This fairytale story began with love at first sight, leading to a lakeside proposal and a magical ceremony at a stunning, castle-inspired venue. Real Bride Olivia and Nico found each other on a dating app, and from the moment they met, they both knew they shared a genuine connection. It only took them a year of dating to realize that they were each other’s happily ever after.
Of course, Olivia’s gown could be nothing less than fit for a princess. When she found Stella York Style 7711, a ballgown exuding timeless, royal elegance with touches of trendy charm like a modern dramatic bow and discreet hand pockets, she couldn’t walk away.
Get lost in the magic of Olivia and Nico’s special day, straight from a storybook.
OLIVIA, TELL US ABOUT YOUR PARTNER. HOW DID YOU MEET?
Nico and I met on a dating app, and it genuinely felt like love at first sight. Our connection was so natural and pure from the very beginning. After a year of dating, he proposed to me at Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago and he had the cutest setup on the sand, complete with pictures of us, flowers and a “Marry Me” sign.
When Nico watched me walk down the aisle, he was filled with happy tears and couldn’t stop smiling. He told me my dress was beautiful and that it looked like it was made just for me
DESCRIBE YOUR BRIDAL STYLE. TELL US ABOUT YOUR DRESS SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.
For my wedding day, I always imagined feeling like a true princess. I wanted something that could be timeless yet elegant, classy and on trend. When I found Stella York Style 7711, it embodied just that and more.
I felt like the dramatic bow in the back was modern and on-trend, while the overall simplicity of the luxurious Mikado fabric gave me that timeless feel. The ballgown silhouette and incredibly chic, tailored bodice created the ultimate royal princess feel. On my wedding day, I felt even better than I had ever imagined. I’ve never felt more beautiful in a piece of clothing.
IN YOUR OWN WORDS, TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR WEDDING.
When planning our wedding, I knew I wanted to have a “fairytale” day because that’s what our love feels like to me. It’s not perfect, and definitely not like the classic fairytales, but it’s genuine, pure and peaceful — it’s home. To me, we are the best ending to a fairytale story.
Our venue, The Armour House Mansion and Gardens, embodied the royal summer wedding we were going for. It was originally built as a mansion by a husband for his wife, who loved European architecture, so the space has a royal feel, along with the beautiful garden and pond, which created a magical vibe for our ceremony. The most special part of our day was looking at all our friends and family, the people we love the most, in one room, celebrating our love. Nico and I know that we wouldn’t have gotten to this point if it weren’t for the people in the room with us. We felt incredibly grateful as we admired how our dream wedding became a reality.
Cheers to Olivia and Nico!
Vendor Acknowledgements
Photographer: Claudia Jo Photography
Bridal Shop: Here Comes the Bride
Venue: Armour House
Hair & Makeup: AERIS
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