A Chic Modern Wedding at the Chicago Illuminating Company in Chicago, Illinois

For newlyweds Katelyn (27 and a social worker) and Matt (30 and a director of accounting), it all started with a Post-It note. "We met while working at a bar in Chicago, and on Matt's first day I noticed him at the bar," Katelyn says. "I asked him what he was doing and he told me was writing his best man speech for his brother's wedding in two days." After a brief interaction, Katelyn returned to her office where she wrote what she thought was a great opening line for the speech on a Post-It note before passing it along to her future husband. "We went on our first date a week later," Katelyn explains. When the time came for a proposal in October of 2013, Katelyn was getting ready for dinner when she was caught off guard in the couple's bedroom. "I walked in and the walls were lined with over 400 Post-It notes," she explains. "I started to cry before Matt even started talking. He told me that every note said something he loved about me, our lives and our future together. He then grabbed the ring from our dresser drawer and got down on one knee." For their September wedding, the two chose the historic power plant that is now the Chicago Illuminating Company as the locale for both their ceremony and reception. "We wanted something elegant, but non-traditional," Katelyn explains. "As we walked through the venue, both of our hearts started pounding and we knew then that it was the right place." The modern, industrial space was decorated using taupe linens and soft ivory draping along with gray and pink details -- including blush-colored Juliet roses, dusty miller and white anemone from HMR Designs. Guests were treated to a post-ceremony cocktail hour in the venue's courtyard before heading inside to celebrate with sliders, a truffle station and music by the Becca Kauffman Orchestra. "The element that reflected us most as a couple was our integration of family," the bride says. "The maid of honor was my sister and the best man was Matt's brother. Three cousins stood up in the bridal party and readings were done by my grandfather and Matt's sister-in-law. They're all very important to us, so it was vital that they were reflected throughout the day."