A Chicagoland Vineyard Celebration: The Real Wedding of Hannah and Andy Onnen

Since both their moms were teachers at the same school, Hannah and Andy met as kids. Over time, feelings developed, and they began dating. When the time came, Andy proposed to Hannah at an old cow farm. His cousin—a wedding videographer—captured the whole moment for them to relive forever!
 

With the help of Instagram, Hannah had a clear vision of what she wanted before she ever stepped into the bridal shop. In fact, the gown she ultimately chose was the very first one she tried on! She brought along a photo of her inspiration to help the bridal team understand her vision, and they knew exactly how to bring it to life. We absolutely love the result—a classic silhouette accented with just the right amount of modern detail to make it uniquely Hannah. The full skirt is especially stunning, and Danielle Schury Photography beautifully captured its movement and volume!
 

Like many young women, Hannah had been planning her wedding for years before she was engaged. Social media and other sites were major sources of inspiration for their big day. However, Hannah put aside some of her previous ideas to make wedding planning a collaborative experience with her fiancé. Hannah shares, "Originally, I wanted to do all white flowers and champagne colored bridesmaid dresses. I asked my husband what he liked and he said I really like colors so that’s what I gave him!" Hannah also chose to combine Andy's rustic and country style with her more elegant tastes. We think they found the perfect balance!
 

One of the things that helped them balance their specific style choices was finding the right venue. With the vineyard as the backdrop to the ceremony space, the wedding had an elegant air. However, the barn for their reception helped ground their big day in the classic Midwestern countryside. For other vendors, Andy and Hannah checked trusted family members who work in the industry and their reviews from their own wedding experiences. If they didn't have any of that to draw on, Hannah and Andy began their search with local vendors until they had the dream team assembled!
 

 

What We Love

Every couple finds meaningful ways to make their wedding day their own, and for Hannah and Andy, two special touches were all about honoring the people who helped shape their love story. First, they had their videographer craft special wedding videos for their parents to relive their big day. The second was the "Generation of Love" wall that they installed in their reception space, featuring photos of their loved ones on their own wedding days. The display beautifully illustrated how love has been passed down through each generation, ultimately leading to Hannah and Andy’s own love story!
 

 

Advice from the Couple

Hannah and Andy advise, "The advice that we would give to a couple planning their wedding is: don’t wait until the last minute. We would also say that, while it is your wedding, make sure you honor the people who got you to where you are today, such as grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, friends, etc. The last piece of advice we would give is that it’s your wedding, so don’t try to please other people because it’s a huge waste of time. Someone will always have an opinion, no matter what, so make it what you want. It’s your day."
 

 

 

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