A Queer Andersonville Chicago Guesthouse Hotel Rooftop Elopement with Dog

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An Andersonville Chicago Guesthouse Hotel Rooftop Elopement

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About The Guesthouse Hotel

A UNIQUE BOUTIQUE HOTEL EXPERIENCE IN ANDERSONVILLE, CHICAGO

The Guesthouse Hotel in Andersonville, Chicago boasts living like a local and Shouly & Colleen absolutely love the neighborhood so it was only natural that they celebrate the beginning of their marriage here. The Guesthouse Hotel is a boutique hotel experience meaning that it is a smaller hotel which lends itself to a very unique and personalized experience that you wouldn’t have in a big brand place. All of the suites in the hotel are apartment-style meaning they have a kitchen and most have a balcony as well as access to the rooftop. It’s a perfect venue for small weddings & elopements alike because couples are able to experience the luxurious venue feel while having one that is specifically catered to intimate affairs.

The couple were really focused on intimate, elevated, beautiful, and versatile elements for their elopement venue and The Guesthouse Hotel truly delivered on everything. From the kind staff to the gorgeous different locations to the rooftop with a view of the Chicago skyline, it was meant to host intimate weddings. Andersonville is well known to be a very queer-friendly neighborhood and that extends to The Guesthouse Hotel as well.

Meet the Couple

MEET SHOULY (SHE/HER) & COLLEEN (SHE/HER)

Colleen & Shouly’s story began four years ago at a pride party. Shouly knew she immediately needed to talk to Colleen as soon as she saw her across the room at the party. While they remained friends in the beginning, that part of their relationship quickly came to a close. Since they had a long-distance friendship at the time, they took turns visiting one another. However, when Covid started, they of course had to limit their visits so their long-distance friendship rapidly evolved into a long-distance romantic relationship. From their first meeting, Shouly recalls, in her own words, “[Colleen] was just really sassy and I appreciated that”.

Bonding over their love of music really solidified their interest in each other. Just like their different but complementary personalities, they love different music but as a result they love introducing their music recommendations to each other. In fact, they made a “super gay” shared playlist in the early stage of their long-distance relationship so they could listen to music and think of the other person. Colleen is very into alt rock, old 70s music and Shouly loves indie, electronic syncro music, and pop. Their music tastes complement one another and like in many aspects of their life they’re able to introduce the other to new experiences and interests.

They are currently living together and have just bought their first home together with their four-legged family Picasso (aka Pica, Mistah Paws) the Border Collie mixed breed. 2024 is shaping up to be a whirlwind of a year for these two!

How They Chose to Get Married

A BEAUTIFUL ROOFTOP ELOPEMENT

The brides celebrated with their family on top of the world with a gorgeous view of the downtown Chicago skyline alongside their four-legged family. It was a beautifully queer affair and Shouly’s family in particular brought a lot of queer love to the elopement.

Shouly walked down the aisle first and then Colleen was accompanied by her father down the aisle. Both brides were most looking forward to Shouly’s vows in particular and they were well worth the wait. Both brides had such heartfelt and endearing vows. It perfectly showcased both of their kind and sincere love for one another which left some of their family members in happy tears.

They were really focused on celebrating with their family, in whatever manner they come in — a standard family, chosen family, and four-legged family. Picasso was in the audience cheering his moms on alongside the other guests and Beth, Colleen’s sister, was the officiant. She brought so much love and support for both brides and everyone was a little teary after the ceremony.

The Proposal

AN INTIMATE PARK PROPOSAL WITH PICASSO

Both Shouly & Colleen knew for over a year they would get married, it felt inevitable at that point. They collectively decided Colleen would be the one to propose; Colleen & Beth (her sister + the couple’s officiant) went ring shopping while Shouly was on a trip to Patagonia. It was the end of November when the proposal finally came. It was the last nice day of the season and the couple took their four-legged family Picasso on a walk to a local park. Shouly led them to her favorite tree — it’s a gorgeous huge weeping willow that has been there seemingly forever and will continue to live there so that the couple can go back and reminisce on the beginning of their wedding story. Colleen knelt, cried, and asked the love of her life to marry her. It was wonderfully lowkey and that moment was just for the three of them.

About Their Four-Legged Family

MEET PICASSO (AKA PICA AND MISTAH PAWS) THE RESCUE DOG

Picasso is a border collie mixed breed who loves his parents more than anything. While on the shyer side, that didn’t stop him from celebrating with his moms. He is one of the main reasons Shouly & Colleen even reached the point of getting married. Picasso had been Shouly’s right hand man for years before Colleen came along. Once the two met, they were inseparable and Shouly definitely attributes her relationship flourishing to Picasso’s immediate attachment with Colleen.

Honeymoon Plans

LEARN ABOUT THEIR UPCOMING HONEYMOON

While this wasn’t originally the official honeymoon plan, the couple will be going to the Olympics in Paris, France later this year. They are huge women’s soccer fans (which of course is classically very gay) and they often go to women’s US nationals games. It will mark the first of many soccer games as wives for these two and what a beautiful and romantic way to celebrate the first.

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The Creative Team

Huge thank you goes to Shouly & Colleen’s wonderful creative team!

Photography | Mei Lin Barral Photography
Venue | The Guesthouse Hotel
Planner | Rick Verkler from The Guesthouse Hotel
Officiant | Beth, Colleen’s sister
Floral Design | A Pretty Flower
Catering | The Cheese Maven
Cake | Nothing Bundt Cakes
Invitation & Stationery Suite | Handwritten cards by the brides themselves!
Hair Stylist | Sonya Zabaznova
Makeup Artist | Perla Larios
Engagement Rings & Wedding Bands | Brilliant Earth
Shouly’s Wedding Attire | Bridal Garden Studio
Dog Caretaker | Tina Umanskiy