Unexpected Venues: Would You Tie The Knot At A Bowling Alley?

This one is truly a strike right to our hearts 🎳💚

For all of you out there with a non-traditional wedding planning vibe: We’ve gotta say, going with a unique + unexpected venue is definitely the most impactful way to create a celebration that feels truly one of a kind. 

That’s why we’re so glad that this amazing vendor team dreamed up this funky, whimsical wedding shoot at Chicago’s Avondale Bowl! 

“Wren and Rose Photography, Gabby Bridge Photography, and Laura McMullin Photography all met at a photo retreat hosted by From the Daisies in 2023 and absolutely hit it off as like-minded creatives resulting in a close friendship,” says Abby of Wren and Rose Photography. “It is so much fun to be able to work with other photographers who are passionate about community over competition and truly uplift one another.”

After this dream team assembled, an out-of-the-box Wes-Anderson-inspired bowling alley wedding with an “effortlessly cool, offbeat charm” began to take shape, curated + styled collaboratively by all three vendors. 

“Set at this stunning green bowling alley in Chicago, Avondale Bowl, the unique venue adds a vibrant and unexpected backdrop,” Abby remarks, “showcasing how unconventional spaces can be transformed into dream wedding settings.”

The edgy, vintage-inspired wedding fashion. The editorial bridal makeup. The time-machine-worthy vibe. The COLOR! The “bowling alley” of it all has us feeling nostalgic for the gutter balls and ice cream cakes of our childhood birthday parties. And bright green is one of our favorite trending wedding colors. So we cannot get enough.

So, if you needed a reminder that your “I Do’s’” truly can be anything you want them to be then this brilliant vintage bowling alley wedding editorial is meant for you. 

Take it from Abby: “The shoot was a love letter to couples who want to break the rules, have fun, and make their wedding day as unique as they are.”

“This wedding shoot was a full-on 1960s Mod dream,” Abby says. “bold, funky, and totally untraditional in the best way possible.” And these retro green wedding invites by Kelsey Justice captured the vibe excellently.

Bowling For Bows

Love the delicate, feminine flair that these white lace socks added to the chic pointed toe vibes of these Franco Khloe Slingback Pumps by Franco Sarto.

We are absolutely obsessed with the silhouette of this big bow adorned short wedding dress from Sister Jane.

We love to see wedding creatives using other mediums as inspiration like this vendor crew did with the work of Wes Anderson. The iconic aesthetic of the film director has influenced some of our favorites: this green maximalist wedding shoot, this surrealist greenhouse wedding, this retro mountain wedding, this playful California wedding, and this funky summer camp wedding for example!

The green ribbon bows all over that mid-length wedding veil! So playful + on-trend!

Floral creations from Ellie’s Garden showcased the bowling alley’s iconically monochrome green color palette.

How amazing is this Priscilla Presley, 60’s-inspired editorial bridal makeup by Madeline Baffoe!!

Very into this 3-piece, shirtless green wedding suit look from ASOS as well as the pop of pattern added by those floral Taft boots.

Right Up Our Alley

“The shoot fully embraced the venue’s monochromatic green palette,” Abby remembers, “using it as a statement backdrop rather than a limitation.”

Definitely snag your own pair of green square frame sunnies if you’re loving the fun + funky accessory energy that these bold bridal sunglasses added to the wedding day look.

And if it’s sunglasses for men you’re after, these amber tint aviators are obviously retro perfection.

Very into the unique shape of this modern + minimalist single-stone wedding ring from Sophie Kissin Jewelry.

A Retro Reception

Bakers Square provided the delicious key lime pie for this dreamy bowling ally booth reception setup.

“This shoot was not just a creative endeavor but a collaborative masterpiece,” Abby says, “from local Chicago vendors contributing their unique styles to a group of three photographers from all over the US who planned every detail together as a true collaborative endeavor.”

We cannot wait to see the nontraditional wedding venue ideas that this gorgeously green editorial inspires. Congrats to the whole team for truly leaving no pins standing with this one and creating something so unique!!