THE COUPLE Amy Wu and Kevin Bickard met through mutual friends and fell in love at Penn. They got engaged in D.C. and, after settling in Chicago, finally said “I do” after 10 years together.
THE DETAILS The vibrant palette was anchored by electric red as a nod to Amy’s Chinese heritage, and the bride created original watercolor artwork for invitations and place cards. Kevin spent a year learning Mandarin to incorporate Amy’s native language into his vows. “What makes a wedding feel luxurious isn’t the extravagance or the biggest budget,” Amy says, “it’s about making it rich with details about you two.”
THE PARTY After dinner, women from both families changed into traditional Chinese qipaos—Amy’s a modern sequined one. “It was wonderful seeing the two families sharing culture,” Kevin reflects. The couple danced the night away, then hopped on a school bus to ride back downtown wit,h all their guests. “It felt like going home after a really fun latenight field trip,” Amy says. “Because it was July Fourth weekend, there were constant fireworks on the ride back that felt like they were just for us.”
The couple looked chic and summery on their big day.
Amy’s qipao featured a phoenix motif .
for tablescapes, “I leaned into simplicity and modernity with small bud vases,” Amy says.
bridesmaids picked gowns in a palette of blood orange-red, light pink and dark green.
the bride hand-painted invitations with “florals that represented our relationship: sunflowers from his childhood, plum flowers from my family’s front yard, hydrangeas that dappled Penn’s campus and peonies.”
THE LIST
Wedding Planner Desireé Dent, Dejanae Events, dejanaeevents.com
Bride’s Attire Ceremony: Alexandra Grecco, alexandragrecco.com; Alterations: Jee Fashion Alterations; Reception: Beth and Brian Qipao, bethandbrianqipao.com
Bride’s Accessories Cape: Lamnhi Studio, etsy. com/shop/lamnhibridals; Headpiece: Lori Muldoon, lorimuldoon.com
Bride’s Jewelry Necklace: custom, Koser Jewelers, koserjewelers.com; Earrings: Maison Sabben, maisonsabben.com; Bracelet: Tianjin, China
Bride’s Hair & Makeup Hannah Elisabeth Beauty, hannahelisabethbeauty.com
Groom’s Tux Indochino, indochino.com
Rings Hers: VRAI, vrai.com; His: James Allen, jamesallen.com
Groomsmen’s Tuxes Generation Tux, generationtux.com
Florals Flowerchild, flowerchildchicago.com
Invitations & Signage bride, Woo Boo Designs, etsy.com/shop/wooboodesigns Catering Blue Plate, blueplatechicago.com
Cake Jennivee’s Bakery, jenniveesbakery.com
Linens Hall’s, hallsrental.com
Entertainment Entourage, Arlen Music Productions, arlenmusic.com
Accommodations The Hoxton, Chicago, thehoxton.com
Videographer Treasure Films, treasurefilms.net
August 12, 2022
Armour House
A newlywed portrait Photographed by Lisa Blume Photography
THE COUPLE It was by chance that Alexandra Davis and Nick Burchard finally officially met at a restaurant—but the couple worked together at the same consulting firm, and Alexandra had had her eye on Nick for a while. That first night they only talked for a few minutes, but Alexandra got Nick’s number and sent a bold text: “Will you go out with me?”
bridesmaids were assigned a shade of blue but were free to choose their silhouette, and the maid of honor wore a Jenny Yoo style with embroidered flowers that tied in the colors of the other dresses. Photographed by Lisa Blume Photography
centerpieces featured Quicksand roses, Cafe Au Lait dahlias and white ranunculus Photographed by Lisa Blume Photography
THE DETAILS Their wedding ceremony and reception were held at Armour House in Lake Forest, with shades of blue and pops of olive and blush setting the tone. “This venue was special to us because my parents also had their wedding reception here in 1984,” Alexandra shares. The groom’s parents, coincidentally, had also been married in Lake Forest, at Deer Path Inn.
the elegant reception space had touches of gold Photographed by Lisa Blume Photography
the couple’s vow books Photographed by Lisa Blume Photography
Alexandra’s Manolos were “something blue” Photographed by Lisa Blume Photography
THE PARTY The party had an old-world European inspiration, and kicked off with an homage to Alexandra’s grandparents’ 65th anniversary. The newlyweds then took the floor, dancing to Leon Bridges’ “Beyond.” “This is our favorite song to dance to in the kitchen,” Alexandra says, “so we knew it had to be our first dance at our wedding.” –CN
THE LIST
Wedding Planner Megan Estrada, NSWE Events, nsweevents.com
Bride’s Gown & Veil Monique Lhuillier, Ultimate Bride, ultimatebride.com
Bride’s Shoes Manolo Blahnik, manoloblahnik.com
Bride’s Jewelry Earrings: Michael Aram, michaelaram.com
Bride’s Hair & Makeup Antonette White Artistry, antonettewhite.com
Groom’s Tux Arthur + Lucca, arthurandlucca.com
Rings His: Eliza Page, elizapage.com
Bridesmaids’ Dresses Bella Bridesmaids, bellabridesmaids.com
Groomsmen’s Tuxes The Black Tux, theblacktux.com
Florals Bou-K Floral & Event Design, boukbridal.com
Invitations Magnificent Milestones, magnificentmilestones.com
Cake Deerfields Bakery, deerfieldsbakery.com
Rentals Hall’s, hallsrental.com
Linen BBJ La Tavola, bbjlatavola.com
Entertainment 312 Entertainment, 312ent.com; DJ Speed, instagram.com/djspeed1
Videographer Hello Darling Wedding Films, hellodarlingfilms.com
Photography by: Haley Richter Photography
