Fantastic Four

By
September 2022 View more

Naperville residents Ariélle Wadas, 32, and Miguel Luis, 35, are the first to admit that their trip to the altar had a few false starts, but thankfully, it all ended up picture-perfect in the end. They planned to marry Labor Day weekend of 2020 at Noah’s Event Venue in Naperville, but their plans were upended when the venue abruptly closed in February 2020. They were thrilled to secure the same date at a new venue they loved, the Highland Loft in Elgin, but then ended up delaying their plans a year due to the pandemic. 

That made it all the more special when they said their vows on September 5, 2021. Back when Luis and Wadas started dating, she was a single mom with twin sons, Austin and Adrian. “Eventually, he asked the boys if he could ask me to be his girlfriend,” says Wadas, a hair and makeup artist for films and commercials, who also coaches at CrossFit 630 in Naperville. Adrian and Austin even helped Luis with ring shopping when he proposed in 2018. “The ring set they picked out, the engagement ring had one diamond, and the wedding band had two diamonds,” says Luis, a firefighter with Naperville Fire Department. “I thought: Three diamonds for her three boys. This is perfect.” 

Luis officially adopted Adrian and Austin, now 11, two months before the wedding, and they stood up as best men for the ceremony. This family of four’s collective love of superheroes inspired the reception’s theme, with centerpieces of flowers crafted out of comic-book pages and a cake with the Batman and Superman logos. A highlight of the night was the couple’s first dance, a slow dance-turned-salsa complete with dips and lifts they had choreographed especially for the occasion and practiced for months leading up to the big day. 

VENDORS

Venue
The Highland Loft, Elgin

Planner
Kristen Milano of Everlasting Impressions, Romeoville

Bride’s attire
Essense of Australia gown from Bella Sposa Bridal Boutique, Tinley Park

Bride’s hair and makeup
Chelo Acosta-Conley, Tinley Park

Bridsmaids’ attire
Gowns of their own choosing from various locations

Groom’s and groomsmen’s attire
Menguin.com

Invitations
Minted.com

Catering
Chic Chef Catering, Addison

Dessert
Cake by Delabhe Cake Studio, Chicago; sweets table by Vamilu Sweets, Chicago; coffee and smoothie bar by Espresso Will Travel Inc., Orland Park

Entertainment
Entourage Mobile Entertainment, Elmhurst

Photography
Julie Riddle of Riddle Road Photography, Geneva

Videography
Anton Baglaridis, Lisle 

Photos courtesy of Julie Riddle/Riddle Road Photography