University Club of Chicago Wedding | Downtown Chicago Wedding Venue | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Melody Joy Co.
Haley and Ross had the most beautiful wedding day at the University Club of Chicago. It was a timeless day of celebrating their love, set high above the city they love, Chicago. They were Surrounded by classic architecture and sweeping views over Downtown, directly overlooking The Art Institute of Chicago and Millennium Park. their ceremony and reception felt effortlessly elegant while still warm and deeply personal. From the moment guests arrived, it was clear the day would be filled with meaningful moments, stunning details, and a sweet energy that carried throughout the day, from beginning to end. What is nice about THe University Club of Chicago, is that you can get ready there in lovely rooms, have your ceremony there, your cocktail hour and your wedding reception there, so you don’t need to worry about the weather during any season, or if you’d just rather stay inside all day, as there are so many beautiful corners to take your couple portraits, in The University Club of Chicago.
The University Club of Chicago is one of the loveliest historic wedding venues in the heart of downtown Chicago.
This wedding day was Thoughtfully planned by one of the best Chicago Wedding Planner’s, Laura Kimmel. the day flowed seamlessly from the ceremony in Cathedral Hall, designed with drapery for the families jewish traditions all the way to their candlelit tables at their wedding reception. Everything was incredibly Lush. Every event of the day included plenty of romantic floral installations and table settings designed by one of Chicago’s best Wedding Florist, Fleur. They really softened the historic interiors of the University Club of Chicago by blending classic design with modern elegance. Also, Haley’s bridal look was nothing short of stunning. she found her gown at a solid bridal boutique in Chicago, called Ultimate Bride, wearing a breathtaking wedding dress design by Ines Di Santo that felt both sophisticated and fashion-forward. Later in the evening, she changed into a more relaxed yet chic Alexis dress that was perfect for dancing in without having to worry about the bustle.
Haley’s beauty team helped bring her look and vision to life that gave her a polished and natural glow. The talented Hair Stylist, Ramsy Marston, created an effortlessly beautiful hairstyle for Haley. She also chose one of the best Makeup Artists in Chicago, Torie Conn, to complete the look with her timeless makeup style. AS Haley is a natural beauty, the makeup was just an additional compliment. Ross also complemented her perfectly in his tailored tux from Suit Supply, paired with a pair of classic Canali shoes, which were refined, sharp, and perfectly suited for the black tie setting. OVerall, I think that haley and Ross really complimented not only each other but the historic and timeless elegance of the University Club of Chicago.
The University Club of Chicago has an amazing skyline view over Millennium Park and the art institute of chicago.
The University Club of Chicago served not only as the perfect chicago wedding venue for their stunning ceremony and reception, but also as the caterer for their cocktail hour, dinner, and dessert, delivering an exceptional dining experience that I actually heard guests raving about throughout the wedding day. As the evening continued to unfold into a late night party, the dance floor really came alive, all thanks to one of the best Chicago Wedding Reception Band, Funktastic. YOu know it’s a legit wedding band when the dance floor is completely full from teh very first song all of the way to the end of the night.
I loved photographing Every meaningful moment of this wedding day, from capturing the emotion, movement, and quiet in-between moments that made this day so special, it was all so memorable. Photographing weddings in Downtown Chicago make me so happy. ALso, the Wedding Filmmaker, Ben Sloane, of Whole Heart filmed the story in motion, allowing Haley and Ross to relive their wedding day in via video for all of their married years to come. Overall, the University Club of Chicago was the perfect wedding venue to celebrate the timeless love of these two beautiful humans.
I truly love photographing wedding days at The University Club of Chicago, as I can’t get enough of the historic architecture of the Gothic style building, designed by two talented local architects, William Holabird and Martin Roche.
The lovely Chicago wedding vendor team for this beautiful day
Chicago Cultural Center Wedding | Rachel and Joe | Downtown Chicago Wedding Photographer
Rachel and Joe had their wedding ceremony and wedding reception at the historic Chicago Cultural Center in Downtown Chicago. The couple met at The University of CHicago, so it only made sense that they were married in such a special place to them both. I absolutely loved documenting this wedding day on both 35mm film and digital formats.
The Chicago Cultural Center is truly such a beautiful historic landmark in the heart of downtown chicago. It was opened in the 1800’s and located just across the street from Millennium park and off of Michigan avenue. The Chicago Cultural center not only holds many exhibits, with free admission, but they also have many spaces that are perfect for wedding days. The two main spaces for wedding ceremonies or receptions there are in the G.A.R. Hall and Rotunda or the Preston Bradley Hall’s Tiffany dome. And of course, endless corridors and stairwells of beautiful tiling, stained glass windows and ornate details throughout the entire building, which are a perfect backrdrop for bridal or wedding portraits.
Rachel started her wedding day getting ready with friends and close family at The Pendry Hotel, which is just a few blocks north of The Chicago Cultural Center on Michigan avenue. Rachel’s wedding dress and veil were from the incredibly talented dress designer, Danielle Frankel. Her wedding shoes were vintage from American duchess and had a beautiful nod to the historic time period of the building they were married in. Rachel also had some of the best wedding Hair and wedding Makeup artists in Chicago do her hair and makeup, Shannon O’Brien and Megan Schnell. Joe also had a custom suit made from Bode, an incredible designer based in New York City.
They had a first look at the hotel and then joined all of their friends in the lobby of the hotel to walk down Michigan avenue towards the wedding venue. Once The couple arrived at The Chicago Cultural Center, I photographed the bridal party on the entrance staircase both outside and inside the lobby by the welcome center. After thee bridal party headed up to the bridal room, where everyone was tucked away before the ceremony began, I strolled through the Chicago Cultural Center with Rachel and Joe for their wedding portraits.
For the entire ceremony and reception decor setup, Cygnet Events and Design executed all of the wedding planning and design work, with the guidance of Rachel’s impeccable taste through her mood boards. The Cremony was draped with deep red cloths, vivid red roses and lots of candles and dark ribbons to create a romantic backdrop. Rachel actually came up with the theme that was called “Gloopy Bacchanal”, which focused on surrealism, whimsy and romance. Rachel, as she is an architect, was able to fully design the lace pattern of their custom chuppah that they were married under and said their vows under during their wedding ceremony. Rachel also had her rabbi from her childhood hometown, who her family is close to and she has known her whole life, travel up from Georgia to marry them in chicago.
After the ceremony, they had a stunning cocktail hour overlooking chicago. I love when all of the family and bridal portraits are taken before the cocktail hour, so the bride and groom can fully enjoy their guests and just let everyone hug them and congratulate them and be fully present with their wedding guests with a drink in hand. While the Cygnet Events team, The florists from bottles and Bouquets, along with the caterers at paramount events and the rentals team at arcana vintage rentals turned the grand upstairs hall into the wedding reception and dance floor space, the guests were slowly escorted back into the hall for dinner.
Rachel and Joe had their cake cutting in the middle of the dance floor, followed by their first dance and speeches while the dinner courses started coming to all of the tables. For their dessert table, They had an epic display of multiple wedding cakes of all shapes and sizes and different designs, that matched their romantic theme of ribbons, florals and vintage icing designs. All of the cakes were designed and baked by Sugar Fixe in CHicago. To end the wedding day, rachel and joe danced to the tunes of one of chicago’s best DJ’s, Matt ROan, with all of their closest friends and family members in the middle of one of the most beautiful historic buildings in all of downtown chicago. This wedding day was so beautiful and I’m so honored to have been able to photograph all of the lovely memories from their wedding day for these two lovely and creative soulmates.
“The Chicago Cultural Center, located in the heart of Downtown Chicago, is a beautiful wedding venue and event space to enjoy an epic party surrounded by historic architecture”
