From the moment we met Carrie and Jason, we knew just how special cerebrating their love would be; and boy, were we right! This sweet, joyful, and very organized pair hosted an epic party. We are so grateful they included us!

The day started at Carrie’s parents’ beautiful home. The girls were getting all dolled up by the very talented team at Elle Artistry. While getting ready, the ladies enjoyed a delicious breakfast and lunch prepared by Paramount catering.

Soon, Victoria from Sprung Photo arrived and began to capture the magical photos featured in this post. It was then time for Carrie to slip into her fabulous wedding gown! Fun Fact: Carrie’s wedding gown was the same gown her mother wore to her wedding! The dress was redesigned by the amazing Elda de la Rosa.

Meanwhile, downtown at Allegro Chicago, our groom and his groomsmen were getting all dressed up and ready for the day. Once fully ready the gentlemen were whisked away by Windy City Limo to join the ladies.

Once everyone was together, it was time for a very special moment. Carrie and Jason shared their first look in the garden. They soaked up this sweet moment before it was time to hop back on the trolley to capture some group photos around the Art Institute of Chicago.

While the wedding party captured these amazing shots, the vendor team was hard at work bringing their ceremony and reception to life at the already stunning  Bridgeport Art Center Sculpture Garden. Steve’s Flower Market added gorgeous blooms and a very epic birch Chuppah. Art of Imagination installed magnificent draping and lighting to really set the mood!

The group then made their way back to Bridgeport Art Center to get Carrie and Jason married! Our ceremony musician, Jon Sherman played sweet melodies on his guitar as the processional began. Rabbi Max Weiss made sure their ceremony was meaningful, romantic, and perfect!

Once the deal was sealed it was time to start the celebration! Cocktail hour was up first where guest enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and delicious drinks.

Dinner kicked off with a surprise song by Carrie and Jason’s family members! Heartfelt toasts were given in honor of the bride and groom while everyone enjoyed another wonderful meal by Paramount. Our couple cut into a delicious and adorable cutting cake provided by Bittersweet!

Once everyone was happy and fed, it was time to break in the dance floor. The Replays brought the room to life and kept the dance floor going all night long! If anyone needed a break from all the dancing, ILovePhotoBooth was there to capture the fun.

Carrie and Jason, it was such an honor to be a part of your amazing wedding day. We wish the two of you a lifetime of love, happiness, and countless days that are just as special as the day you wed.

Sarah and Ruben are two physicians who were planning their wedding amidst their incredibly packed schedules.  Sarah’s mom, Donna, was up for the task of helping but wanted to bring in a professional to support the process start to finish and I am so thrilled they chose Five Grain Events for the job.

The 15 months we spent working together on the ultimate celebration for this wonderful couple were truly a joy–start to finish.  We developed a great rapport and I was truly sad to see the wedding weekend come to an end when it was all over.

Wedding day morning started in an impeccable Presidential Suite at the JW Marriott.  TimTab and WM Films were each documenting all of the beautiful ladies in their matching pajama sets getting dolled up by Tamara Makeup + Hair Artistry.  We spent a lot of time selecting the perfect invitation and day-of paper suite from Papier Girl in Glen Ellyn and it turned out splendidly.

Meanwhile, Ruben and his party were having a relaxed breakfast at the Kimpton Gray, probably wondering what they were supposed to do with all of the extra time on their hands – ha! Ruben and Sarah did each take a moment to read a note they had written to one another to mark the occasion.

Sarah’s dress was a show-stopper, and she truly looked like royalty with her floral appliqué ballgown and flowing auburn locks.

Ruben and the groomsmen soon joined the group at JW Marriott so that the couple could share their first look.  Sarah was all-smiles glowing with happiness upon seeing her groom-to-be; and Ruben, his bride.

After a few quick group photos inside and out (thank goodness the gods of spring blessed us with a beautiful day!) the group got into their Aries Charter trolley and headed to Old St. Pat’s for the ceremony, while guests boarded large buses from Windy City Limo.

The lovely wedding service, presided over by Father Paul Novak and photographed by Gerber & Scarpelli, was full of joy and meaning for the two families. The color scheme of the bridesmaids’ gowns and floral selections was the perfect compliment to the interior decor of the church.

Following their Grand Exit, the wedding party went off for a few more photos before it was time for the reception to kick off at Rockwell on the River.  Since there was a bit of a break between ceremony and reception, Sarah and Ruben hosted their guests at Metropolitan Brewery for a beer or two before the official cocktail hour began at Rockwell. VIP Valet ensured all guests arriving by car were well-taken care of.

Upon entry, guests were wowed by the gorgeous draped entry leading to the escort card table featuring a centerpiece of a tree! Life in Bloom also advised on some spectacular linen choices including a beautiful sage green-embroidered leaf pattern.

Paramount staff members were passing delightful bites and “Lunas” (specialty cocktails named after Ruben and Sarah’s dog), while a trio from Rendezvous Music serenaded the chattering attendees.  After a chilly spring, everyone seemed to be relishing in warm evening on the terrace overlooking the Chicago River.

Guests were welcomed into the magazine-worthy dining area as Rendezvous played some upbeat tunes.  The wedding party were announced in and cut their four-tier wedding cake from Bittersweet.

The multi-course menu was peppered with loving toasts (and a few jabs at Ruben) from the Father of the Bride, Matron of Honor, and Best Man–Ruben’s twin brother, Hari.  After some words of gratitude to everyone for coming together to celebrate, Ruben and Sarah kicked off dancing.  As ever, Rendezvous did not disappoint!  The dance floor was packed start to finish! Those who needed a few minutes of rest, popped into the ShutterBooth Photo Booth, or delighted in Paramount’s epic dessert station (those salted caramel tarts–to die for!).

It was so much fun to watch this perfect recap by WM Films.

I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to spend a year with.  Wishing you both a lifetime of joy and happiness: congrats!

When I first had a conversation with Bridget about her 300+ guest celebration at Butterfield it was in the early parts of 2021. On my agenda for that week was likely a series of other conversations with 2020 reschedules who were either postponing for a second (or third, or fourth) time or deciding to forego their receptions all together. It seemed inconceivable to be thinking about bringing together a group of that size when gatherings were restricted to 25 people! However, as soon as Bridget mentioned her plans for a lighthearted Valentine’s-themed wedding I was hooked.  I am so thrilled we were able to make this incredibly unique and fun celebration happen for such an amazing couple.

The morning was filled with boundless energy as the ladies hung out in their Valentine’s jammies and enjoyed some mimosas.  It was a bright and beautiful day outside and we knew it was going to be a fun one!  Bridget’s hairstyle was by the incomparable Alex Brown while Erin Graham and team took care of the rest of the wedding party.  To round out the glam squad, Joey Claeyssen and his artists took care of makeup for the crew.  Everyone truly looked stunning! Kerri Carlquist and Aaron Bean ensured every moment was captured for posterity.

Meanwhile, Brian and his gents were at the Ritz Carlton enjoying an easy morning before it was time to meet up for photos!

Bridget put on her gown with her mom and sisters.  Her “reveal” moment with her bridesmaids was a favorite. Obviously Bridget looked gorgeous and I just loved all the fun reactions from her incredible group of ladies.

When Bridget and Brian shared their first look stepping out of the vintage Rolls Royce from CelebLux Limos, you would never have known temperatures were well below freezing.  Thankfully the group was able to catch a handful outdoor pics before jumping in their vehicles to head to the church.

Holy Name was the perfect setting for this grand occasion and the service was beautiful.  Father Jack Wall presided and as a friend of the family, he shared many personal anecdotes about the couple.

Guests and wedding party alike boarded buses from Way to Go Limousine to head to Butterfield Country Club for the reception.  The epic Valentine’s celebration was about to begin!

Avant Gardenia knocked the decor out of the park.  As I mentioned, at the start Bridget was looking for a “light” Valentine’s theme…but Jenna and I were able to convince her that you have to go all in and we are SO glad she took our advice.  Cocktail hour featured a Photo Booth by Magic Moment with this custom “kissing both” display placed in front.  Could not have been more adorable! Guests were treated to Valentines as escort cards (thanks, Greenstar Paperie!) and signature cocktails with a pink cloud of cotton candy on top.

Inside the ballroom, the space had been transformed: a white vinyl dance floor with a heart B&B logo, a floral stage front and an incredible 3-dimensional band backdrop with candy hearts, a giant carnation heart in front of the sweetheart table, several different tabletop concepts, and a cake by The Pastry Palace with a mini replica of their dog Dutch taking a little bite out of the cake.  Bridget was in awe when she walked in, and her vendor team were all ECSTATIC with how perfectly everything came together.

Following a delightful meal served by Butterfield Country Club, the bride and groom were toasted by many friends and family members.  Because the Catholic Church doesn’t allow couples to write their own vows, after cutting their cake Bridget and Brian shared their personal vows to one another on the dance floor and they were as memorable as could be (Bridget is actually a ghost writer for wedding toasts, so clearly she had some experience in this genre!)!

Finally it was time to PARTY! Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press was on hand to kick off dancing and the party did not stop until the wee hours of the morning.  Guests got a chance to take home some human cookies OR some special doggie treats for their pups, courtesy of Dutch.

Absolutely LOVED this video short Aaron Bean created.

Bridget and Brian, it was a total pleasure getting to know you. Can’t wait to hear about all your upcoming adventures!

Kate and Todd win the prize for our most-rescheduled 2020 wedding at four separate dates!  From June to August to July and finally to December, it was a whirlwind of emotions each time, but they kept their good sense of humor throughout and we could not have been happier with how their celebration finally came together.

Everyone got ready at The Carleton Hotel in Oak Park.  Good friends of Kate’s, John and Heidi, provided hair and makeup to the beautiful bride while Todd hung out in his room over lunch with friends.

A little snafu with the alterations in Texas meant we had an emergency visit to a seamstress as soon as Kate arrived in Chicago. The remedy turned out to be more involved than there was time for pre-wedding, so the solution was for Kate to be sewn into her dress by yet another talented friend the morning of! Worked like a charm (and I think there were scissors involved in the removal process later that evening, ha!). Her art-deco style gown was a stunner and, thankfully, no one could tell the difference!

Kate and Todd had their first look in the historic hallways of The Carleton and then the wedding party departed for some fun photos around town.  Victoria Sprung’s signature style gave us some really beautiful moody portraits and were the perfect capture for this wintry wedding day.

Their ceremony and reception venue Unity Temple is a world-renowned Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building. Of course we had to capture some of the momentous architectural elements as well: Victoria sure knows how to frame them!

EcoWilde provided the perfect natural wintry floral and petite arrangements to complement but not compete with the stunning interior of the historic building.

As guests entered, they were greeted with the hilarious display of Kate and Todd’s four different save the date cards.

Their beautiful wedding ceremony was officiated by a good friend of the couple’s, and featured readings by friends and family.

Guests were treated to passed small bites and various themed stations from Blue Plate Catering. Some meaningful toasts were shared highlighting some special moments from their relationship.

Kate and Todd’s cake by ECBG was one of the coolest and most unique creations I’ve ever seen reflecting the architectural elements of the Prairie Style architecture.  I would have had a hard time taking a knife to it, but these two were total pros.

In order to give a bit more space for guests to move about, ProEm was brought in to put up a small clear-top tent on one of the terraces.  Although it was chilly outside, the little “igloo” was cozy and provided a respite from the dance mania going on inside, thanks to Ruby from Birds & B-Sides!

Kate and Todd, it was so much fun helping this day finally come to fruition. Hope you are enjoying married life!