One of the best things about cities are the hidden gems, which is exactly what these two Groom’s discovered at Public Chicago. High above the skyline they transported their guests into a quirky and modern affair featuring extraordinary views and minimalistic blooms by Stems Chicago. Check out the stunning details captured by Annie Parish Photography in the gallery!
From the Grooms… A friend of ours had suggested the Public Hotel Chicago when we were considering venues for our wedding reception. We knew we wanted to have an intimate event with only 30 or so guests. We kept referring to it as a dinner party for our closest friends, instead of our wedding reception. We were drawn to the modern, minimalist style of the hotel because it mirrored our own tastes, and when we saw the terrace outside the Ava Room with its expansive view of the downtown Chicago skyline and peeks of Lake Michigan between the buildings, we were sold. It was the first and only property we toured, and we signed the contract immediately.
We continued the minimalist look with white table linens and flower arrangements in shades of whites, creams, and pale greens. Graceful pieces of driftwood helped to visually ground the table. Pops of color came from the place cards we made that featured whimsical robots with guests’ names displayed on monitors in their chests. We had hoped our guests would want to keep them as souvenirs of the night so the cards had fun personal touches. For example, one of our friends had broken a leg in a biking accident, so her robot wore a cast.
As with all weddings, the day was a blur as we hurried to get dressed, manage last minute details, and have our photos taken with Annie Parish. Neither of us is particularly comfortable in front of the camera, but she was able to capture some really incredible moments from the night… including when we had to quickly scramble to move the event inside because a storm blew in from the lake right as we began our speeches. The wind was so strong that a bouquet of flowers flew out of the vase in front of us, rolled down the length of the table, and went over the railing.
The storm only lasted about thirty minutes, and we easily recovered with a champagne toast and dinner inside. The patio was dried off and ready to go for a night of dancing under the stars.
The evening was incredibly special because our closest friends from around the country — and two came all the way from Dubai! — made the trip to add their happiness to ours. It’s very rare to have all of your best friends gathered together at the same time, so it was amazing, humbling, and made for an all-around unforgettable party.
Photography: Annie Parish Photography | Floral Design: Stems, inc. | Cake: Alliance Bakery | Groom's Attire: Dsquared2 | Venue: Public Hotel | Groom's Shoes: Allen Edmonds | Groom's Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | Groom's Tie: Burberry | Wedding Rings: Cartier
