Party Host Joins the Ranks

Lauren and Justin officially met the summer of 2006. Justin was hosting a Bachelor party for two of his very good friends on the same night Lauren’s friend and she had gone out for dinner and drinks at a local bar. Her friend knew Justin, and he started chatting Lauren up then asked if his party could join them.  It was a wonderful evening, but the timing for their relationship wasn’t quite right. It was in February 2007 that they began to officially date... and the rest is history!!!! As it turns out, coincidentally the couple has actually known each other since they were little kids. Both sets of their parents moved to the Palatine area at the same time and were a part of the same New Comers group. They both attended the same preschool!

Having known each other for so many years helps the couple to be a wonderful team. They do it all - make decisions and meet challenges together. It was during a Briggs family trip to Aruba that their teamwork was put to the test. Justin got extremely ill and had to be hospitalized. Their working together to get him the care he needed that helped the couple realize that they wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. They were engaged on a regular night in the city, after a steak dinner and an evening at the theater.

According to the bride, the couple’s wedding day was like a fairytale. Lauren says she couldn’t have asked for things to go better. The morning of the wedding the bridesmaids spent it getting their hair and make up done in their suite while the groom and his attendants spent it playing poker in their suite at the reception venue, the Hotel Baker. It was a relaxing and stress free way to begin their celebration day.

Lauren had always dreamt about having a wedding outside, and the modified non-traditional ceremony took place in the Rose Garden. Guests were seated on the roof of the boat house and the patio area. The bride walked down the aisle looking stunning in her strapless gown to Canon in D while her groom was beaming from the top of the stairs. They incorporated the poem ‘The Giving Tree’ by Shel Silverstein into the vows, and finished their service with a mixing of lime and raspberry sand – which were their wedding colors. Lauren even matched her Nina pumps to the lime.

At the reception, in addition to all the traditional entertainment, food and festivities the couple gave the guests a few non traditional additions to enjoy. They were greeted by a table with leaves and hanging hooks for a unique way to write their best wishes for the new couple. As dancing began, there was a coffee cart, hand rolled cigars and specially mixed ice cream for dessert. They also had a chance to enjoy the gift of a Wrigley Field shaped groom’s cake with their ice cream.

At the stroke of midnight, when the last song played the dance floor was still full with guests. It was a sign that all the planning the couple did paid off with an amazing wedding. Lauren says that ‘looking back there is not one thing that she would or could change to have made it any better.’

There was a post wedding brunch at the hotel, and then the couple were off to Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos where they enjoyed all the beach amenities. The first thing they did as a couple when coming home to reality was to open their gifts and be sure to write their thank you notes.

Start planning early and make sure you pick things you want and not what every one else wants. It is your big day—be sure to make a list of the things you want to keep from the wedding day.

Interview as many vendors as possible until you find the ones that are right for you DON’T SETTLE!!! We were fortunate to not have settled on our vendors but I have had a number of friends who have and have regretted it!