Allie’s bouquet featured roses and ranunculus, but peonies were the star. “They were huge—we lucked out with the late May timing!” she says
THE COUPLE When Zach Melone proposed to Allie Duncan on the observatory rooftop of New York City’s Summit One Vanderbilt, dozens of tourists erupted in cheers. Eight months later, they’d say “I do” at another iconic location: Chicago’s The Old Post Office. “We loved the historic architecture, the beautiful windows, the checkered marble floors–everything!”
THE DETAILS As a writer who covers interior design, Allie wanted to bring that to life in the wedding decor. “Our themes were romantic garden party and residential,” she says. “That translated to specialty linens, mini table lamps, rattan dining chairs and a bar inlaid with Chasing Paper’s Cosmo Block Print wallpaper.” Custom napkins featured snippets of love notes in the couple’s handwriting.
THE PARTY A live saxophonist brought the dance floor to life as 220 guests rallied around. Allie changed into a sequined mini dress and then later into bridal sweatpants for their afterparty at another Chicago icon: Mother’s bar. And the newlyweds returned from their honeymoon with something special in store: a baby girl due in 2025.
“We wanted our invitation suite to be playful but still formal,” Allie says. “Abbey Strunk created a hand-drawn script and a sketch of The Old Post Office with a bow atop it.”
The head table was lined with rattan chairs.
THE LIST
Wedding Planner Katherine Brown, Clover Events & Productions, acloverevent.com
Bride’s Dresses Ceremony: Alena Leena, Alice in Ivory, aliceinivory.com; Reception: Brandon Maxwell, brandonmaxwellonline.com
Bride’s Veil STAUD, staud.clothing
Bride’s Hair & Makeup Hair: Megan Schnell Hair, meganschnell.com; Makeup: Joey Claeyssen, joeysoluvly.com
Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Tuxes Men’s Wearhouse, menswearhouse.com
Rings Hers: Dana Rebecca Designs, danarebeccadesigns.com; Berlinger, berlingerjewelry.com; His: Brilliant Earth, brilliantearth.com
Bridesmaids’ Dresses Abercrombie & Fitch, abercrombie.com; Jenny Yoo, jennyyoo.com; Reformation, thereformation.com
Florals & Decor Revel Decor, reveldecor.com
Invitations Abbey Strunk Studio, abbeystrunkstudio.com
Catering Food for Thought, foodforthoughtchicago.com Cake Milano Bakery, Inc., milanobakery.com
Favors Levain Bakery, levainbakery.com
Entertainment The DJ Firm, thedjfirm.com
Transportation Cloud9 Limo, chicagocloud9limo.com
Videographer Wholehearted Films, wholeheartedweddingfilms.com
Photography by: Amanda Megan Miller
