1. Real Weddings

A Lakeside Wedding in Oak Brook, IL

Laura and Michael met at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After a senior bar crawl, Laura and her roommates went to sit on the lap of a giant stat

Laura and Michael met at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After a senior bar crawl, Laura and her roommates went to sit on the lap of a giant statue of Abraham Lincoln on campus. They didn’t realize how high up it was until they were stuck there -- and Mike had to help them down. The Bride Laura Hamblen, 25, consultant The Groom Michael Blodgett, 29, systems programmer The Date October 11 After dating for a little more than a year, Laura and Mike were back on campus visiting. Mike took Laura to the same restaurant where they had their first date and then back to the Lincoln statue, where he proposed. Though it wasn’t easy to work the former president into their wedding details, the event had an old-school vibe.

Laura and Mike went with low centerpieces of hydrangeas, roses, daisies, and succulents to complement their vintage look.
Laura and Mike had the hotel deliver taffy to guests’ hotel rooms during the reception. They were labeled with tags that read, “Sweet dreams.”
Laura’s six bridesmaids wore tea-length cranberry-colored dresses. The ruched waist and A-line silhouette flattered everyone.
Instead of getting a wedding cake, Laura and Mike ordered cupcakes from a shop only two blocks away from their condo. Their florist decorated the tiers with pink roses.
At the entrance to the ceremony, two vintage baskets held red, pink, and white pashminas in case guests got cold. The accompanying sign read, “Take one and get cozy.”
Some of the cocktail napkins had illustrations of Spotted Cow, an ale brewed in Wisconsin, where Laura and Mike met. Other napkins just had the couple’s names and wedding date.
The number of vintage buttons that appeared on each table’s card corresponded with the table number.
Laura carried a pink-and-cream bouquet of roses and winterberries. The couple’s florist arranged it so that some rosebuds popped out at the top for a fresh-picked look.
First Dance
Small arrangements of dahlias and roses in silver containers decorated the couple’s head table.
The couple designed their invitations with Bird and Banner, who incorporated the yarn-and-button motif into all of their wedding stationery.
Arrangements of hydrangeas, roses, and orchids added color to the table of seating assignments.
The couple served pink Badgertinis (otherwise known as a Cosmopolitan), named after the University of Wisconsin mascot.
Since the Hyatt Oak Brook is in the middle of a forest preserve, Laura and Mike were married outside near a lake.