Wedding Inspiration From a Vintage-Inspired, Nostalgic Wedding at Blumen Gardens

If you’re the kind of couple who loves flowers, film vibes, funky architecture, and laughing through your entire portrait session because posing feels weird AF… Hello, I already adore you!! My approach? No awkward prom posing, no cookie-cutter wedding pics. I’ve got you. And as a Chicago wedding photographer, I know that location plays a huge role in telling the story of your day. If you want your wedding photos to feel like a mix of a vintage film still and your favorite date night, Blumen Gardens is literally your place. It’s the perfect venue for a wedding that’s equal parts romance and whimsy, but still modern and stylish AF.

So, if you’re dreaming of a wedding that’s a little soft, a little sweet, and a whole lotta fun, you’re my kinda people. And believe me, you’ll LOVE this inspiration from Claire and Wyatt’s special spring day. 

Blumen Gardens: The Perfect Setting for a Spring Wedding

Okay but listen… Blumen Gardens is actually rude for being this pretty. It’s not only super charming, but it’s also so well thought out. A spot that actually makes it easy to plan a wedding?? Sign me up!!

My biggest focus as your Chicago wedding photographer is your experience and making sure you’re present in (and enjoying) your big day. So trust me when I say that I wouldn’t recommend a venue if I didn’t mean it with my whole heart.

If you’re nostalgic little cuties who want meaning over perfection, you’ll love it here. It has an overall modern, industrial feel with exposed brick areas, plus elements that make it feel whimsical, like blooming flowers, string lights, and crazy-gorgeous sunsets. It’s truly the best of both worlds!!

Everything That’s Included in a Blumen Gardens Wedding Package

When you book a wedding at Blumen Gardens, you get exclusive use of all the best venue spots (indoor and outdoor!) until 10:00 pm, for yourselves and your 200 favorite people. They also include the basics, like tables and chairs, getting ready rooms, and built-in decor that makes the space super vibey.

So, if you’re someone who gets overwhelmed by options or timelines or literally anything wedding-related… This venue brings the calm. Trust me.

The Venues at Blumen Gardens

For my type A girlies, I’ve got you. I know you want to have plans A, B, and C in case of bad weather. But don’t fret, cause every inch of this venue is drop-dead gorgeous.

The Conveyor Room:

This spot is one of my absolute faves. It gives vintage-industrial vibes that make you want to slow dance, sneak a kiss, or both.

The Courtyard:

The Courtyard kinda feels like a taste of Italy right here in Illinois. It has intricate architecture (that, let’s be real, makes for some REAL good pictures) and natural beauty that makes it the ceremony spot of all ceremony spots. 

The Garden Center: 

Don’t even get me started. This place is a moment all on its own. A vintage garden smack-dab in the middle of the venue? Perfection. It’s timeless and romantic, and a great setting for cocktail hour for your guests to enjoy the beauty of the blooming flowers underneath a string-lit ambiance. Half the time, I see the dance party move out here halfway through the reception, and it’s iconic. Get you a space that can do both: Charming, elegant, and romantic during the day, then groovy and fun as hell after a few beers.

The Garden Room: 

The indoor reception space of DREAMS. It’s a huge, open area that gives space for your own unique design, and lets your story breathe and unfold naturally. Tall ceilings, exposed brick, and chandeliers overhead create the best atmosphere. It’s giving funky meets industrial meets cozy, and I’m so here for it. 

Pro tip for my type A brides: this space makes a perfect rain plan ceremony space, so don’t worry about the weather ruining your day!!

FAQs About Weddings at Blumen Gardens

My couples ask me these questions about Blumen Gardens all the time, so I know you probably have the exact same ones. I’ve got you covered!! 

When is the best time to get married at Blumen Gardens? 

Blumen Gardens is one of those places that hits every season. You can hold a spring wedding full of pastels (I’ve been screaming about Claire and Wyatt’s florals for months), a summer wedding with a dreamy sunset (because golden hour here is insane), a fall wedding with a deep, moody color palette, or a winter wedding surrounded by dim lighting that’s super cozy. 

Obviously, you can’t go wrong with any time of year, but I will say that I’m partial to a spring wedding here! I mean, just look at Claire and Wyatt’s day. The blooming florals, the soft lighting, the pastel, vintage garden party color palette of my dreams… I can’t get enough of it!! 

Does Blumen Gardens have on-site accommodations? 

While the venue doesn’t have a place for you or your guests to stay overnight, it’s in the cutest little area in Sycamore near a ton of hotels! Plus, it’s a quick hour drive to Chicago, so your opportunities are basically endless.

Who Blumen Gardens is Perfect For

Blumen Gardens seriously can fit any aesthetic, but in my opinion, as a Chicago wedding photographer, it fits the vibe particularly well for couples who: 

• Love a mix of modern and vintage elements, like a 70’s wedding but with better eyeliner
• Are obsessed with flowers (duh) 
• Want a wedding that’s so them: a little bit funky, a little bit elegant

A Chicago Wedding Photographer’s Guide to Blumen Gardens

If I haven’t made it clear enough, Blumen Gardens has a TON of gorgeous areas, which, I know, can definitely get overwhelming when you’re trying to make a photography shot list. But don’t worry, as a Chicago wedding photographer, I’ve got a system for shooting here. 

We always, always, always will get photos in the courtyard and the garden center. The beauty is too good to pass up, and the romance that it brings to your gallery?? Unmatched. 

The rest of my photography approach focuses on letting your day unfold right in front of the camera. That’s what will get you photos that will last, like your belly laugh while your best friend is giving her toast or the hug shared with your mom after she helps you zip up your dress. Those are the moments when I literally melt!!

Claire and Wyatt’s Elegant Spring Wedding

Claire and Wyatt were so adorably in love, and it SHOWS. Their giggles all day long, their sweet glances at each other… Ugh!! 

Their day was slow and easy, and felt effortless in the best way. Every part of their day was filled with meaning, and that will always be my favorite type of wedding. The ones where you’re focusing on what really matters, not if your crazy aunt Carol is judging you or not. 

The highlights of the day included the getaway car they took from their church ceremony to Blumen Gardens (that I still dream about, btw), colorful florals fit for a queen (shoutout Da Vinci Rose Floral Co.), a reception dress change that was giving vintage goodness, and of course, the couple taking intentional, slow moments together. 

What really got me was watching them sneak away into the courtyard just to breathe for a sec. You could feel how in love they are.

Wren and Rose Photography | Chicago Wedding Photographer

If you’re as obsessed with Blumen Gardens as I am, I’ll meet you there any time, any day! As a Chicago wedding photographer, I focus on capturing the small moments of your day that aren’t built into the timeline, but end up being the ones that matter most. 

If you’re a Chicago couple who wants funky editorial moments, emotional documentary goodness, and a photographer who will hype you up and make you feel like yourselves… You already know the deal. Come say hi. Just click right here. I can’t wait to meet you!

And while you’re here, you can find TONS more wedding inspiration on my Pinterest!