Nicole Zenner, CSEP

Owner + Officiant

I look forward to getting to know you! Until we talk in person, here are some notes about me.

  • I believe that love is love and proudly celebrate that. I welcome everyone and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender.
  • While I’m a practicing Catholic, I believe in meeting everyone where they are at in their spiritual or faith journey. That is why my couples choose the level of spiritual or religious traditions they want to incorporate in their ceremony. It is not my ceremony, it is theirs.
  • I was ordained by the Universal Life Church in July 2017, when I launched Zen Events. But I began my career in wedding and event planning in 2004.
  • In addition to my role as an officiant, I love my titles of daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Family is everything to me! The picture here is of my mom, my brother Shaun and his wife, and my brother Christopher and his husband. Sadly, my father passed away from cancer in 2017.
  • I hold the CSEP designation and am 1 of 500+ event professionals worldwide to have this honor. I am 1 of 24 event professionals in Chicago to hold this designation.
  • I’ve won a few awards for my work within the industry, but it is the stories I’ve shared, and memories I’ve helped to make for my clients that make me the most proud of what I do.
  • Some of my favorite activities are brunches, a Cubs game, achieving my goal of 60 books read this year, and writing out notes to friends or family. (As long as I have your address, you’ll always receive an anniversary card from me!)
Montana Family & Wedding Photographer

Love is when the soul starts to sing and the flowers of your life bloom on their own.

Rabindranath Tagore

GIVING BACK

GIVING BACK

Education and giving back are core values of mine, and I began Zen Events knowing that I wanted to incorporate these values into my company culture. That is why I have two yearly commitments: 1) offering a CSEP Scholarship to an ILEA member, and 2) pledging at least $500 to My Block, My Hood, My City. Contact me today for more information!

RECOGNITION

RECOGNITION

2018 Lifetime Achievement NICE Award
2017 Wish Upon A Wedding Shining Star
2016 Best Wedding over $150,000 Esprit Award
2016 Best Logistical Achievement NICE Award
2014 Best Wedding NICE Award

PRESS

PRESS

My work with couples and the amazing event professionals in Chicago have been featured over the past seven years on Style Me Pretty, The Knot Chicago, Carats & Cake, Modern Luxury Brides Chicago, Partyslate, Lakeshore in Love, Wedding Wire, Elizabeth Anne Designs, Reverie Gallery, and Splash Chicago.

Life + Love

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