A Modern, Sophisticated Wedding at Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory
Allie and Clay gathered their favorite people for a garden wedding in Chicago that was chic, minimalist and totally modern.
Total sophistication — that’s how we’d sum up Allie and Clay’s flora-filled ceremony beneath the arched ceiling of Garfield Park Conservatory.
Allie was the epitome of a modern bride in her crisp, ivory jumpsuit with a train that cascaded off her hip and a minimalist bouquet of tangerine colored dahlias. And Clay, in his deep navy suit, had the confident smile of someone utterly in love.
Their sun-soaked day had the air of an elegant dinner party, which was the vibe they aimed for. “We really bond over shared meals, so overall, we wanted our wedding to feel like the best dinner party you’ve ever been to,” Allie said. Initially, they had considered an intimate destination wedding in Spain or Italy, but the pair wanted to make sure all of their closest loved ones were in attendance. Their venue, the Garfield Park Conservatory, was the perfect fit and made them feel like we were in a private courtyard abroad, completely removed from the city but with all the convenience of being local.
A couple of special people couldn’t be there in person, but they certainly weren’t forgotten. “One sentimental detail we included was one of the rings I wore on the day of,” Allie said. “My great aunt, who passed away a couple years ago, left me a bracelet with sapphires and diamonds. I knew I would wear a ring more often, so we went ahead and got the stones put into a ring that I now wear daily.”
Clay’s wedding band originally belonged to his grandfather. Having those two symbols of love, from people that meant so much to each of them, was a nice reminder on their special day, Allie said.
During the outdoor reception, amidst flowering shrubs and leafy trees, everyone laughed and toasted and ate. And as the sun set, the twinkling overhead lights lit up the dance floor where everyone grooved and sang along to songs from the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s.
It’s funny to think that none of this would have happened had Allie stay home the night she and Clay met at a bar. She was having a drink with a friend when Clay and his friend walked up to them. Not only did Clay and Allie find “the one” that night, but their two friends hit it off and married as well.
“It’s the dream,” Allie beamed.
Number of Guests: 80
Vendors:
Venue: Garfield Park Conservatory
Photography: The Paper Elephant
Videography: Hwu Studios
Event Coordinator: K & K Celebrates
Bride’s Gown: Toni Maticevski
Bride’s Shoes: Franco Sarto
Hair: Kelly Cardenas Salon
Makeup: Bare All Beauty Bar
Earrings: Luz Ortiz
Groom’s Formalwear: BLVDier
Shoes: Jack Erwin
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Various
Groomsmen’s Formalwear: The Black Tux
Invitations: Minted
Map & Stationery: Midnight Oil Events
Floral & Decor: Field & Florist
Catering: Food For Thought
Entertainment: Style Matters
