This Duo's New York Fashion Week-Themed Wedding Took Place Against the Chicago Skyline

Getting Ready

Georgianna wore a robe with a touch of blue—a nod to the bridal tradition—while getting ready on the morning of the wedding.

An Unexpected Ball Gown

Even though she had a lace fit-and-flare wedding dress in mind when she went shopping, after the bride tried on several of that style, she knew she hadn't found "the one." She remembered asking Giusseppi what he pictured her in on the wedding day—he told her that he imagined a ball gown. Although the bride wasn't particularly drawn to the silhouette, she coming back to one particular ball gown in the store. "It's like it was speaking to me," Georgianna says. "When I put the dress on I instantly started to cry and I hadn't even seen myself in it yet! It fit so perfectly on my body and it just felt like me," she says. The sleeveless Sophia Tolli tulle number featured a corset back and french lavender lace embellishments.

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Something Blue, Part Two

As for her second touch of something blue? The bride's point-toe sling-backs stylishly fit the bill.

A Touch of Vintage

The couple wanted to incorporate their love for vintage into their big day, so they visited one of their favorite antique shops for accessories. Georgianna ended up finding gold clip-on earrings with a matching brooch that Giussseppi wore on the wedding day. When the couple first started dating, Giussseppi bought them each a vintage gold bracelet cuff which neither of them ever takes off, so they each wore that on the wedding day, too.

Pure Romance

Georgianna carried an elongated bouquet that included dusty miller, soft pink dahlias, white roses, power blue nigellas, and ranunculus.

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Dapper Groom

Giussseppi wore a navy Purple Label Ralph Lauren tuxedo paired with custom blue velvet slippers (also by the designer), the matching vintage gold cuff bracelet, and a watch that the bride gifted him. He changed into a white Brooks Brothers jacket for the reception.

Lavender Ladies

The bridesmaids wore dresses in cool gray and eucalyptus tones from Brideside, while Georgianna's mom and sister stood out in gold garments. Her sister, the maid of honor, wore a 1960s brocade dress with a matching cape. Each of the 'maids held stems of dried lavender and eucalyptus tied with a cream ribbon; all were made by the bride. "Not only do I adore the muted look of dried flowers but it also happens to be Giusseppi's and my favorite scent. I wanted my girls to be able to inhale and instantaneously feel calm when they held them throughout the evening," Georgianna says.

Bond, James Bond

Giusseppi wanted his groomsmen to have a James Bond look, so they each wore classic navy blue suits with blue ties from Suit Supply, along with black shoes.

A Few Firsts

Instead of a first look, Georgianna and Giusseppi met at a rose garden before the ceremony for a first touch. Giusseppi was blindfolded so he couldn't see his bride, and the pair exchanged gifts and handwritten notes. The bride received a Gucci bag and the groom received two days with a Porsche convertible as his wedding-day present.

Following the first touch, the bride shared an emotional first look with her father.

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The Rooftop Ceremony

Giusseppi drew from his experience working at New York Fashion Week during the venue shopping process; the couple wanted to find a venue that was unique enough to help them pull off the theme. The Halim Time and Glass Museum ended up being the perfect fit. Georgianna loves classical music, so when she first saw the Wisteria Room, where the reception would take place, she fell in love with the glass portraits of classical composers like Motzart and Chopin. The fact that the museum displays vintage clocks from around the world was a huge plus for Giusseppi, who collects vintage timepieces. "It truly felt like a sign from above," the bride says.

The couple held their ceremony on the museum's rooftop with a view of the Chicago skyline; they could hear church bells ringing in the distance. The aisle was lined with greenery and glimmering candles in glass cylinders. White chairs faced the altar where a vintage rug was placed for the couple to exchange vows.

A Veiled Bride

Just before she walked down the aisle, the bride added a low-pinned veil to her ensemble.

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A Walk with Dad

Georgianna's dad—who was very involved in the service—escorted her towards her groom during the processional.

The Emotional Service

The couple's ceremony incorporated some religious themes, but they wanted it to feel conversational. Georgianna's father shared stories of her childhood and his first time meeting the groom. Bridesmaids read some of Georgianna's favorite readings from Shakespeare, Hartley Coleridge, and Winnie the Pooh. "It added a little more of a personality to the ceremony and also showcased our love for reading!" the bride says.

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Back Up the Aisle

After exchanging short vows that they wrote themselves, the freshly-minted newlyweds walked back up the aisle as husband and wife.

As guests enjoyed the cocktail hour, the bride and groom grabbed a signature cocktail (Georgianna's drink of choice was a dirty gin martini while Giusseppi's signature sip was an apricot sidecar) before meeting their photographer for portraits.

Silk or Leather?

Guests found their table numbers at a seating chart that included the couple's signature "GG" emblem, a garland of greenery, and the groom's tape measure. Tables were named after fabrics like velvet, silk, and cashmere to tie in the fashion theme.

The reception took place in the museum's Wisteria room, where an intricate glass ceiling created a unique focal point. Round tables topped with ivory linens were paired with cushioned gold Chiavari chairs. Chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling glass windows with skyline views enhanced the drama of the space.

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Lush Florals

Some tables had centerpieces that featured small assorted flower arrangements surrounded by gold-encased candles. The others were topped with low floral arrangements that included white-and-blush roses.

Emotional Toasts

The couple served a three-course meal for dinner, during which they listened to toasts from their closest friends. "We remember it so vividly and the feelings were so overwhelming," the bride says. "We could just feel all the love pouring into us as we sat at our sweetheart table."

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The First Dance

Georgianna and Giusseppi shared their first dance to "So This Is Love" from Cinderella, one of the bride's favorite Disney love songs. "I knew that I wanted it to be our first dance song because it says everything about how we felt at that very moment," the bride says.

Fashion-Forward Cake

The couple wanted their cake to reflect the New York Fashion Week theme. They asked Bria from Flourish Cake Design to design an avant-garde confection with a topper that delivered on their vision of a rough fashion sketch of two figurines in their formal wedding attire.

Sources

Photography, Perregaux Wedding Photography
Videography, Complete Weddings and Events
Event Planning and Design, Kate Lerman and Ellen Donaghy of Chicago Vintage Weddings
Venue, Catering, and Lighting, The Halim Time and Glass Museum
Flowers, The Petal
Stationery, Spotted Kettle Studios
Bride's Gown and Veil, Sophia Tolli
Bride's Hair, Cynthia Jean
Bridesmaids' Dresses, Brideside
Groom's Attire, Ralph Lauren; Brooks Brothers
Groom's Shoes, Ralph Lauren
Groomsmen's Attire, Suit Supply
Men's Hair, Lauren Curaso
Music, Rachel Zhao; Complete Weddings and Events; The Radium Swing Band
Rentals, Atmosphere Event Group
Cake, Flourish Cake Design
Favors, Juju's Vintage Antique and Resale; Besame Cosmetics
Transportation, Turo