A Timeless White Wedding

by Michelle Drewek

 

Michael and Abby’s June wedding was almost a decade in the making from the day they were first set up on a blind date for a college sorority formal. Like many brides, Abby had one detail from the start she had been dreaming about for many years — an amazing dress. The bride’s stunning, custom-made dress and white satin shoes were beautifully accented by dazzling white roses, and an array of white-themed décor throughout the venue. In short, Michael and Abby’s wedding was classic, timeless and pure elegance.

 

Q How did he/she propose?

Mike and I dated for 8 years so the engagement itself was not a huge surprise but I always told Mike that if he were to propose I wanted to pick out the ring. Luckily he loved that he didn’t have to go through the stress of picking out a ring and let me custom design the ring I always wanted with a private jeweler. It is a 3-carat cushion cut. Mike and I were supposed to meet at the Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee to stay the night and go out in the city. I was meeting him there separately and when I got to the room he was on one knee and waiting with roses and champagne. Mike couldn’t even get through the speech he had prepared because he was crying so much. I was very surprised and did not think he was going to propose that night. Both of our families were beyond excited that we were finally going to be married.

Q What resource did you find most helpful in planning your wedding? 

Our wedding planner, Chris Albrecht, as well as wedding magazines for inspiration.

Q What were the colors of the wedding? 

White with crystal and silver accents. I wanted to stick to mainly whites for the colors of the wedding. My bouquet and the bridesmaids’ were white roses. All of the flowers throughout the day were whites. The cake was also white with crystal accents and had the same white roses. A lot of the vases throughout the reception were silver. There were white lanterns that flanked the piers on the lake. Even my shoes were an ivory satin.

Q What was the first detail that you knew you absolutely had to have at your wedding?

I needed to have an amazing dress. I knew I wanted to get my dress from GiGi’s in Mequon because of the designers they carry. I ended up going with the opposite of the dress I thought I wanted. I thought I wanted a fitted dress with lots of embellishment and I ended up going for a total princess dress made of organza. The dress was special to me because the designer custom made it in Italy and the dress was so well tailored that it fit me beautifully. I felt very timeless and elegant in it. I also loved having a beautiful veil that accentuated the dress very well.

Q What was the most important item for your wedding that you knew you just had to splurge on?

We wanted a live band. It was worth every penny! Everyone danced all night long.

Q How involved was your fiancé in wedding planning? Did he have anything he was especially excited to help with?

Mike was involved in the wedding planning but the one thing he really cared about was the food. Mike also picked all of the ceremony readings and songs.

Q Were there any funny things or moments that happened at your wedding?

Mike’s pants had split from all the dancing. Throughout the night, all the men at the wedding took their shirts off to dance and the groom, by the end of the night, was wearing someone else’s shorts and no shirt.

Q Did you do anything special during the ceremony (unity candle, sand pouring, etc.)?

We had an Opera singer from the Chicago Lyric Opera sing our ceremony songs.

Q Did you include any special traditions or customs?

I blew up our parents’ and grandparents’ wedding photos and set up a display for the guests.