Hearts Aglow at the Chicago History Museum – Stephanie & Braden

Posted July 26, 2021

The Chicago History Museum is one of my favorite wedding venues in Chicago. The black & white tiled floor, the chandelier, and the stained glass windows…just to name a few details. Simply divine! I was thrilled when the events team reached out to me during 2020 to ask me to be a part of their Intimate Wedding package. Then imagine my joy when Stephanie & Braden chose this venue and needed an officiant!

As with most of my couples I’ve worked with over the past 16 months, Stephanie, Braden, & I had both of our planning meetings virtually. During the initial consultation, I ask questions about the couple, their family, and their ceremony wishes. I asked Stephanie & Braden to share with me about how they met and how the proposal happened. From meeting online to an unexpected timing of the proposal, they inspired me to write the following as part of their welcome.

And who knew that an online dating app is where your love story would start. From those first deep questions to get to know each other, to Braden helping Stephanie ride a bike (something she had not done in more than 10 years), to Stephanie teaching Braden how to dance merengue and salsa, to your shared commitment to family, to the in-between and ordinary days of growing your love, to an unforgettable trip to Argentina and time spent with Stephanie’s family, to how impressed and lovestruck Braden was when Stephanie crushed the Mt. Fitz Roy hike, to a spectacular proposal on Lake Michigan…your love story has brought us to today and this moment.

For having only known each other for a couple of years, Stephanie & Braden have a deep respect and love for each other. They also are fearless in embracing life together. It is quite inspiring. While COVID-19 made them take a pause, I was so proud they chose to move forward to make their public vow of love. And while Stephanie’s parents were unable to attend the wedding in person because of travel restrictions, the heartfelt message that Stephanie’s father recorded and we played during the ceremony had all of us in tears.

Stephanie & Braden, I wish you a beautiful celebration with all of your friends and family soon. I wish you radical love and abundant laughter in the years to come.