Modern & Whimsical City Wedding at JW Marriott Chicago

Melissa Baran
March 28, 2019
Categories: Modern, Real Weddings, The Blog, Whimsical

If you were to ask me what kinds of celebrations I love the most—which ones have earned a special place in my wedding-loving heart, I would surely say, “the ones that are bursting with blooms!“. This one from Emilia Jane, Holly Heider Chapple Flowers LTD and LK Events delivers that craving like no other. With JW Marriott Chicago as the reception backdrop, you can find yourself swimming in garden roses, ranunculus and peonies galore. Join us right this way for more.

Bridget and Lou first set eyes on one another in 2010 when they both started jobs at the same Kentucky-based company, a maker of fine American Whiskey (read: Bourbon!). Both would later admit to surreptitiously looking the other up in the corporate directory upon first sighting. Despite a clear initial attraction, the relationship started off as just friends. But after three years of cautious flirtation, or as Lou refers to it, his “evaluation period,” Bridget finally completed her due diligence and stated her intentions to acquire Lou as a boyfriend, effective October 2013. Hence began a whirlwind romance (okay, another three plus years) filled with the perfect blend of adventures, ski trips, Kentucky Derbies, dance floors, and way-too-serious conversations. Things culminated in 2017 on a family trip to Hawaii, where Lou asked for Bridget’s hand in marriage as the sun set over the Pacific.

The Wedding… Bridget is one of ten kids and the fourth sister in four years to be getting married; in other words, her family had established their go-to blueprint for executing memorable weddings. Booking the “family band,” The Headliners based in Florida, was the first order of business and the wheels were officially set in motion. Bridget’s sister Meg had just married Jim that past Memorial Day weekend at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.. Hoping to capture that same city-wedding sentiment and fun energy, we decided on Memorial Day Weekend 2018 in Chicago, checking all the boxes for entertainment, ease of travel, and just an overall really great city.

Stealing yet another detail from her sister’s wedding, we entrusted Holly Heider Chapple (the floral designer from Meg’s D.C. wedding) with full creative direction and floral design services. Thanks to her incredible vision and eye for detail, the ballroom was transformed into a masterpiece of flowers, color and even trees, a floral fantasy land! Bridget loves vibrant colors and elements of drama and Holly and her fabulous team truly elevated the design beyond anything we could have imagined.

When looking into different Chicago-based photographers, Bridget was drawn to Emilia Jane’s photography style. Emilia ended up being such a perfect fit, both in personality and aesthetic. Seeing her in action, doing her amazing photo thing while also efficiently navigating a large bridal party was truly impressive.

The wedding weekend festivities kicked off with the rehearsal dinner at the cozy and intimate Tortoise Club restaurant and followed the next night with a “Welcome Party” at the Terzo Piano at the Art Institute of Chicago, complete with tours of the Modern Wing. The wedding ceremony took place at the truly special Old St. Patrick’s Church in the West Loop, with the reception following at the JW Marriott in the Financial District. The JW Marriott events team and our LK Events team were such pleasure to work with and masterfully ensured all the wedding weekend details went off without a hitch.