When Abigail and Ben started planning their wedding at St. James 1868, a former cathedral in Milwaukee with limestone walls and ceilings that seem to go on forever, they landed on a dress code that would define the entire look of the day: an all-black guest palette. Set against soft white florals and the kind of candlelight only a stone sanctuary can pull off, the result was cinematic. If you’ve ever been on the fence about enforcing a dress code, this is the wedding that makes the case for it.
Their story started a year earlier under the Great Hall skylight at Chicago’s Union Station, where Ben got down on one knee in the middle of rush hour. The proposal was captured by Capture the Canvas Photography, a close friend of the couple who went on to photograph the wedding, too. It’s the kind of continuity most couples can only dream of.
The Getting-Ready Details
Every detail of the morning was considered: the rings, the invitation suite, a bouquet of soft white florals, and Abigail’s shoes. Nothing was overdone, and every piece felt intentional.
Abigail got ready surrounded by her people, and the photos carry that calm.
The Dress (and the Two-Look Move)
Abigail’s gown was a sleek, modern piece from Bri’Zan Couture designed by Sima Couture, and it fit her like it was made for her. For the ceremony, she added a dramatic removable overskirt. At the reception, the overskirt came off to reveal a completely different second look. Two distinct bridal moments, one gown, no outfit change to coordinate.
Ben stayed in the all-black palette with a black tux, adding a champagne vest and bow tie for just enough contrast against a room of black-tie guests.
The First Look
Abigail and Ben did a first look before the ceremony, which gave them a few quiet minutes together before the day really got going. Ben’s reaction in these frames tells the whole story.
The Ceremony
The ceremony was deeply personal. Abigail’s oldest sibling officiated and wove in football metaphors honoring the couple’s love for the Philadelphia Eagles. Somehow, it worked beautifully.
A harpist played through the ceremony and into cocktail hour, at one point covering Taylor Swift’s “New Year’s Day,” a song that has always meant a lot to Abigail and Ben. The most emotional moment of the night came when Ben heard a surprise audio recording of his grandmother giving her blessing. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
The Portraits
The light inside the cathedral made for some of the most beautiful portraits of the day. The couple slipped away for a few quiet frames together before joining cocktail hour.
Cocktail Hour, the Pointers, and a Live Fashion Illustrator
Cocktail hour brought bao buns, stuffed mushrooms, spicy shrimp, and bruschetta from Tall Guy and a Grill, plus signature drinks with custom stirrers featuring the couple’s two Pointers. Guests loved the stirrers, and they’re a great example of how to fold pets into your wedding without actually bringing them to the venue.
The smartest touch of the night? Abigail and Ben brought in a live fashion illustrator to sketch guests throughout cocktail hour and the reception, turning the all-black dress code into the ultimate reference material. Every guest walked away with a one-of-a-kind illustration of themselves in their black-tie best, and watching the artist work became its own piece of entertainment. If you’re already investing in a dress code, a live illustrator is one of the best ways to let your guests see their outfit choices celebrated in real time.
The Reception
The reception carried the same palette as the ceremony, with soft white florals and warm candlelight throughout. Dinner was served family-style, with short ribs, herb chicken, seasonal vegetables, and a citrus couscous guests were still talking about. Family-style remains one of the most underused reception formats, mostly because it gets guests actually talking to each other instead of staring at a plated entrée.
Dessert came courtesy of Batter MKE, with filled cupcakes in spiced cinnamon and fruit-center flavors, plus a simple, pearl-detailed cake that proved restraint can be the strongest design move in the room.
The Eagles Jersey Moment
Just when the night had settled into its rhythm, Abigail and Ben ran onto the dance floor in custom Philadelphia Eagles jerseys with their new shared last name on the back. The dance floor stayed full for the rest of the night.
Why We Love This Wedding
What we love most about Abigail and Ben’s wedding is how committed they were to making the day feel like them. The all-black dress code, the harpist’s Taylor Swift cover, the surprise audio from Ben’s grandmother, the live fashion illustrator, the custom stirrers, the Eagles jerseys. Every choice was personal.
Black-tie weddings sometimes get pegged as formal at the expense of fun, and these two proved that’s just not true. You can have both, and they absolutely did.
The Vendors
Photographer: Capture the Canvas Photography // Event Venue: St. James 1868 // Event Planner: Sarah Kathleen Events // DJ: Impulse Entertainment // Caterer: Tall Guy and a Grill // Live Painter: Kaitlyn Dornbier // Bakery: Batter MKE // Floral Designer: Shamrock Garden Florist // Cinema and Video: Flower and Oak Films // Dress Store: Bri’Zan Couture // Groomsman Attire: The Black Tux
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The cathedral setting looks really elegant. How did they handle the lighting for the ceremony?