Melanie + Charlie by Aliza Dworkind

We wanted our wedding to feel classic, romantic, and intimate.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We’re Melanie and Charlie, two people who quickly bonded over food, travel, and a shared love of bringing people together. Melanie is the planner of the pair, happiest when hosting, gardening, or mapping out a trip, which usually starts with the dining reservations before anything else. Charlie is funny, relaxed, and perfectly content to go with the flow. He loves a good non-fiction book, watching historical documentaries, and all sports.

Day-to-day, Charlie works as a benefits and tax attorney, and Melanie is a data and analytics consultant. We both have busy weeks, which makes our shared time more grounding. Our favourite rituals include long walks through Chicago’s neighbourhoods, sampling pastries from new bakeries, and winding down with Jeopardy. We’re homebodies at heart, just as happy cooking dinner, reading side-by-side, or negotiating whose turn it is to pick the show – a system that somehow still results in Charlie watching Melanie’s favourite rom-coms.

We are fortunate to have spent the last seven years building a life centred on curiosity, comfort, and sharing everyday moments.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met in January 2019, on the second night of Chicago’s infamous polar vortex, when the streets were eerily quiet, snow-covered, and the temperature hovered around 0°F (-18°C). Against all better judgment, we ventured out to Arbella, a cozy cocktail bar in River North, for our first date. Inside, it was warm and quiet.

Melanie remembers laughing through the entire date and how that laughter carried into every date that followed. From the very beginning, we were silly, open, and completely ourselves with each other. Charlie remembers being immediately struck by Melanie’s quick wit and warmth. He was charmed by her confidence, curiosity, and, of course, her smile (those dimples made a strong first impression).

That first date turned into many more, exploring Chicago’s restaurant and cocktail scene and making frequent trips to the Art Institute of Chicago. About six months in, Charlie accepted a clerkship in Washington, DC, and we decided to try long distance. The second half of 2019 was filled with weekend getaways—Chicago to DC, DC to Chicago—and our first trips together to Boston, MA and Austin, TX.

When COVID hit in 2020, Charlie was in DC, and Melanie moved back to Maryland, allowing us to experience the DC COVID bubble together, a time that unexpectedly deepened our relationship. In 2021, we made our way back to Chicago and settled into life in Lincoln Park, where we finally got to be together again and truly enjoy the city, its neighbourhoods, food, and long walks along Lake Michigan.

Charlie proposed in October 2023 at Shelburne Farms in Burlington, Vermont, atop a hill at sunset with sweeping views of Lake Champlain. Melanie said yes, and we spent the rest of the weekend celebrating with French food, local beers, and more Ben & Jerry’s than we care to admit.

At the heart of it all, we share a love of good food, travel, and the outdoors. From exploring Chicago’s dining scene to wandering cities across the U.S. and Europe, to countless long walks along the lake, we’ve built a life rooted in curiosity, laughter, and shared adventures. After all that, it felt like exactly the right time to get married.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

When deciding on a wedding location, we were initially considering Chicago, where we currently live; Detroit, where Charlie’s family is from; or Washington, D.C., where Melanie’s family is from. None of the options felt quite right—until Melanie suggested Montreal, since her father’s side of the family lives there. Excited but a little nervous about an international destination wedding, we quickly fell in love with the idea.

Guests travelled from all corners of the country to spend the weekend in Old Montreal, which became both the backdrop and a highlight of our celebration. The cobblestone streets, historic architecture, and charming cafés created an atmosphere that was romantic, vibrant, and full of character. We wove the city into our wedding weekend: our welcome party took place at Vieux- Port Steakhouse, a couple of photos were captured at the stunning Crew Collective, our first look destination unfolded at the picturesque Place Vauquelin, and wedding party photos were taken at the Cour d’appel du Québec.

Many guests were visiting Montreal for the first time and were enchanted by its blend of history, culture, and lively energy. It was the ideal setting for a wedding weekend and full of joyous moments shared with family and friends.

We wanted our wedding to feel classic, romantic, and intimate. Both of us are fairly low-key, so we aimed for a day that felt effortless yet thoughtful, with details that reflected our personalities and shared love of the outdoors.

The natural beauty of our venues, Pavillon de la Jamaïque and La Toundra, inspired much of our design. Both spaces feature lush gardens, willow trees, and evergreens, which we incorporated throughout the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. Our palette of sage greens, sky blues, and muted pastels complemented the gardens and created a dreamy atmosphere.

For our ceremony at Pavillon de la Jamaïque, we were married beneath a lush willow tree, which served as the centrepiece of the space. Thalia Mahar from Maison Anthea designed pedestal and aisle arrangements that turned the garden into a whimsical and romantic setting.

Our cocktail hour was in La Toundra’s Jardin du Canada, featuring blue floral tablecloths, mini golden lamps and candles, and a central champagne table surrounded by a seafood bar. Being outdoors, the open-air setting and natural surroundings made the space feel breezy, light, and inviting, perfect for guests to mingle and enjoy the evening.

The reception was transformed into a modern garden soirée, where architectural elegance met organic, woodland-inspired design. Floor-to-ceiling windows brought in golden light, making the indoors feel connected to the gardens outside. Our first rental selection, Toile de Jouy green napkins, set the tone for the tablescape, and with guidance from our planner, Sandy Martindale, from Chic et Champagne, we curated dishware, linens, and candles that combined European elegance with warmth and intimacy. As hosts who love sharing meals with friends and family, we focused on creating an elevated and inviting dining experience. The combination of natural golden light, fresh romantic flowers, and soft candlelight made the evening feel timeless and welcoming.

Overall, our wedding reflected us as a couple, romantic, thoughtful, and grounded in the beauty of nature, shared with the people we love most.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

Our advice for future couples planning their wedding is twofold: take your time and truly enjoy every minute of it. When you first get engaged, there’s an influx of wedding content that’s incredibly exciting, but it can also be overwhelming, making it hard to know what you really want and easy for you to change your mind. Social media can create a sense of urgency to book everything as quickly as possible, but it’s important not to rush into decisions just to check a box.

Take the time to first identify what you and your partner want to experience on your wedding day and then research and meet with vendors so you can get a feel for their personality, working style, and professionalism. Feeling comfortable with your vendors and knowing they understand your vision is essential to creating a day that feels personal and special for you and your partner. Most of all, enjoy the planning process! Find small ways to celebrate along the way, whether it’s a date night after booking a vendor, a toast after a big decision, or simply pausing to reflect on why you’re doing this together. It’s such a special and joyful season for you and your families, and one that deserves to be cherished just as much as the wedding day itself.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

Our photographers, Aliza Dworkind and Pam Kay, were wonderful throughout the day—never overly directive, just quietly observant and thoughtful with their suggestions. The first look was everything you hope it will be. Melanie looked incredible, and the weather and setting were perfect.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

Melanie: I knew I wanted a dress that was classic, light, and easy to move in, perfect for dancing and the summer heat, but I was excited to explore all styles. Over the wedding dress shopping journey, I tried on around 60 dresses, from lace to beading to ballgowns. I even tried on some vintage finds in a charity shop in Edinburgh while Charlie and I were on vacation in December 2024, which was a fun detour that made the experience even more memorable.

I ultimately chose an A-line, strapless canopy taffeta dress by Jenny Yoo. The draped cowl bodice, sculpted basque waist, and subtle sheen made it feel romantic yet effortless. I paired it with a two-tiered cathedral lace veil from Etsy (VeilsbyRebecca) and cream kitten heels with soft rosettes by Stuart Weitzman. For jewellery, I wore vintage pearl and diamond drop earrings I had found at a vintage shop in Chicago and a Katy Faye pearl necklace, which felt timeless but with a unique dimension thanks to its mix of three pearl sizes.

For cocktail hour, I still wanted to wear a veil but knew my ceremony veil would be too long, so I swapped the cathedral veil for an elbow-length Juliet cap veil by Tessa Kim, which added delicate lace detailing to my dark hair and made it easier to mingle with our guests.

Later, for the party, my maids of honour helped me change into a Helsi sequin column dress paired with four-inch satin platform Badgley Mischka heels. The dress was fun, sparkly, and perfect for dancing the night away. The heels didn’t last long on my feet, but they’ll definitely make appearances at future anniversaries.

Charlie: I designed a custom tuxedo with Tom James in Chicago. The design process was very fun as I got to select every element of the suit from the jacket fabric to the cuff links and down to the shoes. I selected a classic black tuxedo with a crisp white shirt. The suit jacket had our wedding date, July 25, 2025, embroidered into it, and the shirt had my initials embroidered on the cuffs.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

We designed our rings with a Chicago jeweller, The Classic Gem, in Lincoln Park, a decision that felt deeply meaningful from the start. Supporting a family-owned atelier in the city where our story began added an extra layer of sentiment to the process. From our very first appointment, our designer, Jenny Nuth, made the experience feel thoughtful and truly celebratory.

Because Melanie rarely wears jewellery, she was drawn to rings that felt effortlessly elegant and wearable for everyday life. She wanted a sleek design that reflects her personal style – refined, understated, and quietly luminous. For Melanie, Charlie selected a romantic oval-cut diamond set on a pavé gold band, paired with a complementary pavé gold wedding band for an added touch of brilliance. It was a piece that felt both modern and enduring, designed to move with her through every chapter ahead. Charlie chose a polished silver band that was clean and timeless. Its simplicity was intentional, a quiet counterpart that beautifully complemented Melanie’s rings while reflecting his own understated style.

Together, the rings are daily reminders of where our story began, and sparkling little promises of all the laughter, adventures, and milestones still ahead.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Melanie: I was so excited to finally see the reception space come to life. When we were selecting rentals 8 months prior in November 2024, it was hard to envision how everything would come together since there were so many elements to consider. Do these colours actually work together? How many candles are too many candles? And how many fork options can there possibly be? When we walked in for the reveal, I was completely blown away. The reception hall was dreamy, and once it was filled with our guests, it truly felt like the most beautiful dinner party of our lives.

Another detail I loved was how personalised our wedding party looked. For my bridesmaids, I asked each of them to choose a blue dress in any style and fabric they loved, and they absolutely delivered! The mix of shades, textures, and silhouettes worked perfectly for a summer wedding, and they looked stunning together. For Charlie’s groomsmen, I sourced gold vintage brooches from various antique shops for them to wear in place of boutonnieres. The brooches gave a pop of contrast against their sharp black tuxedos.

As two people who love cooking and dining, the food was one of the most important elements for us. We worked closely with Brera Catering to design our menu, and they truly exceeded every expectation. Right after the ceremony, they brought us a private plate of bites so we could savour a quiet moment together, enjoying everything we had been looking forward to. I’ll always remember Charlie’s signature drink, a Maple Old Fashioned – a nod to our Canadian destination wedding – and the Gildas, which paid homage to our love for Spain. It was a small detail, but one that felt deeply personal. From the first cocktail hour bite to the last course of dinner, Brera delivered an unforgettable culinary experience that our guests are still raving about.

Charlie: Initially, I was a little worried the ceremony site might underwhelm. When we visited a few months earlier, there were patches of uneven grass, and it was hard to picture everything coming together. On the wedding day, those concerns completely disappeared. Some of it was luck and timing – the grass had filled in beautifully during the spring – but much of the transformation was due to our planner, Sandy, and our florist, Thalia. The aisle arrangements and the overall floral design elevated the space in a way that felt natural and intentional. Whatever doubts I had months earlier evaporated the moment I saw it come to life.

The garden adjacent to La Toundra was the perfect setting for our cocktail hour. With its thoughtful layout and staging, it felt like being inside a Monet painting. The seafood bar, cocktail bar, and decorative banners came together seamlessly and reflected exactly what we had envisioned.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

Melanie: I have so many cherished moments from the day, it’s almost impossible to choose just one. I loved starting the morning surrounded by my best girlfriends. The atmosphere was calm yet giddy, filled with laughter as we reflected on all the memories we’ve shared over the years and how grateful I was to have them by my side for such an important milestone in my life.

My first look with Charlie was incredibly special and remains one of my favourite moments of the entire day. It was an intimate pause just for the two of us before the excitement of the celebrations began. Walking through the streets of Old Montreal to see him, with passersby cheering “Félicitations!” along the way, felt surreal, like something straight out of a movie, and made the moment even more magical and unforgettable.

Seeing our parents and siblings fully immersed in the joy of the day was incredibly moving. Watching them laugh, smile, hug one another, and truly celebrate alongside us made the day feel even more complete and full of love.

And, of course, dancing the night away was an absolute highlight. I spent most of the evening on the dance floor, singing along to our favourite songs with family and friends. The boundless energy in the room made the night unforgettable and the perfect ending to such a meaningful day.

Charlie: One of my favourite memories was the quiet stretch before the ceremony. I had my groomsmen and a few close friends in my room to hang out, get dressed, take photos, and have some food and light drinks. I was determined to have St. Viateur bagels—but I ordered about five times too many. There were seven of us and roughly sixty bagels, which created a strange and unspoken pressure for everyone to keep eating bagels. Not ideal, but very memorable.

From the ceremony through cocktail hour and dinner, the entire day felt seamless. It’s hard to single out one moment because everything blended together into one continuous, perfect memory. The bagels stand out mostly because they were so absurd—and because they made us laugh.

We honeymooned in Banff Springs and Lake Louise, staying at Fairmont Banff Springs and Château Lake Louise. Both were among the nicest hotels we’ve ever stayed in, with gorgeous views, exceptional service, and so much charm. Being in the mountains of Alberta was the perfect way to unwind and reflect after a jam-packed week. We spent our days hiking and canoeing, ate exceptionally well, and had time to read and truly relax. Our favourite hiking viewpoint was at Lake Agnes, looking towards the tea house, and we loved sitting on the patio at Chateau Lake Louise, with a clear view of the lake. It struck the right balance between activity and rest, and felt like exactly what we needed. Overall, it was a perfect honeymoon.

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

The day before, Melanie’s family hosted a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony, the Lễ Vu Quy. The ceremony was beautiful and meaningful, consisting of five distinct events that honoured both families. Everyone in the wedding party, as well as both sides of the family, wore classic Vietnamese Áo Dài, adding vibrant colour and elegance to the occasion. Watching our families come together, exchanging blessings and heartfelt words, was a powerful reminder of the love and support surrounding us. It was a beautiful, intimate celebration that perfectly set the tone for the wedding day to come.