An Italian Garden Wedding Outside Chicago

Melanie Medrano Melanie Medrano | July 1, 2024 | Wedding Features,

Kelsey Elliott & Jimmy Slein

July 14, 2023

Cuneo Mansion and Gardens

Photographed by Elle Taylor Photography

Kelsey carried
long-stemmed white roses. “I wanted
something timeless and classic I would
look back on and still love,” she says
Kelsey carried long-stemmed white roses. “I wanted something timeless and classic I would look back on and still love,” she says.

THE COUPLE It was one-and-done for Kelsey Elliott on Bumble when she matched with Jimmy Slein. Three years later, he proposed on vacation in Florida—with assistance from their dog wearing a scarf that read, “My humans are getting married.” Inside their beach house, Kelsey’s family was waiting with Champagne.

THE DETAILS They tied the knot with a summer ceremony a year later at Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills. The bride walked down the aisle with her dad to a string duo playing the classic “Canon in D.” After the ceremony, their 190 guests explored the historic venue’s landscape, which perfectly embodied the couple’s theme: “I wanted an ‘Italian garden party’ wedding with all of the classic and timeless feels,” Kelsey says.

THE PARTY After cocktails in the courtyard and dinner in the ballroom, guests joined the newlyweds to dance the night away. Post-nuptials, their honeymoon was a natural extension of their wedding vision: The couple celebrated their marriage with a two-week trip across Italy. “It was a dream,” the bride reflects.