12 Chicago Wedding Aisle Ideas We Adore
Savvy brides know that the ceremony aisle can set the tone for the entire wedding celebration. After all, the wedding aisle is where a bride will take her first steps as a Mrs. Looking for some inspiration for your aisle.
SARAH & BRENDAN
Venue: Café Brauer
Planner: Liven It Up Events
Theme: Enchanted Evening Under the Stars
Photographer: Rick Aguilar Studios
Fun details: The couple wanted to be married in nature, outside, under the stars. In order to do that, Anthony Navarro brought the outdoor elements inside to create this magical, award winning design in the Great Hall of Café Brauer, and transformed the space to feel as though guests were in the great outdoors.
BRETT & ARIELLE
Venue: Chicago History Museum
Planner: Shannon Gail Weddings
Theme: Black and White “Mod” Garden
Photographer: T&S Hughes Photography
Fun details: A last minute change due to rain had this beautiful wedding moved indoors in the iconic Chicago History Museum. Thanks to smart planning on everyone’s part, the ceremony was just as special as it would have been outside. More than 80 feet of garlands lined the wedding aisle, which were moved to the dining tables following the ceremony.
KATY & KARL
Venue: Art Institute of Chicago
Planner: LK Events
Theme: Garden Chic
Photographer: Vrai Photo
Fun details: This wedding was the perfect cross between glamorous garden details and a super modern environment. Unafraid of bold color and beautiful patterns, this wedding incorporated so many of the couple’s favorite things.
ELIZA & RICARDO
Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
Planner: Birch Design Studio
Decor: HMR Designs
Theme: Ethereal floating ceremony
Photographer: David Wittig Photography
Fun details: As they were pronounced, it started to snow!
CARLY & JASON
Venue: The Modern Wing, Art Institute of Chicago
Planner: Kara Superfine Events
Decor: HMR Designs
Theme: Lush & Blush
Theme: Carasco Photography
Fun details: Hundreds of roses and orchids were used to construct this gorgeous (and fragrant!) ivory and blush chuppah, the top of which was reconstructed into a floral wall for the reception, which was a fun photo-op backdrop.
CAROLINE & DAVID
Venue: Waldorf-Astoria Chicago
Planner: Yanni Design Studio
Theme: Natural and Whimsical Forest
Photographer: Andre LaCour Photography
Fun details: The bride wanted a nature-inspired ceremony featuring a romantic candlelit aisle set on a lush bed of fresh foliage and ivory lush floral. Her goal was a beautiful and whimsical wedding.
SAMMI & LEE
Venue: The Standard Club
Planner: So Stacy
Designer: HMR Designs
Theme: Soft romance, tasteful and timeless. The bride opted for an intimate ceremony in the round to have all of her friends and family close by.
Photographer: Bob & Dawn Davis Photography and Design
Fun details: The chuppah was designed with a cascade of sheer ribbons studded with roses that transformed into a dance floor focal after the ceremony. Fun fact! The bride’s father owns a bakery, so there were tables and tables of sweets, including full-sized coffee cakes for every guest to take home.
LEXI & BRADLEY
Venue: Hotel InterContinental Chicago
Planner: Barbara Moss Events
Photographer: Jai Girard Photography
Videographer: Evolution Films
Event Designer: Richard Remiard Design
Theme: Romantic, Elegant & Fun
Fun details: This incredible wedding aisle featured grand lush floral designs, crystal bling, mirror boxes, and crystal and mercury glass candlesticks.
MORGAN & TIM
Venue: Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier
Planner: Liven It Up Events
Theme: South Beach Elegance
Photographer: Miller + Miller Photography
Fun details: This was an upscale, elegant affair for 300 guests. The custom lamps running down the aisle were also re-purposed as tabletop decor for the guest tables after the ceremony.
SARAH & ANTHONY
Venue: Revel Fulton Market
Planner: The Revel Group
Theme: Urban Chic—Black, White & Gold All Over
Photographer: Erika Dufour Photography
Fun details: This wedding was for Revel’s Chief Creative Officer and held true to her edgy, modern style. The wedding was in a space that she helped design—which made it even more special. The details brought chic elements together with raw industrial elements—making for a unapologetic urban statement with only white, black and plenty of gold to make shine.
ANITA & KUNAL
Location: University Club of Chicago
Planner: Abricoe Designs
Floral & Décor: Abricoe Designs
Theme: Classic Opulence
Photographer: Andre LaCour Photography
Fun details: A friend of the bride gifted a hand-drawn tree on a large parchment. With that in hand, the planner and bride created a guest sign-in by using ink for a thumb print that each guest used to then dress the tree with leaves leaving an imprint behind for the bride and groom to cherish.
ROB & MONICA
Venue: The Drake Hotel
Planner: Kesh Events
Floral & Event Designer: Kesh Designs
Theme: Soft, Classic and Romantic
Photographer: Carasco Photography
Fun details: The bride and groom, both of whom live in New York City, wanted a soft and romantic look to go with the gold feel in The Drake Hotel’s Gold Coast Ballroom. Roses and draped crystals vases were added to the wedding aisle décor and candle crystal candelabras were added to the aisle. A fabric and floral arch filled with roses was designed for the ceremony for a romantic look and feel.
JESSICA & CRAIG
Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Chicago
Planner: Barbara Moss Events
Decor: Epic Events
Photographer: Jai Girard
Fun Details: From the bride: “I wanted to turn this beautiful ballroom into a lush, natural, vintage dream-like space. To me, the small details were just as important as the big ones—it was all about transforming the entire space and not focusing only on one aspect of the room. And, lucky for me, my decor guy was also my groom! His company Epic Events made sure that my wedding turned out just as amazing as I had always dreamt it would.”