Nebraska couple, Jasmyn and Jacob, simply weren’t interested in planning a big traditional wedding. Instead, they grabbed a pair of last-minute Megabus tickets to Chicago and spent three days touring the city and checking out the coffee scene – Jacob is a coffee roaster by profession – before getting hitched in a quick hassle-free civil ceremony at the Cook County Courthouse.

Friend and photographer, Andrey Mikityuk, tagged along with the fun-loving newlyweds to capture all the wonderful memories of their romantic and unconventional wedding trip, and was kind enough to share the photos with us today!

Jasmyn, 20 & Jacob, 19

Chicago, IL

Wedding Date: Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 – It was so fun getting married on a Tuesday because the city was calmer than it would have been on a weekend.

Number of Guests: 1 (Our Photographer, Andrey. He was a regular at Délice European Bakery, where I was the manager. We had formed a pretty great friendship based on conversations of adventure, travel, coffee and photography. When he found out Jacob and I were traveling to Chicago for our unconventional small wedding, he immediately offered to come photograph the big day for us, free of charge! We were overjoyed and filled with gratitude. It was the most generous gift. We paid for his travel and hotel. He told us that given the choice, he would rather spend a few days in another city with good friends than stay at home.)

Wedding Cost: About $1,100 – $20 for our travel; $470 for Andrey’s travel and hotel; $65 for our AirBnB hotel the first night; $300 for our expensive-ass room at the Hyatt for our honeymoon; $25 for public transportation 3-day passes; $100 spent on various acts of eating, drinking, and boat touring; $70 getting our license; $10 to actually get legally married.

Wedding Ceremony Location: Cook County Courthouse

Wedding Reception Location: We actually planned four showers to celebrate with all the people in our lives! These smaller gatherings allowed for more intimate celebrations. At these showers, we would eat and open presents and share a cute video of all the photos from the big day.

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We had a few reasons for getting married the way we did. For one, I had never really dreamed of having a huge wedding. I didn’t like the idea of spending a lot of money on a dramatic public event that I felt was really meant for us to privately commit ourselves to one another and enjoy each other’s company. I just wanted to go on a super romantic trip with my significant other and become husband and wife without all the hassle. Our entire family knew about our plans, so I would call it a small, non-traditional wedding rather than an elopement, even though we did travel!

What are some of the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

It was all spontaneously planned, really. There weren’t many issues.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

If we had planned a wedding with actual guests, this would have been an issue, for sure. That’s why we didn’t invite anyone!

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

Yes. Our parents were all hurt that they weren’t invited. At the time, I wasn’t sure if my parents supported us, and I told them I didn’t want to feel uncomfortable on my wedding day. I wanted it to be a day of celebration.  Fortunately, they eventually understood and they threw us a party, so we were still able to celebrate with them!

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

It was ten bucks! And it took place in a small room with weird lighting in the basement of the Cook County Courthouse. It lasted like five minutes and then we got to go play some more. We actually were having so much fun wandering around the city that day, we almost didn’t make it to the courthouse on time.

What were the highlights of the reception?

Our showers were relaxed and there was no pressure. We literally just spent time celebrating with our family, which is, hands down, the greatest gift.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

It was inexpensive and, in our opinion, more memorable than it could have been otherwise.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Do what will make you happy! There is nothing wrong with having a wedding that is big, small, conventional, or unconventional, but don’t do it for other people. Do it for yourself and your significant other.

Also, Bed and Breakfast or Airbnb all the way! Don’t check-in to a fancy hotel. It’s not worth it. The best memories are made when you don’t know all the details ahead of time.

Vendors:

Photography: Andrey Mikityuk

We believe you should get what you really want out of your wedding registry, not what your Aunt Myrtle thinks you should have, and that means creating a registry full of unique items perfect both for you and your partner. This may sound like a nearly impossible task, but the good folks at Target make it easy by offering a wide selection of both traditional and non-traditional gifts to choose from allowing any couple the ability to create a registry that’s truly as unique as the couple themselves! What exactly does a unique registry look like? We’ve put together a few examples to get you inspired:

1.) For the couple that loves to play together, Target offers tons of fun and affordable items for your registry. Trivial Pursuit and the Game of Life are classic choices for the board game nerd while the Crosley turntable is sure to please the audiophile in the relationship.

2.) Foodie couples might both love food, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that both parties love to cook. For the “‘set it and forget it” partner in the relationship, the Crock-Pot slow cooker is a no-brainer while a set of J.A. Henckel knives will allow their other half to get in touch with their inner gourmet chef.

3.) And then there are the couples that find joy in life’s little luxuries; why shouldn’t they indulge a little on their wedding registry? We think the Keurig 2.0 and a gorgeous bedding set will make those long, lazy mornings lounging in bed even more delicious! The best part? You won’t even have to get out of bed to register for them. Simply visit Target’s online registry site or use the handy mobile app, all from the comfort of home!

What kind of couple are you? Find even more inspiration to build the perfect registry at Target.com/wedding  and find out just how easy and convenient it is to get what you really want.

Sponsored Post.

A botanical wedding provides a luxurious and polished way to incorporate wedding greenery, rustic touches and antique pieces. Imagine a greenhouse filled with lush plants, apothecary bottles, lab equipment and a heady mix of jewel tones. This theme will work really well in a raw space or even better in a botanical garden or marquee, but you can add these stunning details to any venue . 

Create unique centerpieces by using antique jars filled with plants, as well as botany books, spools and flowers. The greenery and flowers will add a lovely scent, but you can also make your own herb bouquets of sage and lavender to place around the venue. Have your invitation suite printed on natural or distressed paper for a rustic look.

Stock up on bell jars as these are a must-have for a botanical wedding. You can use them to make terrariums for your table settings. A simple green bouquet will fit in well with the theme, focusing on single blooms, fern and leaves. Mismatched antique furniture and a lace tablecloth gives a vintage approach to this trend that is finished by a gorgeous floral arrangement.

For an eye-catching cake table, decorate the area with botanical prints from the 19th century. For seating assignments with a difference, catalog the escort cards in a file. It will evoke the feeling of a botany lab and searching for the names of plants. Wooden ladders look so good in weddings, especially when they are decorated with flowers, plants and illustrations.

Serve your drinks in ultimate style with a floral ice-bucket. A great DIY project that is sure to make a big impression on your guests. An eclectic mix of glass and bell jars, test tubes, and bottles filled with flowers and plants will look amazing for your centerpieces. Don’t stop at the tables, if you can add plants and greenery to the walls then go for it!

Balloons are no longer reserved for children’s birthday parties. To make them more appropriate for a wedding, you can wrap the string with leaves and roses.

Burlap is a must-have if you’re going for a rustic or country feel to your wedding. It adds texture and a natural look to your decor. We’ve searched  Etsy and found 12 beautiful burlap wedding decor ideas to inspire you.

This burlap chair sash by MadeInBurlap looks amazing on wooden chairs, especially for an outdoor ceremony.

If you’re going for coffee as your favor, you’ll need some gorgeous bags to pack the coffee. These burlap coffee favor bags by CraftieAddie are the perfect finishing touch. (You can also make your own. See the tutorial for burlap favor bags.)

A table runner will add some interest to a white tablecloth. This burlap runner by InternationalHome is an ideal way to add a rustic touch to your decor.

A burlap plant wrap by BaloolahBunting, will elevate your floral or plant centerpieces.

These curtain panels by MadeInBurlap can be used as a ceremony backdrop or to separate some of your reception space.

A barn wedding is just calling out for these burlap wedding invitations by ForLovePolkaDots!

The lace on this table runner by HotCocoaDesign adds a vintage feel.

Give your chairs an instant makeover with these Mr & Mrs decorations by HameleonShop.

A burlap banner by ColorSplashDesign will look great with a vintage suitcase to place your cards in.

Simple white napkins can be easily updated with these napkin rings by HameleonShop.

We love the combination of the pine cone and dark burlap in this rustic pin by BraggingBags.

Walk down the aisle in style with this runner with initials by ZahrazArt.

* This post includes Etsy Affiliate links.

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Personally, we think lofts make the perfect wedding or elopement space for modern urban couples, and it seems we’re not the only ones! Event stylist Claire Duran and photographer Clarence Chan think so too, and have put together an amazing styled shoot that proves just how perfect a loft space can be. We are now officially in love with The Loft at 600 F, and we think you will be too!

Here’s what Claire had to say about the shoot:

Inspired by the modern/art deco atmosphere of The Loft at 600F in Chinatown, Washington DC, this photo gallery features a contemporary elopement with geometric elements and shades of blue. Claire Duran Weddings and Events brought together a team of talented vendors and carried out the overall styling of the shoot. My inspiration was a couple who despite choosing to elope, does not do it without making it special.

Everything was captured by Clarence Chan. His images are clear proof of his artistic eye and his modern, aerial, and natural aesthetic. Nick Perez from Nick’s Flowers blew us away with a twig wreath embellished with mounds of blooming thistle that served as part of the background for the ceremony, an unconventional bouquet consisting of cascading bear grass accented with thistle florets, and a centerpiece made out of hydrangea, roses, eucalyptus, thistle, and accents of delicate light blue tweedia.

 Make-up was provided by Valerie Hammer, who gave the bride a flawless sheer complexion with navy accented eyes. Melissa Schwartz from Georgetown Bride created a simple yet overwhelmingly elegant hairstyle for the bride. Our beautiful bride Cameron wore the white Lea gown by designers Camilla and Marc, styled by Closet Fashionistas. The simply elegance of the gown embodied the Art Deco tone of the shoot.

Paper goods, which brilliantly showcased the colors and modern feel behind the shoot’s inspiration, were prepared by Kristen Caudill Invitations. The cake was designed by Michelle’s Cake, displaying geometric elements over a clean white fondant base. The custom wood sign with stunning calligraphy reading, “We Do, We Did, We Eloped,” was made by Sweet Carolina Collective. Get Plated did a wonderful job creating both delicious and equally beautiful dishes, which included tempura baby vegetables, ahi tuna poke, and caramel macchiato, all complimented by a raspberry and vodka-based cocktail. 

The models, Cameron Goodman and Keith Carr, a real couple, were a joy to work with, given their goofy and charming personalities. Finally, the overall shoot experience was enhanced by the exquisite live performance given by violinist Rafael from Innocenti Quartet, whom without knowing that it was Cameron and Keith’s real song, began playing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, bringing tears of joy to their eyes. They took at it as a good sign for their future real wedding coming up in the Summer of 2015. 

 Vendors:

Event Design and Styling: Claire Duran Weddings & Events

Photography: Clarence Chan

Venue: The Loft at 600 F

Make-up: Valerie Hammer  

Hair: Melissa Schwartz Jones from Georgetown Bride

Cake: Michelle’s Cake  

Food: Get Plated  

Flowers: Nick’s Flowers  

Fashion Styling: Closet Fashionistas  

Violinist: Innocenti Quartet  

Paper Goods: Kristen Caudill Invitations

Signage: Sweet Carolina Collective