Leah and Mike were an absolute joy to work with! I so enjoyed being a part of their planning process, and always looked forward to meetings with these two. They were such thoughtful, fun, communicative clients — the dream!

On the November morning of their wedding day, Leah and Mike got ready at the Kimpton Gray Hotel. We always love this hotel for its architectural beauty. There are so many beautiful spots for photos, and it has such a hip, luxe feel!

Leah and her ladies were treated to the beautification genius of Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists. I’ve never been more tempted to go for a pixie cut than after spending so much time with Leah! I loved her fresh faced, simple look.

A favorite moment of mine on every wedding day: when the bridesmaids see their beautiful friend in her gown for the first time!

Meanwhile, Mike and his friends were having a great time hanging out until it was “go time.” Mike’s custom cufflinks that matched the logo found on all their print materials was such a special touch! The guys all donned dapper socks and floral ties; a fun, unique touch that we highly recommend!

This little library nook was a fitting spot for Leah and Mike’s first look. Intimate, warm, and totally complemented their snappy style. We love the pure joy on their faces! This is always a moment filled with butterflies and nerves; it has such a special energy to it that helps set the course for the day.

Leah and Mike were so excited to have a “party bus” to carry them from the hotel to their venue. It was the perfect size and style to get the couple and their friends jazzed up for the excitement of the day. We always appreciate working with Windy City Limo — they are so efficient and communicative!

Jeremy of Jeremy Lawson Photography was on board to document the wedding day, and he did a great job capturing the love and excitement that filled the air.

Given the light-chasing timing that often comes with fall weddings, we opted to get to the venue, Artifact Events, sooner rather than later to capture all the wedding party and family photos before the ceremony began. Leah and Mike were looking forward to enjoying as much of their cocktail hour as possible, so we wanted to minimize the number of photos that they would have to take during that time.

Lynn from Pollen designed the gorgeous floral decor for the wedding. Her ability to mix simplicity with a wow-factor, while keeping it all eco-friendly, is unsurpassed! Plus, she’s an absolute delight to work with. The anemones in Leah’s bouquet are such a classy statement flower!

This moody arrangement that decorated the escort card display showcases fall floral at its finest. Oxblood, blush, and free-flowing greenery absolutely fit the venue, the time of year, and the romantic vibes of the night.

There are so many perfectly eclectic spots for portraits at Artifact Events. While Leah and Mike and the wedding party were hidden away upstairs before the ceremony, Jeremy took advantage of the funky finds to take some one-of-a-kind shots of the happy couple.

Vanilla Video arrived shortly before the ceremony to capture some of the most memorable moments of the day on video. For couples who are looking for any range of video services, Vanilla Video has proven to be a great choice. Simple, unfussy, and affordable — they’re able to work with all budgets to make sure you get the video documentation you want!

Guests began to trickle in for the ceremony, and prelude music filled the air. Leah and Mike chose to work with a relatively new combination of musicians from Style Matters — a jazz arm of String Theory led by Ernie Adams.

Event Brilliance did a stellar job of setting the scene for the ceremony, with a long panel of draping from the top of the second floor and cafe-style lighting that draped across the ceremony (and later, dance floor). But nothing could compare to the masterfully hand-crafted Chuppah that Mike built for their ceremony. A few simple adornments from Pollen added a bit of floral to the look.

The Chuppah was constructed to be light enough to be carried by four special friends from the upstairs holding area, across the catwalk, down the atrium stairs, and into position. We were worried at first with how this would come together, but the attentive Chuppah-bearers made it look easy and seamless!

Soon it was time for the bride’s entrance. Artifact Events offers a dramatic one, fit with a catwalk and a grand staircase. While not for the overly shy or faint of heart, it is totally worth any nerves that one may have about the journey! The look on Mike’s face here says it all.

The ceremony was led by dual officiants who took so much care and thoughtfulness in their words and delivery. Every element that was incorporated was detailed and personal, making for a ceremony that will continue to touch the hearts of those in the audience for years to come.

Cocktail hour immediately followed the ceremony, and guests made their way to the bar while we quickly transformed the ceremony space for dancing and mingling, and put the finishing touches on the reception set-up. Limelight Catering served a bevy of delicious hors d’oeuvres and kept the cocktails flowing, while the jazz trio played on. Leah’s friends have a tradition of making silly temporary tattoos for weddings within their group of friends, and the design for Leah and Mike featured their beloved cat, Olive!

The reception decor continued on with the romantic, moody vibe. The atrium at Artifact has a great element of privacy for dinner, with just enough light to keep things dim but not dark. Mixed with candlelight and Pollen’s beautiful floral arrangements, the effect was beautiful.

Leah’s cousins are talented artists who created custom pottery to house the beautiful floral arrangements from Pollen. These featured the L+M logo that Leah and Mike used on all their print materials, and it added to the personalization and clean-but-cool look that permeated the wedding details.

As cocktail hour came to a close and guests made their way to their seats, the music transitioned to the DJ talents of Max from Style Matters. His ability to read a room and provide the perfect transitions from moment to moment is true talent. We work with him every chance we get!

A handful of heartfelt toasts brought tears and laughter, while Limelight continued serving up the goods for dinner.

After dinner, Ernie Adams from Style Matters jumped back on the drums to join Max in taking things up a notch. The dance floor was dense all night long, and with Max’s killer selections, it was hard for guests to find a reason to take a break!

Dessert was a selection of delectable pies from Bang Bang Pie and deFloured Bakery (an excellent choice for those with more complex dietary restrictions!). They were gone in the blink of an eye — something that ALWAYS happens with pie displays! In the fall, it just hits the spot. Throw a little ice cream in the mix, and you’ve got the perfect sweet treat for your guests.

Overall, it was a truly lovely evening that captured just how wonderful Leah and Mike are. We couldn’t have asked for a better day, and are so thankful we got to work with this special couple! We wish you many years of love and happiness together.