A Rustic, Romantic Wedding at Ovation Chicago in Chicago, Illinois

Sarah Walker (35 and an attorney) and Robert Pauls (32 and a nonprofit director) filled their day with sweet and savory nods to the bride’s Georgia roots ranging from barbecue fare to farm tables topped with fresh peaches.

Robert looked dapper in a gray three-piece suit, but Sarah’s ornate lace Matthew Christopher gown ultimately stole the show. After saying “yes” to the dress, Sarah worked with the owner of Zita Bridal Salon to secure additional lace from the designer, which was later used to create a blusher veil and custom capelet. “The dramatic, cathedral-length train was appropriate given the grandeur of the chapel,” Sarah says of her vintage style.

After some convincing, the church’s resident organ player performed a rendition of Calvin Harris’s “Feel So Close” during the recessional.

“We decided to make the dining area feel less like a traditional reception and more like an outdoor gathering with friends,” Sarah says of their laid-back approach to dinner. Moonshine and mezcal cocktails were must-have menu items, along with banana pudding, bacon candy and Illinois-shaped sugar cookies.