Jamie and Ashley’s florescent and fun wedding took place during May at Greenhouse Lofts in Chicago. The couple shared their dating story that led to their sweet engagement below. We’re loving one of the bride’s florescent shoes, and the attendants’ dark orange dresses, which complement the wedding attendants wearing cream suits to match the other bride’s ivory wedding suit paired with a white button-up shirt and camel-colored dress shoes.

white woman with dark brown hair having pink lip liner applied

A white woman with dark brown hair's back is showing the back of a wedding gown with an open back being buttoned at top by white hands.

A Black woman with chin-length braided black hair putting on earrings. She's wearing a cream colored suit and a gold watch.

red socks, tan pants, camel brown dress shoes

HOW THEY MET

Ashley and Jamie met at work in winter of 2016. They crossed paths in busy hallways and didn’t have an actual conversation until June 2018, when Ashley came over to Jamie’s work unit and said, “We’re all going out after work. Do you want to come?” And Jamie said yes without hesitation! After work they all headed downtown to Lalo’s for margarita pitchers and dancing. Ashley and Jamie spent the entire night dancing and only with each other. Weeks passed and because of vacation, training and schedules, Ashley and Jamie just kept missing each other at work. Ashley once made small talk about grilled cheese and Jamie argued that she could make it the best. Their friend James told Ashley “She likes you—girls just don’t talk about grilled cheese at 10 p.m.!” They never got to talk about that night at Lalo’s, but each of them told friends “There’s just something about her…”

A white woman with wavy dark brown hair looks at camera with a closed-lip smile. She is wearing a beaded white wedding gown with capped sleeves.

Two Black women are looking at each other. One is adjusting her collar. She is wearing a cream-colored suit jacket and has braids or locs. She is smiling. The other Black woman is smiling. She has her dark brown hair in a relaxed up-do and is wearing a copper-red gown that looks like it's made of satin or something shiny. She has her hands open in front of her in a "Look at you!" expression.

Eventually, Ashley arrived on Jamie’s work unit again and asked if she was free to come over after work, and that her neighbors and a coworker or two were going to this “Freak Easy” event in the city. Jamie—obviously intrigued, confused, but dying to know more—happily agreed. They arrived at the Freak Easy, a house/warehouse hidden party in the middle of a quiet street with rules written on a wooden board: Consent is Key, Be respectful to your neighbors. It was a colorful and friendly space with live music, live artists painting right in front of you, professionals breathing fire just outside, and they must’ve had a strong belief in not turning on the AC as it was the hottest night of their lives. After the night ended around 6 a.m., their friend and coworker Edith drove them home, but for some odd reason, both in a silly stupor, Jamie and Ashley looked at each other in the backseat, and jumped out of the car at a red light (safely) and ran into the lawn sprinklers (in jeans) laughing and screaming!!

first look on wedding day - a Black woman in a tan suit with black braids and a large red boutonniere stands in foreground while a white bride with long brown hair in a white wedding gown approaches from behind

Jamie kissed Ashley that morning, and when they arrived at work a few hours later, their supervisor announced their new work assignments. Ashley and Jamie looked at each other, each holding back a smile—when he announced they were “Mobile Security No. 1 and Mobile Security No. 2.” They’d be working side by side together at least for the next three months, which eventually turned into six months, which turned into a year. A beautiful metaphor of what their future would come to be. Ashley and Jamie fell into a relationship unlike any they’ve ever known, and it all started with “No Rules,” their self-made foundation of trust, communication and disregard for stereotypical norms of dating, the social “rules” and how-tos of navigating a new relationship. Their love continued to flourish by saying and acting how they felt in the moment, and trusting it would all fall into place.

Black wedding attendants of varying genders in cream suits and dark orange gowns for LGBTQ+ Chicago wedding

gay wedding with a Black woman in a cream suit and dark orange boutonniere holding hands with a white woman with long dark brown hair in a white veil and white wedding dress with capped sleeves. behind the couple is a wooden wedding arch with a white woman officiant in a dark orange dress. on either side of the marriers are women wearing dark orange gowns and holding vibrant wedding bouquets

lesbian couple kissing at wedding surrounded by their wedding guests. some are wearing tan suits and some are wearing shades of dark orange and cinnamon

wedding bouquet with shades of pink held by a person wearing a dark orange wedding attendant dress

HOW SHE ASKED

At Lollapalooza in 2018, after several hours of intense, long eye contact, and waiting for the right moment, she couldn’t keep it in any longer, Jamie told Ashley she loved her, and Ashley said she loved her too while The Weeknd was performing on Hutchinson Field. Two years later on October 16, 2020, in that spot on Hutchinson Field, it was also the place where Ashley got down on one knee and asked Jamie to marry her. And Jamie replied, “Are you f***ing serious?” Moments later she found the right words: “HELL YEAH.”

wooden wedding arch decorated with tropical pink flowers

white woman with long brown hair wearing a white wedding gown with capped sleeves smiles and looks at the camera while holding a tropical bouquet of flowers in a shade of pinks and oranges

sign at wedding for signature cocktails

record guestbook so wedding guests can sign the record as the guest book. at the center of the record is the couple holding each other. to the side are gold and silver metallic markers.

THE WEDDING STYLE

The wedding featured vintage, tropical and bright elements including bright pink flowers, orange linens, shades of orange and copper gowns for the wedding attendants, all captured by vivid photography. The Equally Wed heart is a trademark of Palladino Publishing, LLC.

wedding reception table with shades of orange linens and flowers

wedding reception table with shades of orange linens and flowers

wedding reception table with shades of orange linens and flowers

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FEATURED VENDORS
Cinema and Video: CR Media
Event Venue: Greenhouse Lofts
Accommodations: Chicago Marriott at Medical District/UIC
Other: Hotel Allegro
Other: JW Marriott Chicago
Transportation: M&M Limousine Services
Linens and Coverings: BBJ Linen Chicago
Second Shooter: Juancho SC Photography
Museum: Alfred Caldwell Lily pool
Design and Decor: Atmosphere Events Group
Lighting: Atmosphere Events Group
Floral Designer: Atmosphere Events Group
DJ: Style Matters DJs
Caterer: Butter and Vine
Makeup Artist: Alyssa Diana Makeup
Hair Stylist: Blush and Braids Beauty Bar
Event Venue: Garfield Conservatory
Event Planner: The Simply Elegant Group
Photographer: loft

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