1. Real Weddings

Jen & Eric: A Intercultural Wedding in Chicago, IL

While traveling in Japan, Jen and Eric took a trip to the island of Miyajima. When they got off the ferry, they were greeted by wild deer that roam fr

While traveling in Japan, Jen and Eric took a trip to the island of Miyajima. When they got off the ferry, they were greeted by wild deer that roam freely and approach people. This made Jen uncomfortable, so the pair quickly found a quiet spot away from the wildlife. “When we had a spare moment, Eric would get sentimental and sweet. But just as he sensed an opportune time, more deer would come to steal our food,” recalls Jen. They finally found a quiet bench. The Bride Jen Belbis, 30, senior brand analyst The Groom Eric Bassik, 30, account executive The Date August 4 “He popped the question, we shared many tears and laughs…then, in a final attempt to scare us away, the deer came and ate our map and the rest of our food!” Because Jen is a Chicago native, planning for a wedding there quickly got started.

There were three different types of cuisine featured at each station: Asian (noodles, rice, sea bass, and sushi); Mediterranean (lamb meat balls, hummus, and salads); and Italian (a pasta bar with ravioli and penne noodles with different sauces).
A pink carnation pomander hung from the back of the each reception chair.
The ceremony took place at the River East Art Center. The guests were seated in a round formation while the couple exchanged vows in the center. The huppah boasted uplighting at each post and was covered in curly willow with orchid buds and scattered votives. Brown chiavari chairs with fuchsia chair cushions added a beautiful splash of color and drama to the venue.
The newlyweds shared their first dance to “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane. “Since we love this song to death, it was one of the highlights of the day to sing our hearts out while this song played,” says Jen.
The bride wore silver, satin, sling back heels with a jeweled embellishment at the toe by Nine West.
The couple was inspired by their trip to Japan to have a “wish tree” in place of a guest book. In that country, people write their hopes and dreams on a card and hang them on tree branches all over the local town.
Jen made the simple tented cards using a fuchsia ink stamp of Asian lanterns strung across the top. She then wrote the names and table numbers in brown.
The wedding cake was a simple and streamlined, three-tier, square, chocolate cake with fresh purple and white orchids cascading down the side.
The bride held a monochrome bouquet made entirely of off-white cymbidium orchids. The stems were wrapped in bronze ribbon, and Jen used an antique garnet (her birthstone) brooch from her mother-in-law to hold the ribbon in place.
The ceremony incorporated traditions from different religions and cultures: Jewish traditions included marrying under the huppah, the signing of a ketubah, the seven Jewish wedding blessings, and breaking a glass. Filipino traditions included having primary and secondary sponsors, the exchange of coins, and the draping of a veil and chord to “bond” the couple as one. Finally, the two incorporated Catholicism with Jen’s father singing “Ave Maria,” a family tradition, and with the lighting of the unity candle.
Jen’s six bridesmaids wore strapless, gold and bronze, metallic lace, cocktail dresses with a gold satin sash by Bari Jay. They carried bouquets of fuchsia, pale pink, and deep violet Mokara orchids.
The dinner tables were draped with chocolate brown satin, and the same chairs from the ceremony were used for the reception. The tables had centerpieces of various heights throughout to give the room some visual depth, with the tall pieces comprised of curly willow branches with hanging votives and orchid buds.