Laurie & Billy's Greenhouse Loft Wedding

Laurie & Billy's June wedding was featured on the Greenhouse Loft blog! See all the warm, wonderful wedding goodness HERE. 

Photo by Greenhouse Loft Photography

Margaret & Erin's Wedding at Salvage One

The moment I spoke to Erin and Margaret on the phone for the first time, I knew I was meant to marry them! They were so sweet and funny and we hit it off immediately. 

Their wedding at Salvage One ( a favorite venue!) was beautiful and intimate - with a ceremony that had lots of laughs and tears. They included two readings - "A Slippery Weasel," a wonderfully warm and irreverent piece by Ariadne Cass-Maran, and a love letter written by Johnny Cash to his wife, June. These selections were perfect for these fun, brilliant, and literary brides. 

And did I mention that we also included a reference to Bob's Burgers?  See why I liked them so much!

Here's a photo taken just before the ceremony (with my phone). Head on over to the Jill DeVries Photography blog to see the real (gorgeous!) photos. 

Erica & Brook's Greenhouse Loft Wedding

I had the honor of creating Erica and Brook's ceremony last October, which took place at the beautiful Greenhouse Loft. 

The couple met when they were both living in North Carolina, and eventually Erica's work brought them here to Chicago. They are such a great couple, who love to travel and and enjoy sharing many adventures. They have an incredible and exciting life ahead of them and I know it will be filled with laughter and love. 

Erica and Brook, I wish you all the best! In the words of Carl Sandburg, "Not always shall you be what you are now. You are going forward toward something great."

Take a look at their lovely wedding HERE, which included gorgeous flowers by Pollen. 

Photo by Greenhouse Photography

Rashonda & Steve's DIY Wedding at Floating World Gallery

Just realized that one of my favorite couples, Rashonda and Steve, were featured on the Styler's Studio blog! Could these two be any cuter?! 

Check out the blog for more pix of their fun, funky, DIY wedding at Floating World Gallery. Some of my favorite details? They collected vintage place settings for the reception, which was catered by food carts! And, their friends and family pitched in to decorate and help with the details. One of Rashonda's former students even took part in the ceremony. 

A wonderful wedding day for two incredible people!

Photo by Styler's Studio

Missy & Sara's "Big Love Party!"

Photographer Rebecca Marie posted a lovely write-up about Sara & Missy's wedding earlier this month at Columbus Park Refectory. I was really looking forward to seeing this post, because I knew the pictures would be amazing. 

I was right! The photos are just breathtaking - especially the First Look shots.

Not only were Missy and Sara both gorgeous brides, their wedding was such an incredible celebration of love and support. They have a wonderful community and dubbed their wedding "The Big Love Party." 

I may be biased, but I just love this picture from the ceremony. That smile on Missy's face is just perfect!

Be sure to check out Rebecca Marie's blog for more photos!

Modern Family Wedding Photo Shoot!

So excited to see our Modern Family wedding photo shoot featured on the Sassy Chicago Weddings blog! Be sure to CLICK HERE to see all the shots of this incredibly happy and colorful event.

Below are photos, courtesy of Ocken Photography, of rituals that were included in the ceremony part of the stylized shoot. 

First, the couple participated in an adaptation of a food sharing ritual known as the Tasting of the Elements. In this ritual, various foods represent the "for better or for worse" of married life. In our version, the couple shared a variety of candies - including Hot Tamales to represent the heat of an argument 

As you can guess, the candy was a big hit with the kids!

We ended with a family sand ceremony. The dads and each of the kids picked a color to be layered in a tall vase. Not only was this fun for all the participants, the results yielded a bright and beautiful keepsake.

It was so much fun working with this couple and their adorable kids. And it didn't hurt that I had the opportunity to be back at Catalyst Ranch.

Thank you to Kerrie of Citygirl Weddings and Lauren from the Ranch for including me in this wonderful celebration of marriage equality! 

And a huge thank you to Ocken Photography for the wonderful photos!

Shannon & Steve's Geeky, Sweet, Whale of a Wedding!

When I met Shannon & Steve for our initial consultation, we hit it off immediately. By the end of our conversation, I knew I just had to be their Celebrant! We talked about their wedding - and just about everything else, ranging from comic books, Harry Potter, to pet cats. 

Their ceremony included many personal elements, including a handfasting. I also shares they story of Steve's proposal. He surprised Shannon with a Beluga Encounter at the Shedd Aquarium, which was something she had always wanted. What she didn't expect was that one of the belugas would play an important role in presenting the ring. 

All along the wedding planning process, I knew Steve wanted to add a secret element to the ceremony. This wound up being a helium shark (as a whale stand-in) to deliver the rings. And naturally, the shark's entrance was accompanied by the Jaws theme song, thanks to the always fantastic DJ Harsh.

In a addition to this fun surprise, the ceremony also included quotes from The Princess Bride, Harry Potter, and author Neil Gaiman. Can you tell why they became one of my favorite couples?!

Their gorgeous wedding, which took place at the lovely Hotel Arista in Naperville, is featured on the Angel Eyes Photography blog. Click HERE to check out the amazing pictures!

Steam Punk Wedding Goodness!

Do you appreciate architecture? Vintage settings? A turn-of-the-century vibe? 

Check out this photo from a recent steam punk-themed event hosted by Pleasant Home in Oak Park. Isn't this place gorgeous?! The 30-room Prairie Style house is available for weddings, and offers many options for your big day. The expansive front porch, which opens to a tree-filled park, is a great spot for your ceremony. The lovely, warm interior is an incredible choice for your wedding - in any season!

Now head on over to the Angel Eyes Photography blog to see the rest of the pictures! 

The Chicago History Museum Celebrates Marriage Equality With ONE LOVE!

Join me on April 10th at The Chicago History Museum for a wonderful evening dedicated to marriage equality! And don't forget to stop by and say hi to me! 

Casey & Andi's Beautiful Downtown Chicago Wedding

I had the honor of being a part of Andi & Casey's gorgeous wedding this past June. The ceremony and reception too place at the Hotel Intercontinental and everything was absolutely stunning due to the creative touches of Engaging Events by Ali.

Casey and Andi are truly two of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet, and their wedding day was filled with so much love and happiness. It was such a joy to be able to celebrate with them.

They were kind enough to share their beautiful video, created by Highway 61 Films.


Casey + Andi - Feature Film - Intercontinental Chicago from Highway 61 Films on Vimeo.

Marina & Bill's Ceremony at the Lincoln Park Conservatory

A view from the back of the space, just before guests arrived.

Yesterday, I had the honor of officiating Marina and Bill's ceremony at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. They are such a sweet couple! They are also very laid back. When I asked Marina what her Maid of Honor would be wearing, she said she didn't know - she was leaving it up to her. I love that! (And Nadia looked great in her green outfit, as you can see in the photo below.)

Being nature lovers, this was the perfect spot for Bill and Marina's ceremony. They didn't want all the bells and whistles, but rather something that would reflect their tastes. And so, they picked a beautiful, natural space. They gathered their closest friends and family members and enjoyed an intimate celebration.

Their good friend, Nick, provided the musical accompaniment on the saxophone. It was simply magical when Marina walked in to Glen Miller's "Moonlight Serenade."  The music filled the space and set the tone for the day. Another perfect touch.

Congratulations, Marina and Bill. I wish you all the best! Much love to you both!

Show Room - ceremony took place on the path in front of the white lilies.

Bill and Marina after the ceremony. Marina opted to forgo the traditional bridal bouquet.
Instead, she wore a green orchid in her hair. Gorgeous! 

The bride and groom with the Maid of Honor and Best Man

Luis & Dan's Incredible Wedding Photos - with Bacon and Eggs Socks!

This past fall I officiated Luis and Dan's wedding ceremony at Uncommon Ground (known as the "Greenest Restaurant in America.")

They were lucky enough to hire the amazing Hilda of Angel Eyes Photography. Not only is she always fun to work with, I knew there would be amazing photos. Boy, was I right! 

Be sure to check out her blog post about the wedding. Don't you just love those bacon and egg socks? 

Here are a few photos in the meantime, but be sure to go to the blog for more!

Breakfast footwear

Handfasting during the ceremony

Luis and Dan light up the night!

If you need a photographer for your wedding, Hilda is fantastic. But you can already see that from her work. And did I mention how much fun she is??

Amy & Anthony's Summer Wedding at the Shedd

This summer I had the joy of marrying two lovely people, Amy and Anthony. We met when they were checking out the Shedd Aquarium as a potential venue and I was getting ready to officiate a ceremony. 

Anthony and Amy were so great to work with - sweet, thoughtful, and really fun! 

The photos of their wedding are featured on the Angel Eyes Photography blog, so be sure to check them out HERE. Hilda knows how to get people to relax and have fun and you can see it in her beautiful pictures.

Here are a few that you just have to see:

And did you notice the gorgeous flowers? Can you believe they were silk?? Neither could I - as you can see by my reaction. 

Congratulations, Amy & Anthony. I wish you a lifetime of love and laughter!

Hope to run into you at Panera some time! 

Eleven Eleven Giveaway - Connie and Jessie's Big Day!

Woo hoo!! Connie and Jessie are married!!

 I think I was just as excited as they were about their big day! I am happy to report that we made it through the ceremony without any crying or other disasters (see, Jessie, I told you so!) and had a great time. 

Here we are right after the ceremony at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. They were absolutely gorgeous in their custom-made dresses by Mignonette Bridal. 

They walked down the aisle to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."

See more of the gorgeous pix by Amanda Hein Photography on the Eleven Eleven Wedding Giveaway's page by clicking HERE.

Congratulations, Connie and Jessie. So glad to have been a part of your day - and to have you both in my life. I wish you a lifetime of joy, laughter and being right. And I will be around to make sure you're BOTH right sometimes. 

The Wedding Force

On September 1st, I finally got to officiate a wedding I'd been waiting for all year. 

I knew right away that I would have fun with Karrie and Matt when we first met. We bonded over Legos and sci fi, so I was especially excited about their wedding. Not to mention that it would take place at Starved Rock Lodge.

And they didn't let me down! The details of the wedding were fantastic - everything from the Legos in the bridesmaids' bouquets to the tables decorated for different Star Wars planets. I was even able to use a Doctor Who reference in the ceremony! How could you not love this couple?

Check out this great photo of Karrie and Matt. I'm happy to report that no one was injured in any light saber accidents.

See more on TrueLee Photography's Facebook page

Ron & Jason's Wedding at Pazzo's

Yesterday I had the honor of officiating the wedding of Ron & Jason, one of the couples from the Under a New Moon Wedding Giveaway from last year. 

As one of six winning couples, they were limited to a few guests. Ron and Jason really wanted to share a wedding with their family and friends, so they planned a fantastic wedding at the wonderful Pazzo's in downtown Chicago. 

ceremony at the fountain

Their ceremony took place in front of the impressive fountain in the atrium, which is just gorgeous.  Really, everything was fantastic - from the delicious dinner, tasty signature cocktail, great music played by David from MDM Entertainment and the delicious cupcakes by Luscious Layers. 

Ron and Jason included so many personal touches and details. They channeled their love of trivia games into creating a fun trivia challenge with questions about the two of them. Our table (Team Cilantro) didn't know many answers, so we just made them up. Wait till they find out they have a fish named Rocco. 

I also loved that they named each table for a different herb and used seed packets as place cards. However, I confess to initially (at first glance) thinking that they had a guest named "Rosemary Seeds." 

I had so much fun working on Ron and Jason's ceremony and it was wonderful to be a part of their special day. I danced, ate cupcakes, danced some more, talked with great people, laughed until I cried - and did I mention the tasty cupcakes? 

Thank you, Jason and Ron, for fabulous evening. And thank you for letting me be a part of it all. I wish you both all the best in the world.

The impressive atrium at Pazzo's

Congratulations!!

At the cilantro table with the Under a New Moon gang!

Cupcakes by Luscious Layers Bakery

Luis & Dan's Wedding: Laughs and Tears - and an 80's Band!

Last night I had the most amazing experience of officiating the wedding ceremony of an old friend. Luis and I have known each other since the 6th grade! So, while it was a little surreal - I mean, I still remember us running around in the school playground! - it was also one of the most wonderful moments I've ever had.

Luis and Dan are two of the greatest guys you could ever hope to meet, and the process of creating their ceremony made me fall in love with them both. It's no wonder they want to spend their lives together!

Handfasting cord

 Their wedding took place at Uncommon Ground on the north side of Chicago. The atmosphere was perfect, the food was great - and there was an 80's band. They even had a singer/guitarist who played Crowded House and Eddie Veder during the cocktail hour. What could be better??

The ceremony was so much fun - and wound up being "interactive" with lots of jokes & commentary from the peanut gallery..... I mean, the guests. Not to mention that the grooms kept cracking jokes!

Dan and Luis opted to include a handfasting ritual, so I made their cord as a wedding gift. It included charms representing each of them and their lives together. The red ribbon symbolized the story of the Red Thread of Destiny. Their good friend, Irwin, came forward to offer a blessing during the handfasting.

They also included a blessing stone ritual, where all the guests received a rose quartz on which to place their blessings and wishes. The stones were collected and placed in a vase. Dan and Luis each had a stone in the the shape an their chosen animal totem, which they placed on top of the rose quartz.

And of course, there were tears and laughs - and it was a night I'll never forget! Especially since my feet are still sore from dancing so much!

Angel Eyes Photography was on hand to document the evening, so I'll share a link to those pixs when they're available. In the meantime, here are shots of the ceremony taken by my hubby!

Luis enters with Best Man, Polo

The tears started pretty quickly. Luckily, I came prepared!

Irwin offers a blessing during the handfasting.

Lots of laughs during the ceremony!

Exchanging vows.   Denise, Dan's Maid of Honor, approves

Luis & Dan face their loved ones for the guests' vow of support.

Congratulations, Luis & Dan. I can't tell you how much it means to me to have been a part of your wedding day. I wish you lots of love and happiness. And I expect you to make me dinner (hint: MEATLOAF!!) some time. Love you!!

Kerry & Amy's Colorful Celebration at Catalyst Ranch

I had the pleasure of creating a ceremony for two wonderful women, Kerry and Amy. They celebrated their union at Catalyst Ranch this month with a sweet ceremony and a great party!


Their ceremony included a family ritual where Amy's daughters and Kerry made vows to one another. They stood in a circle holding hands for their vows - and it was one of the sweetest, most touching moments I have ever seen. It's clear that this is a happy family - there was a whole bunch of love in that room!


As you can see from the photos below, they had a fun and colorful celebration. The guests were asked to wear black and/or white (giving me a good excuse to run out and buy a new black and white scarf) to accentuate the vibrant atmosphere. 


Congratulations, Amy & Kerry! Thank you so much for including me in your special day. I wish you both a lifetime of love and laughter.

Cupcakes by Phoebe's Cupcakes

Love this!

Light boxes!

A family moment

After the ceremony

Molly & Matt's Wedding at Shedd Aquarium

I had the joy of marrying Molly and Matt last fall. I absolutely fell in love with their families. And while I wasn't able to get Molly's parents to adopt me, her Dad still gets major points in my book. Watch the video and you'll see why. Have a tissue handy!

 The trailer from Molly & Matt's wedding, by Thread & Film:

Sara & Nate's Wedding at Greenhouse Loft

Yay! The Greenhouse Loft Blog featured Sarah & Nate's April wedding! 


Here they are with their fabulous cupcakes from Bleeding Heart Bakery. How can you not love this couple??


I had so much fun working with them on their ceremony, which included a tree planting ritual and readings from Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss. This is one awesome couple! 


The picture above is from the Greenhouse Loft post - see more photo goodness HERE.