Romance can’t hold a light to this Candlelit Fusion Wedding at the Chicago Athletic Association. Amy and Sohail were planning their Chicago wedding from The UK. The first time we met was over a Skype call, but we hit it off instantly! A few weeks later, the bride and groom flew to Chicago so we could pick the perfect venue for their big day. After touring close to 10 locations, we walked into the Chicago Athletic Association and knew it was the winner.
Amy knew two things for certain: She wanted to hold a Sikh ceremony in the morning, which we enlisted the help of Shaadi Creations to bring to life, and then hold a more traditional Western ceremony in the evening. As the planning continued, the vision came to life. Life in Bloom immaculately understood that we wanted to take the ‘candlelight and greenery’ trend to new heights, while not taking away from the beauty of the hotel.
DJ Maulin and the team at Creative Sounds Entertainment set the tone for each element of the day. We started with an intimate Barraat in the hotel’s pre-function area. Amy didn’t want to sit this one out, so she made a special entrance and joined in the fun! After the Barraat, guests made their way into the Madison Ballroom for the Sikh Ceremony, and later on, headed down to Stag Court for a delicious luncheon!
After the bride and groom took a quick breather, they both changed into their western ceremony attire for a first look. The two saw one another for the first time in the light-filled White City Ballroom. They ventured to The Wrigley Building with Emilia Jane Photography for some special portraits, then headed back for the Western Ceremony. The Western ceremony was so love-filled and all guests were truly present in the moment- It was so beautiful.
The reception hall was glowing when guests entered for dinner. Candles covered every surface we could put them on, thanks to Life in Bloom. My favorite part of the evening was the toasts and speeches- I can officially say they were the best I’ve heard! The perfect combination of heartwarmingly sentimental all while filled with hilarious stories. This Chicago Athletic Association Wedding, and the couple we celebrated, will always hold a very special place in my heart!
