A Luxe Chicago Wedding Packed With Photogenic Moments | By Brides
Written By Kelsey Mulvey
Christmas has always been a momentous holiday for Taylor Miggins and Arran Skinner’s courtship. The couple first met during their winter break in 2010. Eight years later, Arran’s Christmas gift to Taylor was a private photoshoot during their Parisian vacation the following June. Little did she know that Arran would get down on one knee and ask her to be his wife—with the Eiffel Tower right behind them, of course.
“It was truly a dream,” she recalls. “We spent the rest of the day continuing to take photos with the photographer all throughout Paris. It is a day I will never ever forget.”
So, how do you top an incredibly romantic and photogenic proposal? By having a “modern, luxe, and sultry” wedding. “I wanted the wedding to feel like Arran and [me],” the bride shares. For their July 16, 2021 nuptials, the couple and 85 guests celebrated their love story at The Dalcy in Chicago.
“From the moment I walked into The Dalcy, I knew it was the one,” she recalls. “The dark tones, soft velvets, and countless mirrors really drew me in.”
To create the perfect day, Taylor found inspiration on Pinterest. “I am a very organized person, so I made sure my board always stayed up to date with images and inspiration I loved,” she shares. From there, the bride enlisted her inner circle and a wedding coordinator to execute her vision. Read on to see how this couple transformed their dream wedding to a reality, as planned by Kia Marie Events and photographed by Niki Marie Photography.
To keep up with their modern, luxe, and sultry aesthetic, the couple opted for a high-contrast color scheme with pops of light pink and lush foliage. The sleek invitations—made custom by Kia Marie Events—kicked off the festivities.
The bride stunned in a lace off-the-shoulder gown with a detachable tulle skirt, all courtesy of Wona Concept. “The moment I tried this dress on, I knew it was the one,” Taylor shares. “I wanted a dress with a wow factor, and that’s exactly what I got. This dress transformed into three separate dresses: a formal dress with a skirt, a fitted dress with long sleeves, and a strapless fitted gown for the reception.”
Taylor accessorized her gown with Amina Muaddi slingbacks, a custom veil, and bespoke jewelry from Amy Pedicini. Soft pink nails, a head full of bodied waves, an all-white bouquet, and a spritz of Myrrh & Tonka from Jo Malone completed the look.
Her three bridesmaids sported silk black dresses from Bella Bridesmaids. “The dress had one strap which really fit everyone beautifully,” the bride adds. “They paired the dress with a classic black strappy heel and thin, medium-sized hoops.”
Meanwhile, the groom looked handsome in a bespoke, double-breasted navy suit he designed with Daniel George. Ombré navy shoes, a Daniel George pocket square, a Gucci cuff, and Arran’s Tissot chronograph rounded out his look.
On his special day, Arran’s inner circle stood beside him in black tuxedos.
“The first look was the most special moment for us as a couple,” the bride shares. “The anticipation had been building all morning, and we had finally got to see each other alone.” Before the ceremony, the couple took a moment to pray with their mentors—and Arran even wowed Taylor with another game-changing gift. “[He] surprised me at our first look with a Celine Mini Luggage Bag,” Taylor shares. “I have wanted this bag for over 10 years! It was the ultimate surprise.”
White pillar candles lined the venue’s aisle, placing an emphasis on the lush arch Taxaflora made with soft pink roses and baby’s breath. Sleek black and white signage welcomed guests to the ceremony, all while encouraging them to unplug and savor the moment.
The bride glided down the aisle to Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable.” “I walked halfway down myself,” Taylor adds. “My dress had a gorgeous skirt that really needed a moment all on its own. I met my dad towards the end of the aisle, and he gave me away to Arran.”
A close relative presided over the ceremony, which included personalized vows from Taylor and Arran. “They were definitely special to us and exemplified our love story,” the bride shares.
After slipping on their wedding bands—which Arran designed with jeweler Amy Pedicini—the newlyweds shared a kiss and recessed down the aisle to “Part II (On the Run).” “Arran and I love the Carters,” the bride shares. “We had Beyoncé and Jay-Z throughout our entire wedding.”
Taylor and Arran love to take pictures together. In fact, the bride says it’s one of their favorite hobbies. So, it was important to create many Kodak moments throughout the day. Fortunately, the city of Chicago and the Dalcy offered the perfect backdrops. “My favorite part of the venue was the white brick that lined the hallway,” she says. “It was so perfect for pictures.”
“Fashion and originality were the main themes of our wedding day,” the bride explains. “We did not stick to a standard blueprint to plan our day, so each decision was based [on] what we truly liked. Our wedding was far from standard, and that’s how Arran and I like to live our lives as a couple.”
After the ceremony, guests moseyed to the reception area, where they could grab drinks from the Dalcy’s well-appointed marble bars. “Once guests arrived at the wedding venue, we had a calligrapher write each guest’s name and seat [assignment] on a mirror,” Taylor adds.
Each table in the reception area was swathed in black linens, bunches of soft pink roses and peonies, and candles of varying heights. “This was [an] evening wedding, so lighting was consistently dim and sultry to match our theme,” the bride shares.
The Dalcy’s in-house catering company concocted the perfect, mouth-watering menu, complete with pork belly skewers, steak with chimichurri, lamb, and late-night Italian beef, which the bride says is a local favorite.
Spark Entertainment Group kept the party going with a lively playlist that was curated by Taylor and Arran. The newlyweds shared the first dance to “Best Part” by H.E.R. and Daniel Caesar.
Taylor and her father swayed to “You Gotta Be” by Des’ree, while Arran and his mother opted for Rod Stewart’s “Forever Young.”
Fortunately, the couple didn’t have to look too far to find someone to make their wedding cake. Taylor’s cousin, Jennifer Coles of Rae’s The Bar, was happy to oblige, making a classic caramel confection.
Looking back, the couple says that slowing down to get all the details just right was the key to their special day. “Take your time,” Taylor recommends. “Arran and I had a two-year engagement, and it left us so much breathing room to make each decision.” As this wedding proves, good things do come to those who wait.
Wedding Team
BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER Wona Concept
BRIDE’S JEWELRY Amy Pedicini
BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES Bella Bridesmaids
ENGAGEMENT RING Custom
WEDDING BANDS Custom
INVITATIONS & OTHER PAPER PRODUCTS Custom by Kia Marie Events
MUSIC Spark Entertainment Group
ACCOMMODATIONS The Langham Chicago
