This Desert-Inspired Celebration in Illinois: The Real Wedding of Jessica and Jake Esposito

While in college, Jessica and Jake moved in the same social circles. Jessica first noticed Jake as a friend of a friend, and the connection quickly grew into something more. After dating for a while, Jake told Jessica they were headed to a nice dinner followed by a quiet wine bar—setting the stage for a night she’d never forget. To Jessica's surprise, Jake had their friends and family waiting at a bar down the street to celebrate with after he popped the question. Jessica shares, "I was totally caught off guard, and it was a complete success!"

Look at how beautiful Jessica is in that perfect wedding gown! "I had no idea going in what I wanted but, after 5-6 dresses, I found the one I loved. The dress style was A-Line with interchangeable symmetrical sleeves that brought the entire piece together," Jessica explains. We love the way the floral details on the dress fit with the natural scenery of their wedding. We also love the way that Jessica's hair is styled. She looks like the most gorgeous blushing bride!
 

 

When planning began, Jessica and Jake started with the venue. They luckily landed on a venue that had so many services included, which helped shorten the planning time. Once the venue was chosen, they moved on to picking the theme and deciding on supporting vendors. Jessica says, "We used Pinterest boards, local vendors, TikTok and advice from married friends to plan. We started with a venue first and foremost."
 

Deciding on the theme and the colors was easy for Jessica and Jake. They were getting married in the fall, so they leaned into the autumnal color scheme. They had plenty of red, orange and green elements in the space as well as some darker hues that brought in a moodier feel to their celebration. There are so many natural elements in and around their venue that really evoke a western or desert feel without being cliché and still remaining elegant. And Danielle Schury Photography captured all their stunning details perfectly with her editorial style of photography!
 

 

Advice from the Couple

Jessica and Jake advise, "One: Pick a venue that will give you all the time you need that day. You don’t want to be rushing your perfect day because of limited time. Two: Remember to stop and enjoy it for a second. A day we thought about for years went by so fast we are lucky we got so many pictures. Three: Seeing your Significant other in their dress will be one of the best moments of your life. Four: DON'T be afraid to play whatever music you want. Its your wedding! Your party! Make it what you want! Five: Be sure to book a hotel nearby a fast food place, trust me on this."
 

 

 

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