An Elegant, Modern Wedding at the Chicago Illuminating Company in Chicago, Illinois

Melisa (33 and a floral designer) had been living in Chicago for eleven years by the time Stewart (36 and a consultant) moved there for a new job. Melisa was so busy with work that she was having no success socializing or dating with her busy schedule. She decided to renew her Match.com account and give online dating another try. Stewart, meanwhile, had never tried online dating, but decided that he needed to find a way to meet people in his new city. Melisa saw his profile first and "found it humorous and HONEST about his past," so, seeing the potential, she started up a chat. They emailed back and forth for a month before meeting in person for dinner at a nice restaurant. For the proposal, Stewart took her back to that same restaurant from their first date and got down on one knee. The Chicago Illuminating Company was the first venue they toured, and they knew it was "the one" right from the start, falling for its modern sophistication and plenty of open space. Melisa wore a custom-made lace, 3/4 sleeve wedding dress (that she traveled all the way to her hometown of Miami to have designed and fitted) and a classic long veil. The reception included plenty of family performances, including a Taylor Swift song sung by their eight-year-old niece and an Argentine Tango by the bride's parents. Most significantly, with a color palette of peach, blush, and gold, Melisa expertly crafted her own floral arrangements with peonies, garden roses, hydrangeas, carnations, and succulents, as well as birch wood, wicker balls, and moss. Leave it to a floral designer to have the most stunning centerpieces and wedding decor!