Brunch Wedding at Firehouse Chicago — AJ Abelman Photography

The Firehouse Chicago has a unique history. Originally a Chicago firehouse for Engine Company 70, this building was built in 1906 and included a high tin ceiling, white glazed brick, and 4 horse stables. When modern firetrucks became too large to fit this historic building, it was transformed into a cozy event space. The indoor reception space with high ceilings and vintage touches, lush outdoor space perfect for garden ceremonies and cocktail hour, and private getting ready spaces tucked away upstairs make it a unique space to capture beautiful and intimate wedding photos. Melissa and Carly’s summer brunch wedding at the Firehouse was so joyful, creative, and so full of queer love and celebratory energy.

The Firehouse Chicago

The Firehouse Chicago is located on Chicago’s beautiful Northside, in the Edgewater neighborhood. The building’s unique history tells a story that can be seen in the rustic, vintage details. Now the intimate wedding venue features a unique ceremony and reception space and a set of beautiful getting ready spaces for a memorable backdrop to any event. The location paired with the incredible staff and team there have made the Firehouse Chicago a welcoming and beautiful space for LGBTQ+ couples, and working there is always a joy.

What makes the Firehouse Chicago such a special venue in the city is the private outdoor space. While the main indoor space is used for receptions and dancing and can be converted for a ceremony if the weather requires it, the outdoor garden is beautifully maintained and a lush, green and quiet backdrop for wedding days. The building itself features iconic large wooden doors at the original entrance, and inside the original fire pole still remains (some brave couples even slide down to enter their reception). Vintage doorknobs, plumbing fixtures, and lighting make it so that the space sings of its history while also serving as an intimate, modern and unique host to wedding days. The private upstairs suite, with many vintage touches, allows for couples and their wedding party to spend time together preparing for the day

The outdoor area is lovely for cocktail hour too. The Firehouse Chicago maintains a beautiful lawn and flowers in multiple locations that give the space a lovely, natural touch despite being in the middle of the city.

As a wedding photographer, I absolutely love this venue. The intimate space, giant doors, and beautiful outdoor area allow for so much outside time and beautiful light. This worked beautifully with the mostly-outdoor, day-time Brunch Wedding Carly and Melissa chose. The outdoor space is so lovely. It’s cozy, beautiful, and ideal for photographing a cocktail hour, especially, as well as intimate First Looks and so much more.

A Brunch Wedding

The Firehouse Chicago was just the right venue for Carly & Melissa’s brunch wedding. This couple knew they wanted their wedding day (and wedding photos) to focus on all the joy in their life together and all of their favorite things. Their beloved pugs, Gus and Sadie, joined the couple for photos and were escorted down the aisle, as well. In addition to a donut truck greeting guests with donuts and coffee, the couple treated guests to a brunch-inspired cocktail menu after their outdoor ceremony, with mimosas, bloody Mary’s and so much more.

Like many queer couples, Melissa and Carly celebrated and acknowledged the immense privilege of legally marrying one another in front of all of their family and friends. It was important to them to celebrate their pride and joy at having found one another, and guests were handed progress pride flags to wave as they entered, and treated to touches of rainbows throughout the day. As a queer wedding photographer, this day was so special to me.

Thoughtful details with love and joy at the focus made this wedding so special. With friends officiating and providing live music, Melissa and Carly joined their lives and became wives on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and followed it all up with brunch. One of their favorite sayings is “I Love Sundays With You.” A phrase that captured this most perfect Sunday of all.

Hosting their afternoon wedding at The FireHouse was just one way that Carly and Melissa made sure their wedding day reflected their relationship. They made intentional decisions to customize wedding traditions, as well. With fewer than 75 guests, the ceremony was very intimate and immediately followed with all the best brunch cocktails and lots of togetherness in the Sunday sun.

Carly and Melissa’s Brunch Reception

As beautiful as the ceremony was and cocktail was, the brunch reception spread was the real star of the show. Carly and Melissa kept the reception simple with an incredible meal (the bacon bar and Lox and cream cheese sections were my favorite details). After brunch, they shared a first dance before opening the dance floor for a proper Sunday dance party.

The guests dancing was another highlight of this Sunday brunch wedding. After Melissa and Carly’s sweet first dance, their guests took the dance floor and did not disappoint. From musical theater icons to beautifully-dressed dance party enthusiasts, their guest list brought their joy and energy to the dance floor and it was magnificent.