The city of Chicago most definitely played a Cupid role in this darling couple’s love story, so it made perfect sense that they would incorporate as many Windy City details as possible into their Big Day. I’m talking a breathtaking Metropolitan Club reception, yummy signature cocktails with names like “Chicago River” and a Sears Tower “guest book.” And that’s just the beginning. It was a celebration of a relationship that bloomed in one of the greatest cities on earth and it was all captured in devastatingly gorgeous images by Cristina G Photography. Join me in the gallery for soooo much more.
From the bride: I’m blessed beyond words that I married my best friend, my true confidant, and my life partner, Peter. We met in the summer of 2009 when we were both working at the same law firm – Peter was working as a project assistant and I was working as a summer intern. As fate would have it, we both ended up at Northwestern law school a few months later. Our relationship flourished in this amazing city of Chicago, and in late 2011, Peter proposed to me on the Kinzie Bridge with a gorgeous view of the Sears (Willis) Tower in the background. We both love Chicago, Peter being born and raised in the city and myself being a converted Chicagoan after moving here 6 years ago. In fact, we love it so much that we wanted Chicago to be a very important guest at our wedding!
Throughout wedding planning, we were so inspired by this city in which we fell in love. Our cocktail hour and reception were held in the Sears Tower with stunning views of the city from breathtaking heights. My favorite pictures from the day by our talented photographer, Cristina G Photography, are of me and Peter in the skydeck of the Sears Tower which has an unparalleled view. Guests enjoyed signature cocktails such as “Chicago River” and “In the Loop” (a pun on the Loop neighborhood where the Sears Tower is located), and dined upon wedding cake with a Chicago skyline design. Table markers were various Chicago landmarks, and instead of a traditional guestbook, we had a custom made poster with the Sears Tower on it that guests could sign.
Since we wanted to showcase the views from the Sears Tower, we kept our reception centerpieces streamlined and unpretentious. Tall, dark chocolate willow branches were placed in a cylinder glass vase with various colors of purple orchids springing from the bottom, and hanging votives added a twinkle to accent the city lights. Our second centerpiece design was a trio of glass cylinders with submerged flowers and floating candles. Our DIY swizzle sticks were certainly a labor of love! Peter spent hours upon hours cutting wooden skewer sticks and pennant shaped paper, while I was on super glue duty, folding and gluing the flags to the sticks. Certainly a laborious task I would not want to repeat, but it was well worth it! I also made DIY tissue packets for the guests to take during the ceremony that said “Tears of joy and laughter; here’s to happily ever after!” We genuinely wanted our guests to feel pampered and special. We provided transportation from our ceremony location to our reception location with wine, beer and water on the shuttle buses. The shuttle drivers took guests on a tour of Chicago, complete with DIY itineraries made by Peter!
Our wedding day was truly one of the best days of my life. I love Peter so much, and I’m thrilled that our friends and family loved our classic Chicago wedding!
Wedding Photography: Cristina G Photography / Ceremony Location: Alice Millar Chapel in Evanston, Illinois / Reception Location: Metropolitan Club in the Sears (Willis) Tower in Chicago, Illinois / Event Planning: Just Say Yes Events / Floral Design: Flor del Monte / Officiant: Bruce Otto from Spirited Weddings / Wedding Cinematography: Non-Stop Entertainment / Music + Lighting: Non-Stop Entertainment / Wedding Invitations: Erickson Design / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Ultimate Bride / Shoes: Badgley Mischka via Bloomingdales / Bridesmaids’ Attire: Dessy / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss / Bride’s Custom Spray Tan: Golden Girl Chicago / Dance Lessons: Ballroom Dance Chicago / Hair & Makeup: Diem Angie Nguyen