Melissa + Tyler’s Garden Wedding

Melissa and Tyler had planned a big wedding at The Royal Melbourne at the end of May. All of their plans came to a screeching halt when Covid-19 and the shelter in place hit this spring. Like so many of our Something Blue couples, Melissa and Tyler were faced with the difficult reality of replanning their wedding. It has been humbling and beautiful watching our couples navigate this difficult time with grace and love. We can only begin to imagine how hard this has been for so many of you. Melissa and Tyler chose to still get married on their original wedding date but hold a big celebration in 2021. And I was truly honored to come alongside them (from a safe social distance, of course!) to photograph their beautiful and intimate garden wedding.

Tyler is my cousin, one of the few Versgroves left in the world. I adore Tyler, he has a gentle spirit and I have loved spending time with him since we were kids. Melissa is the perfect match for him - kind, loving, spirited, beautiful - and getting to know her better as she prepared to marry the love of her life was such a joy.

After Melissa got ready at my Aunt Debbie’s house (and ring-bearer Henry snuck in some epic trampoline bounces!) we headed to my Uncle Bill’s house for the ceremony. Bill and Theresa transformed their backyard into such a magical and romantic site for this intimate wedding. That moment when Melissa walked down the aisle and Tyler saw his gorgeous bride for the first time was beyond beautiful.

After officiant (and father of the ring-bearer!) Chris made it official, we all got ready to CELEBRATE! We feasted on Nothing But Bundt cakes, danced on the patio and welcomed guests who drove by to share their well-wishes with the newlyweds.

My Uncle Bill is an avid golfer, I loved that one of his golf carts was decked out and fancy for the newlyweds!

Congratulations, Melissa and Tyler, I love you and wish you both a lifetime of happiness together!! 💙

To see all of Melissa and Tyler’s beautiful wedding photos, click here

Florals by Wildrose Floral Design

Gown by Essense of Australia : purchased at Genevieve’s Bridal Couture

love is essential

ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS UNTIL JULY 31st, 2020

Rooted in RADICAL GENEROSITY,

this is a movement to GIFT AN ENTIRE WEDDING to a deserving couple.

This is a movement is to serve and give back to ESSENTIAL WORKERS. To show LOVE triumphs over trial. To support fellow vendors in the wedding industry. We are working together to GIVE BACK in a time of uncertainty by gifting a deserving couple a completely FREE wedding.

Born from a desire to give radically, even in a time of great uncertainty, we have put together an amazing team of wedding vendors willing to donate their talents. Now, we are looking for the perfect couple. Two essential workers in love willing to share their story as we follow their wedding adventure. A couple madly in love who put their wedding plans on hold because of the pandemic. The Love is Essential wedding will take place in 2022 – between now and then we will follow our couple’s love story as they look forward to their dream wedding.

Love is Essential is happening because of the generosity of the best wedding vendors in Chicago. Our team is dedicated to giving back to essential workers to show our gratitude for their service. This outstanding team is comprised of:

LIZ SCHRENK – SOMETHING BLUE PHOTOGRAPHY

Liz developed the concept of Love is Essential when the shelter in place began. Inspired by the Gratitude Movement, Liz wanted to save her own small business and support friends in the wedding industry. Her heart is to serve others and give back to Essential Workers in this challenging and historic time.

JENNY BARTKUS – JPB DESIGNS WEDDING PLANNING

Jenny runs JPB Designs + Co., a renowned boutique wedding and event planning firm. Jenny specializes in creating unforgettable weddings that showcase each couples’ individuality. Philanthropy is at the heart of JPB Designs and Jenny is thankful to be giving back through Love is Essential.

CONRAD WERES – SOMETHING BLUE VIDEOGRAPHY

Conrad is Liz’s business partner and the backbone of Something Blue. Conrad helped Liz dream about the possibility of being radically generous and gifting an entire wedding to a couple serving on the front lines of the Covid-19 battle. Conrad has a background in marketing from Columbia College.

KEN MURPHY – AMP EVENT PROFESSIONALS

At the heart of every wedding beats the party, the joyful celebration of love. No one throws a party like Ken and his team at Amp Event Professionals. Ken is the hardest working DJ in Chicago; his top priority is to create unforgettable memories for his couples and their guests at every event.

JAMIE AND LEAH – POST 433 EVENTS

When we first envisioned Love is Essential we dreamed of finding the perfect Chicago venue to host this incredible event. The Old Post Office is a monumental Chicago landmark whose history naturally honors essential workers. This grand historic building has been reimagined as a magnificent venue space capable of hosting beautiful and unforgettable events. We were thrilled when Jamie and Leah joined our team; we can’t wait to celebrate our couple’s wedding in this amazing venue!

The couple shown in these pictures are Stephanie and Jeremy, two amazing essential workers who were married in January of 2020. Stephanie is a nurse and Jeremy is a firefighter. To help us with this project, they generously volunteered (on their shared day off) to model for us in the heart of Chicago. We loved documenting their connection and getting a glimpse of what life has been like for them as essential workers as they wade through the rough waters of 2020.

We are searching for two essential workers who have put their wedding plans on hold. Two people madly in love but committed to serving our community. If you would like to nominate yourself or a friend, please complete this form.

We have the most beautiful gift to give – now, we need to find the perfect couple.