A Classic Wedding at Elmcrest Banquets in Elmwood Park, Illinois

When Liz (26 and a registered nurse) and Rudy (31 and a police officer) met in 2005 at a local banquet hall, the two had no idea that they were both working at their future wedding venue.  "He would come in throughout the day as I was scooping ice cream at the dessert table," Liz explains. "I gave him my number not expecting much to come out of it, but he took me out for breakfast and we've been together ever since." After getting engaged on a group trip to Myrtle Beach with friends, the couple began planning their black-and-white fête at the place where it all began -- the Elmcrest Banquet Hall. "We saw a photo at Elmcrest of a wedding they had done complete with a black-and-white reception," the bride says. "It was so elegant and allowed for dramatic pops of color from flowers and uplighting." With rain threatening to ruin their wedding photos, the couple exited the local church where they exchanged vows and moved on to celebrate in the same ballroom in which they met. Thanks to elegant elements like floating candles and black satin tablecloths, the dramatic space was transformed into the couple's ideal reception venue. Personal touches were scattered throughout the reception as well, including a custom Batman groom's cake and a personalized police officer and nurse cake topper that resembled both Liz and Rudy. "That was, by far, my favorite part of the entire wedding!" Liz says.