Wait. Until. You see this wedding. Amanda Sudimack of Artisan Events, Inc. is responsible for each and every bit of photographic beauty this fabulous affair at the Chicago Botanic Gardens has to offer, and she has no doubt brought some dashing delightfulness to our eyes today! The garden, the greenery, the vibrant reds and deep purple tones make for such an eye-poppingly phenomenal visual experience. In my opinion, if you're looking to throw a drool-worthy celebration and you aren't afraid of being a wee bit bold, then you might want to take a page or twelve out of Sharon's book. Feel free to cheat and check out the gallery for the full experience! — xoxo, Alison of The Knotty Bride
{Get thee to the gallery, stat!}
A few words from Sharon, our bride:
Jake & I were married in the Chicago Botanic Garden. September was the perfect time of year to take advantage of the acres of gardens, flowers and plants – all of which offered a gorgeous backdrop for our Saturday evening event. After searching for a classic but sexy gown that could be worn again in the future, I decided upon a dress from Vera Wang. Jake was dashing in a Versace tuxedo. The wedding party wore varying shades of dark red floor length gowns of their own choosing.
Because we have thrown many parties together, our wedding was the quintessential event for fun. Signs that said “Sharon & Jake’s Nuptial Extravaganza” directed guests to the English Walled Garden where they were greeted with signature cocktail (Sharontini) of grapefruit juice, vodka and fresh lime. A nice toasty feeling was the perfect buzz for the ceremony itself. My sister Anna made the chuppah to mimic the sky, using all natural indigo dye. We wrote our own vows and took a non-traditional approach to the Jewish ceremony.
Many guests described the beginning of the reception as the world’s longest horah. It included being hoisted up on chairs, jump-roping with tablecloths, and multiple twisted ankles. Jake is a professional DJ, so the music was of utmost importance. After the klezmir band played throughout the ceremony, cocktails, horah and dinner, a close friend took over the turntables and much more dancing ensued. While the music was Jake’s territory, I focused in on the food and décor. I made the place cards by hand along with my mom and a calligrapher friend. They were mounted on peacock feathers to match the wedding invitations, which had an art deco inspired peacock motif (ordered all the way from Belgium on etsy). Flowers (by Kehoe Designs) were exotic – with coxcomb, fiddlehead ferns and burgundy ti leaves. Callahan Catering offered a superb spread of culinary delights throughout the night. It began with passed hors’deurves ranging from a deconstructed martini (a tiny vodka spray-bottle pierced with an olive!) to tuna tartar served in a Chinese soup spoon. Jake & I share a stronger savory obsession than a sweet tooth, so they skipped the cake and went with an assortment of cheeses, fruit, and a cupcake tree for dessert. Miniature ice cream cones were passed to the sore-footed crowd on the dance-floor and guests were given bags of freshly popped popcorn on their way out. As a gift to our guests we handed out CDs with a DJ mix that Jake put together featuring a bunch of our favorite tunes.
Thank you, Sharon and Jake, for sharing your incredible wedding with us! The images of your big day are truly breathtaking, and we wish you all the best for a happy and healthy life together!
xoxo, Alison of The Knotty Bride
Photography: Amanda Sudimack | Artisan Events, Inc. / Floral + Decor: Kehoe Designs / Caterer: Calihan Catering / Ceremony Site: Chicago Botanic Garden - English Walled Garden / Reception Site: Chicago Botanic Garden - McGinley Pavilion / Bride's Attire: Vera Wang / Groom's Attire: Versace