Emma & Bailey’s wedding day was filled with incredible joy and tenderness.
The day started at their apartment where they rotated through some favorite records while getting hair and makeup done, steaming dresses, and sharing smiles and laughter. It made for an incredibly warm and relaxing start to their day. The celebration continued at Colvin House for their heartfelt ceremony, vibrant cocktail hour, and energetic dinner & dance party.
Colvin House sets the scene without stealing the spotlight
Colvin House brings historic Chicago character into the celebration without forcing a couple into a formal, overly traditional mold. Built in 1909, the mansion offers indoor and outdoor possibilities, a sense of architectural charm, and a Lake Michigan-area backdrop. For a wedding of up to about 100 guests, it can feel full, warm, and connected rather than sprawling. Guests are be able to move naturally from ceremony to cocktails to dinner to dancing, staying inside a comfortable rhythm of the day.
Emma & Bailey’s ceremony at Colvin House was personal and thoughtful, not because it was elaborate, but because every element had intension. Their officiant was a close friend who shared stories about the early days of their relationship and testaments to their growth as a couple. They exchanged personal vows leaving none of their guests with a dry eye.
A cool wedding is built from personal choices
A cool wedding is not defined by one aesthetic. A wedding feels cool because it reflects the couple clearly and confidently. That might mean a ceremony that rewrites traditional language, outfits that feel expressive rather than expected, a dinner-party atmosphere instead of a formal ballroom, or portraits that lean editorial, romantic, playful, or all three. The strongest wedding galleries usually come from days where the couple felt free to make choices that actually fit them. Photography should support that freedom and reflect the couple’s expression.
Here are a few ways couples can make their photos feel more personal:
- If your venue is local to you, consider getting ready at home. That way you can enjoy the morning at home and have your wedding details displayed in your own space.
- Build extra time into the timeline so portraits do not feel rushed.
- Share any meaningful details with the photographer before the wedding day so we can keep those in mind.
- Plan a short private moment together after the ceremony if the schedule allows.
An intimate dinner gives way to an energetic dance floor
Dinner at Colvin House feels intimate and cozy. The room is close enough for real conversation, for clinking glasses across the table. The design can be moody and maximalist, clean and colorful, or quietly elegant, depending on the couple’s taste. Emma & Bailey’s classic 3-tier cake by ECBG Studio was adorned by their cherub cake topper that the couple modified to represent them. Adorable.
After dinner and some thoughtful speeches, the dance floor opened up with incredible energy. With the DJ playing banger after banger, the dance floor was never not full.
Takeaways for planning with intention
- Choose a venue that supports your actual guest count and flow. Intimacy works best when the space feels comfortably full.
- Leave room for real moments. Apartment prep, private vows, golden hour cocktails, and dinner-party pacing all need time.
- Choose a photographer that matches your style. Film wedding photography and documentary wedding photography can preserve emotion in very special ways
- Design around identity, not trends. The best details feel connected to the couple, not copied from a mood board.
Colvin House in Chicago offers the kind of setting where a wedding can feel historic, modern, personal, and completely alive. With the right vendors and a timeline built around real connection, the day becomes more than beautiful. It becomes unmistakably yours.
Vendors:
Photographer: Dani Dahl Photo
Venue: Colvin House
Floral: EcoWilde
Hair / Makeup: Jen Brown
DJ / Entertainment: Jamtramp
Catering: Lula Cafe
Coffee Cart: Nood Coffee
Attire: Silver Moon Chicago
