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MeiLin@MeiLinBarralPhoto.com
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Welcome to the blog, home to Chicago's intimate wedding, elopement, & dog photographer for couples grounded in the present moment.
(I'm here and queer!)
1. My first name is Mei Lin (she/her)
2. I'm part of the LGBTQ+ & BIPOC communities
3. I really love pugs!
4. I’m a huge musical theatre fan
5. I care deeply about animal welfare as well as social justice issues.
6. I incorporate sustainable practices throughout your wedding photography experience
Are you looking to plan a wedding that is in between an elopement & a large bash? An intimate wedding sounds perfect for you! I may be biased as these are my FAVORITE types of weddings because you can go all-out for a smaller group of guests and don’t have to worry about the traditional expectations that can come with a larger wedding.
The specific guest count for an intimate wedding will vary widely based on who you ask but I consider an intimate wedding to be up to 80 guests. However, I find 20 guests to be the sweet spot for an intimate affair.
As a member of the Green Wedding Alliance, a collaborative network of environmentally responsible event vendors who strive to grow & inform others of responsible business practices, I am excited to feature several other members in this blog post. Vendors who are members of the Green Wedding Alliance will be noted with a 🌎 (earth emoji).
If you’re wanting to include as many LGBTQ+ wedding vendors as possible, learn about Chicago LGBTQ+ Wedding Vendors here.
If this sounds like what you’re looking for, read on for the steps to plan your perfect intimate wedding in Chicago. If an elopement is more your style learn How to Plan a Chicago City Hall Elopement here, How to Elope in Chicago here, and Chicago Photography Permits here.
Starting with setting intentions & getting clear on your “why” for having an intimate wedding is an essential first step. This will serve as your guidepost throughout wedding planning and give you something to refer back to as a decision-maker when you aren’t sure which direction to go. It is especially helpful to have this clear so that you can answer any questions about why you aren’t inviting more guests with clarity and confidence in your decision to host an intimate wedding.
Intimate weddings can range in budget from small to extravagant, just as traditional weddings can. You and your partner need to establish a budget from the get-go as it will impact every single other decision that you make throughout the wedding planning process. If you anticipate help from family or others, I’d have the potentially awkward conversation now to confirm if they plan to contribute. Money can be difficult to talk about but getting these conversations out of the way early will save a lot of headaches later on.
Weddings, even intimate ones, require a lot of planning. Planning to plan may feel silly but it is a necessary step to determine your bandwidth to plan yourself or decide if you want to bring in outside help. I recommend thinking about what is on your plate between now and the wedding and if you have the time to fully plan the wedding yourself. You’ll likely find yourself weighing the decision to budget your time or budget your money for a planner and ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what is more important to you.
Firmly Rooted Events offers day-of-coordination services and partial-planning services alongside fun a-la-carte options like assisting you with vendor research – plus they know American Sign Language!
Weddings by Danica specializes in providing wedding planning services for detail-oriented couples planning their alternative or classic wedding.
Narrowing the guest list is an important step for planning any wedding but is even more important when there are fewer spots available on the list. I recommend starting with determining your non-negotiable guests: who would you be upset to not see on your special day? This could be family, best friends, and I’d likely include your four-legged family, but that’s just me.
Depending on who you are, this may be a shorter list than your aspired number or you’ve already hit your maximum, in which case, congrats — you did it! An important piece to consider as you plan your list is whether you will be giving plus ones to all, some, or none of your guests.
If you’re anything like me, your dog is a top priority in your daily life & they should also be a priority during your special day! Learn all about how to Calm Your Hyper and Energetic Dog at Your Wedding here.
Perhaps your dog isn’t up for playing a role at your wedding but will be supporting you from home where they’re most comfortable. Wags-A-Lot Dog Walking provides dog-walking services and pet sitting so that you know someone trustworthy is focused on your dog whilst you’re focused on getting married.
Wags of Love is a great option if you want your pup to be a part of your day. They can be a pet attendant for a short time if your dog is just going to be in photos or the ceremony or can stay with your dog all day so they can be a part of all the festivities.
Luxe Dog Nanny certainly lives up to its name in providing a luxury experience for you and your dog during your special day. They will participate in the full planning process to ensure your dog is prioritized throughout the experience and will shoot content from your dog’s perspective throughout the entire day – how fun!
Ozzy’s Crew would love to take care of your four-legged friends during your day so that you know they are in good hands while you’re celebrating.
Inviting fewer guests than a traditional wedding means that you can explore wedding venues outside of the traditional venue since there are fewer people to find a place for. It’s the perfect time to get creative and think outside the box of what you’ve considered as a possible venue.
You could rent out your favorite restaurant or bar for an experience as unique as you. Outdoor weddings on a beach or at a local park are often easier to plan with a smaller group of guests. A backyard wedding is much more feasible with a short guest list.
The Lytle House is a beautiful venue that specializes in intimate weddings – their max capacity is 80 guests. It is a stunning industrial space that also features an outdoor courtyard offering you the best of both worlds.
🌎 Looking to fully embrace the outdoors in a garden, Big Delicious Planet is the perfect venue for you. You’ll wed and celebrate right in the middle of their beautiful urban farm.
🌎 The Joinery is a warm & light-filled venue that features several different spaces including an outdoor patio offering you a stunning blank canvas to plan the intimate wedding of your dreams.
🌎 The Colvin House is a historic mansion with views of Lake Michigan featuring a stunning oak staircase & crystal chandelier for your processional. As a bonus, you’ll be able to use their 1920s-inspired basement speakeasy as an extra seating area and bar.
🌎 The Atria is a beautiful former horseshoe factory with a 75-foot skylight that highlights the stunning combination of textures throughout the space including white brick walls, granite bar, custom wood finishing, and a woven backdrop of reclaimed textiles.
🌎 Loft on Lake is a quintessential loft venue that is customizable with a backdrop of warm oak timber ceilings, peachy brick walls, and a unique 65-foot skylight that floods the space with natural light.
The Arbory is a romantic industrial space with 7 skylights, 5 hand-painted murals, and a custom video booth that can be used for personalized video messages from your guests.
🌎 Fairlie features sky-high brick walls, a retractable drape system, and a custom staircase that combine to be a beautiful backdrop for your special day.
Looking to wed in a beautiful rooftop garden and then celebrate together surrounded by stunning artwork? Halim Time and Glass Museum is the place for you with 5 different event spaces all including stunning artwork.
The Bridgeport Art Center’s Sculpture Garden and Skyline Loft are two gorgeous spaces if you’re looking for the perfect combination of romantic architecture and urban construction.
Ignite Glass Studio has multiple beautiful spaces accentuated with their stunning glasswork plus you can incorporate their glass work into your special day as favors, within your ceremony, or even a live glass-blowing demonstration.
Firehouse Chicago is a smaller venue with loads of unique features including a firepole that you and your guests could slide down – how fun!
If you’re looking for outdoor space combined with beautiful contemporary artwork, Secret Garden Chicago is for you.
Your special day means that you get to find the perfect outfit to make you feel like a superstar. The sky is the limit when it comes to putting together the perfect look for you.
House of Bretón is an amazing creator of custom wedding dresses, suits, & separates. They specialize in designing whatever makes you feel like yourself for your special day. A custom garment from them is well worth the drive down to Indianapolis for fittings.
Mignonette Bridal offers timeless wedding gowns for the modern muse. Their wedding attire is handcrafted and designed with the wearer in mind. They are made in Chicago but with a French twist.
Uncommon Closet is a Chicago-based tailor that specializes in tailoring & making clothes for all bodies by providing a gender inclusive and body positive space where you can feel comfortable. They also partner with Sharpe Suiting for custom suits & can make other custom clothing for your day.
Looking for a wedding gown made with sustainable and ethical production practices, Honey Bridal is the perfect bridal shop to check out.
You should feel like the most beautiful version of yourself on your day. Some celebrants want to go full glam whereas some choose to go with a slightly enhanced version of their everyday look. Whatever you choose, there is a perfect hair or makeup artist out there to make your vision come to life.
Jason V Beauty has been creating beautiful makeup looks for 7+ years and focuses on being competent in working with a variety of skin tones/types and cultural styles.
Dani Lou Beauty specializes in natural, neutral, soft glam & follows her mantra of “beauty that lets YOU shine through.”
This Barber Jackie believes that hair has no gender and that all deserve to have a stunning head of hair on their special day. They will ensure that you feel comfortable, confident, and relaxed on your big day!
Blowout Junkie is a great spot for a full bridal party blow out party the morning of your special day. They can also travel to your venue to ensure you have the hair of your dreams for your day.
It’s no doubt that food is an essential part of any day and it is often a top priority for many couples planning their special day. With an intimate wedding, the options are endless since there are fewer guests than a traditional wedding. You could do a traditional seated dinner or have your favorite local food truck on-site to prepare your favorite dishes for your loved ones.
🌎 Big Delicious Planet is a full-service luxury wedding caterer that serves delicious & vibrant food while focusing on sustainability throughout the entire catering process.
🌎 Lula Cafe offers custom seasonal menus, Lula chefs cooking on site, wine pairings & custom cocktail menus, and arranging any rentals that you need at your venue to ensure you have the perfect food experience on your day.
Looking for a caterer that specializes in vegan meals and can create a partial or total gluten-free menu, check out Kitchen 17.
BITES is the perfect caterer if you’re looking for beautiful Asian dishes including options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free meals.
PLANTA Queen is a great vegan option for any wedding but definitely check them out if you’re having a brunch wedding as they have waffle & french toast platters!
BLOOM Plant Based Kitchen offers vegan catering services from 4 to 7 courses featuring a variety of delicious plant-based dishes.
For a unique & beautiful custom cake, Radical Joy Bakery is a perfect spot to check out.
Pie, Pie My Darling is a great option for a dessert bar featuring their unique vegan cakes or cupcakes. If you’re planning an intimate wedding with a quicker turnaround, they’re a great option as they only take orders 1 month out.
If you’re looking for a unique reception option that is different from a traditional dinner, Vaca’s Creamery is the spot for you. They can accommodate up to 50 guests for all-you-can-eat dessert & drinks! Their vegan ice cream is delicious and you can even customize your own soft-serve flavor and signature drink for your special day!
Your special day deserves to be captured in beautiful authentic photos that you can use to relive the day for years to come. I’d argue they are the most important part of a wedding day, but as a photographer I may be just a bit biased. Take time to think about where you want to take your couple portraits or family portraits during your special day. Is there a spot on site at your venue? Do you want to go to a neighboring park? I highly recommend consulting with your photographer in advance of your day so that you have the perfect backdrop for your photos.
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Beautiful photos aren’t the only way to document your special day. If you’re looking for a stunning wedding video that puts together all the beautiful moments from your day that you can watch for years to come, then finding the perfect videographer is up next.
Replogle Studios specializes in creating wedding films that perfectly combine silly and sentimental to create a video that is all about YOU and YOUR joy.
Kyrie Copeland Films has a dreamy style that captures your love in an authentic and romanticized way.
Katie Doyle Films focuses on crisp, cinematic, & timeless imagery of your wedding day.
There are so many other details for your special day and you get to choose where you want to prioritize your time & budget.
🌎 Have a vision for beautiful vintage pieces decorating your venue? Arcana Vintage Rentals has everything you could be looking for.
🌎 EcoWilde Flower Co. offers full-service floral design for your special day or a-la-carte services for micro weddings like yours.
🌎 The Roof Crop offers custom arrangements and event design with a keen eye for sustainability.
🌎 Flowers by Stem creates hand-crafted, sustainable, and luxury floral design.
🌎 Anemone has floral services varying from a package of two bouquets (or one bouquet & one boutonniere) to full-service floral design for your day.
I hope this guide has helped you begin to plan your Chicago intimate wedding and that your day is as beautiful and unique as the love you share with your partner.
If an elopement is more your style learn How to Plan a Chicago City Hall Elopement here, How to Elope in Chicago here, and Chicago Photography Permits here.
If you’re wanting to include as many LGBTQ+ wedding vendors as possible, learn about Chicago LGBTQ+ Wedding Vendors here.
Want to work together? Inquire here!
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.
about the author
for couples grounded
in the present moment.
Utilizing sustainable practices INCLUDING LEAVE NO TRACE.
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