A little gem of a venue, with a bit of a Capone history, is the Chicago Illuminating Company in the South Loop neighborhood. It’s a favorite venue of mine for the outdoor space that is tented and the rehabbed indoor space with built in shelves and long bar. This was the idyllic location for Meredith […]

I love the many buildings in Chicago that have found new life as event spaces. Firehouse Chicago is one with a unique history. Formerly a firehouse station, this charming location boasts indoor and outdoor spaces for intimate gatherings. And let’s face it, who doesn’t want to slide down a fire pole on their wedding day? […]

This post looks at Rainer Maria Rilke’s Thoughts on Love. I love the power of the opening lines of this wedding reading. Love is not easy – it’s not easy to open one’s heart, it’s not easy to choose your spouse every day. But it is a gift that has been entrusted to all of […]

Just a few blocks from where I live was a beloved nature-filled wedding venue in Chicago – The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. With so many unique indoor and outdoor areas, it was a perfect location for a summer soiree. (Sadly, the museum has remained closed to private events since the pandemic hit.) This is where […]

Chicago is home to many stunning venues,. But the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago is one in a million. I have seen so many different ways to highlight the space over the years. I absolutely love the vision Suran & BJ brought for their wedding day back in 2019. I met Suran […]

A gem in the southern part of the city is the Bridgeport Art Center. With its outdoor ceremony location and two reception areas, all in a warehouse style, it’s a fan favorite for many couples. This was the setting for Cydney & Peter’s swoon-worthy wedding in June of 2018. Many of you may know that […]

Every nook and cranny at the Chicago Botanic Garden offers a perfect, romantic location for couples to celebrate their love. It is a photographer’s playground! The English Walled Garden was the perfect setting for the wedding ceremony of Jenny & Kunal in May 2019, and the joining of their two families. From the first moment […]

This is one of my favorite readings of all time. In the present moment of a wedding day, when there are so many logistics and emotions, this blessing reminds a couple that they are entering into a marriage. One that will last many years. One that will have joys and sorrows. And the image of […]

Located in the heart of Lincoln Park is a beautiful structure with nods to Frank Lloyd Wright’s style of architecture. Many people who walk by may never know the many love stories that have been told at Café Brauer. It is an iconic location in Chicago and was the setting for Ashley & Shawn’s timeless […]

Head west from downtown on Lake Street and right under the El tracks, you will find yourself at Loft on Lake. It is one of the original loft venues for couples to tie the know and has lovely exposed brick walls and a skylight running down the middle of it. This was the setting for […]

Love is a powerful emotion. It can overtake us. It can overwhelm us. But there is something extraordinary that happens when you find your soul mate. This reading embodies soulmates. It’s finding your perfect complement…the person who brings out the best of you and knows your innermost desires. It’s not about losing yourself in the […]

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 […]

The Ivy Room is a beautiful hidden gem in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. This modern oasis is tucked between buildings and embodies a history of artistic elegance. The shining star is the courtyard space where, when the weather is good, you can enjoy the stunning ivy-covered view hidden from the hustle and bustle of the […]

In certain stages of falling in love, it feels as though nothing will ever go wrong. You will always agree on things. You will love every quirky habit of the person you love. You will have no worries. But we all know that is just not reality. We’re perfectly imperfect, so we don’t always see […]

A silver lining of the past year’s pandemic was seeing event industry professionals reimagine their business offerings. One such planner was Carlene from Naturally Yours Events with her new format of Neighborhood Nuptials. She called me in May 2020 to let me know that she was going to offer an alternative to the courthouse for […]

The Rookery is a venue gem in Chicago’s Financial District. The building, originally completed in 1888, was designed by famous architectural partners Burnham and Root. Frank Lloyd Wright redesigned the stunning two-story sky lit lobby in 1905. Breathtaking, right? The Rookery is a much sought-after wedding venue for couples. The stunning architecture and grand staircase […]

A number of couples that I work with have only known each other a short while before they get engaged. They have lived a life that explores their own identity and their dreams. They have had individual joys and sorrows that shape the person that they have become. When they choose to commit their lives […]

Let me share with you the time I was able to grant a wish for a winter wedding for the loveliest couple. For the past 10 years, I’ve closely followed the organization Wish Upon A Wedding. Their mission is to grant weddings and vow renewals to couples facing serious illness or life-altering health circumstances. It’s […]

Wedding day, oh happy day! Writing this entry in the month we celebrate love, I am reminded of my love affair with wedding planning. 15 years. Over 100 couples. Over 100 unique wedding days. I loved, I compromised, I cried (all happy tears). I learned, I listened, I was a guide and a leader, I […]

There are so many words to describe 2020. So many emotions to describe what I felt during the year that many of us had decided would be “the best one yet.” I can vividly remember celebrating with friends on New Year’s Eve and feeling all of the excitement for a new year and new decade. […]

Throughout an engagement, couples will continue to get advice on how to plan their wedding – who to invite, how much to spend, where to have the wedding, etc – but I think that some of the best advice comes from couples who have been married a long time. They have the experience to share […]

I’m continuing my praise for the team that helped put together an incredible photo shoot at the Chicago History Museum this Spring. They bring the magic to life and I was so impressed with their creativity and products to showcase a classic design. I had the pleasure of meeting Alexandra from Exquisite Designs seven years ago […]

In my preparation of launching Zen Events, I needed to produce some images to share with you here on my site and also on Instagram. I knew that I wanted to work with Jenn from Jennifer Kathryn Photography. She is a savvy business owner, ridiculously talented, and is a trusted friend. She and I had […]

I enjoy this ceremony reading at weddings because it speaks to our human nature and the reality of a relationship. We are all in constant motion and what happens to us, or our loved ones, throughout our life does affect the relationship we have with our spouse. I think it is important to recognize and […]

As an English Minor, I believe that one of the best ways you can express your love for each other during your wedding ceremony, is through the written word. I will be sharing a monthly feature of readings, poems, and excerpts that you can choose to incorporate into your wedding ceremony. I am drawn to […]

A dream turned into a goal and has now become reality. I have always loved a wedding ceremony…the excitement, the tradition, the commitment of two people. Over the past 13 years, I have seen every ceremony imaginable. But each one seems new and fresh to me, and that has been the impetus to launch Zen […]