Ambitious Wedding Part 3: The Reception, Food & an Epic Donut Wall!

As promised, I’m really excited to share the final details of our wedding with you!

So many people told me that my wedding day would go by SO quickly — and it truly did. It was almost like a dream — a little hazy and blurry, but with pops of vivid memories and incredible moments sneaking in that make me smile every time I think of them. Mostly, I’m SO glad that we had a photographer and videographer there to capture all the moments I didn’t see. They brought the day back to life for us and we’re so grateful to keep these in our home and hearts forever.

Don’t worry, I will also share the wedding video with you! Coming soon.

In the meantime, let’s talk about all the details!

COCKTAIL HOUR:

I’m not going to lie — the food at our reception was one of the most important things for me. Personally, I think memories are created around the senses — flavorful spicy hispanic food, incredible aromas drifting as plates are passed around along with good conversation and of course, beautiful presentation.

We had a 45 minute cocktail hour pre-reception with incredible bites from Fig Catering, who catered our entire wedding. There were spicy margaritas, mini empanadas with avocado crema, bacon-wrapped plantains and coconut milk halibut ceviche on jicama chips. EVERYTHING WAS SO GOOD.

Other details

We had a beautiful memory table for everyone that had passed (including my Dad). It was a special tribute to our loved ones.

There was also a unique polaroid guestbook that Tony’s Dad made. We got the polaroid and had people take photos and write their names on the bottom. It was really fun to have those images after and see what people did and the poses they made.

Table Decor

Our table decor was one for the books. I hired Katelyn Gambler to do design menus, Splendor or Eden for my flowers and Fig Catering provided vintage plates and glasses.

Here comes the bride and groom + cake cutting

We did a fun little entrance dance to Kid Cudi’s Pursuit of Happiness before we cut our cake.

Our cake was from Fig Catering and was incredibly beautiful and simple. Because we opted to do a donut wall, we just wanted a small cake for the head table. I chose to have the pastry chef make a hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting and a salted caramel drip.

We only got to have a couple of bites, but damn it was gooooood.

The Food

Okay it’s time we talk about the food! Fig Catering did such an unbelievable job with the food. We did a customized menu and were happy with EVERY single detail.

Passed Hors d’Oeuvres:

Coconut Milk Halibut Ceviche on a jicama chip

Bacon Wrapped Plantain

Mini Picadillo Empanadas with avocado crema

Dinner:

Spinach Salad with jicama, pears, dried cherries & pink peppercorn ranch

Fluffy Saffron Rice with gandules

Puerto Rican-style Stewed Beans with sofrito and potatoes

Roasted Seasonal Vegetables with herbs

Poblano-Sweet Corn-Queso Tamales with salsa verde

Ropa Vieja with tostones

Chorizo-Stuffed Chicken Thighs

and

Blue Cornbread with honey butter and whipped butter

The Donut Wall of My Dreams

We had Stan’s Donuts cater in donuts for dessert. We placed them elegantly on this BEAUTIFUL donut wall that my father-in-law made. Yep, he MADE this! How freaking cool. I told him that he should just start a website on Etsy, but I don’t think he’s convinced.

Everyone at our wedding raved about the donuts. It was a great way to mix up a dessert, and for people to go home with a delicious late night snack or treat for the next day.

I also wanted to note that I got cute donuts bags from the PaperShoppe on Etsy for people to take donuts later and the amazing cake stands are from aheirloom (they make really amazing gifts).

And because I know you are curious, here are the donut flavors I selected from Stan’s:

Lemon Pistachio Old Fashioned

Blueberry Old Fashioned

Chocolate Sprinkles Cake

Vanilla Sprinkled Glazed

Strawberry Glazed

Coconut Cake

Plain Old Fashioned

Our First Dance

Our first dance was to Mumford & Son’s live version of There Will Be Time. Every time I hear this song it brings tears to my eyes. It’s incredibly beautiful.

Dancing the night away

Let’s just say that we shut down the dance floor that night. It was INCREDIBLE.

Thanks to everyone who was apart of our wedding day. We love you!

Wedding dress: Ines Di Santo via a&be bridal

Suits: Calvin Klein

Bridesmaid dresses: Show Me Your Mumu 

Photography: Studio 29 Photography

Videography: Aaron Bean Cinema

Flowers: Splendor of Eden

Hair: Carrie and Issac, my two hair stylist from XO Studio in Lakeview, Chicago (she’s the best!)

Makeup: Shannon O’Brien

Day of Coordinator: Erin Shanley of Bride and Joy Events

First Look location: Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago, IL

Ceremony & Reception: Salvage One