Real Brides: Laura

From Chicago Splash: In the summer, on the first day of her new job at a pharmacy insurance company, Laura Mineo stepped into a conference room full of new hires and their mentors. Her mentor’s name, Michael Smith, was scribbled on a piece of paper in her hand, but she didn’t know who he was. When it was time to introduce themselves and share fun facts, Mineo, said she had run a half-marathon. “Then we got to Michael,” she recalls. “He said, ‘I’m going to be Laura’s mentor, and she stole my fun fact.’ ” That sealed it: A few months later, their office flirtation turned into a serious romance. Their April 9 nuptials at the Thompson Chicago (21 E. Bellevue) continued the romance, with heavy candlelight and a white, gold and blush decor. The bride’s favorite moments were driven by songs with meaning: Coldplay’s “Clocks” during their introduction, Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” for their first dance, OMI’s “Cheerleader” when they cut the cake and, finally, “Dear Future Husband” by Meghan Trainor when she tossed her bouquet.