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Hey, I'm Chelsea.

I'm a Chicago wedding photographer and videographer who's on a mission to take the stress out of wedding planning, one anecdote, gif, and movie
quote at a time.

From the moment I met Jordan and Dan for coffee, I knew that their Garfield Park Conservatory wedding was going to be something special.

Intentional, Personality-Packed Wedding Details

Abby, Jordan and Dan’s planner, lives by the motto “make the pretty mean something”. This couple took the phrase to heart, making sure each beautiful detail of the day was filled with significance.

Bride and Groom kissing in Chicago, IL

Wedding Attire

The couple bucked tradition and didn’t have a large wedding party.

Instead, Jordan’s friends and family were invited to hang out with her at her bridal suite while she got her hair and makeup done. Then, when the time came, Jordan slipped into a blush, two-piece BHLDN gown. It was a perfect, subtle homage to her dance background.

Dan, on the other hand, got ready with friends before slipping into a custom suit with an orange lining—his favorite color. To make it even more special, Dan surprised Jordan with their wedding date embroidered close to his heart.

A Mutual First Look at Wrigley Building

Dan designed his suit without any input from Jordan, so the couple decided to do a mutual first look. I absolutely loved this twist on a traditional first look. I’m used to grooms admiring how gorgeous their wives-to-be look, but it was so special seeing Jordan take in all the details of Dan’s suit.

Outdoor Jewish Ceremony at Garfield Park Conservatory

As guests arrived at Garfield Park Conservatory and made their way to the ceremony site, they passed a ‘Newlywed Wish Well’. Along the bottom of the well, pennies spelled out the couple’s wedding hashtag. Next to a fountain was a sign, encouraging guests to make a wish for the couple before taking their seats.

Once the ceremony began, the couple’s close friend began to officiate. He pointed out that they were standing under a chuppah that had been hand-sewn by family members.

A Plant-Themed Celebration

One constant theme throughout Jordan and Dan’s day was plants. Specifically, trees. Garfield Park Conservatory served as the lush stage for the wedding celebrations, but it went deeper than looks.

The couple wanted to honor that they were growing and strengthening their family tree.

Their ketubah featured a gorgeous tree, similar to the one hand-sewn into the fabric of their chuppah.

A Day of Dancing

Remember how Jordan was a dancer? The day was filled with little shoutouts to her passion.

Abby, the couple’s planner, said summed the day up best:

“As a nod to Jordan’s performance background, the flow of the day felt like a well-choreographed dance with one wedding element flowing right into the next.”

This included a literal dance transition. Once cocktail hour wrapped up, Jordan and Dan led their guests into the reception room and onto the dance floor for an epic first dance.

Jordan and Dan’s Garfield Park Conservatory wedding perfectly wove their passions, histories, and families into one.

I could go on and on about this heartfelt wedding, but I’ll let their film do all the talking:

Take it from the couple:

Pictures are amazing, but there is something really special about getting a chance to hear the toasts, listen to the ceremony and watch all the dancing. As much as we tried to be present and take in every moment, the day went by in the blink of an eye. Having this video brings it all back to life and it is something we can share with our family and friends, and one day maybe even our children.

The Wedding Vendors

AM Prep: Intercontinental Hotel // Venue: Garfield Park Conservatory // Wedding Planner: Heirloom Event Co. // Photographer: Nancy Marie Photography // Strings: Artistrings // DJ: Toast And Jam // Floral: Hoot And Holler // Beauty: Kate Johnson Artistry // Catering: Limelight Catering // Transportation: Top Fleet

A wedding photography and videography studio for personality-packed couples who want to remember the way they tore it up on the dance floor just as much as the way it felt to say “I do”.