The morning of my wedding began a little differently than most. Typically, I’m grabbing a big coffee and rushing off to a venue in my VH Designs gear, ready to bring someone else’s vision to life. But this time, I woke up at the Claridge House, took a deep breath, showered, and strolled over to the bridal suite where my closest friends and family were beginning to arrive.
Coffee, champagne, and pastries were awaiting us—fuel for a day of celebration. We laughed, played music, and soaked in the quiet joy of the morning while the hair and makeup team (Patricia McGuire) worked their magic.
Around 11:00 a.m., in walked Vince—arms full of beautifully arranged bouquets. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but somehow, he outdid himself once again. What I didn’t see behind the scenes: Vince had been up early, carefully wrapping each bouquet in ribbon, arranging them in our signature VH Designs boxes, and braving stop-and-go Saturday traffic just to get them to me on time. After delivering the personals, he headed straight to the venue to join the team in bringing the day’s vision to life.
Once our incredible photographer, Matt Savage of Avery House, arrived, we began photos with the girls. It was relaxed and joyful—exactly what I had hoped for. A nephew or two even snuck in to see what all the fuss was about. Not long after, our amazing planner, Linda Alpert, checked in and took the guys’ boutonnieres to them, helping everything stay perfectly on track.
As we all piled onto the bus, I could feel the excitement building. I knew that in just moments, I’d see Paul for the first time that day as the doors opened and I walked down the aisle.
What I didn’t see during that time was the VH Designs team setting tables at Artifact, carefully laying linens, lighting candles, and designing florals on-site. While we were taking photos outside the church after the ceremony and later in Lincoln Park, the behind-the-scenes crew was in full swing, transforming a blank canvas into a stunning celebration.
As our trolley pulled up to the venue, the anticipation was palpable. I caught a glimpse of our nephews waiting for us through the windows—our very own welcome committee—and walked into the space with my heart full. Waiting for us were two more familiar faces, Kara and Mary, ready to show us the final reveal.
Having set up countless weddings myself, you’d think the reveal might not hold the same magic, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The moment was every bit as emotional and unforgettable. That’s the beauty of custom wedding design—when it’s done right, it’s entirely, beautifully you.
And that day? It was absolutely perfect.
