Lincoln Park Conservatory Intimate Wedding | Arizona Intimate Wedding Photographer

Lincoln Park Conservatory Intimate Wedding | Arizona Intimate Wedding Photographer

Monica & Matt

Monica and Matt’s wedding day a beautiful, emotional, and very intentional day. Every single decision they made for their day was made with great care and thoughtfulness. The vendors, the venues, the guest list, the details, everything. Monica intentionally hired only female, queer, or Latinx vendors (um, hell yes) and I was very honored to be one of them. She is also very into plants and using natural products (she has a bomb ass business herself where she creates and sells natural home products!), so she chose the Lincoln Park Conservatory as the ceremony venue - a perfect choice for a plant lover! They also opted for a much smaller guest list than usual. Only about 40 people at their ceremony and 80 at their reception. They wanted to be sure they were surrounded by the people who love them most and would lift them up and bring good energy to their wedding day. I LOVE that. There’s no need to invite every college friend and distant relative to your wedding purely out of guilt (on the other hand, if you WANT everyone you know there, more power to ya!).

There wasn’t a wedding party - only Monica’s sister as maid of honor and Matt’s cousin as best man. Though they did each have their squad that they got ready with. I started my day with the girls at M & M’s gorgeous apartment.

Aren’t those details TO DIE FOR? Those amazing dried florals are from Hyssop Floral. Her dress, she told me, is from a shop in Little Village, a Chicago neighborhood with a large Mexican population (keeping with her vendor intentions!). Her friends Jana and Maya did everyone’s hair and makeup. The beautiful kitty is named Walter. :)

The guys arrived and waited outside in the school bus (coolest wedding transpo ever) and the girls headed out there as well, while Matt came up and had a joyful, tearful first look with Monica. :’) Then we all boarded the school bus and headed to the conservatory.

Squad goals.

Like I said, the conservatory is the perfect venue for a plant lover. As you can see below. The ceremony was short and sweet and very emotional. They did a lasso ceremony - Monica’s two youngest sisters placed the lasso and her mother read them a prayer. The lasso ceremony is a Hispanic tradition in which a rope in a figure 8 formation is placed around the couple to symbolize their everlasting union. ❤

Love that lil mom moment. 😊

While everyone else headed to the venue or to the school bus, Monica and Matt and I frolicked around the conservatory for some newlywed photos. How perfect is it that the seasonal exhibit at the conservatory was Summer of Love??

Onto the reception! It all took place at Ravenswood Loft, which had been AMAZINGLYYY set up by DC Decorations. Peep some of the reception details below. Seriously, the venue design blew me away. (Not to mention, they had a ton of their cutie engagement photos on display!!)

They had a fruits and cupcakes set up for dessert, catering by Jarabe Tacqueria, and succulent wedding favors!! The best favors ever. Sure it’s a bit of a responsibility, but it’s so cute!! :D Also, for the first hour of the reception, the COOLEST band was playing: local flamenco/metal duo Red 255. Literally cannot stress enough how awesome they were. Check them out.

Monica’s sister and Matt’s cousin each gave a nice speech, and then Matt’s sister gave a very sweet one that ended with a toast to their late father (see above, every seat had been given a shot of their dad’s favorite drink). And then Monica’s friend Lauren gave an impromptu speech that was both hilarious and heartwarming, as you can see from Monica’s reaction below.

After dinner, speeches, and cake cutting, everyone mingled and danced the night away. 😁 Perfect ending to a wonderful day.