Rachel + DJ

How did you meet?

We met at our church in Chicago, after both attending for 2 years but never meeting. We found out later that we had previously matched on a dating app, but never followed through on a date. Timing is everything!

When did you know they were the one?

I knew after we went on our first trip together between Christmas and New Years and spent time with both our families. He handled mine so well and was so good at making me feel a part of his.

What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?

He is the most patient person I’ve ever met, and is such a steady presence for me and anyone else when in a difficult situation. He is also extremely caring, and is constantly putting my needs before my own. And my absolute favorite thing is how goofy he is, we have so much fun together doing everything and nothing.

Who proposed and how?

DJ proposed on a trip to Cabo on our balcony overlooking the ocean prior to dinner. It was very intimate and romantic, which was exactly what I wanted. I was shocked. I had broken my foot a week prior, and I suggested we go out on the balcony to take a picture since we were all dressed up for dinner. When he got down on one knee I thought he was helping adjust me to be in frame! The sweetest part was learning how he placed a diamond from a gift my grandmother had given me in the setting of the engagement ring, and replaced the diamond in the original ring to pass down to a future daughter.

Where did you fall in love with your dress and why?

I first went dress shopping 2 weekends after getting engaged because both my mom and future MIL were going to be in town, but I had low expectations of finding my dress at that point as no other plans had been made. The Elsie Flowy in pebble was the first dress I tried on at my first appointment at Ivory & Beau and it felt like that dress had been made for me. I fell in love with the classic feeling of the lace, the dramatic scooped back, and the fun bows! I tried on several dresses after, but nothing compared. After that, the wedding was planned around the dress!

What was the best moment for you at your wedding?

Not only the best moment of our wedding, but my entire life was our first look. We chose to use this moment to read our personal vows to each other and it was such a special and intimate moment during a crazy busy day! My husbands vows were incredibly thoughtful, and I’d never felt more seen and loved.

What were your favourite details?

One of the more traditional things I did was follow the classic something old rhyme…I wore a ring my grandmother gave me when I was a baby that she called a “hope” ring as my something old (my husband took the diamond out of this ring and put it into my engagement ring without me noticing!). My wedding band was my something new. My something borrowed was my Mother in Laws original engagement setting. And finally an opal ring that had been my great grandmothers on my fathers side was my something blue. Another detail I loved was using flowers / greenery from our home or flowers we had throughout the year in our table numbers and for a petal toss as we left the ceremony.

What advice would you tell other brides?

Your wedding day is about you and your spouse and your family / chosen family coming together. Use your day to celebrate that by picking and choosing traditions that speak to you as a couple, and have fun creating special moments that are just for you!

Any standout vendors?

Our photographer, lane, was a dream to work with. She made us feel at ease through the whole day, even the most intimate or hectic ones, and captured our favorite day so beautifully.