A little rain only added to the romantic atmosphere of Kendall + Brian's perfect day. Kendall described the mood of her wedding best when she recalled the warm amber lights of The Phoenix ballroom, the gold embellishments in the Church of the Redeemer in Hyde Park which she grew up attending and of course being surrounded by friends and family. Classic, timeless and romantic details were captured beautifully by Belle & Blanc Photography.

Tell us a little about you and Brian.

Brian is calm, thoughtful, and the kindest person I know. He’s the perfect balance to my type-A, high-energy personality. I think our 15 years of friendship (we met in 7th grade!) is what gives us a deep respect and understanding for each other. Though we never dated in school, we always knew there was something special about our friendship. It took a few years to finally give the dating thing a try, but we haven’t looked back since! We currently live in Chicago and when we’re not crossing restaurants off our must-try list, we love to pour a drink and listen to music on our (tiny) balcony.

Did you enjoy the wedding planning process?

I loved the wedding planning process! I’m natural born planner (and control freak) so I had fun researching vendors and crossing items off my massive to-do list. My mom was also crucial to the planning process. She met with vendors, did venue walk-throughs, and managed every detail that I couldn’t handle while in Chicago. She is the well-deserved wedding MVP.

What resources did you find most helpful in planning?

Definitely Google Docs. My mom is probably rolling her eyes while reading this because I was Google Doc obsessed! Since I had to plan the wedding from Chicago, this was the best way for me to keep track of everything and communicate with family and vendors in Cincinnati. I also have to give credit to Laura and Kelly from Simply Events. These girls are rock stars and I couldn’t have survived the planning process without them.

How did you decide on your color palette?

My color palette was heavily influenced by the ballroom at the Phoenix. I wanted colors that complimented the room so I decided on a more neutral palette of gold, ivory, and gray with pops of blush pink. I focused heavily on gold details like mercury glass votives, candelabras, and soft amber up-lighting that created a warm, romantic ambiance.

Tell us about the proposal.

On our way to northern Michigan for a weekend ski trip, Brian suggested a detour to my family’s summer cottage on Elk Lake, which is easily my favorite place on earth. When we arrived, we hiked through knee-deep snow in 12-degree weather to see the frozen lake at sunset—which he timed perfectly! At that moment, he dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. I love that Brian planned the proposal in a place that’s so special to me. He’s a thoughtful guy!

How would your life be different if you and your husband had met 10 years earlier or 10 years later?

Much of our relationship is built from years of friendship, so it’s hard to imagine not meeting Brian when I did! But if we met ten years from now, Brian would most certainly be bald (sorry, Brian!) and I would have the world’s largest Pinterest board for a non-existent wedding. Both scenarios seem pretty depressing so I’m glad we met when we did.

Describe your wedding day. Is there a particular moment that remains in your memory most vividly?

My wedding day was definitely a mix of emotions! First and foremost, it rained. A lot. Luckily we didn’t have anything planned outside but it was still heartbreaking to realize I was going to have a rainy wedding day. So I cried about the rain, I cried when I saw Brian, I cried when I saw my dad, I cried walking down the aisle—I was a little overwhelmed! But after the ceremony, the rain turned to drizzle and we made a detour to P&G Park where Brian and I finally got some outdoor photos. This moment is so vivid in my memory because it was just me and Brian without a care in the world and happy to be married!

What was your initial vision for your wedding?

I wanted our wedding to be classic and timeless without being stuffy or boring. To accomplish this, I tried to balance traditional details with more fun, untraditional elements. For example, we had formal menus and classic floral centerpieces but also monogrammed beer koozies and glow sticks for when the party got started!

Talk a little about your venues and why you chose them.

Our ceremony venue, Church of the Redeemer in Hyde Park, is the church where I was baptized and spent most of my childhood Sundays. We picked our reception venue, The Phoenix, because the gorgeous marble staircases and stately ballroom perfectly aligned with my classic, timeless vision.

What song defines your relationship?

Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are the Best Thing”—because it’s true!

Tell us about finding your dress.

My mom and sister came to Chicago for a weekend of back-to-back bridal appointments. The trip started at a boutique two blocks from my apartment. After trying on a handful of gowns, we quickly realized that we’d be canceling the remainder of the appointments because I had found the perfect dress. We bought the gown off the rack (it was a sample) and I carried it down the street to my apartment. I can only imagine what my neighbors thought as I walked down the sidewalk with a giant wedding dress!

Where did you spend your honeymoon?

We went to Anguilla in the British West Indies. We wanted to go somewhere in the Caribbean that was less touristy, very relaxing and, of course, had beautiful beaches. Anguilla met all of our criteria and then some! It is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen and I can’t wait to go back some day.

CREATIVE PARTNERS

Kendall's Dress: Robert Bullock from Weddings826 (Chicago) | Earrings & Bracelet: BHLDN | Kendall’s Purse: Kate Spade | Kendall's Shoes: Betsey Johnson | Bridesmaid Dresses: Donna Morgan | Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Romualdo’s | Flowers: Kim Wilson Design | Wedding Planner: Simply Events | Cake: BonBonerie | Sweets: Holtman’s Donut’s | Lighting: Goodwin Lighting Services | Music: Soul Pocket | Ceremony Venue: Church of the Redeemer | Reception Venue: The Phoenix | Hair: Valenti Salon and Spa, Mariemont | Makeup: Simply Makeup and Hair | Photography: Belle and Blanc