1. Real Weddings

A Summery Rustic-Industrial Wedding at Morgan Manufacturing in Chicago, Illinois

Alyse Andalman (28 and an attorney) and Vadim Sagalchik’s (28 and an IT consultant) wedding was an industrial chic affair with a vibrant, summery twis

Alyse Andalman (28 and an attorney) and Vadim Sagalchik’s (28 and an IT consultant) wedding was an industrial chic affair with a vibrant, summery twist. Morgan Manufacturing in downtown Chicago provided the perfect backdrop for the late summer celebration, allowing the couple to host both the ceremony and reception in one location, while providing plenty of event spaces to give each portion of the day a unique feel.

A rooftop ceremony kicked off the celebrations, with Alyse and Vadim exchanging vows in a Jewish ceremony against a breathtaking backdrop of the Chicago skyline. The celebrations continued indoors with a lively cocktail hour followed by a reception on the building’s first floor. The couple infused the historic industrial space with summer romance and rustic charm with wooden farm tables, warm candle light and bunches of bright white and yellow flowers that exuded cheerfulness. Mercury glass accents and bistro lights brought an element of glamour and ambiance to the expansive space, while metal pilot chairs played up the venue’s unique manufacturing history.

After dinner and dessert, the newlyweds blew guests away with a choreographed dance to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” and a live band, TVK Orchestra, who kept the party swinging late until the night. A tip for the taking from Alyse and Vadim: “Have fun during the planning process. It can be stressful at times, but you should make sure that your wedding is ultimately your own and not someone else's ideas. If you want to have an unusual venue or a non-traditional song choice or wedding colors, do it. If you want to keep with tradition but are afraid that it is cliche, conquer your fears and just do it. We say all of this because, at the end of the day, your wedding should be one of the happiest memories in your life. However, it is just that — one of many happy memories yet to come — so don't sweat the small stuff. Make sure to enjoy every minute and also grab a piece of your wedding cake if you can.”

Before even trying on dresses, Alyse found the ultimate pair of wedding shoes — a pair of shimmery Christian Louboutin’s — while she was on vacation in Paris with Vadim and had to have them. “I figured that since my shoes wouldn’t be visible under a long dress, I might as well buy shoes that were comfortable and fun,” says Alyse. The search for the perfect wedding dress wasn’t quite as straight forward. After several visits to local bridal salons, Alyse still hadn’t come across anything that packed the wow-factor she was after. That is, until she visited Diana’s Bridal for a sample sale. “I found that they had a new line of dresses that were that were designed in-house and handmade in Turkey,” she says. While she never dreamed she would say “I do” in a glam ball gown, it was this whimsical style from the salon’s own collection that ultimately won the bride-to-be over. “It was unique, elegant and fit perfectly,” says Alyse.
For her bridesmaids, Alyse chose Sorella Vita convertible dresses in a sophisticated shade of gray. For the ceremony, they wore the elegant, feminine dresses in a romantic one-shoulder style and then were able to change up the look for the reception. The girls accessorized with canary yellow shoes to complement the wedding’s gray and yellow color scheme.
With Morgan Manufacturing offering a rooftop event space with breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline, the site for the ceremony was an obvious choice for Alyse and Vadim. The couple decorated the aisle with bundles of cheerful white and yellow blooms to create a cohesive feel from the ceremony to the reception and exchanged vows under a birch branch chuppah wrapped in lengths of white ribbon, greenery and sunflowers.
Alyse and Vadim incorporated a number of Jewish traditions into their ceremony beyond signing their ketubah beforehand with a small group of their closest family members and friends. “We broke the glass, did the seven circles, were wrapped in a tallis and had family and friends recite the sheva bracot,” says Alyse.
To switch up her look for the reception, Alyse changed into a short, strapless cocktail dress with a playful tulle underskirt and jacquard floral detailing that was perfect for dancing.
In addition to doing the traditional Hora during the reception, Alyse and Vadim surprised guests with a choreographed dance to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.” A live band and photo booth continued the fun late into the night.
Alyse’s bouquet fused classic, rustic and glam styles with a mix of fresh white hydrangeas, vibrant sunflowers, cool blue dusty miller and playful crystal accents.
To play into the venue’s unique industrial vibe while highlighting the summer season, Alyse and Vadim topped their rustic farm tables with a mix of modern and classic centerpieces in brilliant shades of yellow and white. Lush bunches of hydrangeas, stock, orchids and sunflowers were piled high atop glass trumpet vases and orchids floated serenely in hurricane vessels. Dozens of floating and votive candles cast a warm, ambient glow over the room, adding an air of romance to the space.
The decor fusion of industrial and elegant aesthetics was a true reflection of Alyse and Vadim’s personalities and tastes, with details like pilot chairs and floating centerpieces speaking to Vadim’s preference for urban and modern design and romantic candlelight, lush blooms and wooden farm tables playing up Alyse’s love of Southern, rustic styles.