The Drake Hotel‘s Princess Diana Suite is hands-down my favorite “getting ready” suite in Chicago. It’s spacious, elegant, and full of amenities fit for a bride. This was especially true for a bride with a passion for classic, traditional details like Cory! Working with Shaun Rajah at The Drake for all the details is an unparalleled experience — his attention to detail and high expectations for everyone on his team is exactly the kind of passion we love to work with in this industry.

Cory started the day with a few of her nearest and dearest at a private Core Power Yoga class, then made her way back to The Drake to begin getting ready. While she and her fiancé, Matthew, opted to have a smaller wedding party, Cory — an incredibly caring, loyal, and loving friend and sister — had quite a few more ladies she wanted by her side, so ehe chose to have a “House Party” in addition to her bridesmaids. This made for a much more buoyant start to the day, as a lively group was able to join her in the Princess Diana suite to keep her smiling and laughing all morning.

Kate Johnson Artistry and her team set up shop in the dining room of the Suite, and there was a constant buzz of chatting and laughter emanating from the room. Cory opted for a beautiful red lip to add to the classic, wintry bride look — perfect for a February wedding in Chicago!

Cory’s gorgeous custom gown was hand-crafted by Victoria Sdoukos. The material, cut, and color were all fit to the dress of Cory’s dreams, and she couldn’t have been happier! The gorgeous lace overlay that she wore for the ceremony was also custom made by Victoria, and is the stuff winter wedding dreams are made of.

Jiho Park of Lilly Photography was with us to capture all the details and special moments — like these beautiful cookies that Cory had made for her bridesmaids to snack on throughout the morning, designed by Jenny Horvath of Hey, Sugar Cookie.

While Cory and her ladies continued their hotel suite abuzz with activity, Matthew and his groomsmen were starting the day with their own festivities. Starting with a hearty brunch at Somerset, they then made their way back to Matthew’s suite at The Drake to get ready and hang out until it was time to leave.

Cory had Matthew’s daughter, Morgan, hand-deliver a special note she had written just for him, which Jiho captured along with the other snappy details that completed the groom’s wedding day attire.

These cufflinks are definitely a piece that will stick around for years to come, reminding Matthew of his special day!

The dapper groom all “dudded up!”

Soon it came time for the wedding party (minus the beautiful bride) to board the bus that would take them around for photos. Per usual, Aries Charter came through with flying colors!

Before Cory and her bridesmaids jumped in an Uber to sneak over without Matthew seeing his blushing bride, Jiho snapped this iconic photo of Cory in her dress.

Cory and Matthew chose to have their first look at the Chicago Cultural Center — a spot we are so fortunate to have here in the city, especially in the middle of winter! The architectural details and stunning staircases make for some beautifully dramatic photos.

There’s something so timelessly elegant about this photo of Cory and Matthew, with the fur coat, the ivory bowtie, and crisp white bouquet in the midst of a chilly Chicago winter day. We just love it!

Cory made sure to make time for a shot with ALL her girls on the stairs leading up to Palm Court before the festivities began. These women were all there to support Cory throughout the wedding planning process, and were full of energy as the big day had finally arrived.

The flowers for Cory and Matthew’s wedding were designed by Mary of Steve’s Flower Market — and she truly nailed the details. We loved how she flawlessly incorporated some sentimental elements from the women in Cory’s family, including the handkerchief and broach on Cory’s bouquet.

The ceremony design was exactly what Cory had envisioned — Mary and the Steve’s Flower Market team executed the plan to perfection! The criss-cross draping, subtle candlelight, and hints of blush pink and ivory were just the romantic look we were going for. We were lucky with timing, as The Drake had scheduled brand-new carpeting to be added to The Grand Ballroom in January 2020, with the work and minor renovations completed just before Cory and Matthew’s wedding weekend. Paired with Shaun’s impeccable eye for straight chairs and shiny chandeliers, the Ballroom had never looked better!

There’s not much in life that this bride loves more than details, and her stationer was here for it! Colleen Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald’s Stationery had every little element covered for Cory, and was a true delight to work with. Her turnaround time and eye for detail were a planner’s dream. She seamlessly tied Cory and Matthew’s “CM” logo into the day-of design pieces and print elements along the way.

The ceremony was a part of the day that Cory and Matthew knew would flash by in an instant, while also being one of the most important moments in their lives — so they opted to hire Vanilla Video to memorialize it (along with the reception details, speeches, and dances!). We always enjoy working with their professional, affordable team.

Matthew and Cory’s daughter, Morgan, was certainly a great reason for the commemorative video. She stole everyone’s hearts as she walked down the aisle towards her dad, welcoming Cory into their family!

Cory and her Dad had a gorgeous walk down the aisle themselves, as the power of the moment took over.

There are no other smiles like the ones on the couple’s faces when they are “done” with the ceremony, their nerves have released, and they get to start their celebration! Cory has such a great smile — and I know she felt a wave of relief rush over her when the ceremony was done!

We love that The Drake offers a deep navy linen as an option for tables in addition to gold and silver. It really made the soft florals and gold details pop, and ivory escort cards always look so crisp against a navy backdrop.

The statement floral in Palm Court changes a few times a year; we were so fortunate that the arrangement for Cory’s wedding went perfectly with her color palette!

I always love the calm before the storm — when the couple gets to take in all the hard work they have put in to planning their big celebration and see it all come together for the first time. There’s a stillness in the air, and nervous energy from all the vendors! Cory and Matthew were so happy with how everything turned out, and we’d be lying if we said we didn’t shed a tear or two at the joy they emitted!

The Drake works exclusively with Cake Chicago, and we are so grateful that they do! Jo-Anne is an *actual* food scientist, and her passion for sweet things knows no bounds. She created a truly memorable tasting experience for Cory, and perhaps more importantly, Matthew and his brother, who take their desserts very seriously. They were thrilled with the final decisions, and we’re not sure if we’ve tasted a yummier cake.

Cory and Matthew hid away in the French Room as they waited for their guests to fill in their seats in the Gold Coast Room. Matt Lewis and The Union were ready to welcome everyone to signal a high energy night was just getting started, and brought the group to their feet for Cory and Matthew’s big entrance. They moved right into their first dance, and after a couple minutes, invited Morgan and the rest of their guests to join them for a quick dance set.

Another amazing service that The Drake offers — the champagne parade!

After the champagne was poured, Cory’s dad welcomed all the guests and gave a beautiful toast to Cory and Matthew on their new journey together.

It was incredible to see how everyone celebrated Morgan’s special place in the collective hearts of the families; even the priest invited her to join him in blessing the special couple!

Cory’s dearest friends gave a heartfelt toast; filled with laughter and tears, it highlighted many of the traits that we learned about Cory as we worked together — she’s an incredible friend, extremely loyal, detailed, and hilarious!

Matthew’s brother was up next, and he did not disappoint! It is no doubt that everyone from both sides of the family were truly thrilled about this match.

Cory and Matthew took a moment to share a few words with all their guests, as well. They wanted to make sure to let everyone know how appreciative they were of all the help that went into this special day, before the celebration truly got under way.

Matthew was lucky enough to dance with both his mother AND his daughter before we opened the floor to everyone. The bond between Matthew and Morgan is absolutely adorable, and we loved how they did a mash-up of both My Girl and Shake it Off. Morgan knows how to get things started!

While the guests got to dancing, we got busy setting up the favor table for anyone who might need a little savory treat as they made their way on to their next destination. Matthew is from Rockford, so Cory had the brilliant idea to offer guests a personalized bottle of water along with a bag of Ole Salty’s (based in Rockford). Cory even had a personalized sticker added to the bag!

Cory and Matthew, it was truly a pleasure being a part of your wedding planning process. We hope you have years and years of blissful happiness together, and can’t wait to plan our next celebration together 🙂

Working with Marissa and Andrew on their November University Club of Chicago wedding was a dream. It was such a pleasure collaborating with them, their families, and all their amazing vendors to bring together the most beautiful day! 

Marissa and the ladies began their day at the University Club of Chicago enjoying a quiet morning and each other’s company while Nika Vaughan Bridal Artists transformed each gorgeous lady. Marissa was a vision in her beautifully sleek dress with incredible detail in back. With lush floral by Phillips Flowers in hand, she snuck away for some photos around The Club before departing for the ceremony.

Andrew and his groomsmen also spent the morning at the University Club of Chicago in the always handsome Billiards Room where they played some pool and prepared for the day ahead. WS Photography and Smiling Toad Productions arrived to document each and every detail and help get the ladies and gents on their way.

St. Clement Catholic Church looked breathtaking as always. Marissa and Andrew’s traditional ceremony was a delight for everyone.  They were introduced as husband and wife just before departing for photos around the city on their trolley from Absolute Dream Limo.

Marissa and Andrew took advantage of all the classic Chicago stops for photos with their wedding party. It was a perfect fall day and each photo looked more timeless than the last. Slowly they made their way back to the University Club of Chicago for a few more photos and a quiet moment to themselves before the party began.

It doesn’t get much better than a Cathedral Hall wedding at the University Club of Chicago. Guests filled The Library for cocktail hour before moving up for dinner. Every detail of the reception was personalized and tweaked just for Marissa and Andrew and it did not go unnoticed. Phillips Flowers outdid themselves with colorful floral and romantic candlelit centerpieces, while Toni Patisserie provided the most amazing wedding cake, and Concept One Photography set up the photobooth for guests to enjoy through the night.

Marissa stunned guests with her dress change as she and Andrew were announced into the room for dinner. Family and friends celebrated the newlyweds with touching and entertaining toasts before being blown away by the performance of one of Marissa and Andrew’s personal friends who sang their first dance song. It was finally time for The Mix Music to take over, packing the dance floor for the remainder of the night.

Marissa and Andrew, thank you for being such incredible clients and for giving us the most perfect day to think back on! Congratulations again and wishing you all the best!

Tricia and John, where to start? Individually they were each such a pleasure to be around. Together, they were an unstoppable duo! Their radiant love for one another was clear from the moment we met. Their wedding was the fourth in four years–Tricia’s was the last of four sisters…and what an epic finale it was!

John and his groomsmen began their day at his family’s home. They spent their morning relaxing, playing some light basketball, enjoying lunch, and of course getting ready for the day ahead of them. Meanwhile, the ladies gathered at Tricia’s family home to enjoy each other’s company while starting the glam process! Make Up by Rosie painted their faces to perfection, while Felipe Salon sculpted each gorgeous hair-do.

We all swooned over how very perfect Tricia looked in her Vera Wang gown. With the excitement level reaching an all time high, both groups headed over to St. Luke Catholic Church chauffeured by Way to Go Limo.

The church was buzzing as guests arrived to witness the marriage of the two love birds. The musicians from St. Luke took their places, Keith from Poetic Productions set up for recording, and the whole church settled in for a sweet and heartwarming ceremony.

Following the ceremony, Tricia and John captured family photos at the altar.  ZR Weddings‘ talented photographers ensured the process went smoothly and efficiently, capturing perfect photographs that the couple will cherish forever. As soon as they finished up, the entire wedding party took off to head around the city of Chicago for group photos.

Cocktail hour was up next at Union League Club. Indigo had a pianist and two violinist playing lively music to set a fun and inviting mood. The Club served tasty hors d’oeuvres and drinks as guests mingled.

A few floors up, the Lincoln Ballroom had been transformed into the ultimate celebration space. Westgate Flowers brought life to the room with beautiful and elegant centerpieces.

As soon as guests found their seats, Tricia and John were officially announced in and shared their first dance as a married couple.  They mixed things up by inviting all the guests onto the dance floor right away to help get the party started.

It was time to honor Tricia and John — each toast was filled with laughter, tears, and love as family and friends spoke so highly of the couple.  Following toasts, they each shared a dance with their parent before once again inviting the room onto the dance floor!

After a few songs it was time to enjoy dinner, Union League Club’s F&B team served a gourmet meal to each guest. When dinner was almost over Tricia and John gave a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all for making their day so very special. Indigo then kicked off the music in full swing, and the whole room took to the dance floor!

Thanks to Poetic Productions for this adorable recap video!

Fall Catholic & Private Club Wedding from Keith Jorgensen on Vimeo.

Tricia and John, we are so very grateful to have been a part of your perfect wedding! The two of you and your love story will always have a special place in our hearts and minds. We wish you a lifetime of memories just as epic as your wedding.

We had such a great experience working with Robynn and Matt for their November wedding in Chicago! They were NYC based; and felt it would be helpful to have a local team to assist with final vendor decisions and helping with the set-up crew (in this case, friends and family!) on wedding day. Five Grain Events works with out-of-town clients quite a bit, and our team loves being able to help couples who aren’t as familiar with the local market find a vendor group just right for them!

These two were ORGANIZED. They came to us with so many of their details meticulously planned and thoughtfully considered. We knew that this would be a special weekend, as they had put serious effort into the experience as a whole — not just for the two of them, but for their friends and family members who were local and traveling from out out of town to celebrate with them.

One of the best decisions they made, in my humble opinion, was choosing Villa d’Citta as “base camp” for their stay in Chicago. They were able to host several of their guests in the various rooms throughout the Villa, had an intimate-yet-regal room for themselves (hello, fireplace!), and were able to hold several ancillary events at the Villa — including their ceremony rehearsal, Chinese Tea Ceremony, and welcome party for nearly all their 160 guests!  Plus, as a true bed and breakfast, the Villa had a delicious spread prepared for them each morning. Last but not least, it was but a hop-skip-and-a-jump from their wedding venue, Galleria Marchetti. 

On the morning of the wedding day, Robynn seemed calm and collected as her cousin Vanessa did her makeup, and Katie of Pin Me Up did her hair. This was our first time working with the husband-and-wife photography duo Two Birds Photography, and we couldn’t have enjoyed the process more. They were organized, timely, communicative, and took beautiful photos!  

One of the other perks of Villa d’Citta was this adorable courtyard that was a great spot for getting some portraits and family photos taken care of before the couple took to the city with their photographers. Robynn’s bouquet and Matt’s boutonniere were made by Steve’s Flower Market. 

Robynn and Matt chose Vanilla Video for videography — a great option for budgets of all sizes, especially when you only want a few key moments of footage, rather than a full day. The videographer joined us at the venue shortly before the ceremony to ensure the Groom and officiant were “mic’d up” and to capture the arrival of guests and set-up details. Our clients have been so happy with the final product, which makes us happy! 

Friends and family came together to bring the couple’s vision to reality — Robynn enlisted a “decorations committee” to help with creating the table arrangements and ceremony floral, as well as setting up the decorations on day-of at Galleria Marchetti. Five Grain Events was present at Galleria Marchetti to help make the set-ups went smoothly and to the bride’s specifications. This allowed for Robynn and Matt — and the group of friends and family who helped set up — arrive to the wedding without duties, so they could enjoy as hosts and guests! 

When the decor was all set, and hair and makeup complete, it was time for the wedding to officially begin! Guests started arriving and were graced with the sounds of a folk trio led by Keith Baumann of Old Town School of Folk Music. We loved hearing their rendition of Canon in D! 

The officiant (who also acted as emcee) was a dear friend of the couple. He was equal parts hilarious, charming, and incredibly helpful. We were so lucky to have such a great team player as part of this special weekend! 

As the ceremony concluded and the trio scooted into the next room for cocktails, family photos got well underway. When big families are involved, it’s so important to have an assertive photographer and an organized list of must-get photos. We came prepared and had an FGE team member standing by to help collect people for the photos so Robynn and Matt could get done as quickly as possible to join their cocktail hour.

The escort card set-up for Robynn and Matt was one of our all-time favorites. It was so cute, colorful, and creative! Oranges bring good luck in Chinese culture, so Robynn wanted to give a nod to that by using mandarins w/ sage-green leaves that had each guest’s name. We helped her source both the printing and die-cutting of the leaves (Thank you, PaperSource in Evanston!) and the mandarins (Costco, for the win).

Decor at cocktail hour also included a beautiful family photo display with Chinese decorations, including the tea set used for the traditional Tea Ceremony. The couple also brought a cigar box and personal collection of coasters for guests to sign, as well as a “guest log” — an actual cut of a log! 

It was soon time for guests to make their way into The Pavilion, where they found their seats thanks to DIY table numbers, set in growlers collected over the years by Matt and Robynn. The tables were also adorned with blue and white mugs decorated with Chinese landscapes, and filled with beautiful white and red flowers, thoughtfully arranged by Robynn’s dear friend and purchased at Mariano’s. Paper flowers in autumnal hues and some votive candles completed the look, and we’re sure the guests appreciated all the hard work that went into the personal touches!

The speeches were so personal and fun; the couple was thrilled to hear from Joe (officiant-turned-emcee), the bride’s sister, and the groom’s brother.

Max Davis of Style Matters was the DJ — and he couldn’t have done a better job! He had the dance floor grooving with hit after hit. 

No one could risk going hungry with all the delicious appetizers, fabulous dinner, and delectable sweets station courtesy of Bittersweet and Galleria Marchetti — not to mention a Garrett’s Popcorn bar AND late night pizza! 

Robynn and Matt, we wish you two many years of happiness and hope you have taken some time off to enjoy the fruits of your detailed organization!  It was such a pleasure working with you both!