A Rainy October Micro Wedding in Lincoln Park with a Covered Terrace Ceremony and 30 Guests
Rain on your wedding day? At Salvatore's, it barely matters. L+J said "I do" this past October in front of 30 guests on the venue's covered terrace in Lincoln Park, with gray skies outside and glowing lanterns overhead. It was proof that a rainy day can still be a beautiful one.
This classic green-and-white Chicago micro wedding had everything: a first look under clear umbrellas, private vows by the piano, a champagne tower and a candlelit dinner in the Classico Room. And because the couple booked our all-inclusive package, every vendor came through one team.
Why Salvatore's Works for a Chicago Micro Wedding
Salvatore's sits on a quiet, tree-lined street in Lincoln Park, at 525 W Arlington Place. The venue calls itself "classic and timeless," and it lives up to it: dark wood paneling, brass sconces, chandeliers, a black-and-white checkered foyer and Italian-American cuisine.
For a micro wedding, the best part is how many distinct spaces it offers under one roof. In a single evening, L+J moved from the garden to the terrace, into the Pasta Vino Bar and then the Classico Room. Guests never had to leave the building, and each part of the night felt like its own moment.
A FIRST LOOK UNDER CLEAR UMBRELLAS + Private vows by the piano
The rain didn't slow them down. L+J shared their first look in the garden outside Salvatore's, each holding a clear bubble umbrella. The umbrellas kept everyone dry and let the lush greenery and glowing terrace lanterns shine through in every photo. We always recommend couples purchase enough clear umbrellas for themselves and their VIPs on wedding day, just in case! Going with clear rather than black or a color, allows your color palette to shine rather than being overshadowed by a big, bulky umbrella. A clear umbrella is also great for reflecting light which means beautiful, natural photographs without harsh shadows!
After the first look, the couple slipped into Salvatore's foyer for private vows before guests arrived. With its checkered marble floor, grand piano and chandelier, the foyer is one of the venue's most photogenic spots. They read from matching vow books tied with emerald silk ribbon, with their rings tucked into a green velvet ring box. It was a quiet, personal moment.
A COVERED TERRACE CEREMONY + A CHAMPAGNE TOWER
Here's why we love Salvatore's for couples who dream of an outdoor ceremony: the terrace is covered. So even on a rainy October day, L+J still got to get married outside, surrounded by greenery, oversized white florals in stone urns and paper lanterns overhead. The wedding party kept things classic too, with an emerald satin gown on one side and dark suits with green ties on the other. The bouquet was all white: ranunculus, garden roses, dahlias, stock and wax flower, with trailing Italian ruscus for a touch of green.
The couple kicked off cocktail hour in the Pasta Vino Bar by pouring a champagne tower together. It's a fun, interactive tradition that gets everyone cheering and gives guests their first glass of bubbly. Cocktail hour flowed through the foyer and bar, with family photos displayed for a "Generations of Love" table and plenty of room to mingle.
dinner in the Classico room
Dinner was served in the mirrored Classico Room. The green-and-white palette carried through every detail:
Small, low centerpieces of white roses and stock on each guest round
A large, lush white arrangement for the sweetheart table
Green arched acrylic table numbers and emerald napkins
Gold mercury glass votives for a warm glow
Chocolate bar favors and green name cards
The cake was a single-tier white buttercream design with roses and greenery. On top sat a custom figurine of the couple's dog, our favorite detail of the night. The evening wrapped up with heartfelt toasts and special dances with family.
Why an All-Inclusive Package Made Sense for This Military Couple
L+J are a military couple with very busy schedules, and planning a wedding while serving takes time they simply didn't have. That's why they booked our all-inclusive package.
Instead of researching, interviewing and booking every vendor themselves, they had one team handling it all. Their photographer, officiant, florist and cake were all included and coordinated by us. We managed vendor communication four weeks out, built their timeline and ran the day, so they could focus on each other.
If you're short on time, whether that's because of military service, a demanding job or a move, an all-inclusive micro wedding package takes a lot of the work off your plate.
chicago micro wedding faQ
Can you have an outdoor ceremony at Salvatore's if it rains? Yes. Salvatore's terrace is covered, so couples can still have an outdoor-feeling ceremony in the rain. L+J got married on the terrace on a rainy October day with 30 guests.
Where is Salvatore's in Chicago? Salvatore's is in Lincoln Park at 525 W Arlington Place, Chicago, IL 60614. It serves Italian-American cuisine and hosts weddings, rehearsal dinners and private events.
Is Salvatore's a good venue for a micro wedding? Yes. Salvatore's has several distinct spaces, including a covered terrace, the Pasta Vino Bar and the Classico Room. A small group can move between them for the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner without leaving the venue.
What does an all-inclusive micro wedding package include? Tiny Wedding Collective's all-inclusive package covers planning support, day-of coordination, an officiant, a photographer, florals and a small celebration cake. It's ideal for busy couples, including military couples, who want one team to handle the vendors.
How do you plan for rain at a Chicago wedding? Choose a venue with covered outdoor space or an indoor backup, and keep clear umbrellas on hand for photos. They keep you dry without hiding the scenery.
BUDGET
HERE’S WHAT THE COUPLE SPENT:
Our All Inclusive Package: $4890 (Includes partial planning support, day-of coordination, an officiant, a photographer, bouquet, boutonnière, and a small celebration cake. We included a military discount, as well.)
Add Ons to the Above Package: $3337 (Additional coverage with the photographer and day of coordinator, 1 bridesmaid bouquet, 2 additional boutonnières, 4 guest table centerpieces and 1 sweetheart table arrangement.)
Venue: $660
Food + Beverage: $6500
Hair + Makeup: $2200
Paper Goods: $325
Favors: $600
TOTAL: $18,512