Windmill Island Gardens Wedding | Chapin + Claire

Claire + Chapin’s day was filled with joy and meaning. Their ceremony location was near and dear to their hearts. “Getting married at Pillar Church was a must for Chapin and I. We both attended Pillar all throughout college, and going to church together was a staple in our relationship. So even before he proposed to me, Chapin had been in contact with the church to find out what dates they would be available. We locked in a date the night he proposed to me.”

The morning of the wedding brought many happy emotions. Chapin recalls, “I was pumped up! Claire was very organized and told us guys to get to the church at 1:15pm. It was hard to wait until then. The morning wasn’t moving quickly enough. Unfortunately once 1:15pm came around, I still had to wait until 3:30pm for the ceremony to start. That was also hard to do.” Claire mentioned, “I was pretty calm I think. I tried my best to go with the flow. I wanted to avoid being a “bridezilla” and just take in each part of the day, whether it went according to plan or not. It was fun to be with my sisters as we got ready for the wedding. My niece was watching in awe as I got my hair and makeup done and my mother-in-law told me I looked like a princess. I really did feel a bit like a princess!”

When asked if there were any particular moments that stuck out to them, Claire said, “Our first touch was so special. I am a words of affirmation person, so to read a love letter from Chapin on the morning of our wedding was very emotional. To hear him getting emotional reading the letter I had written for him made me feel close to him. Walking down the aisle was a tear-jerker. My dad and Chapin are both emotional criers so looking at both of them made me cry. It was so dear to me that they both showed their love and care for me in that way in that moment.” Chapin said, “Waiting at the front of the church was the hardest part. I just wanted the bridal party to walk down the aisle faster so I could see Claire sooner. When I did finally get to see her, she was stunning! Her dress was beautiful, and she just looked perfect! That was, of course, what I could tell with foggy vision as tears streamed down my face.”

When asked to describe their wedding day, they said, “magical, fun, smiles” and “emotional, and beautiful.” Congratulations, Claire + Chapin! We pray God’s blessing over your marriage.

Bride’s Dress: Spring Sweet | Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden | Bride’s Jewelry: Veil of Grace | Bride’s Rings: Engels Jewelry Company | Groom’s and Groomsmen’s Suits: Suit Shop | Groom’s Ring: Amazon | Bridesmaid’s Dresses: David’s Bridal | Ring Bearer and Flower Girl Outfits: Amazon | Preparation Location: Haworth Hotel | Ceremony Location: Pillar Church | Reception Location: Windmill Island Gardens | Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist: Bombshell Blow Dry Bar | Florist: Ling’s Moment |Caterer: Gilmore Catering | Dessert: Cakabakery | DJ: Ace Wedding DJ | Videographers: Shadow Shine Pictures |