Spring Chicago Wedding at The Dalcy | Lena + Charles

You’d never expect to meet the love of your life in health class during your freshman year of high school, but that’s exactly what happened for Lena and Charles! From that moment on, these two have been together. It was during college when they were long distance that Lena knew Charles was 100% her person. Says Lena, “Traveling 2 hours to see him always felt like coming home.” 

Their long relationship meant that their families spent a lot of holidays together. At midnight on one New Year’s Eve they were celebrating with family, Charles asked Lena to marry him—which is exactly the same way his dad proposed to his mom!

wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Esperanza via Bella Bleu Bridal | photographer: Kyle Szeto Photography | school down for the full  vendor list

As she shopped for a wedding dress, Lena knew she wanted something a little different and definitely romantic. She found her match in Esperanza at Bella Blue Bridal. “I loved the idea of having some kind of sleeve, and something to make the dress feel fun and a little ~groovy~. I loved the sleeves on my gown and the beautiful flowers throughout. We added 2 feet of extra fabric for a longer train as another callback to my mom’s dress, which had like a 10ft train! We also had our cake designer pull the flowers from my dress and put them on the middle tier of our cake!”

Read on for more about their day and for shots of Lena’s cake with flowers that match her gown!

How did you two get engaged?

“Since we have been together for so long and our families don’t have extended family in the area, we celebrate a lot of holidays together. It’s been one of the most treasured traditions of our relationship! Charles proposed on New Year’s Eve at midnight with our family around us. It was actually the same way his dad proposed to his mom. There were a lot of callbacks to the traditions of our parents’ engagements and weddings involved in our wedding!”

Any special ways you incorporated your family or family history into your wedding day?

“We recreated a few photos from the morning of my parents’ wedding—specifically the one where I’m holding a picture of my grandmother. Sadly, my mom’s mom passed just before her wedding day, so it was a special way to remember her.

We also had a moment of remembrance during our ceremony and had a number of photographs of our loved ones who had passed away. We lit a candle for them during the ceremony. We got engaged on New Year’s Eve, like Charles’s parents, and got married right before I graduated med school, just like my parents! Since we met in high school and sort of grew up together, we also decided to get ready the morning of the wedding in our childhood homes as an homage to where we started!” 

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

 

“Funnily enough, our timing was very specific. I was in medical school and wanted to get married around the time I graduated because I knew I would have a lot of time off.” 

 

What was the funniest moment of your day? 

 

“During the ceremony, Charles tried to put his ring on my finger!”

 

One detail you couldn’t live without?

 

“I really loved our cake and the way we repeated the floral pattern on my dress on the cake! I have loved to bake since I was little so a beautiful cake and matching dress were part of the dream!”

What part of your wedding day was most important to you?

 

“How to pick one! Being able to celebrate our love with all of our loved ones is just the best! I keep asking my husband if he wants to plan another one just for fun…”

 

Any tips for couples getting married?

 

“Reserve a few minutes after the ceremony to be together and married for the first time! Our venue was so wonderful and brought treats and cocktails to us so we could just relax and enjoy the moment together.”

Lena + Charles’s Chicago Wedding Vendors

wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Esperanza via Bella Bleu Bridal | photographer: Kyle Szeto Photography | planning: Lola Event Productions | venue + catering : The Dalcy | hair + make up: Rare Bird Beauties | florals: Life in Bloom | video: Lawrence Connor Films | wedding cake: Flourish Cake Design | linens + rentals: BBJ La Tavola and The Festive Frog | band: Arlen Music Productions and Front of House Band | transportation: Windy City Limousine | printed goods: Steracle Press | tuxedos: Emanuele Tuxedo

Were you a Lea-Ann Belter bride? We’d love to see your pictures and share your story! Email Jessica@Lea-AnnBelter.com.