Cal and Rob have always been lovers of music, adventure, and a twist on the traditional. After spending years attending Thalia Hall to see great acts like Smashing Pumpkins, Estelle, and Bright Eyes, it was only fitting that they have their wedding at the Chicago landmark.
With the help of Rosewood Weddings (and some creative Pinterest DIY’s!), the couple held a gorgeous, minimalistic wedding with musical elements incorporated all throughout. Photography by Alisha Tova was the cherry on top. Each photo from the day elicited feelings of joy and excitement that will make anyone’s heart sing.
Meet the Cast
Clean, minimalistic wedding invitations are a staple for chic couples. This neutral invitation suite with a pop of pink offered a classic, but stylish look.
This beautiful bouquet by Field and Florist perfectly complemented Cal’s sleek white wedding dress by Prea James.
We made sure to not follow tradition for the sake of tradition and instead incorporated styles and ideas that were important and special to us. Our wedding venue was a concert hall that we attend regularly and was where we had one of our first dates.
Cal, a Pinterest Account Manager, DIY’ed much of the wedding to fit her tastes. Now THAT is a Pinterest board we want to take a look at!
Pre-Show Glimmers
The couple took to the streets of Chicago to take some glamorous photos before the wedding ceremony. This shot feels like a wedding version of Abbey Road!
Want some more info on Cal’s Prea James dress? We’ve got you!
I love to do my research and am also very picky (nightmare bride combo) so I ended up visiting about 10 boutiques. Most of the time I went alone, not only because 10 trips would be torture for my loved ones, but because I didn’t want anyone to sway my decision. I had my last appointment booked at Lovely Bride Chicago with only one dress in mind – Mira by Prea James. I’m so glad I had some of my best friends with me for this visit as it would have been slightly sad to be drinking my celebratory wine alone. It was also exactly one year from our wedding date, so I took it as a sign.
Cal’s gals made a splash in their gorgeous mismatched dresses!
Lights, Camera, Love
A minimalistic welcome sign surrounded by greenery and white florals made for a pleasant entrance for the wedding’s guests.
With Thalia Hall being the site of their wedding, Cal and Rob put a ton of thought into their musical choices for the evening. Their favorite song by Fleetwood Mac made for a clear choice for their first dance.
Processional: Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard
Recessional: Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
First Dance: The Chain by Fleetwood Mac
Acrylic floral stands elevated (literally!) these cute and simple flower arrangements to decorate the stage.
Cal and Rob said their vows to one another on a stage where many of the musical greats have stepped foot. These two now get to join that list, and do so in holy matrimony! How many musicians can relate to that??
If you do what you want it will be uniquely you. If you both don't eat cake, have an ice cream bar instead. Why throw such an expensive party if it's not filled with your favorite things?
Encore!
The reception is where Cal’s background at Pinterest truly had a chance to shine. Guests were treated to a DIY retro cassette tape seating chart display. How cool is that!
Pink vinyls were another musical-themed experience for the guests to interact with. It was the perfect way to offer sincere messages of love and luck for the now-married couple.
It was important to Cal + Rob to have an East Coast Style reception, which is where you have dance sessions throughout the meal. This style of reception was wildly fitting for a concert hall – guests loved getting up and down to dance through some sets!
Probably crowd surfing to the Thalia Hall stage during "American Girl"...only downhill from there.
The couple would like to leave this off with one last note:
We would be remiss not to mention how insanely lucky we are to have had our vendors. We fell in love with every single one of them and they all executed our vision to a T. Be sure to trust your gut during your initial consultations.
These amazing vendors created the most stunning day! Congrats to Cal + Rob!
photography: Alisha Tova // venue name: Thalia Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA // event design: Rosewood Weddings // planning: Rosewood Weddings // florals: Field and Florist // groom attire: Indochino // videography: Golden Hours // paper goods: Hall Creative Co. // catering: Thalia Hall // tabletop rentals: Rosewood Weddings // furniture rentals: Borrow Curated // linen rentals: BBJ Linens // music: Bluewater Kings Band
