University Club of Chicago Winter Wedding

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This Dark Academia inspired winter wedding at the University Club of Chicago has been one of the most creatively inspiring weddings for so many reasons. The first being that my couple, Marisa and Jack, are such cool and genuinely personable people, so being able to document their wedding day was nothing short of a true joy and honor. Secondly, their entire aesthetic completely aligned with my own personal vibe—the red tones, the slightly gothic elements, the literary motifs. Their florist, Life in Bloom, made absolute magic with their ceremony and reception spaces. Finally, Marisa actually asked me to design their stationery suite, so there was an extra level of creative collaboration.

It was so fun to create the little hand-drawn, vintage-inspired collateral for their invites, which flowed seamlessly into the other designs that Life in Bloom created for them.

The Perfect Mix

Marisa and Jack are one of those couples who you just want to be around. They’re the perfect balance of effortlessly cool, but still so down to earth. Both of them are incredibly tall and modelesque, but incredibly approachable. They’re the kind of people who invite their wedding photographer to get takeout and watch “Love is Blind” after engagement photos (this actually happened). Marisa is the kind of girl to rock up to her bridal afternoon tea in her grandmother’s fur coat, but no makeup. In short, they have the kind of energy you just want to be around.

They chose tones of burgundy and dark green, and let the Life in Bloom team work their magic with fruits, ornate shapes, leaves, and other insanely creative elements for their wedding design.

The Morning of

Staying true to their own relationship dynamic, Marisa and Jack decided to start their morning together by having breakfast in their suite before the craziness of the day kicked off. It was such a sweet and personal aspect of their wedding, and I just love that they decided to do it.

Afterwards, they parted ways and got ready separately with their respective bridal parties. Shannon O’Brien and Erin Graham worked magic on Marisa’s makeup and hair, and Marisa’s mom helped her get dressed in her incredible Mira Zwillinger gown and classic Dior heels.

A Dreamy Ceremony

Their ceremony took place in Cathedral Hall, and the vibes were moody and immaculate. They exchanged vows and rings under a gorgeous leafy arch, which matched the vibe of the stained glass and gothic interiors perfectly.

Old Hollywood Portraits

Afterwards, we ventured around the University Club to snap some portraits—on the stairs, on the balcony, out in front of the building. It was the perfect vibe for flash, which anyone who knows me knows that I always love.

An Academic’s Dream Wedding Reception

You wouldn’t believe the gasp that came out of me when I saw what Life in Bloom had created in their reception space. What’s even crazier was how quickly they flipped the room—it was nothing short of magic. The red tablecloths, ornate tablescape designs, and floral arrangements were the most unique and stunning things I’d ever seen. I think about them at least once a week.

And not to mention the custom dance floor design! I’ve never seen anything like it—it was so perfect and cohesive.

Their planner, Dana of Clementine Chicago, was nothing short of exceptional. It isn’t easy to keep a wedding day running smoothly in such a historic building with only three working elevators, especially with such a quick room swap and so many moving pieces. She kept her calm and was so incredibly reliable. I cannot recommend her enough!