A Fairlie Affair for Jill & Ashley
Jill and Ashley’s wedding vision for an “overgrown, abandoned factory in a beautiful forest” came to life in the West Loop’s The Fairlie. The couple’s relationship began with football and IPAs, which, five years later, resulted in this mossy and stylish affair.
Floral installations from Adina Fried of Bottles & Bouquets throughout the industrial venue gave guests the feeling of stumbling upon a secret sanctuary. The couple achieved their goal of a wedding that felt natural and inviting, yet still was upscale and elegant.
Jill and Ashley come from different backgrounds. Jill’s family is mostly from the East Coast, while Ashley was born and raised in Chicago. It was important to the couple to create an event that felt welcoming to everyone, no matter their background. By serving a family-style dinner from Big Delicious Planet, the couple demonstrated the importance of community and love to their marriage. The atmosphere created intimacy that sparked conversation and brought guests even closer together.
The evening’s shining moment (beyond the ceremony itself!) came after Jill and Ashley changed into reception outfits and made their way back to the party. Unplanned, “Dancing Queen” by ABBA began playing, and all eyes were on the couple’s reemergence down The Fairlie’s dramatic staircase. The DJ took hold of this moment and asked everyone to sing along as the couple danced down the stairs. This beautiful and unexpected moment truly encapsulated what this wedding celebration was all about: love, community and a bit of serendipity.
NUMBER OF WEDDING GUESTS: 145
VENDOR LIST
PHOTOGRAPHER: Alisha Tova, Tova Studios
VIDEOGRAPHER: This Charming Heart
GETTING-READY VENUE: Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
VENUE: Fairlie
EVENT PLANNER & DESIGNER: Fierce Productions
FLORAL & DÉCOR: Adina Fried with Bottles & Bouquets
RINGS: Brilliant Earth
JILL’S GOWN: Honey Bridal
ASHLEY’S FORMALWEAR: The Knot Standard
HAIR & MAKEUP: Kyra Brown, Emily Umunna, We Only Do Pretty
CATERING & CAKE: Big Delicious Planet
ENTERTAINMENT: DJ Van
TABLETOP DÉCOR: The Festive Frog, Tablescapes Event Rentals
LINENS: BBJ La Tavola
TRANSPORTATION: Apex Limo Services
