The Wedding of Julissa & Cole

It was indeed a perfect day that went by so quickly. Julissa and Cole’s wedding ceremony and reception were hosted in the beautiful Pipers at the Marott. This old 1920s hotel has since been converted into a residential and event space. Cole and Julissa chose the venue because of its historical charm and beautiful atrium space, which gave them an outdoor feel while hosting the wedding indoors.
The thing Julissa will cherish most about their wedding is seeing their families come together to celebrate their love. Most of Julissa’s family traveled from Illinois. Cole’s family traveled from Ohio, and they had family travel from Puerto Rico and England, so it is rare for everyone to be in one place.
The ceremony and reception were held in the same space, which was convenient for everyone on the day. The space also had a bridal and groom suite, which was great for getting ready. 
They had lots of family pitch in on DIY projects to create arches, flower arrangements for the tables, an in-memoriam table for the loved ones who had passed on, and a popcorn bar (our favorite snack). Julissa loved seeing their hard work from the months leading up to the wedding come to life. 
The officiant was my Cole’s uncle, and it was so special since he also officiated Julissa’s in-laws’ wedding when they married. Cole & Julissa built a bouquet of flowers together as their unity ceremony piece during the ceremony. At the same time, Julissa’s mom read a poem aloud. They got a custom vase made with their wedding date for this moment. 
After the ceremony, they ate, heard speeches, and the party began! The photographer asked everyone to get on the dance floor for a group picture. On the count of three, the DJ played music, which was how they started the party. Getting to share this exceptional day dancing and singing with so many loved ones around them is something Julissa & Cole will never forget.
Cole and Julissa had a secret last dance at the night’s end while everyone else went outside with LED sparklers. As they exited, they were surrounded by so many fun lights. They entered a 1953 Rolls Royce (a nod to my Cole’s grandfather, who used to work for Rolls Royce in England). They waved goodbye to their family as they headed for their honeymoon in Aruba!