Kelly & Linda’s Jewel-Toned Chicago Athletic Association Hotel Wedding
Kelly and Linda’s trip down the aisle began in the boardroom. Kelly was the COO of a large Chicago nonprofit; Linda volunteered her time and expertise as the organization’s board chair. Over the years, their paths continued to cross. And at some point, a professional relationship grew into friendship. Dinners turned into dates and those dates sparked something special.
For their wedding, the couple wanted to show off Chicago to their primarily out-of-town guest list. Famous for its architecture and sweeping views of Millennium Park and the lake, Chicago Athletic Association offered everything there is to love about the city.
Kelly and Linda were married in a semi-in-the-round layout, with friends and family encircling them. Each bride entered from opposite sides of the room, meeting in the middle and walking hand-in-hand to the altar.
The ceremony opened with a candle-lighting ritual honoring loved ones who couldn’t be present, and a ribbon handfasting later wove their children and siblings into the service.
When guests moved from cocktail hour into the White City Ballroom for dinner and dancing, they were welcomed by deep burgundy, plum and fuchsia blooms glowing in the candlelight. Rather than a standard seating chart, place cards were displayed among a serpentine table lined with over a dozen cakes.
From each cake flavor to the cutout of their dog on the dance floor, the evening felt like an extension of the couple themselves. For two women who first found each other in service of something greater, perhaps it’s no surprise that something greater found them in return.
Vendor
PHOTOGRAPHER Studio This Is
VIDEOGRAPHER Highway 61 Films
VENUE Chicago Athletic Association Hotel
PLANNER LOLA Event Productions
FLORAL & DECOR EV Design Collective
LINDA’S ATTIRE Mikaella Bridal from Kleinfeld Bridal
KELLY’S ATTIRE Tailor Cooperative
RINGS D. Diamonte Limited
STATIONERY Steracle Press
CATERING Chicago Athletic Association Hotel
CAKE Cake Chicago
LINENS BBJ La Tavola
RENTALS Nuage Designs
ENTERTAINMENT BeatMix Music
GUEST PHOTO COLLECTING Wedibox
