While we can probably differ on the little things that feel like a fit for St. Patrick’s Day, one quintessential detail is the color GREEN! Now let us begin with saying Jessie + Chris did not set out to have a St. Patty’s inspired wedding. (Rather, they drew inspiration from Kinfolk magazine and creating a community, family-style dinner to honor all the great people in their lives.) But their dreamy wedding, designed by the bride, and coordinated by Tiffany of A Splendid Occasion, felt like such a fun fit for this morning since it was held in the most perfect Chicago greenhouse + featured lots of stunning details in shades of, you guessed it, green. If we could close our eyes and reimagine this often over-the-top holiday, we might envison something that looks an awful lot like J + C’s beautiful day!
Thanks a bunch to Galaxie Andrews for the picture-perfect imagery and big congrats to the adorable newlyweds!
Chris shares more details about their inspiration + their private morning elopement:Â Our inspiration for the day would be spiritual mystics; namely Rumi and Gibran. The poem we used for our invites was “With every breath a plant the seeds of devotion, I am a gardner of the heart” by Rumi. Recognizing our wedding was an inauguration of love (celebration of something beginning) instead of the graduation of seven years of dating (celebration of something completed).
Eloping the morning of our wedding, just the two us and the presider, was so special. It captured all the beauty of the ceremony without the pressure of eyes (even loving ones staring at us). We also went in sweat pants so the moment felt real. I also had such a better attention for the moment during the public ceremony after having had gone through the ceremony in the morning.
Mildly (or maybe majorly) obsessed with Jessie’s âWillowâ by Jenny Packham dress!
And we can’t even get over this jaw-dropping space!
Jessie: When I reflect, my favorite memory is how happy Chris was throughout the day. He had such a sweet smile and was radiating so much joy. On the dance floor he kept yelling, "This is the best day ever!" His presence was so authentic, I felt so grateful to have such a wonderful partner. He kept me grounded during the day, when I was feeling overwhelmed by so many people.
Chris: We wrote our own vows. Reciting my vows out loud was the pinnacle of our wedding prep. It documented our journey together and charted our way forward.
Processional: Il Mondo â Jimmy Fontana
Recessional: Hey Ho â Lumineers
First Dance: Stay with You â John Legend
Jessie says, We wanted to create a simple aesthetic that celebrated meaningful gatherings. The common threads of our vision were organic florals, handmadecalligraphy, and personal touches. It was important to Chris and I to be intentional about all our choices so that they truly reflected us. For example our wedding story began when we decided to plan and mutually propose to each other. Also, we hand-made so many aesthetic details, that the end creation felt like a culmination of so much of who we are as a couple, and our story.
Jessie: We hired vendors that were such wonderful people, they would really understand our vision and were so supportive. I remember feeling so grateful to see how hard they had worked on the day of our wedding. Also, ask for help! My sweet family helped me hand-make so many details. My sisters were burning their hands with hot glue guns making âYAYâ flags, my brother in law was embossing invitations, my mom was a warrior for finishing tasks and problem solving, the list goes on and on. We saved so much money by enlisting such kind support. Also trust your vision and do not worry about perfection.
Chris: Adapt any aspect of the wedding to suit your interests and your budget. It is easy to feel trapped by ever escalating nature of wedding planning. Nix traditions if they don't have meaning to you. There is no absolute way to get married. Take time to see past being stuck on option A & B, be open to creative comprises.
photography: Galaxie Andrews // venue name: Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago, Illinois // event design: Bride + Family // florals: Rachel Wyffels of Life in Bloom // wedding dress: "Willow" by Jenny Packham // hair stylist: Nika Vaughan // makeup artist: Nika Vaughan // groom attire: J.Crew // paper goods: DIY's by bride & family // catering: Marcello's // cake: Whole Foods Market // music: Carrie Crucz of Toast & Jams // event coordination: Tiffany Siladke of A Splendid Occasion // accessories: BHLDN // bridesmaid dresses: J.Crew, ASOS
Wow! Reliving this day is just so amazing. So grateful for the feature today GWS! Thank you!
great wedding story. Brilliant colours! Thanks
Love this photography, really seems to capture the spirit of the day.
thank you for the wonderful feature, Jen, Erin and the whole GWS team! we are thrilled that our couple got an opportunity to share with your readers some inspiration on creating a meaningful wedding celebration filled with personal details. xx
Hi,
So we’ve been looking at this location as well and we love it, but we (and our families, in particular) are worried about its location because of all the crime and violence in the area. We were really hoping to talk with someone involved in the wedding to answer some questions about those concerns. Did it feel safe? Did you hire extra security? Were any of your guests/relatives concerned about going to a wedding at that location? If anyone has the chance, we’d love to talk a bit more about it via phone or email.