It’s always a party when there’s a Salvage One wedding, but Sarah + Robby DEFINITELY knew how to throw an unforgettable celebration.

Their Story

Sarah and Robby met while singing in a cappella together at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in fall 2009. However, they didn’t start dating until winter 2015. Their shared love of pizza, music, and dogs helped their love grow until Robby proposed in August 2021 (with the help of their dog Oakley, of course!).

Getting Ready, First Look + Portraits

Robby got ready nearby at a friend’s place while Sarah got dressed at the venue. They had emailed me a few weeks before the wedding asking if they could do their first look at Big Delicious Planet. It was just around the corner and the couple was eager to take photos in front of their famous ivy wall. I was excited to make that happen!

After a first look with Sarah’s dad and her close girlfriends, I walked the bride over to the Big Delicious Planet space where Robby was waiting to see her. Once they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day, we all walked back over to Salvage One to take more photos around the venue. We couldn’t resist snagging a photo with the letter “S” for Shellard, Robby’s last name and soon to be Sarah’s! After some family photos, including one with the couple’s college friends, Sarah + Robby tucked away as guests began to arrive.

Salvage One Wedding

The couple was married by Robby’s grandfather, Reverend Jim Dicky (they told me that he made sure to wear an outfit with a rainbow on it because it was pride month). Their friend Robb sang as they walked down the aisle and during a portion of the ceremony. I thought was a really lovely personal touch! Once Sarah and Robby were officially married, the couple went upstairs to hang out in the getting-ready suite for a few minutes while guests enjoyed cocktail hour.

Their reception details blew me away. My favorite part was having each table be represented by a brewery in Chicago. We heard speeches from the couple and both of their dads before enjoying dinner. To kick off the rest of the reception, Sarah + Robby surprised everyone with choreographed dances with their parents! After their first dance, guests enjoyed the fondue dessert station as the band sang all of Sarah + Robby’s favorites. The rest of the night was spent dancing, singing, and celebrating the Shellards. I loved photographing this wedding and I can’t wait to see what’s next for these newlyweds!

Venue: Salvage One

Coordinator: You Name It Events

Hair: Brittney Rose

Florals: Sprout Home

Catering: Big Delicious Planet

Dress: Volle’s Bridal & Boutique

Suit: Indochino

Dessert: Milk Bar and Sweet Mandy B’s

Live Band: Lakeshore Encores (Gold Coast Events)