Cheers to this low-key handmade brewery wedding in Chicago
Both the ceremony and reception were very focused on family — our siblings were standing up with us on our respective sides, and our parents and siblings were at the "head" table (which was located in the middle of the room). We ditched several traditions (cake-cutting, bouquet toss, etc.) that would eat up time so we could get straight to eating and dancing.
Our getaway car was my motorcycle — my husband jumped on the back and held my dress as we rode away with cans sounding the alarm of our nuptials.
A fabulous retro drive-in meets cocktail party prom
There wasn't a real theme for the wedding, other than "Let's Duerr It," based on our last name. It was our URL, hashtag, and was prominently displayed in large balloons on stage. One friend had made the comment that she felt like she was at a prom, "in the best possible way." We got married at an old drive-in hot dog stand called Superdawg, where we had one of our first dates. Our friends Kate and Pete chauffeured us in their '61 Lincoln Continental and the officiant was our friend Louie. The guest list was about 15 people (plus our dog, Stanley) and the ceremony lasted about five minutes.
A hip Chicago wedding and rock show (with comic book & movie cameos!)
Matt and Kelly’s hip Chicago wedding had a private ceremony in the lounge at Logan Theatre in Chicago, and then a giant party/rock show with their favorite soul band The Hemispheres. They even flew in guest lead singer Todd Hembrook for the event!
Their mutual affinity for comic books and sci-fi appeared in a few places including Kelly’s custom-made comic book shoes. Matt’s cousin officiated the ceremony, incorporating their love of movies. Let’s see how these two comic book and movie nerds rock out in Chicago…
A “crafternoon” wedding with painting, melted glass, and a rooftop ceremony
Our wedding was an all day event for all our family and friends. Our focus was art, making, adventure, and, of course, love. We planned a beautiful rooftop afternoon ceremony in Pilsen, at Lacuna Artists Lofts. This graffiti-filled, mixed use space was amazing and beautiful. It also got our small-town families out of the Loop. After the ceremony, we put all of our 100 guests onto chartered buses and took them to Lillstreet Art Center for four different art classes and snacks for a “crafternoon!”
A Chicago bookstore wedding with Hamilton and Santas…? Oh hell yes.
Tana and Zeb and twelve of their closest friends and family met at Powell’s Bookstore in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. They got married surrounded by books and then it off to explore Chicago. That meant famous places, Hamilton portraits, and some Santas? Yep, you’ll have to see this one to believe it…
Mind blown: This couple crowdsourced from their guests at the wedding via smartphone
Since the presence of their guests at their wedding was really the reason to have a wedding for them, Mary and Andy wanted them to be a real part of the ceremony, not just witnesses. So they asked guests to pull out their smartphones and submit a short blessing or wish to the couple. They created a word cloud you have to see…