Chicago Wedding Venues with Outdoor Space – Part 2

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of our blog post about Chicago wedding venues with outdoor space! In this post, Part 2 is dedicated to the more raw, urban, and unique venues in Chicago that also have a great outdoor space… perfect for your wedding ceremony and/or cocktail hour!

Architectural Artifacts

Right outside of the main-level Atrium is the Architectural Artifacts outdoor courtyard. The courtyard is adorned with massive stone columns — a beautiful and dramatic ceremony backdrop!

outdoor-ceremony-at-architectural-artifacts-chicago1 olivia leigh photography Olivia Leigh Photography 


Prairie Productions

This beautiful blank canvas loft in Chicago’s West Loop has an outdoor courtyard for ceremonies or cocktail.

prairie-production-courtyard steve koo photography Steve Koo Photography


Greenhouse Lofts
In the middle of the Green Exchange Building – right outside Greenhouse Lofts – sits a lovely nature filled courtyard.

ceremony-outside greenhouse loft Greenhouse Lofts


Salvage One
This outdoor space was meant for ceremonies.
Hinojosa Photography. Salvage One                 Hinojosa Photography 

How beautiful is this trellis?

Hinojosa Photography. Salvage One (3) Hinojosa Photography

Stay tuned for Part 3 (and our final installment) of Chicago Wedding Venues with Outdoor Spaces!

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Hitched: Nik & Sheila’s Chicago Illuminating Company Wedding – Part 1

When Sheila and Nik chose to work with Jessica of Sweetchic Events to coordinate their wedding last August, we were thrilled! Their urban, dramatic, bold, and very contemporary vision excited our imaginations and the end result was beyond gorgeous. Clearly, we’re not the only ones who thought so – their wedding was recently featured on Style Me Pretty!

Sheila and Nik based their wedding vision on some classic Japanese Hiroshige art prints, and brought the vibrant colors of royal blue, chartreuse green, and red into various aspects of their decor. They incorporated numerous personal touches and painstakingly hand-made all of their details to transform their blank slate venue, The Chicago Illuminating Company, into the wedding of their dreams. We were so thrilled to be a part of it! And thank you David Wittig Photography for sharing these gorgeous images with us!

Sheila was an absolutely stunning bride!

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. Bride Getting Ready. MakeUp

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. Bride Getting Ready in Mirror.

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. Groom.

In her mermaid style Angel Sanchez gown, Sheila said she felt like a “modern day princess”…
We couldn’t agree more!

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. (2)

Part

Sheila & Nik headed to one of Sweetchic’s favorite photo spots, Milton Olive Park, for some pre-wedding photos with their bridal party.

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. (3)

Loved the combination of the royal blue bridesmaids dresses and the chartreuse bouquets!

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. Bridesmaids. Colbalt Blue Dresses. Olive Park.

Scarlet Petal did a gorgeous job with their florals! Especially loved the green trick, berries, green hydrangea and green roses in the bridesmaids bouquets!

whitebridalbouquetgreenbridesmaidbouquet

Nik and his groomsmen looked oh-so dapper…

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. Groomsmen. Olive Park.

groomscallalilyboutonnieregroomsmenberryboutonniere

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. Bridal Party. Olive Park.

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. Olive Park.

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. Olive Park

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Wedding Ceremony Program.

Have you ever seen a blue aisle runner at a wedding ceremony? This was a first for us… but we absolutely LOVED it! It was the perfect compliment to their theme and decor!

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. Blue Aisle Runner. Submerged Floral and Driftwood Aisle Decor.

Sheila’s walked down the aisle with both of her parents (my favorite!) and her mom wore a traditional Korean Hanbok.

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Wedding Ceremony.

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. Ceremony.

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Scarlet Petal. Ceremony. Manzanita Branches.

Chicago Illuminating Company. David Wittig Photography. Sweetchic Events. Wedding Ceremony

Stay tuned for part 2 next week! Their reception was absolutely stunning!

VENDORS

Venue: Chicago Illuminating Company
Photographer: David Wittig Photography
Wedding Coordinator: Jessica with Sweetchic Events

Caterer: Food For Thought
Florist: Scarlet Petal
Ceremony Musicians: Accolade Musicians
Ceremony Officiant: Bruce Otto, Spirited Weddings

Bakery: Amy Beck Cake Design
Photobooth: Shutterbooth
DJ: Cage & Aquarium
Make-Up & Hair: Crizen Hasegawa 

Transportation: Crystal Limousine Group 
Lighting: Spin Light Design

 

 

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Unique Escort Card Ideas

As a refresher, escort cards are generally located in a centralized table and indicate what table each guest or couple is seated at. These cards escort the guests to the their table.

Traditionally, tented cards have been used, but now bride and grooms are breaking that tradition in the most unique ways! Check out some of these creative ideas below (although the list is honestly never ending…)

Unique Holders

It doesn’t always have to be about making the actual card unique, but the holder that the card is placed in!

EscortCardInspirationHolderes From Left to Right: The Knot; Martha Stewart; Project Wedding

Hanging Escort Cards
Who says they have to be perfectly lined on a table?!
escortcardinspirationhangingescortcards
From Left to Right: Martha Stewart; A. Dominick Events; Wedding Whims 

 

Unique Displays
Again, your escort cards don’t always have to be laid out on the table in an organized manner. Get creative and create some art with your cards!

escortcardinspirationuniquedisplays

From Left To Right: Ritzy Bee Events; The Bride’s Cafe; The Knot

 

Favor Escort Card
Bonus: Double-Duty! Escort Cards and Wedding Favors

escortcardinspirationfavorescortcards From Left to Right: Wedding Chicks; Style Me Pretty; 100 Layer Cake

 

Photo Escort Cards
Make it personal for your guests and make the card an actual photo of that guest (easy for them to find then too!)
theknot5

The Knot

 

Themed Escort Cards
Does your wedding have a specific theme? Destination? Books? Retro? Keep the theme alive through your escort cards!

escortcardinspirationthemedescortcards From Left To Right: Bloomed to Last; The Knot; Inspired Bride; Etsy

 

Seating Charts
Ditch the cards all together and create a seating chart!

escortcardinspirationseatingcharts

 Style Me Pretty

Are you doing anything fun for your escort cards? We hope your creative juices are flowing!

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