Chicago Wedding Photos at Adler Planetarium

I had the best time heading to Adler Planetarium for Kaitlyn and Chase’s Chicago wedding! These two were so laid back and truly trusted their vendor team to make their dream day come true. Although they were very go-with-the-flow, they still prioritized incorporating cultural traditions and personal details into their special day. Kaitlyn and Chase were one of the most aligned couples I could ask for, and I’m so excited to share their Adler Planetarium wedding photos up on the blog!

Kaitlyn and Chase’s Adler Planetarium Wedding 

There were so many special touches and details all throughout their day, I almost don’t know where to begin! First of all, I loved how they chose to incorporate a few Chinese traditions that they felt aligned with. It was so apparent that Kaitlyn wanted to include aspects of her & her family’s culture in their celebration, which was so sweet to witness! For example, in her detail photos, she had the most stunning Chinese silk red envelope that we made sure to photograph along with a few other trinkets from the day. They also incorporated a tea ceremony and traditional Chinese cheers (called Yam Seng) during the speeches at the reception! It was especially heartwarming to witness all of their guests be a part of this cheer where Kaitlyn’s brother starts everyone off by yelling “Yam” in unison as loud and as long as possible, and then he yells “Seng” and everyone follows suit.  Their parents even requested an encore, so we got to do it all over again!

Along with cultural traditions, both Kaitlyn and Chase had family members that they wanted to honor during their wedding day. Unfortunately, Chase’s father had passed away 10 years prior, but they made sure he was held in memory on their big day. I was able to get a photo of a memory that Chase had framed in his getting-ready space of him and his dad when he was little to further emphasize that he was still present with us! On Kaitlyn’s side, her grandmother in Singapore was too sick to attend their wedding in Chicago. To honor her, Kaitlyn wore one of her grandmother’s bracelets, and her mom helped put it on her while she was getting ready. I know Kaitlyn and Chase will be so happy they have photos to look back at to remember these moments!

Two first looks, portraits at Union Station, and a party to remember!     

Let the wedding festivities begin! After Kaitlyn got ready, she did the sweetest first look with her parents at Loews Chicago Hotel. I loved seeing their pride and admiration for Kaitlyn on one of the most important days of her life! After that, it was time for her and Chase to see each other for the very first time. Originally we planned on doing their first look outside on a private terrace, but it was a tad too wet and rainy for our liking. So we made the quick decision to have their first look inside in a spot with tons of natural light for their photos – and it turned out perfectly! Once they saw each other, they headed down to the bar to take a celebratory shot of Jameson together before the rest of the day commenced. My kind of couple! 

After the shuttle arrived to pick up the couple and their wedding party, we went to Union Station to take all of their portraits. Kaitlyn’s bridesmaids looked stunning in their satin gowns, adding an extra luxurious element to their photos. Once their portraits were over, it was time to get these two married!!

Their wedding ceremony at Adler Planetarium was absolutely gorgeous. I fell in love with their decor choice – neutral and pink florals, candles down the aisle, and a broken ceremony arch! In fact, I even featured their wedding in another blog post, 10 Modern + Luxurious Chicago Wedding Ideas!

Right after their ceremony was the traditional Chinese tea ceremony, and then the family had a private cocktail hour before joining the rest of the guests. We arranged it to where Kaitlyn and Chase had a reception room reveal with just the two of them, and it was so nice for them to see how all of the details really came together before everyone else. The overflowing florals carried into the reception decor creating the most beautiful, romantic ambiance you can imagine. They also hired a team of event specialists and lighting designers that created custom spheres to transform the event space completely!             

Once the reception kicked off, there was no stopping the party. Everyone had such an amazing time celebrating Kaitlyn and Chase finally being married! They even included their pups in their reception by having specialty drinks named after them and incorporating them into the signage. It was truly such a special night to remember! 

Kaitlyn and Chase’s Chicago Wedding Vendor Team 

Planner + Catering: Food for Thought

Venue: Adler Planetarium 

Floral + Decor: Stems 

Photography: Cailynn Wolfgang

Trio: Parkwest Strings

DJ: Style Matters

Lighting: MDM Entertainment

Cake / Sweets: Aya Pastry

HMUA: Rarebird Beauties, Makeup by Anne-lise, Hinsdale Hair Salon

Rings: Windy City Diamonds

Dress: Ultimate Bride Dress / Monique Lhuillier

Suit: SuitSupply // Custom

Transportation: Aries Charter

Ready to book your dream wedding photographer?

If you’re getting married in Chicago, I would be honored to chat with you all about your wedding day vision! To get in touch with me, you can inquire via my contact form and I’ll get back to you so soon. In the meantime, be sure to check out my Pinterest profile to start gaining even more inspiration for your Chicago wedding. Clinking glasses await!