Emma and Jarod’s wedding at The Midland Hotel in Chicago brought together timeless design, meaningful moments, and one seriously cool setting.
From the beginning, their relationship has always felt natural.
“We have been together for about four years now. We clicked from the beginning, and it never changed.”
That connection eventually led to a surprise proposal in Turks and Caicos, where Jarod asked Emma to marry him on the beach in front of her family. It was personal, intimate, and the perfect beginning to the next chapter of their story.
A Wedding Venue With Character
When Emma and Jarod began planning their Chicago wedding, they knew they wanted a space that felt different.
The Midland Hotel immediately stood out.
“Our wedding at the Midland Hotel in Chicago was a mix of timeless, elegant details with a cool and unique atmosphere. We chose the Midland Hotel because we loved the vibe of the space.”
The architecture and interiors already carry so much personality, especially the darker spaces and dramatic central bar.
“It had so much character, with details that felt like something out of a John Wick movie: dark, dramatic, and cool.”
That atmosphere gave them the perfect foundation to layer in their own wedding design. Instead of competing with the venue, their decor worked with it, creating a celebration that felt refined while still completely personal to them.
From a photography perspective, this is exactly the type of space that gives you options. You can create timeless portraits that still feel connected to Chicago, then move into darker, moodier imagery that feels cinematic without losing the emotion of the day.
The Moments That Mattered Most
For Emma and Jarod, some of the most meaningful memories had nothing to do with the decor or timeline.
They came from looking around the room and realizing how many people they loved were there together.
“My favorite moments from the wedding were the ones that reminded us how special it was to have everyone we love together in one place.”
One of Emma’s favorite memories was dancing with her grandma. She also loved listening to the speeches and watching their families and friends celebrate alongside them.
“Hearing all of the thoughtful speeches, and seeing all of our family and friends dressed up and celebrating with us were moments I will never forget.”
And yes, the food deserves its own moment too.
“We can’t forget to mention the amazing food!!”
But the part that mattered most was simple.
“Of course, the best part was finally getting to call each other husband and wife.”
Choosing to Be Present
One thing Emma did especially well on her wedding day was letting go of the pressure for everything to be perfect.
“I honestly wasn’t too anxious or nervous about the wedding day. At some point, I accepted that whatever was going to happen was going to happen, and I focused on enjoying the day instead of worrying about every little detail.”
That mindset changed the entire experience.
Instead of watching the clock, worrying about logistics, or getting pulled into small problems, she was able to actually experience what was happening around her.
“That mindset made it so easy to be present and take in all of the moments as they happened.”
Having a strong team in place also made that possible.
“It also helped to know that there was a great team of people working to help us have the best day!”
There is something powerful about reaching the wedding day and trusting the people you hired. At that point, your job is no longer to plan the wedding. Your job is to live it.
Emma’s Advice for Future Couples
Emma’s biggest piece of advice?
Get the wedding planner.
“My biggest piece of advice for other couples is to get the wedding planner lol. Or at least have someone you trust on the wedding day to help you out.”
Having someone responsible for the timeline, vendors, questions, and small details allowed Emma and Jarod to stay focused on each other.
“Having someone who could manage the details, keep everything on track, and handle the little things behind the scenes made such a difference. It allowed us to actually be present and enjoy the day instead of worrying about logistics.”
Emma shared that she and her mom are usually the type of people who want to handle everything themselves, which made handing over control feel even more significant.
“My mom and I are typically the people who like to handle everything ourselves, but having someone else take the lead that day was one of the best decisions we made.”
Honeymooning in St. Lucia
After the wedding, Emma and Jarod headed to St. Lucia and stayed at Sandals Regency La Toc.
It gave them exactly what they needed after months of wedding planning, time to slow down.
“We loved the beautiful scenery, the ocean views, and the chance to slow down and enjoy some time together after such a busy season of planning.”
Their honeymoon gave them the perfect balance between exploring and relaxing.
“It was the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation, and we couldn’t have asked for a better honeymoon destination.”
What Comes Next
Now that the wedding is over, Emma and Jarod are looking forward to building their everyday life together.
“We are most excited to start this next chapter together and build a life of our own.”
Their plans include finding their first home, creating traditions together, and hopefully adding a dog to the family.
“We’re looking forward to finding our first home, creating new routines and traditions together, and hopefully adding a dog to the mix.”
After all of the excitement surrounding a wedding, there is something beautiful about looking forward to the ordinary parts of marriage too.
“It’s exciting to think about all of the little moments and memories we’ll get to create as we continue growing together.”
Emma and Jarod’s wedding at The Midland Hotel was filled with style, incredible food, family, laughter, and the kind of moments that matter long after the wedding day ends.
And at the center of all of it was something that has been true since the very beginning.
They clicked.
And they never stopped.
We Would Love to be Your Wedding Photographer
It would be an honor to become a part of your wedding team. We create that timeless keepsake of your big day you’ll love forever. Myself and my team of wedding photographers at videographers at Lauren Ashley Studios will go above and beyond to capture the atmosphere of your special occasion, and share it with passion and authenticity.
