One of the very few silver linings to rescheduled weddings are those few who were lucky enough to get married last year and then celebrate with their friends and family again the way the originally planned. Melissa and Slater were one of these lucky couples. Having already been wed almost a year ago to the day, it was amazing being a part of a true celebration of their marriage.

Melissa and Slater both started their day at Hotel Zachary getting ready with their bridesmaids and groomsmen. Melissa and the ladies received hair and makeup from the team at Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists, while the guys relaxed in their suite, enjoying the incredible views of Wrigley Field buzzing with a day game. Aileen of Ed and Aileen Photography was behind the lens and Fleur provided each and every beautiful floral touch.

Although Melissa and Slater were already legally husband and wife, and your usual first look wasn’t exactly necessary, they still took a minute to see each other before the day began and it still felt as special as ever. A bit surreal that this long awaited day was finally here.

Second City Trolley escorted the wedding party directly to Artifact Events for photos before later shuttling guests for cocktail hour. Melissa and Slater had the entire space to themselves, taking advantage of every unique corner inside and out for photos with their family and wedding party.

Guests entered on the south side of Artifact Events for cocktail hour, where they were met with gorgeous decor by Fleur and an impressive spread by Hearty Boys. Bars were set up in the lounge and in the outdoor courtyard with passed hors d’oeuvres and signature cocktails; it was the start to a perfect evening.

Later, guests were asked to move to the north side of Artifact Events for dinner in the atrium. Fleur outdid themselves once again with the most beautiful centerpieces, a floral wall behind the head table, and endless candlelight. A wedding cake on display from Sweet Mandy B’s and an amazing meal from Hearty Boys awaited. Throughout dinner, friends and family gave truly touching toasts before the insanely fun Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press took over for the night.

Melissa and Slater, not only are we so grateful to have been a part of such a truly fun day, but we absolutely loved getting to know you and watching you celebrate your love for one another. Congratulations again!!

I don’t talk a TON about my personal life here on the site, but I think many people know that I’m a mom of four.  My first, Allegra, was a C-Section but for each of my subsequent deliveries I worked with a midwives group to have an unmedicated birth. The incredible midwife who delivered my second daughter, Cora, (for those “in the know” a VBAC is not always an easy feat) always held a very special place in my heart. I have a vivid memory of having my fresh new baby in my arms, listening to Sam Smith’s Stay With Me, filled with euphoria while Bridget congratulated me on my successful delivery!  I worked with a different midwife from the same group for our next daughter, Aubrey.  Then, in the fall of 2019, I was excited that Bridget was the assigned midwife who would be overseeing all my prenatal care for our fourth-and-final kiddo who would become Stanley, born in a hurry 10 minutes after arriving to the hospital in May 2020, and caught by a 3rd midwife.

You can imagine my excitement when I got an unexpected inquiry from Bridget to help coordinate her wedding in August of 2021.  I couldn’t imagine anything more full-circle.  Despite a full schedule, of course I said YES!

The day began with hair and makeup by Pin Me Up Chicago at Bridget and James’s high rise apartment with fabulous floor-to-ceiling views of Grant Park and Lake Michigan.  The group was intimate: just Bridget and James’s immediate family members and a couple close friends who stopped by to get a sneak peek of Bridget before her walk down the aisle.

Meanwhile, James was hanging out at the Saddle and Cycle Club until it was time for the first look.  He looked pretty dapper in his SuitShop suit.

After the first look, Bridget and James took some candid portraits throughout Grant Park.  Deepwell Photo did a tremendous job capturing the look and feel of the day. Out of the Blue Weddings was there to capture everything on video as well.  Bridget and James moved seamlessly throughout their photos and were soon scooped up by an O’Hare-Midway Limousine bus filled with their families to head to Chicago Illuminating Company  for the ceremony.

Chicago Illuminating Company was set up for the big celebration with help from Anna Held Florist  who provided all of the fabulous florals and stunning decor for the day. Good Vibrations was in place and started the all-Beatles ceremony music.   The ceremony, officiated by Bridget’s former colleague, Molly, was beautiful with some of the most thoughtful vows we’ve heard this year; there was not a dry eye in the house (yes, even our team shed a few tears).  Shortly after vows, the MVP (most valuable pup!), Larry, delivered the rings to Bridget and James.

Guests headed inside for cocktail hour while BOKA and Anna Held Florist  worked their magic to transform the ceremony area into the magical reception setup.  Wow, they did not disappoint!

During dinner there were some beautiful toasts to the bride and groom followed by an extremely romantic first dance.  FIG Weddings  then moved the party inside for an unforgettable dance party.

One of my favorite moments was the opportunity I got to take a photo with the three midwives who delivered my kids.  Such an amazing memory!

Bridget and James, it was such an honor to work with you both on your big day.  Thank you for the opportunity and I wish you all the best as you grow in your marriage together!

From the moment we first got connected with Colleen and Steven, we knew that they were a special couple. Despite being thrown all the curves with venue changes and date postponements (who doesn’t love sending out three save the dates?!), they maintained a calm, cool composure and were kind to all their vendors throughout the entirety of the planning process. When we finally got the green light to celebrate, we made sure it was a party they’ll always remember!

Everyone spent the morning getting ready at The Gwen Hotel. Colleen and her ladies had a blast listening to music and chatting non-stop while Kate Johnson Artistry’s Bridal Team worked their magic. Steven and his groomsmen were just down the hall, and there was a palpable excitement for the festivities to begin.

TimTab Studios never ceases to amaze with the calmest energy and on-point preparedness. When Tim pulled out a special board to stage the invitations, rings, and flowers, we weren’t surprised at all to see the color matched Colleen and Steven’s decor to a “t”!

It was clear that these two came from close-knit families, as their parents were intimately involved throughout the day. Two moments that always tug at my heartstrings are when mothers help their daughters into the wedding gown, and fathers come to see their “little girl” all ready for her wedding.

Added bonus of getting ready at The Gwen: private terraces that make for perfect photo backdrops!

After Colleen and Steven’s first look, the group made their way to the lobby to load onto the trolley from Aries Charter and head around Chicago for some photos. Nothing was going to stop this group from getting the photos they wanted; not even a little mid-day shower! Luckily, we had our trusty clear plastic umbrellas on hand.

In Chicago, even the pigeons get in on the love!

Fun-fact: Colleen and her bridesmaids got together before the ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner to work with the team at Flowers by Stem to make their bouquets! This was such a fun bonding experience and personal touch that we hope to incorporate for weddings in the future!

The group then made their way to Artifact Events for some on-site photos, meeting a very special guest upon arrival fore the ceremony got underway.

Colleen and Steven’s very special pup, Ticket!

We are definitely a fan of this color palette for a wedding party. Not overly match-y, but beautifully tied together!

Flowers by Stem and Event Brilliance worked together to bring Colleen and Steven’s decor dreams to life. Their original venue had prominent nature and outdoor features, so Flowers by Stem worked to help them bring that to Artifact Events, renting trees to mix in with the other floral decor throughout the space. Colleen and Steven purchased one of the trees so they could then take it back home to plant it and always have a reminder of their wedding day. Kyle of Event Brilliance added the perfect lighting to help bring everything together. We now understand why Steven is so passionate about the power of an uplit tree! 😉

Just moments before Steven saw Colleen coming down the stairs, he was calm and composed!

Colleen’s family pastor made the trek to Chicago to join these two in marriage, and his service was worth the extra travel!

 

This summertime floral palette is happiness in a vase!

Calihan Catering was integral to helping Colleen and Steven find a new venue after their previous spot continued to push back their re-opening date. They put together  a delicious menu, and made sure that the details were on point!

After dinner and toasts, TVK Orchestra got the dance floor filling up right away…

… with a little help from a surprise guest, Bucky Badger!

Colleen and Steven, it was our pleasure working with you to help bring the details together for your big day! We hope it was worth the wait, and wish you years of continued happiness as you continue your lives together as husband and wife!

Meredith and Alex’s day was filled with so much love and laughter it was difficult to stop smiling afterwards! 

The morning started out at the Thompson Chicago with makeup and hair by Nika Vaughan. Meredith was surrounded by close friends and family, filling the morning with excitement for the day ahead. It’s always wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves, and Allison Williams Photography captured the energy that continued throughout the day.

Alex and Meredith were all smiles for their first look and it was a gorgeous day for outdoor photographs.

Then, everyone gathered in the courtyard at Artifact Events to celebrate the couple–this day was a long time coming and the anticipation was palpable.

The stunning saturated colors Bonnie’s Flower Shop provided mirrored the joyous emotions of the day. From the archway to the centerpieces, the floral served as a beautiful statement of color throughout the entire space.

As the sun set, toasts were proposed that had everyone laughing. After a few special dances,  Style Matters put the dance floor into full swing with no breaks through the end of the night. Jordan’s Food of Distinction set up a donut wall for guests to enjoy while they danced the night away.

Meredith and Alex, we loved being a part of your celebration and we wish you a lifetime of laughter and love. 

We had the pleasure of working with Chris and Alexis through their wedding planning process; once they had selected their venue, they reached out to Five Grain Events to help them find the rest of their vendor team, maintain their budget, and keep them on schedule. We had no idea it would grow into a multi-year process, with an adorable new family member joining the family (Hi, Kai!)! We managed to find the silver linings of the pandemic.

One of the greatest decisions that Chris and Alexis made was choosing Ryan Moore Photography to document their engagement and wedding photos. Ryan’s ability to capture unique candids and beautiful, interesting portraits makes him an invaluable addition to your wedding vendor team. We love how he used the architecture and interior design of the Kimpton Gray Hotel (where Chris and Alexis got ready on wedding day) to capture the ambiance of the wedding day!

Alexis worked with Alyssa Diana Makeup and Laura Brokamp of Mane Space Salon for her wedding look, and I am still amazed at how effortlessly beautiful she looked, while still caring for a new baby!

Aries Charter was so helpful helping this little wedding party get around the city, given that we were moving around town with a carseat, stroller, two photographers, and a nanny in tow! After getting a few shots near Alexis’s old job at the Board of Trade, Ryan directed the transportation to head to Lincoln Park for some nature-focused photos.

Working with Mary at Steve’s Flower Market is always a pleasure, and this wedding was no exception. She seemed to immediately know how to help Alexis visualize her wedding decor, despite Alexis not knowing exactly what flowers she wanted to utilize come wedding day. Plus, Mary found ways to incorporate some of the more unique elements of Chris and Alexis’s decor — including fabric and hanging lanterns they sourced from their travels to China, just before the start of the pandemic. It was such a special way to tie Alexis’s heritage into the day!

When everyone arrived to Galleria Marchetti, they were delighted to see how beautifully Steve’s Flower Market had decorated the space, and that the weather was holding just enough to allow for an open-air ceremony in the Pergola! Galleria Marchetti offers one of the best all-weather ceremony options with this space. And given Chris and Alexis’s smaller guest count, it would double as their reception space as well.

Chris and Alexis worked with Officiant Bruce Otto for their ceremony, and he made the process so simple and approachable. They wanted to keep things straightforward, while still incorporating a few special details about their families. He was very understanding, patient, and flexible as we worked through date and formatting changes along the way.  And given that Alexis’s family could not make it from China due to travel restrictions, they opted to work with Vanilla Video to capture the ceremony and reception formalities, like toasts and dances, to help share the special day with them.

After the ceremony, guests made their way into the adjacent room for cocktail hour, while we focused on flipping the Pergola for the reception. Alexis and Chris put together a DIY Photo Booth with an Instax camera and props, which is one of our favorite ways to create some additional memories to look back on years down the road!

As guests enjoyed the passed canapés and cocktails, our team was hard at work overseeing the room flip to prepare for the reception.

Enlisting Okyne Medialab to help with all the music and entertainment facets of the day was another wise choice! Al of Okyne helped us select the right musicians for ceremony, cocktail hour, and the reception, while adding his expert emceeing abilities to help keep the night moving smoothly.

After a delightful toast from Chris’s brother, Chris and Alexis were ready to party! Okyne Medialab got things going, and per usual, the youngest guests were the first to the dance floor!

There are a few things that can help make sure a dance floor stays busy all night long… since great music was already checked off the list, a little hit of sugar was just what the doctor ordered! And Galleria Marchetti really goes for it with their flaming donut station.

Chris and Alexis added to the sugar rush by providing a selection of Chinese candies in traditional red and gold boxes. The children especially appreciated these (though the jury is still out on whether or not their parents did!).

Chris and Alexis were happy to partake in a little sugar rush themselves with their cake cutting. Nothing like a sweet treat to help stave off the exhaustion that only new parents understand!

Chris and Alexis, it was such a pleasure working with you both. We wish you all the happiness in the world, and hope you look back on your wedding day with as much fondness as we do!