This Downtown Chicago Celebration has Opulence Fit for Royalty: The Real Wedding of Kristie and Drake Estrada

A teacher at their high school played a major role in Kristie and Drake meeting. When Drake asked the teacher how long he had to get a prom date, he didn't know the teacher would then tell the dance lass he was instructing, which Kristie was in. Kristie heard who it was and messaged Drake that night on Facebook. Two weeks later, Drake asked Kristie to prom, but the relationship didn't go any further until they met again through friends two years later. Drake had a simple but beautiful proposal six and a half years later on the banks of a nearby lake!
 

Look how beautiful Kristie looks in that gorgeous gown! Though she had a bit of an idea of what wedding dress she wanted, Kristie was open to trying on any style of dress. "The stylist pulled about ten dresses based on the explanation of what I was looking for and the third time was a charm! When I put that third dress on I knew right away!" Kristie shares. We absolutely love all the lace detailing especially when it's paired with that cathedral-style veil. We also love the way Danielle Schury Photography captured the beautiful movement in both the pieces!
 

The couple had their theme in mind even before they found their magnificent venue. Kristie admits, "We knew the colors and the vibe we wanted our wedding to have but once we nailed down our venue, we were really able to hone in on our vision. It makes it a lot easier to imagine your wedding day decor and theme when you know exactly what your space will look like!" They landed on the colors champagne, dusty blue, white and earthy green to create an elegant pastel celebration!
 

Knowing what they wanted to feel for their big day helped cover a lot of the ground work when it came to finding vendors and theme for their wedding. "Once we had that down, I used social media, Pinterest, planning apps and of course WeddingDay to narrow down our vision are start the planning!" Kristie raves. "We used anything and everything we could as a resource for planning and organizing everything!"
 

 

What we Love

This wedding was one that all Kristie and Drake's closest friends and family loved because it included so many unique touches that reflected their personalities. Kristie admits, "A beer pong table at an elegant, romantic downtown venue isn’t a typical addition but it fit so well because it was OUR wedding! I think that’s so important and special." The happy couple made sure they created the wedding they wanted, not anyone else.
 

 

Advice from the couple

Kristie and Drake advise, "Once your wedding day comes, just relax and ENJOY it! You’ve spent so much time, money and energy planning this day to make it perfect. When your day comes, you owe it to yourselves to not only celebrate your big day, but to also reap the benefits of all your hard work."
 

 

 

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