Meghan and Chris’s Globe-Trotting Wedding 04.18.15

Meghan and Chris were a couple who knew what they wanted out of their wedding day:  an intimate celebration of their love with their closest family and friends.  They wanted a reception that was representative of everything they loved most (travel, food, and friends!).  I was thrilled to be brought on board to help them fine tune their details and to create a wedding day to remember.

Meghan and Chris did not have a traditional wedding party, but they wanted to include their family members in the celebration.  Meghan started off the day at Civello Salon getting dolled up alongside her sister, mother, and Chris’s mom and sister.  Meghan truly looked like a Hollywood starlet when she gathered up her wedding gown and hopped into a cab to head to Kitchen Chicago.

Chris spent the morning relaxing in a suite at The Palmer House Hilton with his uncle and soon-to-be-father-in-law.  Chris looked so dapper in his fitted navy tux.

Meghan and her entourage finished the getting ready process at Kitchen Chicago’s bridal suite.  Her Sarah Seven gown looked like it was made of spun gold.

When it was time to begin the ceremony, Meghan and Chris’s wedding officiant, Sheri Reda of Flow Ceremonies invited all their guests to stand and introduce themselves to someone whom they had not yet met.  It started the ceremony off with an element of togetherness–something that was really important to the bride and groom.

The processional began to the smooth tunes of The Sam Trump Quartet.  Amanda and Nate of The Shalom Imaginative were able to capture the raw emotion that both Meghan and Chris displayed upon seeing one another for the first time.

Their ceremony was meaningful and included readings from family and close friends.  The backdrop created by Art of Imagination framed the space just beautifully, and upon ending guests tossed flower petals on the bride and groom as they recessed!

Cocktail hour was filled with excited and chattering guests and the sounds of Sam Trump.  Delicious hors d’oeuvres were passed and guests imbibed their choice of beverage while snapping photos with selfie sticks or using the instax cameras for their guestbook.  Chris made paper airplanes out of maps to use as their escort cards–genius!

When cocktail hour was complete, the guests headed upstairs to City View Loft for dinner service.  Each of the tables was named after a place the bride and groom had traveled together.  Meghan and Chris created their own centerpieces using florals from Steve’s Flower Market, Chris’s photographs of places they had traveled together, and votives.

After a blessing and some heartfelt toasts, Meghan, Chris and their loved ones enjoyed a delicious family style meal and great conversation.  Following dinner, the bride and groom cut their cake and officially opened the sweets table that had been tantalizing guests since they walked into the room.  With a combination of nostalgic treats like sixlets, red vines, and zebra cakes, and the gourmet additions of cupcakes from Courageous Bakery and Glazed & Infused doughnuts there was something for everyone.

After some emotional special dances with each other and their parents, the dance floor opened to all their guests.  The floor was bustling from start to finish without a lull!  DJ Eric Gupana was a fabulous addition and helped keep the party atmosphere going until the end of the night.

Meghan and Chris, it was a true pleasure to work with you both on your big day.  Thank you for entrusting me with such a special event. I wish you both the absolute best.

Meghan and Chris’s wedding was also featured on both Junebug Weddings and Southbound Bride!  Check those out below:

http://junebugweddings.com/wedding-blog/chic-urban-chicago-wedding-city-view-loft/

http://southboundbride.com/industrial-chic-ceremony-spaces/