A Modern Wedding at Elske Restaurant | Jen + James | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photographer
A Modern Wedding at Elske REStaurant | Jen + James | Destination Wedding Photographer| Chicago Wedding Photographer | The EMILY HOTEL | Markarian Bride | TAXA FLORA
Jen and James started their day at The Emily Hotel, where they spent the morning with their closest family members while prepping for one of the most special days of their lives. They had their first look just outside of The Emily Hotel and then we strolled around the West Loop for their bridal portraits. When they arrived to Elske Restaurant, located in the heart of the West Loop, they spent time together with their families and just relaxing a bit before their ceremony started. At Elske, there is a lovely upstairs loft where they could watch all of their guests slowly come in before the ceremony that takes places in the downstairs courtyard. Rev Beth officiated their ceremony, and if you’re ever in the search of an officiant that can marry you and your partner anywhere in any venue and with the most thoughtful words, she is your girl.
It’s always important to have a venue that you love aesthetically and feels like you, and Elske was just the place for a beautiful outdoor ceremony, Michelin Star dinner and a solid dance party overflowing into the coutyard. Also, if you haven’t been to Elske yet or if you ever plan to visit Chicago, it’s an amazing Michelin star, James Beard finalist, Jean Banchet award winning restaurant in one of the loveliest food lover neighborhoods of Chicago, the West Loop. When you have your wedding reception at Elske, they of course do one of the best dinners from their custom seasonal menu by their kitchen.
To end the evening, Jen changed into her second party dress by Lurelly, cut their lovely cake and danced the night away to DJ Major Taylor alongside their favorite people! I just love days like this one, relaxed, chill and simply beautiful all around! x
Wedding Venue - Elske Restaurant | Bridal Suite - The Emily Hotel | Wedding Dress - Markarian Bride | Second Wedding Dress - Lurelly | Wedding Bouquet, Table Decor and Ceremony Floral Installations - Taxa Flora | Engagement Ring and Wedding Band - Cities In Dust | Hair - Beauty By Ann Krause | Makeup - Emma Kopty | Groom Tux - Blvdier | Groom Shoes - Carmina Shoemaker | Reception DJ - DJ Major Taylor | Wedding Filmmaker - Braxton Wallis | Officiant - Rev Beth |
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!
Downtown Chicago Wedding | The Herbarium at Bad Hunter | Chicago Wedding Photographer
The Herbarium at Bad Hunter | Downtown Chicago Wedding Photographer
Whatever our souls
are made of,
His and mine
are the same.
-Emily Brontë
Ceremony Holy Name Cathedral // Reception The Herbarium at Bad Hunter // Florist Revel Decor // MUA Ryan Ternes // Hair Artist Claire Danstrom //
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Fill out the form below and I would love to help you create something beautiful together!
I absolutely love downtown Chicago wedding venues. This particular Chicago wedding venue, The Herbarium, is located in a Chicago neighborhood called The West Loop, one of the most popular spots for some of the trendiest and edgist food scene in all of Chicago. The Herbarium wedding venue is located on the entire floor directly upstairs above the restaurant Bad Hunter, another wonderful spot to check out if you are visiting Chicago. The Herbarium has wooden floors, tall ceilings and is filled with Herbs and plants all over the walls weaving in and out through the bottles on the shelves behind it’s elegant bar. This wedding venue is not far from downtown at all, as their ceremony was actually based less than a mile away in downtown Chicago. After their downtown Chicago wedding ceremony we took wedding portraits on Michigan Avenue and we then headed to take wedding portraits in the West Loop. Since the West Loop is so close to downtown Chicago, it’s the perfect spot for visitors flying in to explore the beautiful downtown areas and also be very near your wedding venue within a mild walk or short taxi ride. All in all, I would highly recommend The Herbarium, not just for its close proximity to downtown Chicago, but the staff and food courses were top notch! Seriously, try the dumplings if you ever eat a dinner there! And If anyone is searching for any wedding venue ideas for the West Loop or downtown Chicago, I could not rave enough about The Herbarium! It has really stood out to me amongst all of the other wedding venues for intimate Chicago weddings. Truly a beautiful downtown Chicago wedding venue. On a side note, thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings about this lovely Chicago wedding venue, The Herbarium.
Room 1520 | West Loop Wedding Venue | Chicago Wedding Photographer
Room 1520 Wedding Venue | Chicago Wedding Photographer
Keep your eyes open.
Keep your heart open too.
You never who you’re going to
meet and what they will mean to you.
- mhn
Clair and Michael. These two adventurous souls met in the most exciting meet-cute ever, standing in line at a club in Italy. They are both such beautiful humans, inside and out, with the style and sass to match! More than any couple I have ever met, they dance like no one else is watching. I absolutely loved this day and all of the uniquely modern details that made their wedding truly one to remember.
Venue - Room 1520 | Dress - Alyssa Kristin Dress | Tux - The Black Tux | Hair + MUA - Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists | Event Planner - Urban Allure Events | Florist - Bouk Bridal | Caterer - Zullo’s Catering | DJ - Toast & Jam |
For anyone reading this that is in your engaged season of life, Room 1520 is one of the loveliest wedding venues in Chicago that I have ever captured a wedding in. As anyone can see from my photographs I share on my website and social media, I tend to be drawn to the more neutral or black and white palette. Room 1520 is one of my favorite venues in Chicago because it is a blank space. It is completely painted in white. The floors are white and the old tile windows give it a modern and clean edge. If you are looking for an industrial venue in the heart of the West Loop, just a mile from downtown, you will love Room 1520. The location, the staff, the elegant transitions from foyer, to bar area, to the wide open ceremony and reception space, It’s definitely a space for anyone looking for a blank slate to visit to see if this the wedding venue for you. I just love raving about wedding venues in Chicago that I love and Room 1520 has definitely become a favorite of mine. I have shot multiple weddings in the West Loop, and as lovely as they all are, Room 1520 has the upper hand when it comes to space, since it’s on the outskirts of the West Loop and has a slightly larger square footage then most of the West Loop wedding venues. So you can invite more of your friends and family to celebrate with you! So all in all, Room 1520 is in my opinion one of the best wedding venues in Chicago. So cheers to hopefully helping your Chicago wedding venue search just a little bit and I truly hope you can enjoy your season of planning, and most importantly, enjoy this time with the love of your life!
Revel Fulton Market Wedding | Urban Chic Downtown Wedding | Modern Chicago Wedding Photographer
Revel Fulton Market Wedding | Urban Chic Downtown Wedding | Revel Space Luxury Venue | Modern Chicago Wedding Photographer
If you’re interested in an urban-chic and modern wedding day, this is the wedding day to be inspired by. Jeannie and Tom chose to get ready in the center of the Chicago skyscrapers and had their wedding day end with a late night reception at Revel Fulton Market in the West Loop. They had their first look on a rooftop balcony of a skyscraper with the whole city skyline in the background. Then we strolled around the streets in the west loop for portraits with their bridal party and just the two of them before heading to their church for a romantic and heartfelt ceremony. Everything from Jeannie’s minimal Sarah Seven wedding dress to her Christian Louboutin Heels, to the simple and modern details of her wedding reception at Revel Fulton Market, it all blended perfectly to create the idyllic urban-chic wedding day.
If you are looking for a wedding space to transform with minimal details and has upscale, modern amenities, Revel Fulton Market is your venue! I have shot at so many industrial warehouse wedding venues in Chicago, but Revel Fulton Market, of the Revel Space group, really blew me away. I love how the exposed brick was painted white and the floors were cemented. The lighting was minimal and created a beautiful and romantic ambiance for the evening. I really love when couples find a space that fits with the city and their attire. And this wedding venue really shows off how the industrial era of Chicago really was the foundation of the city. I just love seeing old warehouses in Chicago becoming wedding venues after being restored and architects and designers coming in to create amazing spaces for events. Truly, visit Revel Fulton Market if you’re still searching for an urban, minimal wedding venue in Chicago.
Chicago Wedding Venue - Revel Fulton Market - Revel Space | Wedding Dress - Sarah Seven | Bride Wedding Shoes - Christian Louboutin Heels | Bridal Hair and Makeup, Luxury Beauty Boutique- Arch Chicago | Wedding Ceremony - Holy Family Catholic Church | Wedding Reception DJ - Ten Twelve Entertainment | Wedding Filmmaker - Shutter and Sound | Second Shooter - Alisha Tova | Wedding Photo Booth - Photique Booth | Chicago Wedding Florist - Revel Decor
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!