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Fall Brunch Wedding at The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago

Alexis Alvarez

If you love bright fall color palettes, antique details, cultural nods, and all things brunch, then you're going to LOVE Annette & Martin's September brunch wedding at The Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago.


The Couple

Annette & Martin met at work. After spending countless hours working on creating a brand new department, they started to find rest in each other as they spent Sunday mornings drinking coffee, eating brunch, and antiquing. Martin proposed to Annette on her birthday while on a trip to her hometown of Atlanta with a fabulous blue sapphire ring.




The Vision

The first Annette did after getting engaged was reach out to the iconic Rockefeller Chapel on the UIC campus where she attended law school. The chapel had exactly one date available in September 2019 for an 11am ceremony. That detail led us to the idea of brunch. Brunch then helped us develop our bright fall color palette and Annette & Martin's story of their relationship being kindled through a mutual love of antiquing brought us to the concept of incorporating antique details into the design and help us find the perfect reception venue in the historical Knickerbocker Hotel's Crystal Ballroom. They also wanted to find unique ways to incorporate their individual heritages, which we did through their ceremony elements and the food.




Getting Ready

An 11am ceremony meant an early morning for Annette & Martin. They spent the morning getting dolled up with their wedding party before heading off for their ceremony.




The Antique Details

Annette & Martin each included some beautiful antique details in their attire for the day. Annette's gown was an antique that she had custom detailing added to and her shoes were from the 40s!! Martin went with a classic tux in a 1920s style cut and accessorized with an antique pocket watch that was a wedding gift from Annette which she had engraved for him.




The Ceremony

The Ceremony was hosted at the iconic Rockefeller Church on the University of Chicago campus. Guests were greeted with programs in both English and Spanish. Her older brother escorted Annette, and a seat was saved, with a photo, in honor of her late Father. The Ceremony was dual officiated with moments in both Spanish and English, and Annette's mom sang Ave Maria. The ceremony also included the Mexican traditions of El lasso (the wedding lasso) and Las arras matramoniales (the wedding coins) and the African tradition of jumping the broom.




Portraits

Annette, Martin & their wedding party took photos outside the Church using the beautiful architecture and landscaping as the backdrop.





Let's Brunch!

Guests entered the Millennium Knickerbocker lobby to the performance of a live pianist who played while they enjoyed, coffee, donuts & mimosas during cocktail hour. Guests then moved into the Crystal Ballroom for a brunch buffet that included both Martin's Mexican heritage in a Mexican frittata and Annette's Southern heritage with Chicken and Waffles, along with many other brunch favorites, a custom mimosa bar, cake and dancing! Their wedding cake was piped with a design that looked liked lace, a nod to Annette's gown & Annette surprised Martin with a Groom's Cake made to look like his favorite Mexican Candies. The ballroom was decorated with beautiful fall florals in vintage gold vases, candles, crystal champagne glasses, and gold detailing everywhere! Annette ordered a laser-cut card box made to look like the lace details in her dress. Their invitations and escort cards were printed on LUXE handmade paper for a vintage feel and favors were chocolate prosecco balls in laser-cut boxes, again, mimicking the detailing in Annette's gown.




The Grand Exit

In one last moment of nodding to their family's heritage, Annette & Martin did a grand exit where guests celebrated their newlywed status by shaking Maracas as they exited the hotel for their honeymoon.




Planning & Styling by Lillian Rose Events // Venue: Rockefeller Chapel; Millennium Knickerbocker // Photography: Steve Koo // Floral: Our Lead Planner, Beverly Saylor // Cake: Alliance Bakery // Bride's Hair: Chris Curse // Bridesmaid's Hair & All Make Up: Bianca Sansosti // Stationery: Lullabelle Design // DJ: Cage & Aquarium

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