When Pilsen residents Ashlee Pinto, 29, and Keny Zurita, 31, met as first-year law students at Stanford University, they bonded over their Mexican heritage and easy banter. They also both dig a bit of drama, which they had in spades at their elaborate and edgy wedding at Thalia Hall (1807 S. Allport) where guests tagged photos with the clever hashtag #hechoenstanford, Spanish for “Made in Stanford.”

As a string quartet played Kanye West’s “All of the Lights,” the Thalia stage curtain opened to reveal a 12-foot-long hanging birch branch draped with eucalyptus, palm leaves, flowers, and pampas grass. “There was an audible gasp,” Zurita says. They incorporated Bible and poetry readings in English and Spanish; a Native American honor song as a nod to Pinto’s background; and a performance by Mariachi Herencia de Mexico, a Latin Grammy-nominated local student group.

Later, the music took a turn from traditional mariachi tunes. “I told our DJ, ‘Listen… I want to listen to Cardi B and Migos!’ But we also wanted some reggaeton so the people who speak Spanish could engage with that as well,” Pinto says. “I had a great time.”

Zurita wore a custom tuxedo from BLVDier, and Pinto chose a satin and organza gown by Sarah Seven (532 W. Arlington). “I wanted to wear a traditional Spanish mantilla veil with the lace on the side … so I wanted a dress that wouldn’t compete with that,” she says. Her “something blue” was a custom London blue topaz ring she hopes will become a family heirloom.

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Bride’s dress: Satin and organza gown by Sarah Seven, 532 W. Arlington, sarahseven.com

Bride’s accessories: Earrings by AMYO Bridal; blue topaz ring by Mon Ami Jewelry; Manolo Blahnik pumps from Nordstrom, shopnordstrom.com; veil by Marisol Aparicio; headband by BloomDesignStudio on etsy.com

Bridesmaids’ dresses: Alfred Sung, Nordstrom, shopnordstrom.com

Bride’s hair/makeup: Makeup by Joey Claeyssen, jcmakeupart.squarespace.com; hair by Brooke Klay, brookeklayartistry.com

Groom’s attire: Custom tuxedo from BLVDier, 211 N. Green. #1, blvdier.com; Del Toro velvet slippers, deltoroshoes.com; Tom Ford bow tie, tomford.com; William Abraham socks, williamabraham.com

Groomsmen’s attire: The Black Tux, 917 W. Armitage, theblacktux.com

Planner: Elizabeth Tulipana, Thalia Hall

Invitations: RSP Printing, rspprinting.com

Catering: Dusek’s Board & Beer, 1227 W. 18th, dusekschicago.com

Cake: Couple’s cake (red velvet by Bon Vivant, bonvivantcakes.com; dulce de leche cake by Kristoffer’s Cafe & Bakery, 1733 S. Halsted, 312.829.4150

Florist: Asrai Garden, 1935 W. North, asraigarden.com

Rings: Mon Ami Jewelry, 23 N. Wabash Ave.

Chalkboard artist: Anna Michal Paul

Photos by Megan Saul