What a beautiful morning for a wedding! Karitza and Dennis were married earlier this summer at a traditional Catholic ceremony, held at the historic St. Clement Church. The ceremony started at 11am, so guests were treated to a cocktail reception immediately following at Nellcôte– an amazing spot for brunch. The festivities began early, with Karitza and her bridesmaids having their hair and makeup done by Design by Breanne and Nika Vaughan, respectively.
Friends and family gathered around Karitza while she prepared, and the excitement was palpable. The joy of the day was reflected in the faces of everyone- especially Karitza, who looked amazing as she stepped into her gown. After a round of applause from her attendants, the bride grabbed her bouquet- a beautiful design by Ryan of Stemline Creative, and was shuttled off to the church for the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Dennis and his groomsmen were making sure ties were tied and everyone looked as sharp as possible. Mission accomplished! Once they were all prepared, the whole crew jumped into their cars and traveled to the church.
Before we knew it, the big moment had arrived. Karitza was escorted down the aisle by her parents before joining Dennis at the altar. The priest welcomed the guests and dived right in to the ceremony. And it was a gorgeous ceremony at that, as you can see from this next set of photos.
Vows and rings were exchanged, a kiss was shared, and then they were declared husband and wife. Congratulations! After the ceremony, the newlyweds greeted their guests and posed for pictures on the steps of the church. We didn’t hang out for too long, though… the reception was waiting!
Everyone headed out to Nellcôte, and while guests settled in, I took the wedding party out for a short photo shoot. We took all of the following pictures in the alley and grounds surrounding the restaurant:
The bride and groom shared a toast and a kiss, and then it was off to meet everyone else.
Karitza and Dennis were met with rounds of cheers and applause as they entered the restaurant. Let the party begin!
And what a party it was! Tiffany from Soirée Events helped the couple with the planning- and they did a great job. Caricaturist Chuck Senties was there to draw portraits of the guests while they enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and everyone had a great time mingling.
Speeches were kicked off by Karitza’s father, who had sage advice for the couple. Other friends and family took turns as well, ending with the couple who thanked everyone for sharing the day with them.
Dancing was kicked off the bride and groom, sharing their first dance as a married couple, followed by a special dance between Karitza and her father.
And there were sweets galore, too! This special donut and cake topper were made by Glazed & Infused. Notice the hat on the bird- Dennis serves on the Chicago Police Department, and that special touch was made just for him!
Finally, it was time to dance! DJ Alvin from Fig Media cranked up the music and the guests hit the floor. Especially Dennis, who was ready to show off his best moves. And he wasn’t alone! It seemed all the guests had a signature move to share, a few of which are featured in this next section:
As the party wrapped up, guests were invited to help themselves to a bottle of Hines Hot Sauce. Karitza’s family has their own signature recipe- and it’s good stuff! Bottle in hand, guests gathered outside to shower bubbles on the newlyweds as they exited the building, where Karitza and Dennis climbed in to a car, and drove off to begin their married life.
Congratulations on your marriage, Karitza and Dennis! I had a great time sharing your day with you!
