“Tell Me Your Love Story” — 10 Years Later

More than ten years ago, before FRWD Style existed, before the rebrand, before the countless weddings, timelines, installations, late-night design revisions, and deeply emotional ceremony moments, I wrote a blog called Tell Me Your Love Story.

At the time, I was working with Kensington Florals and Events as a young certified Chicago-based wedding and event planner who was completely enamored with weddings. Not just the flowers or the aesthetics or the celebration itself, but the meaning underneath it all.

And honestly?

Reading those words back now feels a little surreal. Because while trends have changed, social media has evolved, and the wedding industry has transformed in countless ways… the core of what I believe about weddings has remained exactly the same.

I still believe weddings begin long before the ceremony.

They begin in the pauses between conversations.

In the first date that accidentally lasts four hours.

In handwritten notes.

In private jokes.

In family traditions.

In grief.

In joy.

In survival.

In choosing one another over and over again.

Back then, I wrote:“A wedding is a couple’s love story, being portrayed as they cross the threshold of single life into marital bliss…”

And today, I would still say the same thing — just with even more intention behind it.

Because over the years, I’ve learned that the most unforgettable weddings are not the ones chasing perfection.

They are the ones rooted in truth.

The weddings where guests leave saying: “That felt exactly like them.”

That philosophy

became the

foundation of

FRWD Style.

Not simply creating events. But designing experiences that feel emotionally immersive, deeply personal, and visually reflective of the people at the center of them.

That means every detail should have the potential to say something. A signature cocktail can tell a story. A ceremony song can honor a memory. A menu can reflect heritage. A floral installation can symbolize growth. A reception can feel like a love letter.

Even now, after all these years, I still ask couples the same thing:

Tell me your love story.

Tell me how you met. Tell me what makes your relationship feel safe. Tell me what your families carry. Tell me what you never want your guests to forget. Tell me what love looks like to you.

Because weddings are not performances.

They are living archives of love.

And maybe that’s why this old blog still resonates with me after all this time. It reminds me that before FRWD Style became a business, it was first a belief: That love deserves to be experienced. Not just witnessed.

And I still believe that wholeheartedly.

A hopeless romantic then.

A storyteller now.

Still both, honestly.

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Read The Orginal Blog below!

Tell me your Love Story

By Franklin J. Event Planner with Kensington Florals and Events

It’s official. I am a hopeless romantic. I am in love with Love and the idea of Love and everything that involves Love. From first dates and love letters, to stolen kisses and late night storytelling, I am obsessed with Love. And everything in between. Romantic Comedies .Valentine’s Day. Chocolate covered strawberries and red velvet cake. All variations of Love.  It all starts with Love. A first date turned into a second one. Like at first sight developed into more. Days turned into months, and months turned into years. And when you’re with the one you love it feels like a moment in time. You are in love and no one can tell you differently. This is it. You have found that person that you want to spend the rest of your life with, to grow old with, and to love until the end of time. 

 And what event is the culmination of all these things? A wedding. A ceremony merging two lives to one collective unit based on love, fueled with admiration and nurtured by grace. Every wedding, bridal shower and engagement party starts with Love. They asked, you said yes and you are on the beginning of a new path. A lifelong relationship built on the foundation of Love. And everything  thereafter derives from each person’s individual experience with Love, and the collective expression of that love to one another. 

I say all of this to show you how deep in love I am with Love. And weddings.  Of course as a hopeless romantic I am all about weddings. From “City Chic” to “Rustic Charm”. From backyards to beaches, from the glam to the modest, and everything thing else in between, I am about weddings. It was only a matter of time until I decided join the wedding industry. Of course as a certified Wedding and Event Planner I needed to make my own approach. In my mind, a wedding is a couple’s love story, being portrayed as they cross the threshold of single life into marital bliss, in front of close family and friends. And each detail lays out a personal experience, favorite thing, or family value that directly relates to the engaged couple. And at the end, everyone in attendance will know their story.  

Working with Kensington Florals and Events, I have had the pleasure to be a part of some amazing love stories with their own personal twists. A bride recently lost her grandmother before her wedding date, so a corsage was made in her honor and placed in an empty chair, and her handkerchief was included in her bridal bouquet. That was her personal experience. Another couple loved Legos and built them together, and included them in the floral arrangements at their reception. That was their favorite thing. Another couple wed during a Greek Orthodox ceremony that included a custom designed Stephana tray and flower petals for the Dance of Isaiah, in which they officially became husband and wife. That was their family value. Each of these weddings was beautiful and magical in their own individual way, each personalized by their own love story. 

So, tell me your Love story.

As a Certified Wedding and Event Planner with Kensington Florals and Events, I eagerly await to hear your story. Your first date, your Love letter, and the way they asked for your hand in marriage and the reason you said yes. Every detail, unique moment and personal story. Every favorite place to travel, hobby or favorite memory. Every family tradition passed down through generations and heirlooms to be a part of your special day. Tell me your love story, and I will help you tell it again through your wedding day.  Who knows?  Your personal story could be told in your favors. Your favorite thing included in your menu you serve your guests. Your family tradition intertwined in your ceremony. Your Love Story is your wedding date, and your chance for all of your guests to feel the love between you and your spouse. Your chance for your guests to experience the very Love Story you and your spouse have written.  And who better to help you write that story again? 

A Hopeless Romantic like me. 

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Ready to Tell Your Love Story?

Every couple has a story worth celebrating. Whether your relationship is rooted in family traditions, shared adventures, quiet moments, or bold milestones, your wedding should feel like an authentic reflection of who you are and what you are building together.

At FRWD Style, we specialize in personalized wedding planning, wedding design, and storytelling-driven celebrations for couples who want their wedding to be more than beautiful—they want it to be meaningful. From intimate gatherings to full-scale luxury wedding weekends, we help transform your story into an immersive experience that your guests will remember long after the last dance.

If you're searching for a Chicago wedding planner who believes your love story should be at the center of every decision, we'd love to connect.

Schedule a consultation today and let's begin creating a wedding experience that feels unmistakably, unapologetically, and beautifully you.

Serving Chicago, the Midwest, and destination wedding clients nationwide.