1. Real Weddings

Nikki & Nick: An Outdoor Wedding in South Sioux City, NE

A modern day tale of two cities (as their friends describe it), Nikki and Nick’s initial work friendship in Chicago soon developed into a love that ne

A modern day tale of two cities (as their friends describe it), Nikki and Nick’s initial work friendship in Chicago soon developed into a love that neither could resist. But it wasn’t that easy. Nikki had a boyfriend in Austin and eventually moved to be with him. Despite numerous miles, significant others, and many years standing in between them, the couple finally made it work -- complete with a fairy-tale ending. The Bride Nikki Niehus, 28, graphic designer The Groom Nick Lo Bue, 32, associate creative director The Date August 18 After years of living in Austin, Nikki finally moved back to Chicago to be with Nick. While sitting on the floor of their brand-new, empty apartment, Nick asked Nikki if she was “ready to do this with him...forever.” She simply replied, “Well, yeah, I love you!” Nick pulled out a ring and asked her to marry him, and she said yes.

Throughout their relationship, Nick would often make mixed CDs for Nikki, so it was no surprise that their reception music had to be perfect. The couple ended up burning a CD for the DJ to include some of their more obscure songs. Their first dance was to “First Day of My Life,” by Bright Eyes, and the entire wedding party danced to “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head,” by Dean Martin.
The bride carried a simple, exotic bouquet of white cymbidium orchids with a touch of magenta and yellow in the center and surrounded by green-and rust-colored magnolia leaves and twisted green willow. Nikki had the florist include a vintage silver brooch with light blue and white stones, which had belonged to her grandmother who passed away from breast cancer.
The groomsmen wore the same chocolate-brown Calvin Klein tuxedo as the groom but sported brown, diagonally striped BCBG ties and green cymbidium orchid boutonnieres. The bridesmaids stood out in refreshing ARIA salmon Duchesse satin dresses with mocha piping. They carried bouquets of green cymbidium orchids with mocha ribbon.
Nikki and Nick strung jute between two trees above the tables at the ceremony and attached ivory and chartreuse escort cards with matching satin ribbon. They added a special touch with small, round, cherry blossom lanterns.
The ceremony took place outside in a garden terrace overlooking the Missouri River at the Marina Inn. The bride’s father made a wooden trellis, and her mother created three salmon-sequined panels, which created a backdrop for the couple. Willow accented with large white cymbidium orchids framed the “altar.” Guests were seated in white wooden folding chairs around the fountain facing the couple.
The couple named each table after a meaningful place or event in their relationship with a story printed on the back. The signs, half chartreuse and the others ivory and black, were fastened to a dark wooden dowel and placed in the orchid floral arrangement. The escort cards, in bright chartreuse with a black design, were placed in wine corks.
Nikki and Nick placed programs and beverages on tables covered in sequined, salmon table runners (made by her mother) at the ceremony. Bottled water, with labels the couple designed, as well as Sparkling Clementine and Pink Grapefruit Izze (which matched the wedding colors) held tags that said “Cheers!” with “Nikki & Nick” printed underneath.