Emma Mullins Photography

Allison and Matthew’s Warehouse 109 garden wedding ceremony last September was an absolute delight to capture! I first heard from these two shortly after their engagement in November 2021, and they were thrilled to be planning a wedding. When their 2023 day finally arrived, they were as excited as ever! I honestly don’t think either of them stopped smiling the entire day.

The day began with Allison and her party in the venue’s lovely bridal suite. This room is one of the venue’s most valuable features – seriously! The light is always soft and gorgeous (perfect for getting ready photos, just saying!) – and it’s a short walk to the actual venue. An ideal place to stay hidden from your guests before the ceremony! When it was time for their first look, we met Matthew in the garden for a heartfelt private vow exchange. Before we knew it, the wedding party joined us for photos in the garden before the ceremony began!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: a private vow exchange before the ceremony is one of my favorite ways to break tradition. If the thought of pouring your soul out to your partner in front of 100+ guests makes you cringe, definitely consider working this into your wedding day!!

Warehouse 109 Garden Wedding

That afternoon, Allison and Matthew were married in a stunning garden wedding ceremony surrounded by their closest people. The rain in the forecast gave us just a few drops (good luck!), and the newlyweds couldn’t have been happier! The evening continued with yard games, barbeque, flowing drinks, and LOTS of dancing. Oh – did I mention the DIY decor? Allison created the signs, seating chart and floral arrangements herself… including that bouquet! I loved the subtle nods to their cats Heihei and Lila, and will forever be impressed by that dessert table. Of course we had to take a romantic night photo in the courtyard, a perfect end to the Best Day Ever 🙂

Allison and Matt: THANK YOU again for having us last year!! Your wedding day was a dream to capture, I wish you nothing but the best in your future together!

Vendor Team

Venue: Warehouse 109 / Bride’s dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s shoes: Kate Spade / Groom’s suit: Men’s Wearhouse / Florist: DIY / Hair & Makeup: Jonathan Kane Salon and Spa / Stationery: Minted / Wedding bands: Jared / Ceremony Musicians: Chicago Street Strings / DJ: Green Line Talent / Caterer: Mission BBQ / Dessert: Sweet Temptations Dessert Co. / Photo Booth: EMP / Second Photographer: Jeremy

Looking for more Warehouse 109 garden wedding inspo?! Check out the following posts on the Blog!

Caitlyn & Ray | Brittany & Dan

One year ago today, I had the pleasure of capturing Caitlyn and Ray’s wedding at one of my favorite Chicagoland venues, Warehouse 109! This long-anticipated day could not have been more full of love for these two. When I first heard from Caitlyn, she told me the story of how they met, lost touch, and then reconnected a couple years later. They instantly became inseparable, and Ray proposed in their backyard on the 4th of July!

Wedding day began with Caitlyn getting ready in the bridal suite. Their emotional first look in the venue’s courtyard included their three kids, one of my favorite moments from the entire day! Ray and Caitlyn chose to exchange vows privately during this time, and before we knew it, it was time to walk down the aisle!

Warehouse 109 Wedding

That afternoon, Caitlyn and Ray were married in the outdoor garden at Warehouse 109 surrounded by family and friends. We got lucky with gorgeous fall weather… a perfect pairing for their newlywed smiles! After the knot was tied, guests moved to the warehouse for appetizers, yard games, and delicious barbeque. The night was complete with more games, speeches, and lots of DANCING!! I’m so happy I got to steal the Newlyweds away for a few night photos outside the venue 🙂

Caitlyn and Ray: Thank you again for having us last fall!! Wishing you a very HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, and many more years to come!

Vendor Team

Venue: Warehouse 109 / Bride’s shoes: Betsey Johnson / Groom’s suit: Men’s Wearhouse / Florist: Dahlias de Cambray / Jeweler: Jared / Stationery: Truly Engaging / DJ: Five-O Entertainment / Caterer: Mission BBQ / Dessert: Fork in the Road / Second Photographer: Jeremy

Want to see another fall wedding at Warehouse 109? Check out the post below!

Brittany & Dan Wedding

Brittany and Dan’s Warehouse 109 wedding last fall was a big, lively, family affair. These two met while working in the hospitality industry, and Brittany’s background in event planning made the pre-wedding process a breeze! By the time we met, these two already had a clear vision for the day. Mostly, they wanted to celebrate in style with family and friends… and dance the night away!

The day was filled with personal touches that were truly unique to them. Brittany and Dan chose to exchange vows privately before their ceremony – something I always recommend to couples seeking a more intimate vibe. Their seasonable October ceremony in the garden could not have been more lovely, and they even had a hot beverage bar set up with coffee and apple cider!

Flower Gram led the way with Brittany’s daughter, who waited midway to escort her mother down the aisle. Dan recited separate vows to his new daughter, and I know there wasn’t a dry eye in the place! The newlyweds rode across the parking lot on their Just Married scooter to get the party started 🙂

This was such a fun fall wedding to capture in one of my favorite venues! Shout out to Gina for helping make it all happen.

CONGRATS again, Brittany and Dan!! Thanks so much for having me in October! All the best to you and your family.

Vendor Team

Venue: Warehouse 109/Hotel: Aloft Bolingbrook/Wedding Planner: Gina Polcaster/Bride’s dress: Sarah Seven/Bride’s shoes: Valentino/Groom’s suit: The Groomsman Suit/Groom’s tie: The Tie Bar/Florals: family member/Hair Stylist: Diem Angie/Makeup Artist: Michelle Finch/Rings: Kendra Scott/DJ: DJ Outta Control/Vintage furniture: Joe’s Live, originally purchased from Restoration Hardware/Caterer: Bub City/Dessert: Cinnabon, Morris Bakery, Hub 51

At the end of May, an incredibly talented group of wedding vendors came together at Warehouse 109 in Plainfield, Illinois. I had the idea for this shoot shortly after learning about the venue, which is now one of my favorites to shoot in! (I’d love to photograph a real wedding here one day – hint, hint!) Once my vision was there, Alexis of Lillian Rose Events helped it all come together. Wedding planning MAGIC!!

We wanted to feature the quirkiness of the venue with an edgier, alternative vibe. Details included a black diamond engagement ring, bridesmaid jumpsuit, donut table, and custom framed vinyl records from First Dance Vinyl! The venue’s vintage motorcycle wall and Airstream were a must – not to mention their newest addition: a mint green camper out front! Even though it rained during most of our shoot, we were able to capture the ceremony against a stormy sky. It was especially lush and colorful outside during a break in the rain. The weather also allowed us to capture some really romantic newlywed portraits at dusk! They are some of my favorites from the entire shoot 🙂

A million THANK YOUs to the venue staff, vendors and models who helped make this shoot possible!! Had a blast working with you all, we created some of my favorite work to date.

Enjoy!

Vendor Team

Planning + Styling: Lillian Rose Events/Rentals + Styling: Rustique Swan/Hair: Unwana Rose/Makeup: Meghana Prasad/Florals: May Floral/Stationary + Calligraphy: Lullabelle Design/Bride’s attire: Mignonette/Bridesmaid’s attire: Brideside/Groom’s attire: The Groomsman Suit/Ties: The Tie Bar/Cufflinks: Arrowhead Leatherwork/Linens: BBJ Linen/Jewelry: Squasht Boutique/Groom’s ring: Raven’s Refuge/Black diamond ring: Mirta/Vinyl Records: First Dance Vinyl/Donuts: Do-Rite Donuts