1. Real Weddings

A Rustic Fall Wedding at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois

Cassie Reyes (in medical education) and Jason Br

Cassie Reyes (in medical education) and Jason Bruggemann (in marketing) planned a rustic wedding in Wheaton, Illinois, with pros who perfectly drew on their idea. After just a little instruction, they gave Cari Lioce full rein to design the flowers. Their aisle decor fit the theme to a "T" with vintage-style red hydrangeas and branches inside galvanized sap buckets by every row. Of course, Cassie looked beautiful. She walked past each arrangement in a Mori Lee trumpet-style dress and a side-swept curled hairstyle by House Of Koukla. Her bouquet of succulents and red dahlias captured their rustic style. After Cassie and Jason exchanged vows, everyone moved inside Arrowhead Golf Club for the reception. The round tables were paired with a trio of red and yellow roses on natural wooden bases. Burlap runners also accented the centerpieces. Peter Gubernat Photography caught every detail. Every one of their professionals nailed it. How could they not? They were all Cassie and Jason’s close friends! When it comes to personalized weddings, it doesn't get much better. Cassie shares a tip: “It’s important to pick a vendor whose style fits yours.”

"Our theme was rustic chic, so I thought I wanted a lace dress with beading to carry on that look," Cassie says. Instead, this rosette-accented hanger was the only rustic part of her look. She chose a sweet trumpet-style Mori Lee dress with ruche detailing.
It was important to Cassie that her bouquet be filled with personal treasures. Cari Lioce, her good friend, filled the arrangement with red dahlias, silver brunia, succulents and scabiosa pods. Then she added Cassie's great-grandfather’s tie, grandmother’s pin, mother's ring and a bracelet with their wedding date to the wrap.
Cassie and Jason even included their style in the altar design for their ceremony at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois. They piled white candles in cylinder vases with river rocks. Each accent was then placed on a birch log. Now that's an authentic, rustic accent!
It took awhile for Cassie to find the right dress. She went through tons of lace dresses to fit the rustic theme. Then the consultant at Bridal Boutique of Naperville gave her a little something different to try on. "When I walked out and showed my mother, grandma and mother-in-law, their mouths dropped. I knew it was the one," Cassie says. She wore a white trumpet-style Mori Lee dress covered with ruche detailing.
Their centerpieces were more than sweet! Cari Lioce, their friend and florist, used vintage white vases from Cassie's grandmother for each arrangement of yellow and red roses. She even placed them on a natural wooden base to tie in their theme.
Oak Mill Bakery made sure to tie the theme into their buttercream wedding cake. Burlap wrapped around every tier. Two lovebird silhouettes also topped the chocolate and vanilla confection.
Once she had the dress, Cassie paired it with bolder accessories. She wore a silver headband with a leaf design and a matching bracelet from J.Crew.