Afton Vangsness

Jan 7, 2022

Elisa + Myles: Garden-Inspired Country Club Wedding

Rich in family history, Elisa + Myles got married at an Illinois country club embellished with lush floral elements in gorgeous shades of lilac and violet.

All photos courtesy of Photography by Lauryn

The grandparents of the groom previously owned the venue for this wedding - Boulder Ridge Country Club. Because of this, both Myles and Elisa were extremely familiar with everything there and it held a special place in their hearts. It was a true family affair.

They both got ready onsite in the women's and men's lounges with their wedding parties and parents. The ladies got glammed by The Bridal Beauty Team while sipping on mimosas.

The bride wore a stunning fitted gown by Martina Liana from Here Comes the Bride featuring intricate details and sheer elements.

The bridesmaids looked beautiful in dresses in complementary shades of purple and lilac from Azazie and Dear Cleo.

The floral from Avant Gardenia and other details also matched the color scheme of purple, lilac, violet, white, ivory, and grey.

The groom wore a grey tuxedo from Gentleman's Quarters Formalwear which looked so chic and made him stand out from the rest of the group!

Elisa and Myles both shared letters in private before seeing each other that day.

At this point, both of them were crying and ready for the first look!

Their first look took place on the grounds of the country club and it was emotional and exciting at the same time!

These two really embraced the momentous occasion this day was by always having smiles on their faces (when they weren't wiping away tears). Everyone could see how in love they are!

Clients of Chicago wedding planner Afton Events

Their wedding party was also amazing. They were fun, enthusiastic, down for anything, and they looked stunning as well!

Wedding planned by Afton Events in Illinois

Floral was a huge focal point for every aspect of this wedding, and Avant Gardenia knocked it out of the park! Lush bouquets with pops of lilac were used for the ladies, which perfectly complemented their dresses.

The real wow factor was this truck adorned with an insane amount of floral. This was a vintage truck from the groom's family's company, which they brought to the property for the wedding. It was a perfect ode to the family business, while also being adorned with the bride's new last name. Floral was installed everywhere - spilling out of the front seat, filling the entire truck bed, and a wreath attached to the front. It brought the garden inspiration to the next level, and everyone loved it!

The floral continued with the ceremony which was located outdoors in front of the golf course. A classic arch with greenery and floral was used as the backdrop, while large, lush arrangements were placed at the head of the aisle.

Wedding ceremony with floral arch and white garden chairs

Elisa and Myles had live musicians play for the ceremony which was officiated by Reverend Tom Perrucci.

Officially Mr. and Mrs. Plote!

Outdoor wedding cocktail hour on golf course

After the ceremony, we continued with cocktail hour outside. With lavish spreads of food, multiple bars, and music, the guests were having a great time. They of course utilized the truck as a photo op!

Meanwhile, we were all set in the venue's ballroom for the reception!

We had a variety of styles of centerpieces, which is my absolute favorite way to add interest to a space when it comes to a ballroom wedding.

Wedding reception table with tall floral arrangement

There were tall arrangements...

Wedding reception table with floating candles and flowers

There were stemmed floating candles with petite arrangements...

And there were lush, low arrangements.

The gold chandeliers in the room worked perfectly with the gold Chiavari chairs and gold votives. The white linens and ombre purple napkins coordinated with the stationery and floral.

Sweetheart table with neon sign backdrop

The sweetheart table acted as another statement piece. A large wood backdrop was adorned with floral and a custom neon sign. The table itself had cascading floral and an array of floating candles and votives. It was stunning!

Once all guests were seated, the wedding party had their grand entrance! Instead of being paired in couples, they had the bridesmaids come out as a group, the groomsmen come out as a group, and then the couple. This is a great option if you don't want to have each person/couple come out individually, but don't want to forego the grand entrance altogether!