Fairlie Wedding Chicago, Illinois | Nicole & Serge

It was one of the coldest days of the year in Chicago, a mere 18°, and Nicole and Serge had plans to commit the rest of their lives to each other. While Serge and his groomsman got dressed at The Hoxton, Nicole and her bridesmaids were prepping for the day upstairs at the Fairlie. As the boys made their way to the venue, Nicole slipped on her delicately beaded Alice in Ivory gown, did a few final touch ups in the mirror, and headed downstairs to see her soon-to-be husband. 

Those first look moments are some of my favorite parts of the wedding day. You’ll always see me smiling with joy behind my camera. I love these moments because they’re so genuine and pure —all the nerves, the emotions, the excitement. They’re so tangible. You can really witness the love between two people in these moments.

We decided to take the majority of the bride and groom and wedding party portraits inside because it was just so cold. The Fairlie has some really beautiful indoor spots for photos so it worked out perfectly fine. The multi-level exposed brick, off-white drapery, and light-peeking skylights give an array of options for photos. And everyone got to stay warm (including me :)

Nicole and Serge’s ceremony took place right as the sun was setting with a beautiful shade of blue illuminating the space. The officiant spoke of Nicole and Serge in a light, loving, and humorous way before the couple exchanged vows with one another. After the ceremony, guests gathered for cocktail hour while I briefly stole Nicole and Serge for some quick portraits outside. They were such good sports since the temperature had to have been in the single digits at this point. We maybe lasted 6 minutes before we had to run back in for warmth. Luckily, a gorgeous glass champagne tower was waiting with the wedding party upstairs. Nicole and Serge toasted to a good evening ahead and got ready to make their entrances for the reception. 

Nicole’s dad, Paul, shared some heartfelt stories about his daughter and Nicole’s twin sister, Lexi. Serge’s dad followed while Serge’s brother, Gene, stood by to translate. All of the toasts were so genuine yet full of entertaining stories recalling wonderful moments had with Nicole and Serge. 

After all the first dances, the dance floor opened up and the real party began. The Fairlie has such a great layout for dancing and end of the night activities. That’s something that may not seem like a huge deal but it can absolutely make or break a party. You gotta have an inviting space for people to dance and have a good time! This space was perfect.

The night was an absolute success and it was filled with so much love and joy. From my eyes, Nicole and Serge had a blast and really made an effort to soak up each and every moment. That’s all you can wish for for a couple on their wedding day :)

Wedding Coordinator: Afton Events

Venue: Fairlie

Catering: Hearty Boys

Florals: Splendor of Eden

Quartet: Innocenti Strings

DJ: DJ Archi

Invitations: Minted

Wedding Dress: Alice in Ivory

Bride’s Hair: Hannah Aubrey Hair

Bride’s Makeup: Shannon O’Brien Weddings / Julia Simone Makeup

Groom’s Tux: Indochino

Bridesmaid Dresses: Fame & Partners, Show Me Your Mumu, Revelry