Afton Vangsness

Mar 16, 2023

Renee + Brad: Contemporary Chicago Wedding

This modern couple brought contemporary design to their Chicago wedding, and every detail was a dream. With sleek designs and neutral colors, Renee + Brad's city wedding embodied effortless sophistication.

Photos courtesy of Sally O'Donnell Photography

On a gorgeous summer day in Chicago, we started the day at The Langham. It was the perfect luxury setting for this fabulous couple.

I worked with Renee and Brad to design their wedding and ensure all of the details reflected the modern and stylish feel they were going for, while still remaining timeless.

The color palette was primarily white with hints of sage green and black incorporated as well. The invitation suite included contemporary shapes and a city skyline detail.

Rare Bird Beauties provided hair and makeup, and Renee looked stunning with her glam yet simplistic look.

Renee is from Miami (but grew up all over the world) so her mom and ladies all traveled to Chicago for the big day. She is an only child and it was so special to see what a bond she has with her parents and how her girlfriends were like sisters!

The breathtaking views of the suite were the perfect backdrop to show off the gorgeous bride!

Renee wore a sleek bridal gown by Pronovias and carried a fluffy white bouquet from The Local Petaler. The florals were reminiscent of a cloud, and this day was an absolute dream.

Brad and his guys got ready at the hotel as well, looking dapper in classic tuxedos from The Black Tux.

The first look took place privately in the hotel suite, and they were so excited to get to spend the entire day together.

Chicago wedding photography by Sally O'Donnell

Sally O'Donnell was the perfect choice for classic and timeless wedding photos, with a touch of trendiness here and there. The black and white photo on the stairs will forever be a favorite!

Quintessential Chicago wedding party photos took place by The Wrigley building overlooking the river, as well as at the Art Institute of Chicago's gardens.

Wedding photos at The Art Institute Chicago

The beautiful bridesmaids wore sage green satin bridesmaid's dresses by Jenny Yoo.

This is one of my absolute favorite spots for jaw-dropping wedding photos!

Then, it was wedding time! The ceremony and reception took place at Loft Lucia in the West Loop.

The ceremony took place outdoors on the rooftop. When it came to the floral, it was a real mix of modern and traditional. This wedding is one that you can look at it today and think it is so current, but you can also look at it far into the future and know it will still be timeless.

The bride was walked down the aisle by her dad, and I think this is my favorite father-daughter photo ever!

The sun was shining as they became husband and wife.

The ceremony was officiated by a family member of the groom, and it was sweet, funny, and intimate. Everyone waved their ribbons as they cheered on the newly married couple!

Wedding ceremony in the west loop, chicago

Guests proceeded to the bar for cocktail hour. The indoor-outdoor flow is one of the biggest draws for this Chicago wedding venue.

Catering by Michaels passed an assortment of hors d'oeuvres and we had drinks flowing at the bar!

The stationery and signage at the wedding continued the modern minimalist style in sleek black and white.

The reception took place on the 3rd floor of the venue, featuring the venue's farm tables and exposed brick.

We dressed up the tables with white chiffon runners, black napkins and flatware, white taper candles, and lush floral centerpieces.

Upgrading flatware to a matte black really emphasized the design of the wedding. I also loved the little touch of baby's breath on top of the menus in the napkins!

The bride and groom opted for a sweetheart table which was decked out with floral in front of the large windows, creating a dreamlike focal point for the room.

Guest favors were little bottles of limoncello with custom labels set at each place setting. They turned out so cute and were an ode to the bride's family.

Mr. and Mrs. Fretti entered the reception and were immediately surrounded by their wedding party.

Welcome toasts from the father of the bride and the father of the groom opened the night.

I always love surprises at weddings, even little ones! It was one of the groomsmen's birthdays, so we had a little cupcake and candle come out for him.

After dinner, the bride and groom cut their small wedding cake, as they had a dessert table for all of the guests to enjoy.

The bride and groom absolutely killed their first dance to 'Love Like This' by Ben Rector, before the music cut, and they switched to 'Suavemente' by Elvis Crespo to liven things up and get the party started!

Renee let her hair down after that, both literally and figuratively! They took some golden hour photos and had a little moment on the rooftop away from the crowd.