Inspired by the aesthetic of the Walden Chicago, Chicago wedding photographer Lori Sapio Weddings planned a styled shoot conference filled with color and creativity. But there was a little plot twist…there was a REAL WEDDING that took place too! Yes, Estefania and Andre held their microwedding during the event and it was so beautiful. Learn more about how the couple’s story and how their wedding day came to be in the story from Lori below!

Wedding bands: Summer Microwedding at a Styled Wedding Shoot Conference captured by Lori Sapio Weddings featured on CHI thee WED

Summer Microwedding at a Styled Wedding Shoot Conference captured by Lori Sapio Weddings featured on CHI thee WED

Written and captured by Lori of Lori Sapio Weddings:

Last year I toured Walden Chicago in it's beginning stages of construction and immediately fell in love with what this venue will be. I decided I had to host my Styled Shoot Wedding Conference there.

Due to COVID, we had to push the date back and amend the way we would run the conference.... attendance size, format, pretty much everything. Also, Walden Chicago had to postpone all weddings and events. When I realized we would be the first wedding to take place, I said "let's give away a micro wedding to a real couple at the conference!"

I hosted a giveaway and Estefania & Andres were chosen 10 days before their big day, which was postponed. In addition to getting a marriage license, they were able to choose 5 things (we handled the rest): their vows, music for ceremony/first dance, flavor of cake, text for programs, their guest list.

Since it was also a conference, we had another real couple and a single bride that we photographed before and after their REAL WEDDING which none of the photographers really believed was happening. And, they had 8 photographers covering their big day.... the amount of images and different angles they have is amazing.

Wedding ceremony decor: Summer Microwedding at a Styled Wedding Shoot Conference captured by Lori Sapio Weddings featured on CHI thee WED

Wedding ceremony stationery: Summer Microwedding at a Styled Wedding Shoot Conference captured by Lori Sapio Weddings featured on CHI thee WED

Balloon wedding ceremony backdrop decor: Summer Microwedding at a Styled Wedding Shoot Conference captured by Lori Sapio Weddings featured on CHI thee WED

After the ceremony which was decorated by Anemone Chicago (bride's flowers, personals and balloons), Plum & Ivy Events, Joe of ojo creative and I brought the couple to the roof for portraits and moments alone. After that, the couple joined their friends and family for some celebration which included cutting the delicious cake by Chicago Custom Cakes at the bar decorated beautifully by A Stem Above and a first dance. From start to finish their microwedding was an hour and they went home to continue the celebration with their family and friends.

The dance floor was flanked by tables designed by 3 talented florists who each did 2 tables: Anemone Chicago, A Stem Above and Prairie Honey Floral Studio with a champagne cart by Bubbly Events and Balloons by Anemone Chicago.

Andres's suit was from Formally Modern Tuxedo and all stationery was designed by Erickson Designs.

From the bride, Estefania: Andres and I met the summer of 2010 on the soccer field at Montrose Beach. His friends and mine decided to play a pick up game together. A few months later that fall we ran into each other in the mosh-pit at a Spanish rock concert, Andres asked if I had an extra scrunchie because his broke, so I gave him mine and remember thinking "This guy is really cute, crazy curly hair and all." For a couple weeks we kept running into each other at the soccer field at Kozciouszko Park and sometimes even ended up on the same team.

We texted that whole winter getting to know each other, and would stay up late every night sharing music and bands we liked. Our first official date was at Diversey River bowl late one night, that night also ended up being the "I really like like you" exchange and our first kiss - THEN, countless of road trips, memories, trips to Colombia, 9 birthdays, 9 Christmases, and 9 New years later the rest becomes history.

We got engaged 07/07/2019 when we visited Fort Lauderdale which was our first vacation spot back in 2011. Our initial wedding countdown was for 07/31/2020 and we simply could not wait! However, I am a pediatric nurse who has been working through this pandemic and he is a sushi chef that has been furloughed since March due to Covid-19. For the safety and well being of our loved ones we e decided to postpone our wedding until 06/18/2021.

In a perfect world we were ready to start planning and trying to start family this fall after our wedding. Covid-19 had a different plan for us this year so we had to roll with it and remember that the most important thing is that we’re healthy and more in love now than ever.