Afton Vangsness
- Jan 12, 2022

Toni + Nick: Chicago-Focused Loft Wedding

It was a quintessential Chicago wedding day for Toni + Nick, giving their guests who traveled from near and far a taste of the Second City.

All photos courtesy of Ebby L Photography

Chicago wedding party in front of skyline

The morning started out in downtown Chicago at The Allegro Royal Sonesta, where the bride and groom got ready with their wedding party. Blush and Braids Beauty Bar provided the hair and makeup for all of the beautiful ladies!

The wedding style incorporated classic details and colors of navy, black, ivory, and gold. You can see that even the smallest of details, like the groomsmen's Chicago Cubs shot glasses and the skyline photo on their Save the Dates, represented this city.

The bride wore an A-line wedding dress featuring lace detailing from Adagio Bridal Boutique, while the groom wore a classic tuxedo from The Black Tux.

The hotel has amazing decor in an art deco style, which was perfect for the couple's first look. They wanted this to be completely private, so we blocked off this area in order for them to see each other for the first time.

Wedding photography at Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago

They were so happy to see each other and spend the rest of the day celebrating together!

Another Chicago staple is of course a trolley! They chose to transport their wedding party to photo locations via a trolley from The 312 Limo. This is always so much fun for the group because they get to enjoy some drinks, see some sights, and of course take some photos!

There was a little rain on and off this day (again - how very Chicago), so the clear umbrellas and the trolley were perfect for this. Look at what a gentleman Nick is!

Luckily, the rain didn't affect photos and they got stunning shots in front of the Chicago skyline in Lincoln Park.

Wedding party in front of skyline in Lincoln Park

The bridesmaids wore navy dresses from Azazie and carried lush ivory and green bouquets from Steve's Flower Market.

Lincoln Park is a such a great spot for wedding party photos because you can get both city vibes with the skyline, and gorgeous nature in the park.

How beautiful is this shot?!

As the rain started coming down a bit harder, Toni + Nick made their way to the venue - City View Loft - where we had finished setting up and were gearing up for the wedding ceremony!

The ceremony actually took place in the Kitchen Chicago space (the level below City View Loft), which features tall ceilings and an industrial design.

The ceremony took place in front of a classic wooden arch featuring lush floral pieces in front of the brick wall and windows of the venue. It was officiated by the brother of the bride, who did a great job of making it personal!

Mr. and Mrs. Almasi!

Cocktail hour continued in this same space, which was quickly flipped. We had more personal touches such as signature cocktails and photos of the couple.

Wedding bar sign with signature cocktails

Instead of numbers, guest tables were labeled with the names of Chicago neighborhoods, once again incorporating the Chicago theme.

The reception took place upstairs in the loft space. Loft-style venues are so popular in Chicago due to the abundance of these types of buildings, and the unique ambiance it offers.

The brick walls, exposed beams, wood tables, and bistro lighting gave everything a warm and cozy vibe.

The tables featured greenery and an assortment of candles, giving it a simple yet inviting atmosphere.

The spectacular view of Chicago!

The venue also features a fire escape that the bride and groom were able to take some private photos on away from the crowd!

And after the rain from earlier, they even got to catch a rainbow out there!

Once we invited guests upstairs, it was time for toasts, cake cutting, and dinner!

Toni and Nick are both so laid back, nice, and just great people to be around. Even from these cake cutting photos, you can see how happy they are! All I wanted was for them to have a stress-free day where they could enjoy and celebrate with their loved ones - they truly deserved it!

After dinner, we had their first dance, father/daughter dance, and mother/son dance.

Lit by just candles, bistro lighting, and the city lights coming through the windows, it was a perfect celebration! The rest of the night continued with everyone dancing the night away to music from Toast & Jam.

Couple dancing at wedding reception in Chicago

From starting the day in the Loop, to photos in Lincoln Park, to dancing the night away in front of the skyline - this Chicago couple had the perfect Chicago day (and so did their guests!).