Online Connection Leads In Right Direction

Since Jesse lived in Indiana and Argentina in Downers Grove, they decided to meet in person halfway between the two locations for their first date. The spot they picked was a Japanese steakhouse in Orland Park.

“He had steak. I had sushi,” recalls Argentina, a professional wedding and boudoir photographer. “From the beginning we talked to each other with the truth. We didn’t try to impress each other. We were just ready to find the one, so we were down to Earth and honest from the beginning.”
It wasn’t long before the couple realized they both wanted the same things in life and shared similar dreams of being committed to one another. During a vacation with Jesse and her family, Argentina realized he was the one.

“After seeing him with my family and my family’s approval of him, I knew I could marry him and be very happy,” she says.

Although Jesse and Argentina discussed the possibility of getting married and had even talked dates, Jesse was able to catch her by surprised one day after they’d just had breakfast at their favorite restaurant. “He came out of the bathroom and asked me to hook his gold crucifix chain because he didn’t have any nails and the clip was too small,” Argentina says. “When I proceeded to turn the clip to the back and bring to the front the crucifix, instead I brought something bigger and heavier—my engagement ring. I was not expecting it. We cried, hugged and he popped the question. I was so overwhelmed, I almost forgot to say yes!”

Jesse and Argentina set out to plan a wedding that celebrated their Mexican culture.

With a rich history and amazing architecture, St. Procopius Church in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood provided the perfect setting for their ceremony.

“We love the Mexican neighborhood,” the bride says.

Argentina, whose favorite part of the day was walking down the aisle and seeing all her family and friends, wore a beautiful A-line ivory Pronovias gown featuring straps, lace and a tasteful plunge. Her bouquet included patience garden roses, green tea roses, vendetta roses, ranunculus, freesia and white and green hydrangeas.

Argentina’s bridesmaids wore custom dresses they made themselves from black and gold fabric.

“They all made dresses [for] their body type that they could use on a different occasion,” Argentina says.

Hotel 71 in downtown Chicago offered guests magnificent views of the city, and was exactly what Argentina had envisioned when planning her winter wedding.

“The view is fantastic,” the bride says. “The hall is perfect for an intimate small wedding and the staff is amazing. Also, knowing that I had one of the best photographers in the world shoot my wedding, I wanted it to be in a location with many photo opportunities.”

Chiviari chairs, custom linens and glowing candles helped set a romantic scene, along with white and green blooms guests were encouraged to take home and enjoy. Argentina and Jesse also wowed guests with a “nut buffet” featuring personalized custom boxes with the couple’s wedding colors and coat of arms. A sign at the reception advised guests to save their boxes for a “special surprise.”

“The DJ announced a ‘nut bar’ in the back of the room was open and people filled their boxes with the nuts,” Argentina says. “It lasted about 15 minutes!”
Among the customs the couple incorporated was a game of Loteria (a type of bingo) during dinner and a piñata. Jesse and Argentina also danced to a traditional Mexican song that was specially choreographed to a Waltz.

“Then, when everybody thought it was over, we continued with a Mexican ‘cumbia,’” Argentina says. “People were double shocked.”Guests feasted on a dinner of salmon, chicken and pasta, salad and squash soup, served by Hotel 71.

“We loved their food at the tasting,” the bride says.

Jesse and Argentina’s wedding cake featured flavors of lemon, chocolate mousse and vanilla.

“I wanted to make sure people liked the cake,” Argentina says. “Too many times I see all the cake left at the wedding. Mind was all gone, not even a little piece for the next day!”

For their honeymoon, Argentina and Jesse invited their photographer and his wife to accompany them so the newlyweds could have additional photos taken at the beach and resort in Mexico.

“This is the one time in my life I will fit in this dress and I wanted to take photos beyond the wedding day,” Argentina says. “Worth every penny too!”

Don’t cut corners on the things that are important to you.

Hire a wedding planner.