Haylee + Kenny’s Elder Emo Disco Wedding at Walden

When Haylee and Kenny envisioned their dream wedding, they wanted a celebration as unique and vibrant as their love story. The result? An Elder Emo Disco extravaganza at Walden in Chicago. With its modern design, thoughtful amenities, and all-inclusive packages, Walden was the perfect backdrop for their unforgettable day.

A Venue That Speaks to the Heart: Walden Chicago Wedding Venue

Walden, a venue co-founded by the creators of Half Acre, immediately captured Haylee and Kenny’s hearts. As lovers of craft beer, they were drawn to the connection with one of their favorite breweries. After initially considering Half Acre’s Balmoral location, they pivoted to Walden and were blown away by the venue’s thoughtful design and amenities.

From the separate ceremony space to the neutral palette and stunning green bridal suite, every detail of Walden exudes charm. Haylee and Kenny especially loved how the venue prioritizes the experience for both couples and guests, offering unique features like a grand reception reveal and even a dedicated breastfeeding room. It’s no wonder they knew it was the one when Kenny started snapping pictures of the sign out front.

Portraits in Iconic Chicago Locations: Union Station and LaSalle Street Bridge

Before heading to their venue, Haylee and Kenny took advantage of Chicago’s iconic scenery for their wedding portraits. Union Station and the LaSalle Street Bridge provided the perfect blend of urban elegance and timeless romance. The dramatic architecture and city vibes were a striking contrast to the intimate and personal details of their day.

An Elder Emo Disco Vibe: Unique Chicago Wedding Theme

As an emo girl at heart, I felt right at home capturing Haylee and Kenny’s wedding. Their reception entrance song by Coheed and Cambria, one of my all-time favorite bands, was such a nostalgic and special moment for me. It’s not every day that my personal love for emo music intertwines so perfectly with a wedding day vibe. This connection made their Elder Emo Disco theme even more exciting for me, as it perfectly reflected their shared love of music and style. From the rich color palette of dark olive, dark plum, silver, black, and white, to the decor featuring sparkling disco balls, a temporary tattoo station, and a vinyl record guest book, every detail brought their unique theme to life. The wedding was a true celebration of their story, which began with a conversation about The Menzingers and evolved into a day filled with meaningful touches.

A Ceremony Filled with Meaning: Personal Wedding Traditions

The couple’s ceremony was as heartfelt as it was unique. One of the standout moments was their “ring warming” table at the beginning of the aisle, where guests were invited to hold their rings and bless them with well wishes and prayers. This thoughtful touch perfectly encapsulated the couple’s focus on community and connection.

DIY Details with Love: Personalized Chicago Wedding Touches

Haylee and Kenny’s wedding was filled with personal touches, from the stationery Haylee designed herself to the welcome sign and seating chart crafted by Kenny’s dad and the couple. These DIY elements added a layer of warmth and personality to an already unforgettable celebration.

The Love Story Behind the Day: A Chicago Couple’s Journey

Haylee and Kenny’s journey began on Tinder in 2018, with their first message about The Menzingers sparking a bond over shared music tastes. From their first date at Kuma’s Corner to their adventures in travel and adding a furry friend to their family, their love story is a testament to growth, communication, and mutual understanding.

Their engagement story—set against the stunning backdrop of Mt. Rainier—was straight out of a romance novel. With snow gently falling, Kenny chose the perfect moment to propose on a cliff overlooking the valley below.

Haylee shared her thoughts on working with Melissa Ferrara Photography:

“I truly do not know where to begin, other than investing in Melissa was one of the best decision we made for our wedding day. Most decisions we made had Melissa’s talent in mind and it truly paid off.

I had Melissa scoped out before I was ever engaged, I found her through mutual followers on ig who had done shoots/weddings with her in the past. When my husband and I first sat down to look at photographer options, she was the first I brought up and it was not a hard sell for him.

From first consulting, to our engagement shoot, to the wedding day, we found all the rumors are true—Melissa is the coolest, she’s easy going, professional, super friendly, and really goes with the flow in the best way, while still maintaining timeline boundaries and keeping us on track. We loved her second shooter as well, Pavel. He kept us giggling all day and lived the dynamic they had together. They both really blend in like a chameleon throughout the day, they really understands letting the moment be the moment. We have pictures where we didn’t even realize they were even in the room with us.

Not to mention, she is just WILDLY talented. We got our gallery a week ago and I’m so serious when I say Ive looked through it entirely every day since. I have a hard time looking at pictures of myself, but seeing myself and my pure joy through her lens has made me feel so, unequivocally beautiful. Every picture feels straight out of a magazine. She really understood our vision, and delivered every picture we hoped for and then some. I really am in such disbelief that we get to enjoy these beautiful photos from our favorite day for the rest of our lives.

Melissa’s remarkable eye was worth every single penny, and I would (and do) recommend her to everyone looking for a photographer!”

Haylee and Kenny’s wedding was a celebration of love, individuality, and the community that has supported them throughout their journey. From their DIY details to their Elder Emo Disco vibe, every element of their day was a reflection of their unique story.

Congratulations to Haylee and Kenny on their incredible wedding day! May your love continue to shine as brightly as those disco balls.

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