Creative Partners:
Planner | Urban Allure Events
Photo | Michelle Cox Photography
Catering | Cocina Fusion
Cake | Bon Vivant Cakes
DJ | Cage and Aquarium
Floral | The Flower Girl Company
Hair | Arch Apothecary
Make-Up | Joanna B Artistry
What’s your story? What do you do? How do you spend your days? What’s important in life?
Our story is one of two people who have a love-hate relationship with always being on the go. It’s thrilling, and we get a lot of energy from it, but then again we’re always ready to hit the brakes and play it slow when we get a chance.
We’re planners and we’re organizers, except when we’re not. We think about living healthier, but don’t always act in accordance with those desires. We love our beagle-terrier mix pup Max, and taking him through Grant Park or the dog park … unless we’d rather snuggle up on the couch to watch a show. Kaylin likes to buy him fancy treats from the pet shop on the ground floor of our building.
We’re loving our life right now as new condo owners in the South Loop. It’s a very urban life, even compared to our last few years in Lakeview/Lincoln Park, but we are thrilled about our location. It’s important to us that we find the enjoyment in everything we do, from a trip to New Orleans, to eating at a new (or old favorite) local restaurant, to just hanging around the condo on a Tuesday night. But what’s most important in all of that is it’s so easy for us to be a team, and we want to be together all the time.
Why do you want to capture your wedding on video?
Beyond the expected, it’s the mood and the food!
The spirit of the day and capturing the sense of excitement between the two of us is important and we hope the video will always be able to take us back to it, and also how we’re sharing the day with family and so many great friends. We want to show how much fun we have together and how it’s amplified when we’re around the people we most enjoy, but we also want to capture how that essence is rooted in an ability to be caring and affectionate to each other. It’s a huge party for all our guests, and we’ll be right at the center of it; we think that even though the mood will be free-spirited and maybe even wild, it’s that way because all guests are free to let loose under the safety of celebrating a marriage that will last forever.
We’re also jazzed about the menu we’re serving throughout the day. It has an only-in-the-city feel, from the fresh pesto-dusted goat cheese lollipops at cocktail hour through the desserts with skyline-themed cookies and a one-of-a-kind gold-flaked edible art wedding cake from the exclusive Bon Vivant Cakes. Pasta salad will be pre-plated in heart-shaped dishes … you get the point. We’re proud to show off what Chicago can offer as a culinary experience.
Why did you pick Hunter Floyd Films to create your wedding film?
Your videos give me the chills! I’ve loved every single one of them. The emotion you capture on that day is exactly what we want to remember years down the road.
The proposal? Tell me everything.
The proposal had some great timing involved, certainly a little luck. Brian had the ring custom made by the really great team at The Classic Gem on Jeweler’s Row, but it took a little time to create the unique, perfect pear-shaped ring he knew Kaylin would love forever. Brian got the call saying the ring was complete one week before their parents would finally meet for the first time, and planning was on! Kaylin thought the proposal would happen at the end of summer but was in for a surprise it would happen earlier than expected.
It was a sunny Friday in June 2017 when both sets of parents were arriving in Chicago, so Brian arranged for his parents to be on the south side of Buckingham Fountain (facing the skyline for photos). Kaylin was unassumingly lured into a picturesque location under the absolutely-true pretense that Brian’s dad likes to see the fountain every time he visits the city. As they wrapped around to the south side of the fountain, before meeting his family, Brian dropped to one knee and proposed. And she said yes! They have photos to cherish forever of the proposal and celebrations immediately after with Buckingham Fountain shooting off at its highest, most grand display and the beautiful skyline of Brian and Kaylin’s home city in the background, followed by a great evening of families meeting. They both agree it made for a wonderful Chicago engagement.
Room 1520 … why this wedding venue above anywhere else?
Room 1520 had all the qualities this bride and groom wanted. It’s simple, elegant, and decidedly stylish. And if we weren’t already sold just by walking inside, the owner Celeste put on the finishing touches with attractive, exciting options to layer in this unique space. We’re able to host the ceremony in the room, then step out to a long, slender patio for a distinctly West Loop cocktail hour while the room is flipped to a reception. The room’s vibe glides almost effortlessly from a bright ceremony to vibrant dinner to a spirited night. And, many vendors we were excited to work with have done many weddings in Room 1520.
What experience do you want to give your guests?
We want our guests to have a fantastic experience in a uniquely-Kaylin-and-Brian way. We know our deejay from Cage + Aquarium is going to really turn the room into a high-energy party once the dance floor opens; that’s why we booked DJ Blackbird, because we’re bursting with excitement to let loose and just celebrate with so many of our favorite people. Signature his-and-hers punch cocktails should also help with that, and a great bar from Room 1520!
We also want our guests to see meaning and true love we have for each other that’s the driving power behind the day, and the energy that we have together. We don’t get to see a lot of family and friends as often as we’d like, so we’ll embrace the wedding-day spotlight and showcase our love for each other.
And everyone wants a great meal for guests (and themselves)! Cocina Fusion will blow guests away with the Latin twists that have the menu exploding with flavor. People say “don’t forget to eat on your wedding day” … no chance we’re missing this!