Gabriella & Michael Colorful Garden Party Wedding at The Drake Oak Brook

If you could bottle up the feeling of a late-summer evening, it might look a lot like Gabriella and Michael’s wedding at The Drake Oak Brook. Embracing lush greenery, rustic-yet-refined details and twinkle lights, this colorful celebration was like an Italian garden party-meets-nostalgic farewell to summer.

Gabriella and Michael met online, their connection sparking over a first date dinner at Rosebud’s. From there, life together unfolded naturally – full of cooking, traveling and movie nights (complete with of in-depth film discussion). Gabriella, who works in email marketing for a non-profit, and Michael, an attorney, bring different strengths to the table but share a love for the same simple pleasures. Add in their two dogs, Klaus and Dolly, and you’ve got a home filled with energy and adventure.  

For both Gabriella and Michael, family isn’t just important, it’s everything. Raised in Italian households, they wanted their wedding to reflect the warmth and closeness that define their roots. Guests flew in from across Illinois and Florida, filling the celebration with a sense of coming home. Gabriella, who was adopted and raised in Illinois, was especially overjoyed to have her biological mother travel in, too.

The Drake Oak Brook was the ideal venue for the couple’s wedding, offering both practicality and charm. Hosting every part of the day in one location gave them peace of mind, and spared their guests from navigating downtown Chicago logistics! The venue’s outdoor garden and pergola framed their sweet ceremony, accented by blooms that echoed the cheerful, end-of-summer palette.

Inside, chandeliers sparkled over reception tables dressed and delightful surprises awaited guests. On the dance floor, Gabriella and Michael surprised everyone with a choreographed first dance they’d been secretly practicing for months. And when it came time to cut the cake, Michael took a page straight from The Lord of the Rings. Wielding a massive J.R.R. Tolkien-esque sword gifted by Gabriella, he sliced into the cake to roaring applause.

Closing out summer, this September night defined who Gabriella and Michael are at heart. Between clinking glasses and the scent of fresh blooms in the air, this wedding captured the essence of two people who always find joy in simply being together.

Vendors

PHOTOGRAPHER Wes Craft Photography
VENUE The Drake Oak Brook, Autograph Collection
PLANNER Sarah Kathleen Events
FLORAL Wallflower Designs
HAIR & MAKEUP The Bridal Beauty Team
BRIDE’S GOWN Wolsfelt’s Bridal
GROOM’S FORMALWEAR The Black Tux
RINGS Costello Jewelry Company
CAKE Creative Cakes Bakery
ENTERTAINMENT Yazz Events