A Boho-Inspired Beatnik West Town Wedding in Chicago

Sarah and Wil’s Beatnik West Town wedding was one I was excited about from the first moment I saw their inquiry. I had been wanting to photograph a wedding at Beatnik for a long time, and as soon as I read through their plans, my creativity was sparked. A winter wedding in a boho inspired restaurant wedding venue - how could it not be amazing?! This venue made so much sense for the warm, fun and personable people they are, and it turned out so beautifully.

Beatnik West Town has a really cool and unique feel as a restaurant wedding venue. You walk in and immediately notice the giant plants, the chandeliers and candelabras, the patterned tile, and Moroccan design elements. There’s really not another Chicago wedding venue that feels quite like it. Sarah and Wil made that space their own and it led to a beautifully designed, gorgeous wedding day that I was so happy to capture throughout the evening. 

Why I Love Beatnik As A Wedding Venue

I really recommend Beatnik West Town for couples who want a restaurant wedding venue with tons of character. If you don’t see your wedding taking place in a ballroom, then this is the right direction to go. It’s so full of color, texture, and artistic style. 

For Sarah and Wil’s wedding, they really leaned into everything the venue provides for visuals and decor. The hanging plants softened the room. The chandeliers and soft candlelight made everything feel close and personal. I love the pops of color and contrast like the red rugs in the ceremony area, which photograph beautifully in a dark space. 

One of the reasons I had been so excited to photograph Beatnik is that it does not feel like a typical event space. It’s a restaurant first, and you can feel that in the food, the seating, and the environment it creates for guests. The modern Moroccan and Mediterranean influences bring color and pattern. Since Sarah and Wil’s wedding was in the winter, their reception leaned into a warm and cozy candlelight feel to welcome their guests in. 

I love that Beatnik feels like a place to host. By that I mean it feels like a restaurant wedding venue should: an intimate dinner party. In my experience, restaurant weddings work so well if you’re looking to cut back on time in between events of the day. It also keeps things easy to organize, and leads to a lot of great candid moments to capture, instead of needing to set aside blocks of time for formal photos. 

For more Chicago weddings and venue inspiration, see more wedding galleries in my portfolio! 

Winter Portraits at Union Station and the Wrigley Building

Before heading to Beatnik, we were able to get some incredible portraits of Sarah and Wil around Chicago. Sarah’s entire look worked so perfectly for the winter in Chicago. The gloves, bow and fur wrap photographed beautifully next to Wil in his navy and white. Their classic style was perfect for Union Station, an iconic Chicago spot that’s always a great indoor option for winter portraits. Since it was only 4 degrees outside, Union Station was absolutely the right call for portraits that had a Chicago-in-winter feel without having to brave the cold too much! After that, we stopped at the Wrigley Building for photos with the large Christmas tree lit up at night. Those images have a warmer holiday feel, which gave the portrait portion of the day another look before we headed back to Beatnik.

Once we were back at Beatnik, we also made time for portraits inside the restaurant. That was one of my favorite parts of the day! The darker corners, chandeliers, plants, and candlelight gave us a completely different look for some genuinely Vogue-worthy portraits in the restaurant. 

Sarah and Wil requested no posed photos after their ceremony, which I absolutely loved. My wedding day philosophy is exactly that, to enjoy every second and be fully present. That means that we were able to use some of the time spent on the trolley ride for photos with family and friends. Looking back at those candid moments, those are exactly what I love being able to deliver to my clients. They tell the story, they show exactly what was happening, and often, those candid images are some of my couples’ favorites. 

See more of my favorite wedding portraits at Union Station and the Wrigley building here. 

Beatnik West Town Wedding Ceremony 

Sarah and Wil’s ceremony took place in Beatnik with Sarah’s brother officiating. Having a family member lead the ceremony gave it that life and personal touch, and a level of comfort to the whole occasion.

The ceremony setup was one of my favorite parts of the day. The chandeliers hung above the aisle, the candelabras lined the front, and the florals from Something Borrowed Blooms complemented the decor perfectly with calla lilies and greens. It was romantic and a little moody and honestly couldn’t have been more beautiful.

Candid PHOTOS After the Ceremony

After the ceremony, Sarah and Wil wanted to stay with their guests and be fully present. The Beatnik as a venue worked really well for their plans. Restaurant wedding venues are the best way to bake in time to mingle and enjoy the dinner, drinks and dancing of the night in a very natural way. Because of that, there were so many candid moments to photograph. You could see how much Sarah and Wil got to enjoy being part of the night instead of stepping away from it. 

My goal is for photos to bring you back to how the day felt, not just what it looked like. I will always step in to direct when needed, make adjustments and help keep the day moving, but I also want you to actually enjoy the wedding you planned. I want you and your guests to look back at the photos and remember what the room felt like, what you were laughing about, and who was beside you. The best candid coverage comes from a mix of preparation, trust, and space for real moments to happen.

Learn more about my approach and the process I bring to each wedding.

Details, Dessert & Dancing at Beatnik

The tables were set with candles, white florals, calla lilies, and greenery. The black-and-white tile, patterned rugs, and wood surfaces gave every detail a different backdrop that meshed with the vibe perfectly. 

Beatnik handled the catering, cake, and desserts. Dinner felt warm and close. Dinner plates on tiled tables and pies on the counter felt right for a restaurant wedding. Sarah and Wil also used her parents’ cake topper on their heart-shaped cake, which was such a good personal detail to weave into the day.

After dinner, Sarah changed into a second dress, and the couple offered coffee-flavored shots before everyone headed to the dance floor. It was a fun transition from dinner into the rest of the night, and it gave the reception a little extra personality.

Then, the room shifted into party mode. I had so much fun photographing the dancing and fun of the night with flash to get those in-between documentary style moments and capture the vibes of the night with Sarah and Wil on the dance floor. Such a great wedding to end the season on! 

Planning a Beatnik West Town Wedding

For couples planning a Beatnik West Town wedding, my biggest advice is to let the venue shine. Choose details that complement and really lean into the gorgeous restaurant venue vibes. Cozy low light with stunning details and character, that’s what Beatnik really brings to the table as a wedding venue.  

It’s a great fit for couples who want a Chicago restaurant wedding with great food and a warm, unique atmosphere. For Sarah and Wil, it was the perfect space for a natural and easygoing evening with lots of candid coverage of the night instead of stepping away for formal photos.

If you’re planning a wedding at Beatnik West Town or another wedding venue in Chicago, I’d love to hear about your plans! You can learn more about my work or reach out to talk more and see if we’re a great fit to work together.

Vendor Credits

Photography: Audrey Simper Photography // Venue & Catering: Beatnik West Town // Florals: Something Borrowed Blooms // Hair: i elle Beauty // DJ: Nicky Avalo Studios // Photobooth: An Enchanted Evening // Cake & Desserts: Beatnik West Town // Dress: LBR Bridal Chicago // Designer: Pronovias // Rings: Oak Park Jewelers // Etsy: Spark & Bloom // Suit/Tux: Menguin