An "Intimate" Chicago Wedding for 300 People!

"If you thought planning a wedding was hard, try doing it with a one and a half year old," says Kiley Taslitz, who married Erik Anderson on June 10, 2017. “It made us realize why people usually get married before having kids!” The pair, who met as college students in 2008 and were engaged on Malibu’s Point Dume in September of 2016, had an intimate celebration in mind—and a 300-person guest list. “We really wanted the celebration to be warm and inviting, no matter how many guests we had,” says the bride. To make such a huge crowd feel small, Kiley and Erik wed in the round (to keep their guests close!) and then invited everyone to settle for dinner at long communal tables. The pair wrote their own vows, made sure guests were well-fed, and, of course, included their son, Baer, in the mix!

Keep reading to see how natural materials, clean lines, and lots of candlelight totally transformed the couple's black venue space, the Geraghty, into an experience all 300 guests won’t soon forget. Designed by Kehoe Designs and photographed by Kyle John, this Chicago wedding is proof that you don't need flowers to have an absolutely breathtaking wedding!

“When my mom asked me how I wanted to feel in my wedding dress, I answered with one word: Beautiful,” says Kiley. With a little help from the team at Vera Wang, that was exactly the result. Kiley wore a Chantilly lace gown with knuckle-length sleeves, a sheer high neck, and a curve-skimming silhouette. Her bouquet? A handful of white poppies.

The bride paired her modern gown with a soft chignon at the nape of her neck.

Kiley selected three different dresses for her nearly a dozen bridesmaids, ranging from a pale blue halter and an all-white slip to a white high-waisted skirt and a black corset top, all from Solace London.

The bride and groom (in a navy tuxedo jacket and black tuxedo pants from Suit Supply) posed for portraits with each other—and their son, Baer, who wore a tiny tuxedo with a white jacket.

For the ceremony, wooden cross-back chairs were set up in a semi-circle shape to ensure that every single guest had a great view.

One of the couple’s closest friends officiated the ceremony, which the bride and groom wrote together. “It was extraordinarily special to put it together,” says Kiley. The pair stood on a circular stage, while light poured in from the venue’s floor-to-ceiling windows behind the altar.

Wooden chandeliers held pillar candles high above the farm tables, which were decorated simply with candles in hurricanes, denim napkins, and blue water glasses.

Guests nibbled on fresh bread, crudité, charcuterie, cheeses, and nuts on wooden serving boards while toasts were given. The colorful trays took the place of fresh flowers—and we didn't miss the blooms at all!

A selection of chandeliers and strands of café lights gave the room a warm glow, while olive trees added hints of greenery to the room. Talk about a dream lighting situation, right?!

“We value depth and closeness in our relationships, and wanted the night to be a reflection of that,” says Kiley. “We decided early on that we wouldn’t do anything at our wedding just because 'that’s what people do.' Every choice we made felt like us!”