Modern Luxury
Site menu
  • People
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Real Estate
  • Style & Beauty
  • Video
  • Weddings
  • Digital Edition
  • Contact Us
  • Sign Up Facebook Twitter Instagram
Newsletter

Search Our Site

True Romance: Mandy & Christian

Lauren Brocato Lauren Brocato | July 18, 2022 |


The newlyweds posed for a portrait on the steps of the Chicago History Museum. Photographed by Studio This Is
The newlyweds posed for a portrait on the steps of the Chicago History Museum. Photographed by Studio This Is

One couple’s Chicago love story culminates in a dramatic celebration in the city where it all began.

Photographed by Studio This Is

MANDY LANEVE and Christian Ficara’s love story, filled with Billy Joel concerts at Wrigley Field, international adventures and countless memories made in their now-home base of New York City, began in a Chicago pub. Five years later, Christian proposed during a Billy Joel concert at Madison Square Garden. That night ended in true fairy-tale fashion: The ecstatic couple headed home hand in hand as rain poured down.

Their wedding was postponed almost a year due to COVID-19, but on October 15, 2021—Mandy’s parents’ wedding anniversary—the big day finally arrived. “We wrote letters to each other that we shared during our first look,” Mandy says. “We wrote [them] in a leather-bound notebook so we can always come back to them. … We continue to write letters or cute notes to each other in the same notebook on special occasions.” When Mandy stepped into the aisle, Christian broke down. “I couldn’t believe that I was the lucky man waiting for her at the altar,” he says.

At the Chicago History Museum reception, romance oozed throughout the space. An elegant cascade of florals and greenery surrounded the sweetheart table. Lush centerpieces featured delicate roses, while foliage with deep-emerald hues created an immersive experience. “I was so ingrained in designing the details and bringing my vision to life; it truly was a labor of love,” Mandy says, looking back. “And our day went perfectly as planned.”


The bride custom designed all of the invites and paper goods with designer Tatiana Soash with a goal of making them “timeless and personal,” Mandy says Photographed by Studio This Is
The bride custom designed all of the invites and paper goods with designer Tatiana Soash with a goal of making them “timeless and personal,” Mandy says. Photographed by Studio This Is

Bridesmaids carried bouquets of blush quicksand roses. Photographed by Studio This Is
Bridesmaids carried bouquets of blush quicksand roses. Photographed by Studio This Is

Underneath the elegant exterior was chocolate cake with chocolate ganache Photographed by Studio This Is
Underneath the elegant exterior was chocolate cake with chocolate ganache. Photographed by Studio This Is

Mandy wore shoes by René Caovilla Photographed by Studio This Is
Mandy wore shoes by René Caovilla. Photographed by Studio This Is

Florals played up their moody, lavish and romantic theme Photographed by Studio This Is
Florals played up their moody, lavish and romantic theme. Photographed by Studio This Is

The centerpieces featured quicksand, cappuccino and black baccara roses, and plum and deep-purple ranunculus Photographed by Studio This Is
The centerpieces featured quicksand, cappuccino and black baccara roses, and plum and deep-purple ranunculus. Photographed by Studio This Is

Tatiano Soash hand-lettered the couple’s names for decor elements including custom toppers for their signature cocktails. Photographed by Studio This Is
Tatiano Soash hand-lettered the couple’s names for decor elements including custom toppers for their signature cocktails. Photographed by Studio This Is

The newlyweds hit the dance floor Photographed by Studio This Is
The newlyweds hit the dance floor. Photographed by Studio This Is

Quicksand and cappuccino roses and white phalaenopsis orchids made up the bride’s bouquet Photographed by Studio This Is
Quicksand and cappuccino roses and white phalaenopsis orchids made up the bride’s bouquet. Photographed by Studio This Is

Mandy changed into a Pronovias party dress before the father-daughter dance. Photographed by Studio This Is
Mandy changed into a Pronovias party dress before the father-daughter dance. Photographed by Studio This Is

The List

Venue Ceremony: Holy Name Cathedral, holynamecathedral.org; Reception: Chicago History Museum, chicagohistory.org

Wedding Planner Claire Weller, Big City Bride, bigcitybride.com

Bride’s Gown Ceremony: Netta BenShabu; Reception: Pronovias; Both: Wedding Atelier, New York City, weddingatelier.com

Bride’s Shoes René Caovilla, Bergdorf Goodman, bergdorfgoodman.com

Bride’s Hair & Makeup Luke Henderson, instagram.com/lukehendersonw1

Groom’s Tux & Shoes Tom Ford, tomford.com

Rings Lauren B, laurenbjewelry.com

Bridesmaids’ Dresses BHLDN, bhldn.com

Bridesmaids’ Hair & Makeup Hair: Sara Johnson, Thomas West Salon, thomaswestsalon.com; Makeup: Jose Deleon, instagram.com/jdeleonmakeup

Groomsmen’s Tuxes The Black Tux, theblacktux.com

Florals Life in Bloom, lifeinbloomchicago.com

Catering Limelight, limelightcatering.com

Cake ECBG Cake Studio, ecbgstudio.com

Invitations Tatiana Soash, tatianasoash.com

Linens BBJ La Tavola, bbjlatavola.com

Entertainment Standing Room Only Orchestra, onthedancefloor.com

Lighting Remarkable Events, instagram.com/rmarkable_events

Accommodations Thompson Chicago, thompsonhotels.com

Videographer West Lake Natives, westlakenatives.com

Photographer Studio This Is, studiothisis.com



Tags:

Photography by: Photographed by Studio This Is