Vibrant Chicago Wedding at Illuminating Company

JoHannah (Hannah) Hail (34 and a grad student) and Daniel Carlyon (29 and a theatrical sound designer and LEGO sales associate) met while working at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, so the pair knows how to put on a show. Their wedding at the Chicago Illuminating Company was a colorful production filled with playful surprises and personal details. LEGO bricks were the breakout stars, appearing everywhere from the escort cards to Daniel’s homemade cuff links.
Hannah carried roses, peonies, thistle, ranunculus, celosia and craspedia. She tied them with a ribbon and attached a ring that belonged to her late father.
Mismatched glasses, candles and bud vases gave tables a relaxed vibe.
Food stations served barbecue pulled pork sandwiches, basil gnocchi, herb-crusted halibut and summer corn salad. A taco truck rolled up for late-night snacks. The couple dubbed one of their signature cocktails, a pecan Manhattan, the “Road Dog” after their pup, Olive.  Delphiniums, peonies, asters, roses and tulips covered the colorful chuppah, which doubled as a backdrop for Hannah and Daniel’s table.
Daniel’s brother, a Broadway performer, sang “All Will Be Well” by The Gabe Dixon Band for the couple’s first dance. “We’ve heard that song over and over, but he gave it a spin that we weren’t expecting,” Daniel says. “His riffs were some of the only true surprises of our wedding.” Daniel glued LEGO bricks to matching escort cards. Guests took home key chains. “Some fought over the Chewbacca and Supergirl figures,” Daniel says.