Congratulations to the newlyweds!
Yesterday was such an amazing day full of love, family, friends, laughter, excitement and FUN.
The day began at 9 a.m. with hair appointments for all of the bridesmaids and the bride. After talking with the stylist who was going to do my hair and showing her all of the updo inspiration photos I printed off, I decided to go with the Carmen Electra look. I knew my hair would be a game time decision.
We all met up at Mario Tricocci, a salon located in Schaumburg to have our hair done before heading back to Leah’s parents’ house to do our make up, get dressed and eat lunch.
I felt like everything happened so fast! One minute I was walking around talking to the other bridesmaids as they had their hair done and the next minute I was watching my best friend walk down the aisle toward her smiling groom.
The energy in Leah’s parents’ house as we primped and changed was absolutely bursting. Everyone was so excited and full of anticipation.
Once the photographer arrived, it was time for Leah to slip into her dress.
Everyone headed upstairs after Leah’s dad had a chance to see his youngest daughter in her dress (he waited until the day of her wedding to see it!) and we all were absolutely blown away with how incredibly beautiful she looked. Leah’s hair and makeup only enhanced her natural beauty and she was an absolutely radiant bride.
Leah and Matt’s wedding ceremony took place at 2:30 p.m. at the church that both of their families have attended all of their lives. As we all piled into a bus to head to the ceremony site, we could tell Leah’s nerves started kicking in. It was finally time!
I made sure to see Ryan for a brief moment before the ceremony so he could grab my camera and snap photos of Leah and Matt exchanging vows.
At 2:30 p.m. on the dot, the bridesmaids gave Leah one last excited hug and lined up to walk down the aisle.
I was a little nervous about walking in my clunky heels, but I managed to make it down the aisle without tripping… and with a ginormous smile on my face. I could not stop smiling!
When the music changed, the butterflies in my stomach intensified and I felt the tears in my eyes start to flow as Leah walked down the aisle arm-in-arm with her parents.
They were beaming!
The ceremony was a full Catholic mass that focused on marriage, love, loyalty, kindness and family. It was perfect and very appropriate for the bride and groom.
My favorite part of the ceremony was a surprise Leah and Matt planned for their parents. They had both of their parents stand up and they blessed them and, following the blessing, the pastor told their fathers that they could “kiss their brides.”
Both Leah and Matt’s parents are still happily married, and all of their grandparents remained married all of their lives. That is such a rarity nowadays and I think it was really neat that Leah and Matt recognized how sacred marriage is in their families. I know they will follow in the footsteps of their parents.
Once the ceremony was over, we walked back down the aisle ready to enjoy a fun night with the bride and groom!
Stay tuned for a recap of the post-ceremony and reception fun!!!
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oh how fun!!! What a beautiful day to remember, and Leah looks sooo beautiful! I love her dress too. 😀 Have a great day and congrats to Matt and Leah, if you read this! <33
I love the color of the bridesmaids dresses; so vibrant!
Your hair looks super cute, too! Great Carmen Electra decision. (I think last second decisions always turn out to be just what you wanted…it probably has to do with your subconscious or something, haha)
Your hair turned out beautifully! And I love the bridesmaids dresses that she picked out!
So glad you guys had fun. How cool that marriage was celebrated by honoring their parents’ examples. Have a great week Julie!
I love wedding photos! Thanks for sharing!
Your hair looked fab- good choice!!!
Oops just realized wedding was yesterday! But that’s what I would have said then. 🙂
Beautiful wedding! You are so dedicated, posting between wedding and reception! Thanks! Looks like a lot of fun, I love weddings. 🙂 Have fun at the reception, and your hair looks great by the way! Hope you brought some extra shoes for dancing, because those clunky heels may be dangerous. Lol
WAY too cute. And you’re definitely rocking that royal blue bridesmaids dress, lady. Looks like fun!
What a beautiful, beautiful wedding! Love Leah’s dress—so simple and elegant.
The wedding looked beautiful, and I loved the hairstyle you did. Loved the bridesmaids dresses as well!
Are those BM dresses LulaKate dresses? I had the pleasure of meeting the owner/designer when I was in Charleston almost two years ago and tried on the wedding gown version of that dress. SO cute!!!
Yes they are!
All of you looks absolutely beautiful! I love the bright blue bridesmaid dresses!
Nine bridesmaids? Wow … The wedding party is bigger than the number of guests total at my wedding!!
Yall look amazing !!!
Julie, you looked beautiful! BTW- I’m from Schaumburg!… What a small world 🙂
Julie you look so beautiful! I like your hair that way and the dresses are such a pretty color. I’m glad everything went well!
I like how some bridesmaids wore the collars of their dresses up and others had them flat! Beautiful color on the dresses!
So cute! I love the dresses!
Wow! What a large bridal party! I love that – it makes me think they have a ton of great close friends and didn’t want to exclude anybody 🙂 Gorgeous bride! You look amazing too, Julie, love the hair!!
Wow! alot of bridesmaids! all looking fab though!! can’t wait to hear about the reception 🙂
Wow! Julie you look stunning—sooo pretty! You look good in blue, for sure!
Love the hair decision, it turned out marvelous. And the wedding looks fun and pretty!
Leah looked amazing and she was such a beautiful bride!! Congrats to her and her husband!!!!!!
U and the bridesmaids all looked so beautiful in the blue!
What a beautiful wedding! I misssssssssss mine so much! I have post wedding depression, I miss my day, I keep going on wedding blogs , haha, I need to stop!
have a great night!
Everyone looks amazing! Leah is beaming like a bride should be, of course!
Love your hair, as well! Looking forward to hearing the recap of the receptions!
And I think it was beautiful that Leah and Matt honored the marriages of their parents 🙂
What a beautiful wedding!! I love the bride’s gown… she’s beaming! Y’alls dresses are super cute and I’m sure you rocked the heals!
Great choice on the hair…it looked flawless!
Beautiful wedding, I love the bridesmaid dresses! Good pick for your hair, it looked really beautiful!
Everyone looks so beautiful!! I love a good wedding!!
the bridesmaid dresses and bouquets were SO pretty!
I love reading about weddings!!! Seeing as I’m getting married soon myself, it’s all I can think about. The ceremony looks beautiful! And I love the bridesmaid’s dresses… they’re similar to the ones I chose! Can’t wait to hear about the rest of the day!
Love the color of the bridesmaids dresses!
Beautiful pictures!! I love that color on you – such a pretty wedding party!
Awesome dress, Julie! You look stunning!!! (you’re right the bride and groom are beaming!)
Your hair ended up looking GREAT!
Goodness gracious, blue is the perfect color for you! You look amazing (as does the bride :).
I love your hair!! You looked great 🙂 Leah’s dress is amazing.. she looks stunning on her special day.
Lovely pictures! The bouquets are beautiful! I love the color combination! Are the bridesmaids all wearing matching jewelery? 🙂
yes! she gave us the jewelry as our bridesmaid gifts.
The pictures are beautiful! One of my closest friends got married last year and her bridesmaid dresses were the same cobalt blue. I love the color it looks good on almost everyone and pops in photos!
You look gorgeous! I love your hair!! Of course the bride looks amazing also:)
Congratulations to the newly wedded couple! That colour blue looks gorgeous on everybody and really brings out the bride’s eyes!
Wow, hearing that about Leah and Matt’s parents and grandparents is sooo refreshing! Congrats to the newly weds!!
FUN! I do love me some good wedding coverage! Beautiful wedding dress and beautiful bridesmaid dresses — they look cute on everyone! Way to go Leah!!!
Congrats to the happy couple! I knew you wouldn’t trip 🙂
Beautiful wedding! The dresses are so pretty! I love that color blue! You look stunning! 🙂
LOVE the picture of you girls & the flowers out in front- soooo cute 😀
PERFECT choice of hair style, looks fantastic on you!
Leah is a BEAUTIFUL bride, her dress is stunning! I love the bead work!
What a sweet surprise for their parents 🙂 They both look so happy!
What a gorgeous wedding! They look so happy! And that is extremely sweet what they did to recognize their parents. My parents and my husbands parents have stayed together as well (29 years and 33 years respectively) and I know that David and I will follow them in their footsteps. 🙂
Love the dresses! and the wedding looks like a ton of fun!
Your hair looks great, and I love Leah’s dress. Looks beautiful!