Katie and Bill’s Revel Motor Row Chicago wedding was a beautiful and personal day in the city. They started with a first look on the rooftop at their home, brought their sweet pup in for a first look too, then stopped at Buckingham Fountain for portraits before heading to Revel Motor Row for the celebration.

Their rooftop moment was so personal and sweet. Buckingham Fountain was the perfect Chicago spot for portraits. Revel Motor Row brought in a gorgeous historic venue, and they added to it with their reception design, with lots of florals and greenery and a custom dance floor.

Even though it was a busy day, it wasn’t rushed, and it was genuinely so much fun. Katie and Bill made sure to take the time for the personal and the important. It became a wedding day that felt intimate and timeless, and was a complete joy to photograph.

A Romantic Rooftop First Look at Home

First looks are such a personal and intimate moment. So it made sense that Katie and Bill wanted to share it together on their own rooftop, at home. With a blue sky, dotted with clouds, the rooftop could not have been a better choice! Katie looked absolutely stunning in her dress. Her veil flowed in the wind behind her as she walked the roof. Wearing her great grandmother’s wedding band, she read her private vows to Bill.

Being at home also meant their dog got to join in! He was so excited to be on the roof with his humans. It was a great chance to get some little family portraits together. Another one of the personal touches that made their day special, and so much fun to photograph. 

Their first look at home is a good reminder that you can have your first look anywhere that’s special to you. Whether that’s your venue, a classic Chicago photo spot or somewhere you share a life together, like at home. 

Check out the highlights of their day on Instagram.

Buckingham Fountain Wedding Photos 

After the rooftop first look, we headed to Grant Park. We planned to use Buckingham Fountain for some couples portraits and bridal party photos. With the massive Buckingham Fountain and the Chicago skyline in the background, we grabbed shots with everyone together, plus a few candid moments as the bridal party took the trolley to and from the park. 

For photos at Buckingham Fountain specifically, the Chicago Park District currently requires a non-commercial photography permit for wedding and engagement photography. Make sure to get your permit well in advance of your wedding date! Also, keep in mind Buckingham Fountain is turned off from mid October through April, so the time of year could absolutely impact your decision as well. 

It’s helpful to think about how many stops you’ll need to make if you’re planning wedding portraits around Chicago. It’s easy to start making a wishlist with the Wrigley Building, Board of Trade, the Riverwalk. Then, before you know it, you’ve spent just as much time traveling as you have taking photos and enjoying the moment.

If you’re trying to figure out how many locations make sense for your own day, this is exactly the kind of thing we’re happy to help you with. On your wedding day, we believe you should be focused on each other and soaking in every moment. Because of that, our coverage is built around whatever allows you to put that feeling first.

See more about our story-driven approach to your wedding day.

Ceremony & Reception at Revel Motor Row

Revel Motor Row is one of our favorite Chicago wedding venues. Not only is it gorgeous, it has so much history. Whether it’s the open courtyard for the ceremony or the warm industrial vibe for a reception, it’s really such a unique wedding space in the city.

Katie and Bill’s colorful decor and floral design really brought a lot of personality to Revel Motor Row. Their palette had summer greens with pops of yellow and peach. Against the brick and industrial finishes, those softer colors complemented everything beautifully. Their ceremony was held in the outdoor courtyard at Revel and it was stunning.

See another wedding at Revel for a different take on the same Chicago wedding venue.

Our Favorite Details + Moments from the Reception Decor Details

Stepping into the reception space, everything was tied together immaculately by Clementine Custom Events and Revel Decor. The yellow floral accents in their arch, complemented by the glassware, the bridal party, oh and of course, the bride and groom rubber duck cake toppers. We loved photographing every reception design detail! It’s important to us that our couples see every bit of variety and angle to remember what it was like and relive the moment. From the wide photos that show what the room looked like before guests entered, to individual, tighter frames showing off every meaningful detail. 

Our favorite design element, though, had to be the custom dance floor. It had this repeating olive green and white pattern that was so unique, and fit perfectly with their decor. It really made their first dance photos absolutely stunning!

Even though we always photograph the details before the reception begins, our favorite version of a reception is usually the one a few hours later. The chairs aren’t perfectly tucked in. The glasses are half full. You may not even be able to see more than a couple inches of the dance floor because it’s so packed. But telling the story of your day through each of those candid moments we get to capture is what it’s really all about. 

From sunshine flowers to the custom dance floor to chandeliers and more, see everything that Clementine Custom Events and Revel Decor put together for Katie and Bill’s day!  

Revel Motor Row Wedding FAQs

Where should we do our first look if we’re getting married at Revel Motor Row?

Katie and Bill chose to have their first look at home on their rooftop deck. Keep in mind that your first look doesn’t necessarily have to be at Revel Motor Row if somewhere else is a better fit. If you do choose to have your first look there, the courtyard space is a great option. It’s gorgeous, with clean lines, neutral tones and it’s got an intimate feel to be tucked away in a private corner of the space. 

How many Chicago spots can we realistically fit into our wedding day at Revel Motor Row without feeling too rushed?

There isn’t one number that works for every wedding, since travel time will vary. Usually you want to account for more travel time and buffer time for parking and unloading than you’d think. You may also be able to plan for a natural variety in the flow of your day. Katie and Bill had three visually different parts of their day: the rooftop, Buckingham Fountain and Revel Motor Row. If you’re considering several Chicago locations, we’d be more than happy to help you figure out which makes the most sense to include and what the timing could look like. Quality over quantity is always a good rule of thumb.

What happens if it rains and we were planning to use Revel Motor Row’s courtyard?

Revel Motor Row does have indoor spaces in addition to the courtyard, but always make sure to confirm the exact rain plan with Revel and your planner. From the photography side, once your planner and venue have a weather backup in place, we’re happy to collaborate and make sure our coverage works with either version of your day. 

Can we have our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception all at Revel Motor Row?

Yes, absolutely! Revel Motor Row not only has the private courtyard that couples love to use for ceremony space, but also has indoor spaces that are perfect for cocktail hour and flow into reception as well. If you want to limit travel time and simplify the wedding timeline, it can be a lifesaver to keep all your wedding events at one venue. 

Planning Your Revel Motor Row Chicago Wedding

Katie and Bill’s wedding was a beautiful day full of personal moments and stunning details. Their plans came together gorgeously at Revel Motor Row to create a timeless and romantic feel. It was a joy to capture each and every detail and the energy of their day so they can relive it for years to come. If you’re planning a wedding in Chicago or at Revel Motor Row and want authentic photos to tell your wedding story, reach out to chat, we’d love to see if we’re a good fit.

Katie & Bill’s Wedding Video

We had the privilege to capture Katie and Bill’s day as their videographers in addition to photography coverage. With our filmmaker, Phil, you get the best approach to documenting your wedding day. A team that works well together and provides you with comprehensive visual coverage to document your wedding day. All our packages include one filmmaker, a highlight reel of your entire day, and full videos of your ceremony, speeches, and formal dances.

Vendors

Wedding Venue
REVEL MOTOR ROW // REVEL SPACE

Photography & Videography
ED & AILEEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Wedding Consultant
CLEMENTINE CUSTOM EVENTS

Catering
LIMELIGHT CATERING

Decor
REVEL DECOR

Getting Ready Hotel
MARRIOTT MARQUIS CHICAGO

Transportation
PREMIER TROLLEY

Hair & Makeup
THE BRIDAL BEAUTY TEAM

Music
KEN ARLEN EVOLUTION ORCHESTRA

Entertainment
MAGIC OF MIKE

Invitations & Printed Goods
STERACLE PRESS