Over the last couple of years, our couples have been put to the test with so many additional hurdles and challenges in their wedding planning process due to the pandemic. I’ve been so pleasantly surprised to see how beautifully Five Grain Events’ clients have weathered the storm; ironically, the couples I’ve had the pleasure of supporting have been some of the calmest, kindest, and most thoughtful!
No three words can describe Carli and Bunker better. They were such a pleasure to work with; any twist that arose due to the pandemic was something they were willing to work through together. No doubt that this had something to do with the fact that Carli was literally on the front lines as a doctor in New York, working tirelessly to keep patients safe.
While they originally postponed their initial plans for a larger-scale wedding, they found that months were turning into years, and they wanted to get married sooner rather than later! So they chose to pivot with a micro-wedding in Chicago, celebrating with their families and closest friends. And the day turned out to be just like Carli and Bunker — calm, kind, and thoughtful.
The morning started with the ladies getting ready at The Langham Hotel with stylists from Renee Feldman Salons. Carli, her sisters, and Bunker’s sisters all gathered together for hair and makeup for a truly relaxed start to the day.
Carli and Bunker chose to work with a friend, Christian Ramirez, for their photography. They wanted photojournalistic style photos, and loved Christian’s unique perspective. His photos really captured how simple, easy, and naturally beautiful this day was!
Soon it was time for Carli and the families to head to the church for the ceremony. They loaded into an SUV from Windy City Limo to make their way from downtown Chicago to Evanston, where Carli’s family’s church was located.
Carli and her family have been attending First Presbyterian Church in Evanston throughout the lives. It was a special place to share this next step in Carli and Bunker’s life; the pastor had many personal touches to share throughout the ceremony.
We absolutely adored seeing Carli’s niece and her sister dressed in matching dresses. And the flower crown was so sweet!
Nothing but joy beaming from Bunker’s face as he saw Carli walking down the aisle!
While church exits don’t always fit into a wedding day schedule, Carli and Bunker’s relaxed style and smaller guest count made for a perfect opportunity. I love how Christian’s photo style makes for some truly memorable, classic photos.
After the ceremony, the family, wedding party, and guests loaded into the trolley from Premier Trolley. Given the ride back to the city, the open-air style made sure that everyone would get a great view of Chicago as they traveled down Lake Shore Drive.
Once back to the city, Carli, Bunker, and their families took some photos with Chicago’s gorgeous architecture as the background.
With the hotel being just around the corner, walking over to the dinner venue couldn’t have been easier. RPM Seafood is one of Carli and Bunker’s favorite places to eat when visiting in Chicago, and the private spaces on the mezzanine level made for the perfect spot for their small wedding reception. The setting was clean and beautiful, with incredible views of the Chicago River. There was no question as to why this is one of the couple’s favorites — the food and service were impeccable!
Steve’s Flower Market provided the floral and decor. They absolutely understood the assignment, tying the bridal floral look in seamlessly with RPM Seafood’s clean style.
As guests made their way from cocktail hour in for dinner, it was time for a few toasts to celebrate the bride and groom. Everyone spoke lovingly about how kind and well-suited Carli and Bunker are for each other, and it was clear what a special couple they are!
Carli and Bunker chose a cake from Alliance Bakery; we love their clean and simple style!
Dancing soon started, with a few traditional Armenian dances mixed in. The room was full, but everyone made plenty of space for dancing and kept the energy high all night long!
Carli and Bunker, it was such a pleasure being a part of your wedding weekend. We are sending you all the best, and hope to see you next time you are in Chicago! Wishing you many years of love and happiness!
