A Winter Chicago Cultural Center Wedding

Colleen and Luke’s Chicago Cultural Center wedding was impeccably designed and full of warmth. It’s exactly the kind of day that makes me grateful to photograph weddings in Chicago! This was my first wedding of the year, and such a wonderful way to begin the season. Between the Chicago Cultural Center being one of my favorite venues in the world, Colleen and Luke being absolute angels, and Regina from Amelia Cole Events leading the planning, there was so much to love about this wedding! 

Wrigley Building Photos before the festivities

One of my favorite spots in the city for portraits is Wrigley Building, so of course we headed over there with Colleen and Luke and their bridal party! There’s so much space for bridal party photos, and I had so much fun with this group at Wrigley before we headed back to the Chicago Cultural Center for the ceremony.

Why I Love the Chicago Cultural Center

The Chicago Cultural Center has so much beauty and character. The marble, mosaic details, and of course the Tiffany glass dome make the space completely iconic. For a wedding, that means the best approach is thoughtful and complementary.

For Colleen and Luke’s wedding, the design was absolutely perfect. The soft green linens, splashes of gold, and rose accents really complemented the venue design and tied everything in together. Full credit to Life in Bloom who did an amazing job designing florals in creams, pale pinks and mauves to fit the space beautifully.

As a photographer, I also love weddings at the Chicago Cultural Center because around every corner there’s an amazing opportunity for portraits, and tons of variety. I loved using the staircase for some bridal portraits of Colleen. And the Preston Bradley Hall for the ceremony and reception was chefs kiss. 

To see more of my Chicago wedding photography, you can visit my wedding portfolio here.

A Chicago Winter Wedding in the Snow

One of my favorite details about Colleen and Luke is that snow seemed to follow them through this whole season of their life. They had snow around their proposal, snow for their engagement photos, and snow again on their wedding day! It felt like such a sweet little through-line for their relationship that made their wedding feel even more magical. 

Beyond that, Colleen and Luke are just wonderful people, absolute sweethearts! They were kind, joyful, and so excited on their wedding day. There are weddings where you just know these people were meant to be together, and this was one of them.

A Gorgeously Designed Chicago Cultural Center Reception

This wedding was designed so beautifully, and Regina from Amelia Cole Events brought everything together just as they imagined. The room felt intentionally designed to tie every detail in with the canvas of the Chicago Cultural Center. The reception tables were set with green linens, pastel florals and warm candlelight. The floral design by Life in Bloom added the perfect color accent. The result? A high-end feel that perfectly complimented the venue. 

For couples planning to use strong design elements into their wedding day, I always recommend saving time for a few photos together before the reception starts, to grab some photos with the full design exactly as the vendor team envisioned it. This is also just such a fun part of the day with my couples!

For another stylish Chicago wedding day, check out Sydney and Johnny’s wedding at Chicago Illuminating Company!

Photographing Colleen and Luke’s Wedding Details

One of my favorite things to photograph on wedding days are the details. The florals, linens, cake, and ceremony + reception setup as a whole were all chosen with so much care, and elevated the day in every way. I made sure the images reflected that.

I also loved photographing this wedding on film. From couples portraits outside the Art Institute of Chicago to the softer winter tones and reception details at the Chicago Cultural Center, it all translated beautifully to film! It felt like the right medium for a wedding that was romantic and full of personality.

See more of Colleen and Luke’s wedding day portraits on my Instagram! 

Tips for Planning a Chicago Cultural Center Winter Wedding

Is the Chicago Cultural Center a good venue for a winter wedding in Chicago?

Yes! The Chicago Cultural Center works beautifully for a winter wedding because the interiors are gorgeous and give you so much to work with for portraits. So you don’t need to worry about a snowy, windy Chicago day stopping you from getting gorgeous images if you don’t want to be outside. 

How should we plan our photography timeline for a Chicago Cultural Center wedding?

For a Chicago Cultural Center wedding, I’ve found it’s helpful to plan the photo timeline around the spaces you want to prioritize. Gorgeously and intricately designed reception? Make time for portraits in the room before guests arrive to capture it in every detail. I always recommend planning on some buffer time between transitions, to take a breath and enjoy being present with each other. Those are always the best images of the day! 

When working together with my couples during the planning process, I’m happy to help you build a photography timeline that captures everything that’s important to you on your wedding day. That includes taking into account your venue, the scale of your event, and your priorities for photography.

What should we look for in a photographer for a wedding at the Chicago Cultural Center?

Your photographer needs to be comfortable with indoor spaces, low light, capturing room design and details, while balancing editorial portraits and candid moments throughout the day. This is a venue with a lot of variety and gorgeous design built in, so it also helps having experience shooting weddings here to get the most from it! 

chicago wedding photography: let’s work together

Colleen and Luke’s day brought so many things that I love to one wedding: my favorite Chicago wedding venue, an amazing vendor team, beautiful design, and just the most lovely couple who were fully present with each other on their day.

It was such a joy to photograph this whole season for them, from their snowy engagement session to their beautiful winter Chicago Cultural Center wedding. Colleen and Luke are truly the sweetest, and I’m so grateful I got to document this part of their lives.

Planning a Chicago Cultural Center wedding or getting married somewhere else in Chicago? I would love to capture it! Reach out to schedule a call and chat more about your wedding plans.

Vendor Credits

Photography: Ashlyn Henry // Planning: Amelia Cole Events, Regina DiTomassi // Venue: Chicago Cultural Center // Hotel: Palmer House // Catering: Paramount Events // Florist/Decor: Life in Bloom // Makeup: Glam by Stefanie // Hair: Anomalie Beauty Agency // Band: Rendezvous // Wedding Party Transportation: M+M Limo // Cake: Vanille Patisserie // Officiant: Andrew Clarkson // Coat Check: VIP Valet Services