There is absolutely no doubt that Salvage One is one amazing place to say I do. So amazing in fact, this gorgeous Bride knew even before she had a ring on her finger that it was THE place to tie the knot. Lucky for her, her amazing Groom not only popped the question, but he also booked the venue before getting down on one knee. How much do you love that? Totally a keeper. Anna Guziak Photography captured the day in serious style, and you can catch it all right here.
From the Bride… If I’m going to be honest, I’ll admit that I began scheming for our big day even before Mike popped the question. I had discovered Salvage One through a wedding blog and took it upon myself to secretly begin the process of checking availability. Much to my dismay, I was told there was a two year wait to book this venue on a Saturday. I was bummed (and soon told Mike so) as I reluctantly dropped the mission.
Fast forward to about ten months later, when Mike proposed AND let me know that he had booked Salvage One for what would become our winter wedding date! I was elated! My mom and I quickly formed a fabulous little wedding planning duo, checking in with Mike as often as necessary. (As long as a good band was hired and the bar well-stocked, he was agreeable to every other decision made.)
Our wedding ceremony took place at Holy Family Catholic Church, the church attached to my high school. This was especially appropriate, as Mike and I are high school sweethearts. An already beautiful church (one of only a few buildings to survive the Chicago Fire) was made even more so by an abundance of Christmas decorations – one of the many great perks of a winter wedding!
As mentioned, the reception was held at Salvage One. Fleur Inc. owner Kelly Uss, along with day-of-coordinator Amy Stockbridge, effortlessly created an ambiance of warmth and romance that actually took our breath away. A combination of gorgeous textured florals and glowing candles set the mood. We chose cranberry mojitos as our signature drink, and our guests dined on scrumptious beef short ribs and chicken mole (Mike and I both love Mexican food!). For dessert, a fabulous white chocolate marble cake with a hint of peppermint was complemented by a fully stocked candy buffet – a particularly big hit with the kids, but enjoyed by most adult guests as well. Our wonderful family and friends danced the night away to the sounds of Orchestra 33. My absolute favorite part of the day was when my entire family (40+ people) surprised Mike and me by performing a flash mob dance. We were shocked and delighted, and our guests are still raving about what fun it was to watch! The whole day felt magical. We are forever grateful to the oh-so-talented Anna Guziak for capturing all the special moments. She and her husband are simply delightful and were a complete joy to work with. Together, they took more than 1000 snaps without stealing a moment of our day!
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Wedding Photography: Anna Guziak Photography | Getting Ready Location: The Four Seasons + Buckingham Athletic Club both in Chicago, Illinois | Ceremony Venue: Holy Family Church in Chicago, Illinois | Reception Venue: Salvage One in Chicago, Illinois | Wedding Coordination: Amy Stockbridge | Floral Design: Fleur Inc. | Catering: Occasions Chicago Catering Inc. | Wedding Cake: Ta Dah Cakes |Reception Music: Orchestra 33 | Wedding Invitations: Foglio Press | Wedding Stationery: Wiregrass Weddings | Transportation: Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co | Valet Company: Five Star Valet | Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm | Bride’s Earrings: BHLDN | Bride’s Shoes: Bettye Muller via BHLDN | Bridesmaids’ Attire: LulaKate via Bella Bridesmaid | Hair: George the Salon | Makeup: Andie Cumber