A Design-Led Museum Wedding | Asrai Garden | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Savannah Miller Bridal | Varca Bridal | Destination Wedding Photographer
A Beautiful Design-Led Museum Wedding | Asrai Garden | Savannah Miller Bridal | Varca Bridal | Destination Wedding Photographer| Chicago Wedding Photographer
This design-led wedding day was full of so much love and endless style! Alex chose to get her outfit from the most unique bridal shop, Belle Atelier Bridal, and have the most unique designers to help her create her custom wedding look. The base of her wedding dress was designed by Savannah Miller Bridal and the custom cape and sheer gloves that flowed down to the floor were designed by the incredibly talented Varca Bridal. Sarah Varca is one of my personal favorites, and not just because she designed my custom wedding dress, but I’ve first hand seen how passionate she is about each bride and client she works and it’s so inspiring.
After Alex finished drinking champagne with her best friends in a suite at the Sofitel Hotel, she headed downstairs to see Alex (the groom) for the first time. They wanted to meet casually in the lobby (although, it was still so sweet to see his face in awe of her!) and we roamed around downtown with their best friends before we all headed over to the International Museum of Surgical Science. Once we arrived at the museum we were greeted by the team of Asrai Garden, who had been working for hours on the floral installations on the stairs and floral arrangements in multiple rooms where the ceremony, dessert bar and dancing would be. They are so skilled with transforming a space and their design-led arrangements are always so thoughtful and unique.
Their sweet ceremony took place in a stunning hall filled with marble statues, candlelit light, flowers and loved ones. They also had a beautiful three tiered wedding cake designed and made by Emily from Bon Vivant Cakes. The setting for this wedding allowed for the guests to roam the halls of the surgical museum, and it felt like we were in a noir film. They ended the evening by dancing the night away to her favorite DJ and her dad’s live band. Truly, it was a unforgettable wedding night in a museum! x
Dress Boutique - Belle Bridal Atelier | Wedding Dress Designer - Savannah Miller Bridal | Wedding Dress Custom Pieces - Varca Bridal | Wedding Coordinator & Vintage Rentals - Chicago Vintage Weddings | Museum Wedding Venue - International Museum of Surgical Science | Caterer & Bar - Hearty Boys | Wedding Cake and Desserts - Bon Vivant Cakes | Modern Wedding Florist - Asrai Garden | Hair - Tiffany Evans | Makeup - Gold Dust Woman | Live Band (Father of the Bride’s Band)- Night Crawlers | DJ - Greg Corner | Hotel Suite - Sofitel Magnificent Mile
Modern Wedding | Art Institute of Chicago | The Publican | Chicago Wedding Photographer
Modern Wedding | Art Institute of Chicago | The Publican | Chicago Wedding Photographer
Tim and Ivy are two of the loveliest humans I’ve had the pleasure of documenting. Their wedding day had so much personality in it. Ivy’s wedding dress was her mom’s vintage wedding gown, that she slightly customized to make it her own. They had their beautiful dog be a special part of the day by having him be their adorable “Ring Bear.” I love when couples include their animals, who are more like family, into their wedding day. They now live in New York City, but since Ivy grew up in Chicago, it held a special place in her heart. Also, the Art scene in Chicago is amazing. With The Art Institute of Chicago being one of their favorite museums and them both being Whitney museum members in NYC, it was an obvious choice for where they wanted the majority of their wedding portraits taken.
Ross and I started the morning documenting Tim and Ivy in their hotel suites overlooking the beautiful Chicago skyscrapers. We then walked down with them individually, to have them meet on a bridge overlooking the Chicago River, which weaves beautifully throughout the city scape. Even though they were in the middle of a bustling city, it still felt like they were the only ones around to each other. We walked down the river for a bit before hopping in a cab and heading to The Art Institute of Chicago. At the Art Institute, we walked by all of their favorite works to take portraits of them while they strolled and viewed the artwork together. From the Thorne Miniature Rooms by Mrs. James Ward Thorne, to the Marc Chagall Windows, to the Claude Monet Water Lilies and Stacks of Wheat, to the entire Modern Wing. It really was so special to wander around the museum with someone who values and appreciates art as much as I do. Side note, I’m a member at the Art Institute of Chicago and I can easily get lost in the works of art weekly. Artists of all methods and time periods inspire me so much.
Once we finished our stroll at the Art Institute of Chicago, we headed to Oak Park for their intimate wedding ceremony. The Ceremony took place in the beautiful cathedral of Grace Lutheran, where Ivy’s family attended growing up. They had their dog be the “ring bear” and he really was such a sweet touch. I love when couples want their animals, who are more like family, to be a special part of their wedding day. The ceremony was incredibly beautiful and serene, which was perfect way to honor the most important moments of the day.
When the ceremony ended we drove back to the West Loop to end the wedding day with a reception at The Publican. Of course, when you have a wedding reception at The Publican, your food is going to be the absolute best.. and theirs most definitely was! They rented out the entire restaurant, which made for an intimate evening of food, speeches, drinks and dancing! They moved the restaurant tables into beautiful long lines that surrounded a dance floor in the center of the room. Ivy had to ring their huge cowbell on the wall to announce to all of the guests that dinner was being served! All of the food was the top level from The Publican and it all came out family style for all of the guests to share. Family style servings really helps your guests to get to know each other and to speak to each other more. Truly a lovely way to make your wedding experience more intimate for your friends and family. They cut their cake, which had an adorable cut out of the two of them and their sweet dog sitting on the top of it! With an open bar, a dessert table and happy hearted guests, The Publican turned dark, and the DJ from Toast and Jam (Who I highly suggest for any wedding party!) led the night into a fun dance party! All in all, this was a truly beautiful day filled with family, friends and delicious food. Tim and Ivy, you both are amazing humans and I hope you’ve had the loveliest time together as Newlyweds!
At the end of this wedding day, I headed home after the last dance and was so filled with joy while looking out of my Uber as the Chicago skyline passed by, and just thought to myself “wow, I have the best job and the best couples.” I’m just truly so grateful for couples, like Tim and Ivy, who allow me the privilege of documenting and celebrating their love. It’s such an honor and always so memorable to me. Melody x
I love that in just a few miles from the heart of downtown Chicago, you can be in the quaint and beautiful neighborhood of Oak Park. Ivy grew up in this Church during her childhood years, so having her ceremony here was really meaningful to her. I love that even though Tim and Ivy’s portraits and and reception are in the urban city area of Chicago, that their ceremony could be in this intimate church setting in a quiet neighborhood. This is honestly what makes Chicago so unique and this couple so incredibly beautiful, to choose a meaningful place to start the rest of their lives together.
Wedding Portraits - Art Institute of Chicago | Wedding Dress - Vintage | Wedding Florist - InFlorEssence | Wedding Reception - The Publican Restaurant | Wedding Planner - Chicago Vintage Weddings | Ceremony - Grace Lutheran | Wedding Filmmaker - DeepEnd imagery | Hair - Paul Rehder Salon | Hotel - Virgin Hotels Chicago | DJ - Toast and Jam
If you’d like me to capture your wedding day or just want to chat with me to see how I can help you create something beautiful on your wedding day, reach out on my contact page below!