Afton Vangsness

Nov 16, 2020

Luxe Neutrals for Autumn: Chicago Wedding Inspiration

We're gearing up for Thanksgiving, and we have the perfect recipe for a fall wedding: warmth, glam, texture, and lush floral. Take a look at this fabulous day in Chicago, and get some inspiration for an autumn soiree.

All photos courtesy of Victoria Saint Martin Photography

Fall wedding floral centerpiece and place settings

The bride got ready in the suite at The Lakewood. The pampas grass, wood elements, and cafe lighting created the perfect setting to kick off the day.

The Alon Livne White bridal gown from Aisle Chic was EVERYTHING - lace, movement, and a high ruffled neck on the removable bolero. Her modern bridal bun and smoky bronze makeup was done by Blush and Braids Beauty Bar.

The groom wore a grey plaid three-piece suit from Formally Modern Tuxedo which is a formal, but not too stuffy, option for a fall wedding.

We used arched shapes throughout the design to give a modern and cohesive look. The invitation suite and other stationery from Ink Love and Paper combined these shapes with fall colors and floral accents.

Fall wedding ceremony with arch backdrop

The ceremony included an ombre geometric backdrop from Posh Studio Rentals. The neutral colors of the arch were used throughout the space. Varying lush floral arrangements and candles from Luci Floral Design were placed on the floor and gave us the most romantic setting.

The flowers were a mix of fresh and dried flowers in neutral tones. The color palette couldn't be more perfect for fall. It was glamorous yet earthy.

The couple exchanged modern gold wedding bands from Hitched. You will see the skeleton leaves used for these ring shots throughout the design as well.

The reception setup was a luxurious dream. Walnut colored velvet linen and black velvet napkins were from BBJ Linen. It was warm and cozy while being full glam.

A large oblong floral centerpiece took up a huge portion of the table. We placed small gold containers with individual floral pieces, as well as gold votives, on each side. The tall black taper candles in modern gold candle holders added some contrast.

Hall's Rental provided the beautiful dinnerware. We used matte white plates with gold trim and white and gold flatware. The crystal glasses also had a gold trim. The menus kept the arch element going, and we utilized skeleton leaves at each place setting as an interesting detail.

Everything came together so beautifully! I named the shoot Luxe Neutrals for Autumn, and every detail exuded this theme.

The cake from Uncommon Confections was flawless and incorporated both the color scheme and the arch detail. It was simple yet stylish and very modern.

Overall, the day was everything a couple could dream of. Having a specific vision, color scheme, and thinking of all of the little details is what makes a wedding design so impactful.

The couple, Alyssa and Kevin, were absolutely stunning and naturals in front of the camera. As always, the streets of Chicago made for an excellent background for wedding portraits.

As a wedding planner in Chicago, I have so much fun dreaming up designs and getting to play with all of the pretty things involved in a shoot like this! Kamil G Photography captured everything perfectly with this beautiful video.