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!

Olivia Leigh Photography 

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

Steve Koo Photography

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

Greenhouse Lofts

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

How beautiful is this trellis?

Hinojosa Photography

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

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!

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

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

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

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

Nik and his groomsmen looked oh-so dapper…

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!

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

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

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!

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

Hanging Escort Cards
Who says they have to be perfectly lined on a table?!

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!

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

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

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!)

The Knot

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

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

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

 Style Me Pretty

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

ESCORT CARDS are located on a centralized table and indicate what table the guest is seated at. Each guest (or couple) receives his or her own card with their assigned table number. Tented cards are traditional, but these days, brides and grooms are getting much more creative with the presentation of the cards (stay tuned for an upcoming post on unique escort card ideas!).

TIP: These cards escort the guests to their table.

Pen Carlson Photography (see the rest of Suisui & David’s wedding here, and here)

PLACE CARDS on the other hand, are located at each place setting and indicate to guests exactly where to sit at the table. These are typically found at more formal events… but are not a necessity, as most guests can decide where to sit around the table.

Photos Source: Invitations by Ajalon

Are you having both escort AND place cards at your wedding? 

Chicago History Museum
Located right outside the classic Chicago Room, the Uihlein Plaza has a garden backdrop for wedding ceremonies and cocktail hour!

Steve Koo Photography (see the rest of Lauren & Jimmy’s wedding here, and here)

Tim Tab Studios (see the rest of Shianne & Jim’s wedding here and here)

Douglas Dawson Gallery
Located in the West Loop, Douglas Dawson Gallery’s garden is perfect for intimate ceremonies and cocktails

Steve Koo Photography (see the rest of Sara & Iain’s wedding here and here)

Museum of Contemporary Art 
On the East side of the MCA lies an outdoor terrace for cocktails and sculpture garden for wedding ceremonies

Museum of Contemporary Art

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
A blend of nature and architecture, you and your guests are surrounded by a three-story glass wall and naturally landscaped plaza

Steve Koo Photography

The Art Institute of Chicago
This museum actually has multiple outdoor space options, suitable for ceremonies and/or cocktail hours!

Bluhm Family Terrace – Modern Wing. For couples who want a more modern ceremony, this is the perfect outdoor spot with an amazing skyline view!

Adhikari Photography

McKinlock Court. On the flip side, The Art Institute also has a very classic courtyard for those with more traditional tastes.

J Wiley Photography

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Chicago Wedding Venues with Outdoor Spaces!

TIP: As you are working on your wedding day itinerary, don’t try to pack in too many locations! Pick your top TWO favorite spots at most, and then consider their proximity to each other, as well as proximity to your ceremony/reception venue. And then allocate twice as much travelling time from point to point as you normally would… things always run late on a wedding day. It takes much longer to gather and travel with a large bridal party, plus your photographer(s) and maybe your videographer(s). Not to mention when you’ve booked a limo/trolley/bus, they just are bigger and slower!

Here are some of our favorite Chicago photo spots:

The Financial District & Board of Trade Building (LaSalle & Adams):

Adam Novak Photography

The South McCormick Courtyard:
This little gem is located directly south of The Art Institute of Chicago off Michigan Avenue!

Kenny Kim Photography 

Millennium Park:
This well-known Chicago attraction has several photo-op locations!
Cloud Gate aka “The Bean”

J Wiley Photography

Chase Promenades at Millennium Park

i Luv Photo

The Lurie Garden at Millennium Park

Tib Tab Photography

Chicago Theater Sign:

Wes Craft Photography

The State Street Bridge

Riverbend Studio

The Kinzie Street Bridge:

Averyhouse

Your Favorite Chicago EL stop!

JessFoto

The Wrigley Building:

Brian Kinyon Photography

No matter what side of the street you stand on..the view is gorgeous!
J Wiley Photography

Milton Olive Park (near Navy Pier):

Here you get both greenery…

Fragola Productions

…and skyline!

Fragola Productions

 South Pond at Lincoln Park Zoo:

Todd James Photography

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool:

Tucked away in Lincoln Park off Fullerton Parkway (between Cannon Dr. & Stockton),
I think this spot is one of the most magical locations for photos!

Ann & Kam Photography

Where in Chicago will you head to take photos on your wedding day?

Here are our favorite twists on a traditional card box:

The Birdcage
Birdcages are already pretty in themselves… but adding a floral component really enhances it’s beauty!

J Wiley Photography, floral by Vale of Enna

The Lantern
Simple and chic…with a sweet note! Just sure that it has an opening large enough for the cards to go in, similar to this Sweetchic lantern!

Photo by Fragola Productions 

The Mailbox
It is their soul purpose to hold letters!

from Bridal Musings 

The Antique Trunk
For that vintage feel, old trunks and suitcases make the perfect card box!

from Style Me Pretty

From Love Toast

The Lobster Trap
If you have a nautical wedding…this is perfect!

From The Knot

Bonus: This one even doubles as an escort card holder!!!

from Daisie’s & Pearls

The Simple Vase
Any large decorative vase works perfectly as a card holder.  Can get enough flowers? Add some to the rim of the vase!

Millicent Wong Photography

The Apothecary Jar
They’ve made their wedding debut through candy bars and dessert tables, but why not a card box too?

from World Market

The Wine Box
Okay, so this may actually be a box….but it’s perfect for the wine-loving couple!

from Really Risa

The Bird’s Nest
For the “love birds”…

from Etsy

Did you use a non-traditional card box at your wedding? What is the most unique card box you’ve seen?

~ Courtney

So often, couples don’t realize the importance of videography for their wedding day. It is such a wonderful reminder of your love for each other, the beautiful wedding you’ve planned, and especially the joy of being surrounded by your closest friends and family.

Even if it’s not something you watch regularly, it will be something that you’ll treasure in the future and share with your loved ones! I admit that I watch my wedding video only once every 2 years or so (usually on our anniversary), but I am so thankful that I have it. I can’t wait to watch it with my future children so they can see the day their parents got married!

I decided on a palette of mint, gold, cream and peach… and I love how it turned out! Here are some purty pictures from Veronica of Hinojosa Photography. Zenia worked her floral magic by creating this tall, lush, dramatic arrangement in shades of cream, white, and accents of peach and pink. I am obsessed with the draping of the orchids.

I adored the soft romantic mix of hydrangea, roses, spray roses, stock, phalaenopsis orchids – and one of my favorite elements – greenery that Zenia spray painted a dramatic metallic gold!

I had fun picking the mint green linens from Chaircovers by Sylwia and accenting the table with white scalloped plates, rose gold silverware, gold-trimmed goblets, gold mercury glass, and berries spray painted gold tucked into the napkins!

Adorable accent arrangements in delicate fluted glasses with soft peach Juliet garden roses and dusty miller.

Perfect green succulents atop fluted glasses, the base filled with gold berries for a bit of fun sparkle.

Zenia created a gorgeous matching bridal bouquet with peach Juliet garden roses, peach ranunculous, hydrangea, spray roses,
dusty miller and gold painted scabiosa.

 David Jensen Catering provided some delicious finger foods for guests to nosh on as they perused the shop and mingled. The beef tenderloin sandwiches on the left were melt-in-your-mouth-amaaaazing.

 Zenia’s brides oohing-and-ahhing over our tablescape!

Zenia’s mom is holding Zenia’s precious daughter, Inez.

 I loved collaborating with Flor del Monte!

 A rare shot of our fabulous foursome:
Veronica of Hinojosa Photography, Zenia of Flor del Monte, Grace of Vale of Enna, and Charlene of Sweetchic Events. I love these women…

In honor of my 5th Anniversary, I am re-posting photos from my Very. First. Wedding. EVER! I met Rebecca and Brian back in 2007 at a mutual friend’s birthday dinner. They were engaged and in the early stages of planning their wedding… and I (not-so-casually) mentioned that I was in the process of starting my own wedding planning business in the near future. Much to my surprise, Rebecca emailed me a few weeks later and the rest is history!

Rebecca and Brian were one of the kindest, sweetest and most easy-going couples I have had the pleasure of working with. I lucked out when they ended up being my first clients, and I got to help them plan their gorgeous wedding at the University Club Chicago. Thank you Albert from Secondprint Productions for these beautiful photos that I love, to this day! This wedding also began my long-standing partnership and friendship with floral designer extraordinaire, Grace from Vale of Enna!

 Fluffy white ranunculous boutonniere

Rebecca and Brian were a beautiful couple!

 Stunning fireplace floral treatment by Vale of Enna, I love all the vibrant shades of fuchsia, oranges and greens!

Aptly named “Cathedral Hall”, this amazing ballroom at the University Club is perhaps one of the most dramatic venues in Chicago, and the perfect setting for a wedding ceremony. The gothic architecture is something straight out of Hogwarts Academy!

Post-ceremony fist pumps!

In honor of their Chinese heritage, they also held a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony during cocktail hour.

During cocktail hour, Cathedral Hall was transformed into their stunning reception, complete with warm amber uplights around the room, and floral motif gobo lighting on the dance floor.

A petite collection-style centerpiece with purple mokara orchids, hot pink garden roses, fuchsia peonies and pale green hydrangea.

Tall centerpieces featuring curly willow, bells of Ireland, fuchsia peonies and garden roses and mokara orchids.

About 2 weeks before the wedding, Rebecca fell in love with a cake design that incorporated delicate lace appliques. The in-house baker at the University Club said that they wouldn’t be able to replicate the lace… so I did some homework and ordered the lace applique molds and had them shipped directly to the Club, as a surprise to Rebecca. Needless to say, she loved her cake!!

Their enormous head table, lined with tall water pieces from their ceremony.

After the First Dance, the bridal party surprised guests with a lip-synched performance to Sugar Pie Honeybunch!

CHEERS, Rebecca and Brian! I am so appreciative that you entrusted your wedding to me, as a total novice!  :)

Venue & Catering: University Club of Chicago
Photography: SecondPrint Productions
Florals: Vale of Enna
DJ: Sound Entertainment
Lighting: Frost Lighting