Day three of Pink Week takes us to Chicago, at a totally unique venue: “We absolutely fell in love with Salvage One the minute we stepped through the door,” says the bride. “We were looking for a venue that reflected our relaxed style, but also felt special enough for the occasion. We loved the courtyard where we had our ceremony. We loved having a happy hour on the first floor of the venue, where guests could explore the shop’s funky antiques ranging from midcentury modern furnishings to a vintage foosball table. For dinner, we all headed upstairs and dined at charmingly mismatched tables and chairs under an array of light fixtures. What an amazing idea to combine an event space and an antique/salvage shop!”

Bridesmaids wore their choice of dress in a vibrant shade of pink. The groom and groomsmen wore retro-inspired suits and ties.

The DIY escort cards were made to reflect other chalkboard elements: “Our invitations and save-the-dates both had a chalkboard look, and we wanted to carry that motif over into the wedding day via the escort cards.”

Serving pie instead of wedding cake is no reason to forego a cake, er, pie topper!

SEE THE FULL GALLERY FOR MORE DETAILS FROM THIS QUIRKY CHICAGO WEDDING.

 

What was your favorite moment or part of the day? Chris and I chose not to see each other on our wedding day until our ceremony. My favorite moment was rounding the corner in the courtyard and seeing him for the first time. He looked so happy, and I felt so happy, and we were both smiling so big. It was a wonderful moment.

Did you include any traditions in your wedding? We included many traditions – I wore something old, new, borrowed, and blue; we didn’t see each other the day of our wedding until the ceremony.

What advice do you have for other brides? Don’t get so caught up in wedding hoopla that you forget the meaning of the day. Focus on your beloved and on blending your families and friends. That’s what really matters!

Do you have any budget tips for other brides? Prioritize what’s important to you before committing to anything. We knew from the get-go that we wanted to splurge on the venue, caterer, and a live band. And we decided that we didn’t really care about having a big fancy wedding cake or spending huge sums on our attire. Knowing this in advance guided us towards some of our more budget-conscious choices, like serving serving pies from Costco for dessert. Also, Salvage One allows you to bring in your own alcohol, which was a huge money-saver. We ordered our booze from Binny’s who delivered and picked up from the venue, which was awesome.

Photographer: Samantha Simmons / Venue: Salvage One in Chicago, Illinois / Dress: Jane Hamidi, Palazzo Bridal / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Tuxedo: JoS. A. Bank / Stationery: Kxo Design / Floral Designer: Kathie's Flowers / Music: Hitsville Revue / Catering: Jewell Events Catering / Pie: Costco / Cocktails: Binny's