Marc got in touch with us at the beginning of Summer 2015 to talk about his upcoming 2016 nuptials. He and his fiance were based out of New York City, so we knew we were in for a lot of email correspondence :). Thankfully, Marc and Nathan have amazing taste and had a very clear vision of what they wanted their wedding to look like. They decided on an early July wedding date at one of our all-time favorite venues, Ovation. Marc and Nathan were an absolute dream to work with.
The day started in the Hyde and Wicker Park conference room at the Hotel Chicago with a very relaxed rehearsal of their upcoming ceremony with immediate family. Everyone was very calm, cool, and collected but we all had a sneaking suspicion there would be innumerable “happy tears” throughout the day’s festivities. After the rehearsal, select family members headed upstairs for hair services from Dannie Stevanovich and makeup by Samia Karaikovic. Mike from ThisIsFeeling met us in the suite to snap some photos of everyone getting ready.
While the guys went around Chicago to take some great pictures, the Five Grain team headed to Ovation to oversee set up and make sure everything was in its right place. The space looked amazing! We would like to give a formal (HUGE!) shoutout to the magicians at Exquisitely Strikeing who put up the incredible scroll of Plato’s Symposium that served as the backdrop for their ceremony. Flowers and décor were provided by Sprout Home and were absolutely perfect; they even included individual succulent escort cards for each of the guests to take home.
A motor coach from Aries Charter picked up wedding guests from the hotel while Marc and Nathan jumped in Ovation’s “house” Rolls Royce to head to the venue. Marc and Nathan were thrilled and already could not believe how seamlessly the day was going. The Grooms couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle.
Artistrings provided beautiful ceremony music for the processional. A red wagon with the grooms’ nephews, Hans and Lars, came right before the two walked down the aisle with a sign reading “Here Come the Grooms”. The wedding was officiated by Mikala Bierma, a friend close to the men, who ended the ceremony by introducing the newly married couple “by the power vested in me via the Internet”. There wasn’t a single dry eye in the house. The newly married couple then proceeded out the aisle while Salt N Peppa’s “What A Man” played loudly on Ovation‘s sound system.
After the ceremony, the guys had a minute to themselves upstairs while DJ Nate from Style Matters was instructed to play an eclectic mix of “gangster rap” for cocktail hour. Dinner service began shortly thereafter with amazing dishes from Blue Plate Catering. Each guest had a place setting with a flower garnish and the very apropos Dolly Parton quote “My weaknesses have always been food and men…In that order”. There were many great speeches during dinner with the most notable coming from the “A Parental Unit Production” video made possible by meticulous editing done by Marc’s dad.
Marc and Nathan had their first dance to Etta James’ “Sunday Kind of Love” and then opened the dance floor. Everyone had a blast. Later, Beaver’s Donuts came with a food truck for late night snacks for everyone.
We were so happy to be part of such a glorious day celebrating the amazing love that Marc and Nathan have for one another. After all, love ALWAYS wins.
