Love! Is! Not! Cancelled! Not if Nimrah + Josh have anything to say about it! These two knew they had to celebrate their love no matter what, so they quite literally made their own micro wedding in the attic space above their apartment in Wrigleyville.

Their Story

“We met on Feb 8th, 2019 after matching on Tinder,” Nimrah says. “It was in the middle of a polar vortex, so we hung out at his (now our 🥰) place. We clicked instantly. It was one of those ‘OH, this is what it’s supposed to feel like’ moments. We laughed and talked with ease, feeling like we had known each other for 20 years, not 20 minutes. I love to travel and spontaneously at that, so I said ‘Hey, want to go to the Canary Islands next week?’ And to my surprise and without hesitation he said, ‘Yes’ and that was that – we have been together ever since. Through a pandemic, multiple surgeries, another polar vortex (LOL!) we have been by each other’s side. For better or worse. After our wedding plans were canceled, then canceled again, we realized we didn’t have to wait- we already had everything we needed to wed: each other! 🥰 So on Feb 8th 2021, in the same place we met, we became husband and wife. While we didn’t know it at the time, it truly was love at first swipe.”

A Winter Wonderland

I entered their classic Chicago-style apartment off of Clark Street on a magical, snowy Monday afternoon. I said it a million times that day: no winter bride could even DREAM of having weather this beautiful. Although it was a nippy 20 degrees, the falling snow was so enchanting it truly seemed like it was taken straight out of a cheesy Christmas Lifetime original movie. Instead of red and green sweaters, however, the couple wore a plaid blazer and a white dress.

Smiling faces greeted me as I walked inside. The couple and the rest of the family were all drinking champagne and giggling. I talked to Nimrah a bit and couldn’t resist telling her how absolutely stunning she looked (I mean, WOW!). She chuckled and explained that her original dress hadn’t come on time so she ended up wearing an old bridesmaid’s dress she had worn to a friend’s wedding. “Something old!” She laughed. “And the veil, oh it’s my friend’s. Something borrowed!” Nimrah and her sister smiled as they clinked glasses and took one last sip of bubbly before the ceremony.

Ceremony + Portraits

The decorated attic had been described to me via email, but nevertheless I was still blown away by how they designed their micro wedding. Nimrah + Josh had done everything themselves, from moving all of their storage items to the side in order to hang up white curtains to decorating the floor with faux rose petals, mason jars with string lights and fake snow around the edge. It was so charming. They had a short, emotional ceremony with plenty of phone photos and videos taken by family members. After the couple said “I do”and kissed, we took a couple of family photos followed by some portraits on the deck. Any diehard Cubs fan would kill for an apartment with this kind of view of Wrigley Field. Many would pay more to get married with the legendary field in the background, even if it was just a micro wedding!

I was so happy when they agreed to do some shots out in the snow-covered street. I swear Nimrah was all smiles the entire time, despite that fact that she was in a dress with open-toed shoes. Josh twirled, dipped, and kissed his new bride in the middle of the street as cars honked and waved in celebration. When it was time to go back inside, the chivalrous groom scooped up the bride and walked back to their apartment so they could prepare for their anniversary dinner. I said my farewells, hopped in my car and drove off with the BIGGEST smile on my face. I was so happy from the momentous day that I drove to Trader Joe’s and bought some rosé!

Dress: Nordstrom

Florals: Goldie’s Flower Shop

Decor: Amazon / Michael’s

Officiant: Kari Thirsk of Wedding Day Chicago