The Dawsons’ Intimate Wedding at Firehouse Chicago
Patty Herrera and David Dawson had a clear image of October 28 when their closest friends and family would gather at Firehouse Chicago. They wanted their 92 guests to feel nothing but love, and we were confident that our Chicago catering team would help them facilitate this with ease.
Patty expressed that their daughter, Addison, was their world, and so we made sure she felt extra special. But the Dawsons also trusted our professionals to give all their guests an unforgettable wedding experience.
The Dawsons’ Personalized Chicago Wedding
Enhancing a Welcoming Chicago Venue
From the moment guests stepped into Firehouse Chicago, they felt at home. The vintage, rustic vibe naturally brings guests together. But the Dawsons also put their personal touch on this gorgeous Chicago venue—adding brilliant color and warming candles to the scene. Plum and sapphire blue linens and gold vases holding beautiful florals by Flowers for Dreams were the perfect match to the reclaimed wood farm tables and padded fruitwood folding chairs.
From the bourbon barrels to the wooden signs, every element of the décor flowed seamlessly and invited guests to relax and enjoy their close company. As they mixed and mingled in this historical space, the pace of guests seemed to slow down as they savored every moment. As they began to reflect and come together, many took the opportunity to sign the Dawsons’ quilt—a moment and memory that Patty and David and their guests would cherish.
The First Flawless Transition
With fall weather in Chicago being unpredictable, Patty and David decided to hold their ceremony inside. So following the 6:00pm ceremony, we flipped the room to get ready for the cocktail hour. Without a single glitch, guests transitioned into the celebration, where they found an open bar and these delicious passed hors d’oeuvres:
- Cucumber ranch bite: Fresh cucumber filled with buttermilk ranch and goat cheese spread topped with blue cheese and tomato
- Meatballs BBQ: Cocktail meatballs in tangy Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce
- Carnitas quesadillas: Tender braised pork, chihuahua cheese, scallions and tomatoes in a flour tortilla
An Impressive Plated Dinner Service
Torn between a buffet and plated dinner, Patty and David choose the more formal that also allowed for more space within the venue. Being able to get the following meal within their desired budget definitely put their minds to ease. At 7:30pm, guests settled in for dinner service complete with tableside wine service, a romaine and kale chopped Caesar salad and guests’ choice between these two entrées:
- Chicken piallard: Parmesan breaded with shaved fennel and arugula salad and lemon buerre blanc
- Baked cod: Herb crusted with shrimp, potato and chive stew
To complete the dinner service, Patty and David selected a preset artisan roll with sweet butter plate as well as delectable sides of steamed asparagus with lemon zest and toasted breadcrumbs and sour cream and bacon mashed potatoes. Guests were blown away by the quality of the food—prepared and served with the utmost skill and care. Even the kids loved the chicken fillets and macaroni we cooked just for them.
The Final Flip!
When dinner was complete, it was time to once again transition the indoor space. At 9:00pm, guests found a gorgeous display of desserts and cake by Mr. Cake as well as Hawaiian Kona coffee to enjoy at their leisure. From the first dance to the last call, guests enjoyed the beautiful and intimate wedding experience the Dawsons dreamed of, and we are so proud to have been included in the carefully chosen group who got to be a part of their celebration.
To hear from Patty and David that “it was an honor to have you there…without Tasty I believe our wedding would not have been successful” is the icing on the cake for our dedicated wedding professionals. We are so glad we could relive the Dawsons’ wedding thanks to incredible photography by Jolie Images.
