Jessica and Pete -

Wedding

Jessica and Pete

October 22nd, 2016/Photography by Ann & Kam Photography & Cinema/Dress by Martina Liana

Before the rapid rise of dating sites and apps was the original one off them all– Match.com. Jessica Aymond and Pete DeLong both took a leap of faith and signed up to see who was out there. As they say, when you stop looking for love, it finds you. And that’s certainly what happened for these two. Roughly two years later during a cozy October night in at their Chicago apartment, Pete popped the question to Jessica, and of course she said yes! He then took her to Stout Barrel House and Brewery, where they had their first date– only this time, their friends and family were they waiting to celebrate their engagement!

While flipping through a wedding magazine as most excited, newly engaged brides do, Jessica stumbled across a Mira Couture ad and set up an appointment. In the sea of billowing white and ivory ballgowns as Jessica says, her stylist pulled a total wild card– a beaded champagne sheath gown by Australian designer Martina Liana. While it was entirely the opposite of what she saw herself in, Jessica couldn’t get it off her mind. She loved the look of the sheath silhouette but wanted the classic feel of a ballgown.

With Mira Couture specializing in custom design, owner Julie Mersine was able to bring Jessica’s dream dress to life with a custom made removable champagne overlay skirt to wear over the Martina Liana sheath dress– truly the best of both worlds!

Fast forward to October 22nd, 2016– the big day!– Jessica slipped into the dress with the help of her mother and maids of honor. “As soon as I heard my photographer say, ‘it’s time!’,” Jessica says, “I immediately started to get butterflies. I had tried my dress on so many times, but this was the time.” Such a surreal moment!

Jessica and Pete tied the knot at St. James Chapel and celebrated with a reception at the Chicago Cultural Center. The couple share an appreciation for history and culture, hence their choice of venues! The chapel was completed in 1919 and was inspired by Paris’ Sainte Chapelle. It’s considered to be the ‘hidden jewel’ of Chicago’s Gold Coast. The Chicago Cultural Center, formally the Chicago Public Library, is a landmark where the Mayor of Chicago has welcomed Presidents and royalty, diplomats and community leaders. It is also home to the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world, which was the center of their reception– and where Jessica and Pete began the rest of their lives together!