Lauren Elizabeth and Matthew Torvik first met after she moved home to Chicago following nearly a decade in Los Angeles. “All I really did in L.A. was hustle,” she recalls. Back in Chicago, she found herself more social than ever, and one Saturday at her apartment complex pool, she struck up a conversation with Matthew. They hit it off immediately—so much so that Lauren jokingly grabbed his phone and entered her number before he could ask. A week later, they went to a pre-season Bears game, which led to their “famous among friends and family” 72-hour date. Within a year, they were expecting their daughter, Olive, and they became engaged shortly after her first birthday.
Matthew proposed while they were building their first home. Lauren believed they were visiting the construction site to choose light fixtures, but when she stepped inside, the space—still without drywall—was filled with candles and rose petals. Matthew said, “Welcome to the rest of our lives,” before both of their families arrived to celebrate—and Lauren questioned whether there was still a fixture decision to be made. A limo took them to Lauren’s favorite childhood restaurant, where a surprise engagement party with friends and extended family awaited. “I was genuinely shocked,” she says.
When planning the wedding, the couple chose Hilton Head, South Carolina, a place Lauren visited every year with her grandparents. “Choosing Hilton Head meant Matt could get married on the beach,” a setting he had always imagined, “and I could walk down with my grandpa’s spirit beside me on the same beach we walked together my whole life,” she shares. Her grandfather’s pin was affixed to her bouquet, and she walked herself down the aisle.
Lauren partnered with Mandalynn & Co. to create a setting that felt elevated yet understated. “My style is very elevated, simple, and calm in my everyday life,” she explains. The beach guided the aesthetic, supported by draping, candlelight, and natural elements from Flora by Hannah. She incorporated pieces from her own brand, Lauren Elizabeth Shop, including marble décor and custom table-card holders for guests to take home. Photography was captured by Gabby Galloway and Madison Lane, with elevated behind-the-scenes moments captured by Dreamy Content.
For the ceremony, Lauren wore a Danielle Frankel dress. Her thought process: “If this was a black dress, would I wear it to someone else’s wedding? If the answer was yes, it wasn’t WOW enough,” she says. The look felt distinct without losing a sense of simplicity. Belle Atelier helped design a custom belt to refine the shape and offered to use extra fabric to create a matching dress for Olive. Lauren completed her look with Bruna The Label earrings—pearls “crawling up the ear”—and Jimmy Choo heels she had saved for months.
The ceremony was the part of November 15, 2025, Lauren anticipated most. “I was seriously giddy the whole day,” she recalls. “You can see it in the photos—I did not play it cool.” The couple exchanged vows they had written themselves, read aloud on the beach. “There wasn’t a dry eye,” she says. Standing with Matthew and looking out at Olive, their families, and friends, Lauren describes the moment simply: “It felt so real and vulnerable.”
The reception focused on energy and movement. “Our main goal after the ceremony was just FUN,” she says. Music played a central role, with strings, the band High Tide, DJ Ede, and saxophonist Darius Starks performing throughout the night. Guests enjoyed Southern dishes from Omni Hilton Head, and speeches from their parents, two maid of honors, and best man.
Later in the evening, Lauren changed into a second Danielle Frankel look and added her grandmother’s pearls. She and Matthew began their first dance to Chris Stapleton’s “I Think I’m in Love with You,” transitioning into Josh Turner’s “Your Man” with Olive in their arms. “The speeches and dancing with our daughter were my favorite parts of the reception,” she shares.
The celebration continued at a nearby hotel for an after-party where the dancing didn’t stop. For their honeymoon, Lauren and Matthew traveled to Belmond Cap Juluca in Anguilla—a trip Lauren describes as the nicest vacation she has ever taken. They plan to return one day with Olive.
