Equal parts industrial and dreamy, Laura and Drew’s celestial vintage wedding at Salvage One is the best of both worlds. From the constellation inspired details on the bridesmaids dresses and Drew’s tie to escort cards, blue hues, and the star and moon cake topper every element added to the magical feel. If you’re ready to soak up all the beauty of this day, take a look through these images by Mandelette Photo.

Celestial Vintage Wedding at Salvage One featured on CHI thee WED

Written by the bride:

"You were right on time and out of nowhere." - Dawes

Laura & Drew arrived for their first date at Barrelhouse Flat the exact same time. Drew recalls Laura waddling like a penguin, giving a rapid, little wave alongside a gentle smile as she approached from the distance. Laura recalls getting a pep talk from her mother as she made the trek from her apartment to meet the “bow tie man” from Bumble. Marching up to the second floor of Barrelhouse Flat, a cocktail bar with a ‘20s speakeasy flair, Drew and Laura were seated in a corner nook, their nook.

Laura & Drew spent three first date-versaries in that nook and Laura said "a thousand times yes" to Drew’s proposal in the nook on her 30th birthday. Sadly, Barrelhouse Flat closed its doors on June 2, 2019. Laura & Drew were in attendance to celebrate the last night!

Laura & Drew planned to wed at the unique venue Salvage One in West Town on May 24, 2020. They fell in love with the venue’s quirkiness and vintage pieces including the repurposed pews for the ceremony, the stained glass in the reception space and the light up Chicago sign in the courtyard. They were excited to welcome more than 150 friends and family from Drew’s home state of Kentucky and Laura’s home state of Pennsylvania to the city of Chicago.

Laura & Drew ultimately postponed their May 24 wedding to September 27, 2020 due to the progression of COVID-19. Their love had to be patient but their love could still be kind! They wanted to engage their friends and family on that day and send a bit of joy out into Chicago.

Laura & Drew teemed up with Frontline Foods Chicago and their wedding caterer, Hearty Boys to provide delicious meals and flowers to frontline workers at several Chicago Methodist Senior Services facilities. These workers support those living with Alzheimer's Disease and all other dementia which is a group that's been hit exceptionally hard by the COVID-19 crisis. This cause is personal; Laura’s grandmother passed with dementia and Drew’s grandmother is living with dementia. Additionally, Laura has worked for the Alzheimer's Association for the past nine years.

Not wanting to postpone their wedding further but keeping health & safety concerns top of mind Laura & Drew had to reimagine their September wedding. First they scaled down their wedding from 150 to an 18 person event. Throughout all of the changes they were proud to still be able to utilize and support all of their original vendors. Their videographer helped to stream the wedding, first dances and cake cutting for friends and family across the country.

Laura & Drew encouraged people to dress up and send in photos of their watch parties and they gave out awards for best dressed, most celestial and funniest. The wedding was a celestial dream filled with bridesmaids’ dresses that had patterns resembling constellations, a star and moon cake topper handmade in Italy with pieces of Laura’s dress, a bespoke bridal bouquet made from repurposed satin and vintage jewelry a flower petal confetti toss, and Laura’s nephew Liam dressed as Baby Yoda. It truly was a magical day!

To quote Dawes a bit more, "So on that day in late September it's not some stupid little ring, we are getting a little bit of everything."