by kailey | Mar 13, 2022 | Wedding
A photo booth, a disco ball lit dance floor, and a whole lot of love—these are the ingredients to a truly unique celebration. Liam and Arnel wanted a day filled with their favorite people in their favorite city and that’s exactly what they got. With a historic venue, cozy color palette, and DIY decor, this Chicago warehouse wedding is serving up inspo you’ll want to share with your wedding vendor team.
Salvage One—complete with exposed brick walls and vintage furniture pieces—proved to be the perfect wedding location for this nontraditional couple. To infuse the space with personality they put their graphic design skills to work, custom making all the wedding signage. Pop-of-color florals by Flowers for Dreams were also incorporated to add extra character to the venue.
Laetitia Donaghy Photography captured every detail that made this warehouse wedding one for the books. Get your Pinterest boards ready and keep scrolling for an unlike-any-other nuptial.
Photographer’s Thoughts On This Warehouse Wedding
Liam and Arnel are the absolute loveliest couple. The entire day was filled with tears and laughter. This stylish couple oversaw every single design detail of their day. The fun Jenga advice game, the throwback photo booth, the hotdog station, the rainbow cake—all of it taking place in the historic Salvage One. Arnel made their own signage and invitations. Liam, a flight attendant, had some of his flight attendant friends include plane props in their speeches—it was an absolute hit! We still keep in touch because they are amazing souls. These two have become friends for life and I am so thankful I got to be their wedding photographer.
The Couple:
Liam and Arnel
The Wedding:
Chicago, Illinois
A Wedding Turned Party
We’re so proud of having thrown the best and last party our entire guest list attended before going into lockdown the rest of 2020. Also, being able to show our younger nieces and nephews that love between any two people is beautiful and worth throwing a party for.
Memorable Guest Entrances
The most memorable part of the day was watching guests trickle out of the trolley and into the venue from our little hideaway upstairs. I’ll never forget seeing the smiling, familiar faces all glowing in the sun on a particularly warm February day.
Incorporating Loved Ones In Your Wedding
We asked a dear friend to officiate our wedding and she helped make the ceremony so incredibly personal. After sharing our hand-written vows, we also partook in a planting unity ceremony in which we took soil from the places we have grown up in and mixed them together in a pot for a small plant.
Top Wedding Planning Advice
Every couple should create a new email address solely for the wedding. Please don’t forget the guest experience when planning your day, either. It’s also important to not sweat the small stuff.
DIY Wedding Day Favors
We laser cut custom place cards with everyone’s names on them. These doubled as meal identifiers for the catering team as each attached tassel color corresponded to a meal choice. At the end of the night we also gave out Morning Recovery bottles. We had a Sunday wedding and wanted our guests to enjoy themselves without fear of feeling it too much the day after.
Venue Was Love At First Sight
The venue was one of the first things we signed on and really set the tone for the wedding. Salvage One is a converted warehouse with multiple floors full of antique goods and furniture by day and event space by night. We loved the idea of our guests being able to walk around among the trinkets and decor. The reception floor was also fully customizable depending on the size of the wedding and we were able to pull from the store’s unique collection of chairs, tables, couches, lounges, etc. Oh! And of course there’s the disco ball and massive dance floor. It was truly the perfect place.
Congratulations to Liam and Arnel on their fun-filled warehouse wedding. And big thanks to photographer Laetitia Donaghy Photography for preserving these precious wedding day moments packed with inspiration.
From the venue to the decor, Liam and Arnel infused their wedding with details that authentically represented their love story. If you’re dreaming of a celebration unlike-any-other, kickstart your wedding planning process by checking out these unique ways to personalize your wedding.
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by riley | Jun 28, 2021 | Wedding
There’s nothing cuter than couples tying the knot at the place where they met for the first time–and that’s exactly what Dylan and Jeff did after their large summer wedding was postponed. The couple transformed Eden–an American eatery in Chicago–into a wedding venue full of roses and pampas grass arranged by Flowers for Dreams, muted grey decor, and candles galore.
Dylan looked timeless in her Bec + Bridge satin gown–which was initially her rehearsal dinner dress–and Jeff paired perfectly with the decor thanks to his grey ASOS suit. And although it’s a small detail, we love how lovestruck Dylan looked in the heart-shaped glasses she donned at the reception. So if you love killer wedding fashion, dreamy decor, and romantic tablescapes, you’re going to want to see these photos captured by We Are The Bowsers.
The Couple:
Dylan and Jeff
The Wedding:
Eden, Chicago, Illinois
The Satin Bec + Bridge Gown
We wanted–and needed–to keep the wedding small, and my original wedding dress was a little too “grand” for a 15 person wedding, so I decided to wear the dress I purchased for the rehearsal dinner. This satin Australian-made gown by Bec + Bridge was almost too perfect with what we were going for.
Walking Down The Aisle With The Bride’s Father
Even though the aisle was only three rows long, I still wanted the experience of walking down the aisle with my dad. We walked down the aisle to ‘Crazy Love’ by Van Morrison. And although the aisle was short, the feeling of seeing my man staring back at me was just the best.
A Pantone Color Palette Wedding At A Memorable Spot
As soon as we decided to elope, I envisioned the day with our immediate family sitting around one large table, eating great food and drinking great wine. I loved that our family and friends went around the table as we were eating, sharing memories about us and their well wishes. The restaurant we chose was where we had our first date. We actually got married in the exact spot that we met for the very first time. The restaurant is also gorgeous and lent itself well to our vibe.
Congratulations again to Dylan and Jeff on their neutral and Pantone color palette wedding at Eden. Big thank you to We Are The Bowsers for sharing it with us. If you’re hosting your own micro wedding, check out our guide on how to host a creative micro wedding.
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by kailey | May 6, 2021 | Wedding
Say goodbye to neutrals and hello to colors that are as bold as your love. those unfamiliar, Wildman BT is a spacious, extravagant, and newly renovated event space in Chicago.
The brilliant wedding planner Wedicity dressed the modern industrial space with bold colors and eye-catching floral arrangements, by Hedonia Flowers. The old exposed brick and subtle gold accents added elegance and fun to the inspiration shoot, not to mention the projector screen that made for unique photo opportunities. The grooms—dressed in coordinating blue-toned suits—couldn’t keep their eyes off each other, and we can’t blame them.
Get your Pinterest boards ready and keep scrolling to see more of the outpouring of love and the modern-industrial details that made this intimate Wildman BT wedding inspiration shoot unique.
We’re glad photographer Emma Mullins Photography captured the love and bright energy that outpoured from this modern and industrial Wildman wedding inspiration shoot. These talented professionals prove that hiring and bringing together top-notch wedding vendors makes for a magical big day.
If you’re feeling inspired to steer away from traditional pastel color palettes, get started now with a wedding mood board that portrays the feeling you wish to create with your wedding design.
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by riley | Jan 11, 2021 | Wedding
Intimate weddings are all the rage right now, and just because they’re smaller doesn’t mean they can’t be over the top glamorous. That’s exactly what Chanel and Sheldon decided when planning their Chicago wedding at The Kimpton Allegro. Between Chanel’s long-sleeve lace Pronovias gown to the abundance of roses put together by Fleur Chicago and the gold accents, everything about the day transported us back in time to glamorous old Hollywood. Oh–not to mention–the bride changed into a head-to-toe lace jumpsuit for the reception!
Every photo that Junebug member Arielle Teft Photography captured is incredibly chic and we can’t wait for you to gush with us. So what are you waiting for? Get to scrolling and be prepared to be wowed!
The Couple:
Chanel and Sheldon
The Wedding:
The Kimpton Allegro, Chicago
Chanel’s Wedding Day Fashion
It was extremely important for me to have a gown that was full lace and had a lengthy dramatic train and long sleeves. I tried on at least 50 dresses until I settled on a beautiful Pronovias gown from Designer Loft Boutique in NYC. I wanted an old Hollywood red carpet style for my hair–silky and sleek, swooped back into a low bun so that my makeup and earrings would be the focal point. My dress was paired with pearl statement earrings from Deepa Gurnani and Manolo Blahnik Hangisi Floral Lace Crystal-Toe Pumps. Carrie from Sex and the City has always been my style icon, so Manolo’s were a must!
Sentimental Wedding Gifts
Right before I walked out of my bridal suite to meet him at the alter, Sheldon left a gift for me. It was a framed photo from the summer we first met before we started dating. It was special because 1. I didn’t even know he had this photo, 2. he isn’t the sentimental type at all, so this felt incredibly thoughtful and 3. he never takes or keeps photos. I am positive he has less than 20 photos on his phone across the last decade. It meant so much to me that he had this and saved it for all these years. My gift to him was Hermes cuff links in the shape of a knot to signify our “tying of the knot.” He wore them on our wedding day.
Intimate Wedding Day Vibes at The Kimpton Allegro
Our wedding vision was romantic and intimate. We knew we wanted to have it in the evening with lots of candles to give the room a vibrant illuminated glow. Sheldon and I are also very detail-oriented and fashion-forward people, so it was important for the wedding to reflect that part of us. Our décor was simple yet elegant–with pops of navy, fuchsia, ivory, and gold. To be completely frank, the venue was so beautiful it didn’t require much.
A Personalized Speciality Cocktail
Our favorite wine is rosé, and our favorite spirit is gin, so we had a rosé and gin spritzer called The McIntosh. Sheldon also surprised me and had giant bottles of rosé flown in from Spain. We had enjoyed this particular wine during our trip to Barcelona at a restaurant called El Nacional.
Congratulations again to Chanel and Sheldon on their intimate glam Chicago wedding at The Kimpton Allegro! Big thank you to Junebug member Arielle Teft Photography for sharing their special day with us. To see more of Arielle’s work, check out her profile in our directory of best wedding photographers in the world!
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by riley | Nov 23, 2020 | Wedding
When asked about her dream wedding, Briana said, “I have never been the girl to dream about a wedding because I wasn’t sure I’d ever get married. To me, finding the person was more important than envisioning a day with just anyone. When I met Giovanni and knew we’d get married, I wanted to be sure that it was a reflection of both of us.” Their whimsical and natural Chicago wedding at Cafe Brauer was just that.
After saying “I do” at St. Vincent de Paul, the couple and their wedding guests made their way to Cafe Brauer where they partied the night away. With the help of planner LK Events Chicago, they turned the venue’s blank canvas into a decadent venue full of chandeliers, greenery, and extravagant florals put together by Revel Decor.
Although Briana was diagnosed with thyroid cancer just a week before they tied the knot–she’s now in remission, thank goodness–she didn’t let the stress of illness dampen the mood on their special day. In fact, she said she cherished the day that much more. Our hearts can’t take it! We’re so glad that Junebug member Erin Hannum was there to capture the love between the newlyweds. Now grab those tissues and get ready to be inspired by this airy, free-spirited affair.
The Couple:
Briana and Giovanni
The Wedding:
Cafe Brauer, Chicago, Illinois
The Bride’s Most Memorable Moment
I was diagnosed with cancer one week before the wedding, which really was a difficult thing for us to grasp. But having that looming in the back somehow made me–and Giovanni, too–cherish the day even more. Nothing that went “wrong” could have come in the middle of us having the best day of our lives. A few weeks leading up to the big day was challenging as I was juggling the coordination and planning of the wedding while going through a lot of serious medical testing, so I think that I put some things to the side because of that. Doing so made me realize that the most important aspects would have been there regardless of all the planning, organizing, and coordinating. All we needed was family, friends, and each other. The day couldn’t have been more perfect.
Personalizing the Ceremony
I loved that we had our priest do part of the ceremony in Italian since my husband’s family is from Sicily—many had flown in for our wedding. I always want people to feel included and part of something. Since this is what a wedding is for–to hear the exchange of vows and promises to one another–it felt important to have everyone understand our ceremony.
What it Was Like Working With Erin Hannum
Erin has an exceptional way with her use of light. The thing that drew me to her work is the way she captures feelings so exquisitely–nothing is staged or posed. I’m not a fan of the wedding pictures that you see where people are standing with their arms at a certain height, chin tilted a certain way, looking in a specific direction. I wanted someone that could capture the laughter and joy and the feelings from the day. She delivered. There are so many photos where the joy radiates from the picture. I look at them and hear the laughter. I can hear the music and the exclamations from the people in the room. She captures energy and feeling. Every image turned out so beautifully.
Why Cafe Brauer
Our venue is in the same part of the city we live in, which felt special. It’s a historic landmark that sits on a beautiful plot of land full of gardens/nature. I liked that the venue was one large room so that there wasn’t a lot of shifting/moving spaces during the event. We called 60 places, and none of them were available. We visited six and just knew that the feeling wasn’t right for the night. Cafe Brauer felt special. Luckily, despite it being a hard place to get, we were able to book it for a beautiful Friday in the summer.
Congratulations again to Briana and Giovanni on their whimsical Chicago wedding at Cafe Brauer. Thanks to Junebug member Erin Hannum for her incredible job capturing the love of the day. To see more of Erin’s work, check out her profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the world!
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