A Natural, Park Wedding at Grove Redfield Estate in Glenview, Illinois

A summer barbecue in 2008 brought together newlyweds Adam (31 and a teacher) and Jackie (26 and a recreation therapist) when the bride-to-be's neighbors introduced her to Adam's friends. "We chatted over hot dogs and I spilled ketchup on my white dress," Jackie explains. "And despite the paisley-print shirt he was wearing, I loved his warm smile." Six years later, Adam proposed and the two quickly began planning their outdoor wedding at the Grove Redfield Estate in Glenview. "Banquet halls aren't our style, so we began searching for an open, relaxed, outdoor venue. The Grove's expansive 100+ acres and historic Redfield Estate proved to be the perfect fit. "Adam and I loved spending time outdoors, so we wanted our wedding style to enhance the natural setting we were in," Jackie says. "We used a lot of neutral greens, grays and light pinks including peonies, roses and succulents." Two large, wooden wine barrels helped to frame the ceremony space while white paper lanterns were hung throughout the property. "One of my favorite personal touches was a photo collage that we strung up on hooks and held in space using clothes pins," the bride says. "One line featured individual photos of us throughout the years while the other highlighted photos of us dating back to 2008." The self-proclaimed foodie newlyweds even worked closely with their vendor, Catering with Elegance, to create different food stations for their guests. "We tailored our day to reflect who we are as a couple," Jackie says. "We wrote our own vows and incorporated a ring warming into our ceremony as a special way to involve our guests. But my favorite mishap was when we exchanged vows and accidentally skipped the ring exchange! We were pronounced husband and wife when one of my family members called out 'What about the rings?'. It was priceless."