A Queer Double-Clutch Brewery Chicago Wedding with Dogs
About Double Clutch Brewery
A WARM AND FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD STAPLE IN EVANSTON, CHICAGO, IL
In the heart of Evanston, IL lives Double Clutch Brewery. Featuring delicious craft beers made on site and boasting a great vintage car collection, this is the perfect neighborhood gathering spot. They even offer GABF Award Winning Beers. It’s a wide and expansive 10,000 square foot place that oozes charm through the exposed brick and exposed wood features.
When Dan & Ray were in the process of finding a wedding venue, they said they wanted one they could go back and visit after the wedding so that they could always have an excuse to reminisce about their wedding day. They first found Double Clutch Brewery after moving to Evanston for the first time. Dan has always loved breweries and Ray has always loved vintage cars and mechanic work so the brewery was the perfect blend for them. They wanted a low key, fun, and relaxed atmosphere to be wed in, and they found that in Double Clutch.
Meet the Couple
MEET DAN (HE/HIM) & RAY (HE/HIM)
Dan and Ray met in the Fall of 2022 and will have been together almost two years as of their wedding. They were so smitten with each other that they moved in together just a few weeks later. Now they are proud homeowners and proud dog dads.
An ideal date night for the couple involves a gorgeous cabin set amongst a beautiful forest. They would naturally bring their dogs Delilah & Maddy; as true dog dads, their happiest moments involve their four-legged family members. The couple have expressed the best time would be while they were fully present in nature and be able to relax without any set plans for the following day. They haven’t officially decided where they will be honeymooning, but the couple know that they want to visit somewhere warm during the Winter season like Greece or perhaps the Phillipines since Ray is Filipino.
The Proposal Story
A Musical Proposal
Before the proposal even took place, Ray had a conversation with Dan’s family. Both halves of the couple knew they were really close a few months in and knew they would eventually be wed. Safe to say Dan’s family were so enthusiastic to welcome him into the family, so it was all up to Ray to officially propose.
As a teacher, Ray has gone through different subjects. Now focusing on computer science, he used to teach music. With his musical talents, he played a song for Dan as a marriage proposal. From the beginning stages of their relationship, they had a combined playlist; it was a nice way to tie in the evolution of their relationship to the beginning stage of marriage. While they have stopped adding songs to the playlist, they did incorporate it into their wedding playlist and can forever be transported back to their different relationship stages through melodies.
How They Chose to Get Married
A SIMPLE, GROUNDED, AND RELAXED BREWERY WEDDING
Starting off their wedding day, Dan & Ray were blessed in a private ceremony at their local church. They were joined with their closest friends and family and it was such a sweet and calm way to begin the festivities.
The couple were surrounded by their loved ones and had personal touches throughout their ceremony. Primarily with Kyle, Dan’s friend marrying them and also with their flower girls Maddy & Delilah who were so excited to walk down the aisle for their dads. Delilah doubled as their ring bearer and she did her job dutifully.
Once Ray wiped away his happy tears after hearing Dan’s beautiful vows, Ray surprised Dan not by saying his vows to his soon-to-be husband, but through song. The vow song was a compilation of romantic songs that each held a personal significance to the couple in the various stages of their relationship.
The Reception
A SURVIVOR-THEMED EVENING
The couple hosted a Survivor-themed reception fully equipped with a table full Survivor-based games, a Survivor life-sized cutout, and personalized Survivor headbands. Throughout the night their guests had fun creating the 3D puzzles and figuring out the mazes.
To end the dinner, special guests of the new husbands held speeches. They ranged from each set of the couple’s parents, life-long friends, and Ray’s sister. They ended the formal speeches by offering a heartfelt thank you speech to every single one of their guests in attendance. From there, they danced the night away.
About Their Four-Legged Family
MEET MADDY & DELILAH
Flower girls Maddy & Delilah were absolutely enthusiastic to help their dads get married. They were so good, each taking their turn, walking down the aisle in anticipation for their dads. The dogs were such sweethearts in their floral collars and white dresses. They were definitely the VIPs of the wedding (besides the couple Dan & Ray, of course).
Ray had Delilah already from before the couple got together and together they adopted Maddy in order to add to their family. They went from a cozy three to a happy family of four. Because they’re such great dog dads and love their home and having a full house, they also dog sit to be surrounded by even more dogs. Their record has been to have 5 dogs together at once.
The Creative Team
Huge thank you goes to Dan & Ray’s incredible creative team!
Photography | Mei Lin Barral Photography
Venue | Double Clutch Brewery
Venue Coordinator | Olivia from Double Clutch Brewery
Officiants | Friend of Dan’s, Kyle Nelson
Catering | Double Clutch Brewery
Husbands’ Wedding Attire) | Men’s Wearhouse
DJ | DJ Reims
Mei Lin (first name, she/her) is a Chicago intimate wedding, elopement, & dog photographer who's passionate about commemorating diverse couples grounded in the present moment. Animal welfare, social justice, and sustainability are three things that are really important to her. Trans rights are human rights. Love is love. Stop AAPI Hate. Black Lives Matter.
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