Tiffany & Nate | A Handcrafted Blue Wedding at Walden Chicago
Some couples plan a wedding, but Tiffany and Nate really made one. From thrifted blue china vases to the cake, centerpieces, and paper goods, all crafted by the bride and her family, their September wedding at Walden Chicago was a love letter written in their own hands. As their Chicago documentary wedding photographer, I rarely get to capture a day this saturated with personal meaning and details crafted by hand from the couple themselves.
What Makes a Handmade Wedding at Walden Chicago So Special?
Tiffany and Nate built their day around a palette of dusty and bright blues with touches of green and cream, anchored by vintage blue china vases Tiffany thrifted herself. The bride handmade the cake, crafted the centerpiece florals with her family, and designed every piece of paper in the room. A wedding built by hand at a design-forward Chicago venue like Walden photographs like nothing else.
Getting Ready: A First Look With Her Bridesmaids
The day began at 12:30 pm, and Tiffany opened it with a first look with her bridesmaids, playful and emotional in equal measure, setting the tone for a day as much about chosen family as the marriage itself.
First Look & Portraits at Garfield Park
Before the ceremony, Tiffany and Nate shared a private first look and read their personal vows to one another, away from every guest, protecting the most vulnerable words of the day inside a bubble that belonged only to them. This was beautiful done at Garfield Park, as a little mini getaway before the ceremony. The wedding party then joined the couple at Garfield Park, home to the historic Garfield Park Conservatory and one of Chicago's most photogenic settings for bridal party portraits, its lush gardens were a natural counterpoint to Walden's polished interiors.
The Ceremony at Walden Chicago: Private Vows and a Live Guitar Surprise
Walden Chicago, at 2145 W. Walnut Street in Chicago's West Town neighborhood, is an elegant, light-filled venue with a clean aesthetic, ready for anyone to make it their own. Perfect for this couple! Tiffany walked down the aisle, and a good friend of theirs surprised Nate by playing a special song live on guitar. This is exactly the kind of unrepeatable moment documentary photography exists for. The recessional closed with a dried-flower petal toss.
The Reception: Blue China, Handmade Sweets, and a Full Dance Floor
The reception opened at 6:00 pm, where the handmade details came together: the thrifted blue china, the family-made centerpieces, the bride's own cake with other sweets provided Sugar Fixe. DJ Kris of Best Life Entertainment kept the room moving with some incredible mixing that made the dance floor feel like a consistent flow of energy, all of it glowing in those dusty and bright blues!
Tiffany & Nate's Chicago Wedding Vendors
Photography: Lux Everlasting
Venue: Walden Chicago (@waldenchicago) — 2145 W. Walnut Street, Chicago, IL 60612
Planners: @_brismtz & @kalilaharris
Hair & Makeup: Pin Me Up Chicago @pinmeupchicago
Floral: @sweet.peadesignstudio (centerpieces by the bride and her family)
DJ: Best Life Entertainment (@best.life.entertainment, @djkuyakris)
Sweets: @sugarfixe (cake by the bride)
Paper: by the bride
Bridesmaids' Jewelry: @witchylittleheathens
Dress: @radiantbridecle
Veil Cape: @noononthemoon.bridal
Bridal Hair Accessories (ceramic flowers): @bridesandbelts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Walden Chicago like as a wedding venue?
Walden Chicago is a design-forward wedding venue at 2145 W. Walnut Street in Chicago's West Town neighborhood, with light-filled, elevated interiors well suited to intimate, modern city weddings.
Can you do bridal party portraits at Garfield Park in Chicago?
Yes. Garfield Park, home to the historic Garfield Park Conservatory, is one of Chicago's most beautiful settings for bridal party portraits, offering lush gardens minutes from West Side venues like Walden Chicago.
What is a private first look with vows?
It's when a couple sees each other before the ceremony and reads their personal vows privately, without guests present; an intimate moment beautifully suited to documentary wedding photography.
Does Lux Everlasting photograph handmade or DIY weddings?
Absolutely. Documentary photography is especially well suited to capturing handmade cakes, thrifted decor, and family-crafted florals in context.
Does Lux Everlasting photograph weddings throughout Chicago?
Yes. Lux Everlasting is a luxury documentary and artistic wedding photographer serving Chicago and the greater metro area, all of Illinois, and destination weddings worldwide.
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Planning a wedding in Chicago or beyond? Lux Everlasting would love to hear your story. Reach out at hello@luxeverlasting.com.
