar. The Rev. Stephen Loy, father of one of Sarah’s bridesmaids, officiated the ceremony.

“He’s known me since I was 10,” Sarah says. “It just made it more intimate. It was a nondenominational ceremony and I didn’t want to just pick a reverend out of a book.”
Sarah looked stunning in a French silk taffeta ivory gown. Although her dress didn’t have any beading, the bride added a touch of glam with a Swarovski crystal broach.
 
“I loved it,” Sarah says. “The back had buttons all the way down to the waist. I wish I could wear it again.”

Sarah’s bouquet included an arrangement of roses and hydrangeas, all in white and cream. Her bridesmaids complemented the look with tulips, roses and kangaroo paw in various shades of pink and green.

At the couple’s reception, also at Peabody Estate, guests feasted on passed appetizers such as beef tenderloin and bruschetta, with linguini and clams and Mediterranean chicken among the main courses.

Sarah and Martin’s red velvet and cream cheese wedding cake added to the vintage theme with earthy details such as decorative vines adorning the sides and edible sugar grapes topping the decadent treat.  In addition to the cake, the couple made sure every sweet tooth was satisfied with a sweets table and candy buffet. The buffet, which also served as favors, stirred up nostalgia with old school favorites such as Slow Pokes, candy buttons and wax pop bottles. Glass containers in various shapes and sizes helped display the goodies.

“Everyone was like, ‘I remember those!’” Sarah says. “By the time I saw it, there was nothing left. It was a big hit.”

A relaxing honeymoon adventure that included Paris and the South of France provided the perfect post-wedding rest for Sarah and Martin.

“A lot of people say they never remember their wedding day because it goes by so fast,” Sarah says. “But I remember everything. I feel so lucky. We’ve never had more fun.”

Something Old
Vintage silver and pearl pin with the letter “A” for Adelphia pinned to Sarah’s garter

Something New
Sarah’s gown

Something Borrowed
Sarah’s mom’s 80s sunglasses pin, attached under her skirt at the last minute

Something Blue
“I Do” crystal blue appliqués on the bottom of Sarah’s shoes

Keep true to yourself and your finance.

Don’t just do things because everyone else does them.

Keep in mind what matters is that you’re getting married to someone you love, not just having a wedding.