Written and photographed by Sarah of Inspired Eye Photography:

Wedding inspiration can come in many forms. Current trends, architecture, the look of an era. It can come from something as simple as a color. That’s how it started for our creative team. Color! Lots of bright, beautiful color. The 2017 Chicago winter and spring seemed particularly depressing with endless cold and cloudy days. It only took one warm day to sprout hope for flowers, greenery and whimsical love.

Creative and colorful Chicago wedding styled shoot captured by Inspired Eye Photography. See more colorful wedding ideas at CHItheeWED.com!

Once we landed on our inspiration, assembling the right vendors with a shared vision and style helped pull all the pieces of the puzzle together. So as wedding industry professionals, here are our words of wisdom to you -- you crazy in love, modern couples!

Venue selection is intrinsically important to displaying your wedding vision. Balancing bold, imaginative details with a venues’ features calls for a clean, bright, minimalist space. Conversely if your plans are lighter on details – let the venue speak for itself. Onsite event coordinators are always happy to share images and details from previous events to help you get a feel for the creative opportunities in their space.

If you are leaning toward making a statement with your details, a creative florist and event rental and styling company can help you bring your ideas to life. Keep it visual with colors, design and pieces that inspire you. These professionals are happy to oblige and can lend guidance on customized details that will enhance your wedding style. “I use their colors, season and inspirational images to compile a list of flower photos that work well for my couples based on budget. I try to make it very visual so they can envision it like I do and help build confidence in my interpretation of their vision. I work with them to customize details and options to best fit their personal style like adding metallics, geometric shapes, rustic touches or wood accents.” -- Jess, owner of Stemming From Love

Personal style. From the venue and details you select to the spring of greenery you adorn in your hair. Personal style peeks out everywhere! How to mix personal style with wedding style can get a little tricky, but never fear your wedding professionals are here to help!

“It’s so important to incorporate your personal style into your wedding attire. You want to feel like the best version of yourself — not someone else. So many women have a narrow definition of what a ‘bride’ looks like. At Honey, we encourage brides to find a style they are really comfortable in — whether that’s a classic mermaid dress or a modern jumpsuit. We’re all about creating a no-pressure, judgement-free space. If your bridal stylist is trying to push you into buying something that doesn’t feel right, run the other way!”

Stepping up menswear a notch to incorporate current trends with classic styles, while making sure the grooms’ attire is as equally stunning as the brides’ and fits the theme of the wedding has become a fine art. For example… “boho-chic”. Easier to understand for a bride. Hard to specifically apply to a groom; however this gives a stylist and the groom some freedom to take calculated risks.

“I wanted to do something atypical, but still elevated, conservative and beautiful. With more grooms opting for suits and this boho-chic more casual, I knew a tuxedo was out. Doing a blue suit with a normal dress shirt was too normal for me. So I thought pairing a blue suit with elbow patches, with an off-white sweater underneath, would provide the perfect level of laid-back elegance I wanted the groom to exude. Then when you add the right details, like an oatmeal pocket square from Surmesur and the perfect boutonniere, the entire look comes together.” -- Grant, owner of Wedding GPS

Obviously finding the right people to capture all the amazing details and effort you have put into your wedding is uber important. People that fit you stylistically and personally make for the best experience. Let’s be honest. Of ALL the wedding vendors, you spend the most time with your photographer and videographer on the big day. You should actually like them. Talk to them about what’s important to you and to ensure their approach matches your vision.