Retro-Glam Meets Traditional at Eclectic Byron Colby Barn Wedding – Cassie & Mario

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One of the first steps engaged couples make in wedding planning – after choosing their amazing Chicago wedding photographer, of course – is determining the overall theme of the wedding. We’ve all heard the stories from our parents (obviously intimidated by our Pinterest boards) that back in their day, wedding ceremonies were held in the church with the reception downstairs. Cake, punch, Jordan almonds, and a nut/mint tray were the standard menu. Now that we’ve hit the electronic age, couples can access inspiration from nearly anywhere with just a few clicks of a button. With all of this exposure comes the desire and pressure to include the latest and greatest trends. And ohmygoodness, there are some awesome ideas out there – photobooths, brooch bouquets, Bloody Mary kits (yes, please) – it is so hard to choose. And that’s why we loved Cassie and Mario’s Byron Colby Barn wedding. They pulled together elements that might not seem to fit and made it work. Beautifully.

The Midwest has been hit with several large snowstorms this year, and the neighborhood streets were lined with nearly two feet of snow when we arrived at Mario’s family’s home.  Joshua, ever the opportunist, saw the advantages of the snow and we set about photographing details while everyone spread throughout the house to finish getting ready.  The couples’ daughter, Olive, charmed everyone as she ran around in her adorable flower girl dress.

While Cassie was having the final touches on her retro-glam makeup and awesome undercut locks, we chatted about her incredible ink. She explained that the tattoos were done with an old-fashioned sailor theme and pointed out her favorite.  The contrast between her modern style and traditional gown was breathtakingly gorgeous.

Down in the family room, the guys were (working at) rocking some stylish threads of their own.  We loved their Dickies suspenders and Vans.  After a little assistance with the ironing and tie tutorials on You Tube, they were all set.  Looking good, guys.

We were excited to return to Grayslake and found the Prairie Crossing Community to be just as charming in the winter as it was in the summer.  Cassie and Mario aren’t the only ones in the family with an eye for style, and they commissioned family member/bridesmaid/event coordinator Roxy to take their wedding décor vision and bring it to life.  While she was working her magic inside the Byron Colby Barn, we set out for some portraits against the glittering landscape.  Despite the pastel colors that were popping against the white snow, they were giving us their best fierce looks.  Rawr.

Friends and family filled the barn to the rafters with happiness and love as Cassie and Mario were married in a sweet ceremony.

Regardless of their popularity, mason jars are absolutely one of my favorite wedding trends of all time and I’m so glad Cassie and Mario chose to incorporate them into the scheme – the lace-wrapped jars were the perfect complement to the burlap table runners and environmentally-friendly utensils, and guests even got to fill a jar with colorful sweets to take home at the end of the evening.

Cassie and Mario chose to honor his Hispanic heritage with a delicious buffet of traditional dishes, and we can testify that the standard corn-on-the cob will never be good enough after that meal.  After dinner the couple shared their first dance as husband and wife, and then invited guests out to the dance floor to share in their celebration.  MultiTrack Chicago provided an excellent blend of classic wedding music mixed with some awesome Hispanic tunes that brought out some incredibly talented dancers and intricate dance steps.

Cassie and Mario, thank you so much for inviting us into your lives and your wedding celebration – we loved your bold style and we felt like members of your tight-knit family by the end of the day.  We can’t wait to see you again soon!

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