Gina and Chris’s Backyard Intimate Wedding | Chicago, IL
Before jetting off to Mexico for their destination wedding celebration, Gina and Chris made a choice that speaks to the heart of what marriage truly means. They decided to officially tie the knot in the most meaningful place they could imagine: the backyard of Gina's childhood home in Chicago, surrounded by just their closest family members.
This was about starting their marriage exactly where love first made sense to Gina, in the garden where she'd celebrated countless birthdays, graduations, and family gatherings. With their Mexico celebration still ahead of them, this intimate ceremony served as their legal marriage, their family moment, and their personal commitment all wrapped into one afternoon.
When Home Becomes the Venue
Planning a backyard wedding at your childhood home brings unique challenges that most venues never present. Transforming a space filled with decades of family memories into a ceremony location means you're working without a venue coordinator or any established best practices—just a backyard ready to host the most important "I do" of Gina's life.
If you're considering a private property or backyard wedding, our first suggestion is to hire a planner. We can help you determine feasibility, give accurate and realistic budgets for any necessary rentals, and guide you through the logistics unique to building a venue from the ground up. While a month-of or day-of coordinator might work for some events, we strongly recommend at least a partial planning package for private property weddings to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
The beauty of this particular Chicago backyard wasn't about elaborate landscaping or perfectly manicured gardens. It was about the familiar comfort of a space that had watched Gina grow up. The old oak tree that once shaded family barbecues became the perfect spot for exchanging vows, and the patio where she'd blown out birthday candles was now a gathering place for her closest loved ones to witness her commitment.
Keridan Skye Photography captured not just the ceremony itself, but all those intimate details that made this day so special—the way the afternoon light filtered through leaves Gina used to climb, the easy rhythm of a space loved for decades, and the genuine emotion that comes from being truly, authentically at home.
The guest list was deliberately small, including only the people who had been most instrumental in their journey as a couple. Parents, siblings, grandparents, and a few closest friends gathered in a tight circle, creating an atmosphere where every single person present felt genuinely invested in the moment.
What struck us most about this celebration was how every element felt intentional despite the casual setting. The ceremony setup was beautifully simple, allowing the natural character of the space to shine. Flowers came from family gardens, seating was whatever chairs and benches had been gathered from around the house, and the "reception" was cake and champagne shared on the same patio where Gina had celebrated decades of family milestones.
This simplicity allowed the focus to remain exactly where it belonged: on Gina and Chris, their promises to each other, and the love surrounding them. No elaborate decorations or complex logistics—just two people, their families, and vows that carried the weight of forever.
Building Your Own Meaningful Beginning
Gina and Chris proved that the most powerful wedding moments don't require elaborate venues or extensive guest lists. Sometimes the most meaningful "I do" happens in your childhood backyard, surrounded by the people who know your story best.
Their choice to begin married life at home created a foundation of authenticity that will inform their entire marriage. They started as they planned to continue—focused on what matters most, surrounded by love, and ready for whatever adventure comes next.
From backyard ceremonies to destination celebrations—and everything in between—we're here to help you design a day that brings your vision to life. Contact us today and let's create something extraordinary together.