Bridal Bliss: Angel and Will

Will and Angel first locked eyes on the campus of Northern Illinois University nearly 10 years ago. Her beauty mesmerized him, but he never got the chance to make his move. After they shared bridal party duties at their mutual friends’ wedding a few years after graduation, she caught his eye once again. They didn’t connect that time around either, but you know what they say: The third time’s the charm! Two years later, a mutual friend finally connected them, and he made sure to leave a lasting impression. They were married last summer on October 15, 2011 in Naperville, Illinois. Share their love!

Before meeting Will, I had taken a hiatus from the dating scene,” reveals Angel. “I led a full life.  I purchased a home, and I was toying around with the idea of getting a puppy. I was content with being single, growing professionally and traveling. I often joke with him about coming into my life and throwing a monkey wrench into my ‘I’m doing me’ plans. But, oh, what a beautiful surprise he was.”

On her big day, Angel wore these lovely, ivory Badgley Mischka heels, earrings by Tejani, a handmade pearl bracelet and a solitaire diamond necklace.

Angel chose this spectacular trumpet gown, called “Adorae,” that was designed by Sottero and Midgley. “I tried on five dresses before making the selection,” she tells us.

Angel's bridesmaids carefully help the beaming bride slip into her beautiful gown. So sweet!

“Will and I both love the Lord, and we both know that if it were not for God’s grace, and His divine timing, we would have never crossed paths,” says Angel. “So, we gave this day back to the Lord.”

Angel was visibly overcome with joy and gratitude as she prepared to meet the man God had chosen for her at the altar.

Will met Angel at the altar wearing a custom black and white tuxedo with a champagne ascot and matching handkerchief.

Here Angel poses pretty to show off the alluring beauty of the back of her gown. And, rightfully so. It's a real stunner!

“My father went to every boutique with me, and he chose my wedding dress,” says Angel. “I’m a big daddy’s girl, so when he gave me the thumbs up, I knew the dress was The One.”

"I have always loved the look of an underhand braid, so I wanted to try this look with loose curls for my wedding day," says gorgeous bride Angel.

Humbled groom Will pauses to shed tears of joy.

Angel’s cascading bouquet was made of an elegant arrangement of all white garden roses, hydrangea, stephanotis, and her favorite flower, phalaenopsis orchids. Her bridesmaids carried lovely clustered bouquets of ivory and Sahara blush roses with seeded eucalyptus and dusty miller around the edges.

“Since we lived in separate states, we talked on the phone every day for one month before our first date,” says Angel. “This may sound crazy, but we both knew that we had found something special within a couple weeks of our first phone conversation.”

“Will is a God-fearing, hard-working and loyal gentleman with a tough exterior, but a soft spot just my size,” Angel tells us. “He makes me laugh until my stomach hurts.”

“I am his priority, and he is mine,” Angel proudly proclaims of her relationship with her new husband, Will. “Our motto is, ‘We are better together!’”

“I absolutely love his smile, his strength and wisdom and his attentiveness to my needs,” says Angel. “He has the ability to make me laugh at any random moment.”

Angel and Will show off their his and hers ring style, and we love it.

The bridesmaids wore champagne tea-length gowns by Bill Levkoff to match the elegance of the evening, while the dapper groomsmen donned three-piece black suits with champagne embroidered ties with matching handkerchiefs.

Angel and Will chose Hotel Arista, in her home state of Illinois, together, because “it was newly built, had modern décor and amazing catering.”

Angel and Will chose to have a custom monogrammed aisle runner with their initials and to accent it, they placed white and blush colored roses on each side. Absolutely fabulous idea, you two! It came out beautifully.

Angel absolutely loves fresh flowers, so the couple made sure to have them in abundance on their wedding day.

Angel's dear ol' dad proudly escorted her down the aisle. This is a precious portrait.

“I recorded a voice over with a special message to the groom to play as I walked down the aisle,” says the bride. “Then we played Jamie Foxx’s ‘When I First Saw You’ from Dreamgirls.”

“We prayerfully selected worship songs to be rendered during the ceremony, and our psalmist, Natasia Lambert, took us to church,” says the bride. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.”

Even Angel and Will's smallest guests had a fabulous time sharing in the love during their romantic and spiritual ceremony.

Varying glass cylinders filled with floating candles and submerged flowers helped to add hints of elegance and romance to the ceremony aisle, which was draped in lavish linens.

“We wanted a soft, romantic feel to the ceremony, so we chose ivory as the dominant color, with hints of gold and blush,” says Angel. “The room was lit in a soft, white lighting, and the walls were draped in ivory with a breathtaking chuppah as the focal point of the room.”

Will and his beautiful bride Angel chose to light a unity candle to unite their families and to partake in the communion sacrament.

“At the altar, I felt like there was no on else in the room but the two of us,” says Angel. “I knew that our marriage was ordained by God. I was so grateful to God for allowing us to see this day.”

Madly in love couple Angel and Will seal the deal with a romantic pucker at the altar.

“We wanted a wedding that our guests would never forget,” says Angel. “One that was beautiful to the senses.”

After the wedding ceremony, the ballroom was transformed into a magical reception. The couple’s guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with butler passed hors d'oeuvres while the room was flipped.

For their first dance as husband and wife, Angel and Will swayed to the sweet sounds of "Made to Love You" by Gerald Levert.

Angels says the staff at the hotel did a spectacular job of bringing their wedding day décor vision to life, and they couldn’t have done it without the expert help of her florist Donna Loschner, who was on site to make sure it all worked out.

Two hundred and fifty loved ones came to help Angel and Will celebrate their "I dos."

The couple's decadent wedding cake was created by the bakers at The Baking Institute. Coordinating with the look of their wedding, it was topped with an elegant cluster of roses that continued along the edge of each tier.

"We both love strawberries, so our cake was a yellow cake with fresh strawberry filling and buttercream icing," says Angel. "It was a hit with our guests."

The couple’s DJ, from Spinnin Discs, did a great job getting the crowd on their feet.

Will has a little fun removing his wife's garter, and their photographer was there to catch all of the smalls.

“Early on, I was attracted to the way he loves and respects his mother,” says Angel. “He is wise beyond his years. I fell in love with a man who challenges me daily to be the very best me that I can be.”

Angel and Will were all smiles on the day they officially became husband and wife. You can really feel the love in every portrait.

"As a gift to the groom, I surprised Will with a new SUV," Angel tells us. "He willingly sacrificed to give me the wedding of my dreams, so I thought it was fitting to surprise him with the SUV he always wanted."

Angel and Will's fairytale wedding came to a sweet end, and the happy couple, although exhuasted, say that night they knew they wouldn't have changed a thing. Did you enjoy their elegant wedding style? Share your favorite details below and leave the newlyweds some comment love. Want to see your wedding featured in Bridal Bliss in 2013? Email us now!