I’ve fallen completely in love with Gallery 1028 and this pretty, little gem sent into us by Ashley Biess Photography. The twinkling lights, suspended frames and that sweetheart table are all just so fabulous, I can’t decided which detail I love the most. And don’t even get me started on those perfectly fluffy florals! If you’re a huge fan of this wedding like me, there’s only one thing to do: head straight to the full gallery for even more.
Click here for the FULL wedding!
From the Bride… We wanted our wedding day to be filled with fun, laughter and the people we love most. It turned out to be exactly that! Early in our planning, we decided to have a very small, intimate church ceremony for our immediate family members the Thursday night before our “big day.” It turned out beautifully and was the perfect way to begin our wedding celebrations. On Saturday, we kicked it up a notch with a vow renewal ceremony and reception with 200 of our closest friends and family members at Gallery 1028. A family friend presided over both of our ceremonies. We did our marriage prep with him, and the personal connection he put into both evenings was extremely special to us. Everything about both evenings was absolutely perfect!
One of our favorite moments of the weekend was walking into Gallery 1028 for the first time on Saturday afternoon. To see our vision and the culmination of over a year of planning come together in real life was amazing. We couldn’t believe how beautiful everything looked! Throughout the planning process, we loved putting the small details together — our sweets table, family wedding photos, bridal party accessories and small nods to my dad, who passed away suddenly early in our engagement but surely was present throughout our entire weekend of celebrating.
Our longer engagement (14 months) gave us the opportunity to work with both big Chicago companies that require booking long in advance, and smaller, home-based companies and vendors. We loved working with the smaller companies especially. Everyone was so friendly, willing to help and excited for us! Our best advice to couples planning now is to take your time! Give yourself enough time to plan and search for vendors who can give you exactly what you want within your budget — those people are out there if you look hard enough! Also, don’t be afraid to DIY — even with our busy schedules, we were able to bring a lot of homemade, personal touches to our day. Finally, soak in as much of your big day as possible. Take time to step back and feel the love!
Wedding Photography: Ashley Biess Photography / Wedding Venue: Gallery 1028 in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design: Cornelia McNamara Flowers / Decorator: PJ Acosta of Studio AG / Catering + Pies: Calihan Catering / Wedding Paper Goods: Anna Michelle Cards / DJ: Style Matters DJs / Table + Chair Rental: Hall’s Rentals / Candy Table Vessels: World Market / Candy Table Candy: Candy Warehouse / Candy Table Bags: SomersetMarket / Candy Bag Stamp: StampOutOnline / Vintage China Rental: Plate Vintage Crockery / Vintage Decor: Re:find Joy / Accommodations: Hotel Felix / Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani via The Dress by Nicole / Bride’s Belt + Veil: The Dress by Nicole / Bride’s Earrings: Nadri via Nordstrom / Bride’s Shoes: Ivanka Trump “Natalya” in Gold / Bride’s Hairpiece: Amoretto /Bride’s Garter: LyaLyaCreations / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Pearl Bridesmaids’ Belt: MyWanderingEye / Bridesmaids’ Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Groomsmen’s Suits: Alfani RED via Macy’s / Groomsmen’s Ties: BlackBrown 1826 via Lord & Taylor