Rivendell Meets Hollywood Glam Wedding at the Chicago Cultural Center

When LJ and Rob came to us with their vision of their wedding florals, we were so excited to bring it to life. They got married at one of the most grand and iconic venues in the city - Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center. The space is already so ornate with stunning tiling and the gorgeous glass dome overhead, so the flowers were just the icing on the cake (pun intended)! The decor vibe they went for was one part Rivendell (of Lord of the Rings), one part Golden Age Hollywood. We leaned into that dreamy combo between the wild and the glamorous, layering lush greens, creamy whites, and soft ivories with moments of dark blush, midnight blue, and gold. Take a look at these epic photos below by Labyrinth Photography Co.

LJ carried a cascading bouquet in white and green, created with ranunculus, peonies, anemone, and spray roses, with draping greenery and ferns throughout. The bouquet was wrapped in ivory satin ribbon to match her gorgeous wedding dress. Her bridesmaids carried smaller versions of the same bouquet, with more greenery, wrapped in gold and nude satin ribbon to complement their jewel-toned dresses. The flower girls each carried a wooden basket filled with mixed greenery and wore crowns of greenery and small florals. They looked so cute!

As for the guys, Rob and his attendants wore white ranunculus boutonnieres with a touch of greenery. Rob’s was wrapped in green velvet with the stems left exposed, while the groomsmen, fathers, and uncles had theirs wrapped in black raw silk.

For the ceremony, we built the altar around a gold moon arch, leaving a section of the arch exposed at the top. Lush greenery and florals, including eucalyptus and other mixed green tones, filled the lower portion, with glowing lanterns set at the base. Down the aisle, we adorned it with lanterns, moss, greenery, and plants. After the ceremony, we repurposed the lanterns in front of the sweetheart table, in the lounge areas, and at the bars and dessert table.

What an incredible place to say “I do”!

For the reception, we carried the same palette and materials from the ceremony into every nook and cranny. The cocktail tables, a mix of highboys and cabaret tables, held mini ferns in gold pots and gold bulb-shaped bud vases with greens and a single bloom, along with a cut glass votive on each. At the escort card table, a statement arrangement (pictured just below to the right) in a tall, fluted, hammered gold vase sat alongside a cluster of large lanterns. The gift and guestbook table was styled with plants, taper candles, and votives. At the dinner tables, we used two styles of centerpieces: taller centerpieces on clear bell vases overflowed with lush greens and draping florals, and lower arrangements in clear compote vases.

The sweetheart table had a long, low arrangement with draping elements, tapers and votives on the tabletop, and the ceremony lanterns and plants grouped on the ground in front. The bar got a draping arrangement (pictured just below to the right) set opposite a candelabra, and we moved it upstairs to the reception bar after the ceremony. On the cake table, greenery angled down the three tiers, with moss, greens, and votives surrounding the table.