I sometimes forget just how much I love vibrant colors. Then I see a burst of brightly-hued details pop up on my computer screen and I remember instantly. Needless to say, this gorgeous Chicago wedding had me at “pink, purple and orange” and has been tugging at my heart strings ever since with some seriously breathtaking florals by ALD Shows + Kim Schiller and some uber-chic contemporary details. Michelle Durpetti Events planned every last moment flawlessly and JPP Studios was there to capture every second in beyond beautiful images. See them all here.
Click here for the FULL wedding!
From the Bride… Whenever I attend a wedding, I’m on the lookout for those personal touches that make it a couple’s own. So when my now-husband (it still seems odd to say that!) Travis proposed, I knew I wanted to avoid anything cookie cutter. Helping to make that happen was our venue. The Chicago History Museum is a wonderful tribute to the Windy City, and I immediately felt at home. It’s as if Chicago met the South in this gorgeous, Georgian-style building, which is particularly fitting considering my mom’s side of the family hails from the Peach State. Despite breaking with several traditions, I was going for timeless and elegant. And bright. It was August, after all, and we had a gigantic cream room to work with. I wanted things to pop. People would ask what my colors were, and I hesitated when answering pinks and oranges because it’s a combo that could easily clash. But with the help of all my amazing vendors, what could have been brash and gaudy was instead more gorgeous than I ever imagined.
The setting was also an introduction to our hometown for much of Travis’ family. He grew up in Nebraska and moved in 2005 to work as a copy editor at the Daily Herald, one of the metro newspapers. I started there shortly after as a reporter. We worked out of different bureaus, though, and only met about four years ago. We immediately bonded over our shared misery/love for the Cubs and made bets whenever his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, played mine, the University of Michigan. One of my favorite moments of the reception came when his groom cake — a big block N — was wheeled out to his fight song. He didn’t know that a little figurine made to look like me would come with it, waving a Michigan flag. But the joke was on me, since my mom arranged for another cake — this time a block M — to come out with a mini Travis waving a Nebraska flag.
It was moments like these that made our wedding so memorable. Our officiant, a columnist we work with, captured us perfectly with his remarks in the ceremony. My friend sang. We honored my brother’s memory with a charm in my bouquet, as well as an engraved vase on the escort card table that was covered in sunflowers, his favorite. There was a table with our parents’ wedding pictures, and our favors were Chicago favorite Garrett’s Popcorn. A “K+T” graphic pattern we printed on the liner of our invitation envelopes made its way onto our programs, the bars and on customized pillows in the lounge area we set up. And the lighting subtly changed colors throughout the night. Everything was just so us, and it made for a wonderful celebration to begin our marriage.
Wedding Photography: JPP Studios / Wedding Venue: Chicago History Museum in Chicago, Illinois / Wedding Planning: Michelle Durpetti Events / Floral Design, Lighting + Rentals: ALD Shows + Kim Schiller / Officiant: Burt Constable, a Friend of the Bride & Groom / Catering: Blue Plate / Wedding Cakes: Amy Beck Cake Design / Wedding Paper Goods: Erickson Design / Ceremony Musicians: Belle Music / Ceremony Soloist: Dr. Falyne Frye, a Friend of the Bride / Entertainment: Toast & Jam / Linens: BBJ Linen / Trolley: Second City Trolley / Favors: Garrett Popcorn / Hair: Beth Stock of Epoch Studio Salon / Makeup: Jessi Sheehan of Epoch Studio Salon / Rehearsal Dinner: Adobo Grill / First Look: Sofitel Hotel