Wedding At The Lytle House

Written and Photography by Madi Ellis Photography

Meg + Ian’s Story

“We met when we were 21!” Meg told me. “I was up in Minneapolis for an internship. The company ended up sending me to an intern class in Chicago. After about 8+ hours of audit training, I needed a night out with my new coworkers. Between dueling pianos and a few too many tequila shots, I began to tell my friend Mike my funny horror stories about what it was like dating back in Iowa. I didn’t know it at the time, but Mike also happened to be roommates with Ian (who I would discover later to be the love of my life). I learned that Mike came home to Ian and said “Man, I met the perfect girl for you. She’s WAAAY too tall for me, but she’s so perfect for you!”

Somewhere in the midst of that summer, I went to Mike’s for a party and finally met Ian. We played hammerschlagen (yes, a real Minnesota drinking game) and I was secretly swooning over the boy. A few days later, Ian asked to take me out on a date to show me the most scenic parts of the city. The rest is history! Nearly 10 years later, a stint of living in Indonesia together, several career transitions, and rescuing a puppy– our story remains founded by friends and as one another’s best friends. There’s nowhere else we’d rather be.”

Getting Ready, First Look + Portraits

Meg got ready at the Guesthouse Hotel in Andersonville. She practiced her vows while giggling through sips of champagne as she and her sister reminisced about childhood stories. Once Juan the hair stylist finished her gorgeous hair (a million props to this man for creating the best wedding-day ponytail I’ve ever seen!), Meg slipped on her dress and accessories. While she was finishing up, I ran downstairs to meet with Ian. “She looks INCREDIBLE,” I told him. He instantly lost it and started tearing up. Their first look was so emotional that it still makes me cry a little when I think about it. I love watching people be in love. It’s my favorite thing about this job.

We sped over to the Montrose Bird Sanctuary to get a few portraits by the lake. November is notorious for not having stellar weather in Chicago, and so we spent an amazing 15 minutes getting photos before we finally decided to head over to the venue. We were SO grateful that Juan came with us! One of Meg’s straps snapped before we left. Juan, a literal magician, fixed it so it would stay secure for the rest of the night.

Wedding at The Lytle House

Once we arrived at the Lytle House, the couple greeted family + friends before we took more portraits. Folks were getting emotional just standing with the couple! You could tell this was an exciting day for everyone. Meg + Ian tucked away in the back as guests arrived. They had a stand-up ceremony led by their friend Kait to create a more intimate feel. There were lots of laughs, tears rolling down faces, and a smile on every person in the room.

Once they were married, folks got the chance to grab a drink during cocktail hour and enjoy the appetizers provided by Tamale Spaceship. A few toasts kicked off the reception before guests made their way outside to grab a plate. Dinner ended with a couple more speeches. After Meg + Ian thanked everyone for coming, they danced with their parents and shared a first dance together as newlyweds. Guests joined the couple on the dance floor as they showed off their long-awaited epic dance moves. It’s my understanding that the combination of tamales and donuts make for the right amount of energy to REALLY get down on the dance floor! A few more photos with friends and a photo booth session with *yours truly* was the perfect way for me to say my goodbyes. The very last photo is of the 3 of us (I panicked and gave a thumbs up because I didn’t know what to do)!

Fun fact: this wedding was put together in less than 3 months! An important family member’s ailing health was the largest factor in this timing. Luckily they were able to make it and enjoy the evening, which is truly what made this wedding at the Lytle House so amazing. A million congrats to Meg + Ian!