When you think of a Sunday evening wedding for 20 people — including the bride and groom — you think of a couple doing something simple, off peak, small. Last weekend, Linbin and Xueping (pronounced “Shray-ping”) executed the most elegant ceremony I have done so far this year. (And that is saying something.)
They had exclusive use of the lovely Cuneo Mansion & Gardens in Vernon Hills. That’s a good start.
It was a very hot day with bright sunshine angled right in the eyes of the bridesmaids, best man and me. But by the time the ceremony started, a bit late, the sun had set behind the trees. There was still a bit of light shining on the road when the bride entered on a horse drawn carriage! Notice her veil in the sunlight.
The bride and her father walked down a path with columns and beautiful flowers.
After they exchanged their vows, in English, they spoke of their love for each other in Mandarin — so their parents, who live in China and only speak Mandarin — could understand what was being said. (I love multi-cultural wedding ceremonies.) Notice the beautiful white draped backdrop with purple flowers (the color of the day) draped across the top.
A string trio led by the wonderful Paul Ghica serenaded us with music — while waiting, during the ceremony and during cocktails and hors d’ouerves. Genevieve Manning of Kenmare Catering did a lot of running around to attend to the myriad details of this event. She made it all come together. Well done. The photos, done beautifully and quickly, are by Adrian Natase of Adriannastse Photography, Inc. Thank you, Adrian.
The evening ended with the reception inside the mansion.
The bride, Linbin, e-mailed me on Tuesday. “What a wonderful ceremony you did at our wedding! Everything was beautiful and amazing. Xueping and I are both very glad that we chose your company and you as our officiant.”
I love what I do.
You never know what the weather will be like for your wedding. It could be raining (see previous blog posting). But if it’s winter time, it could be worse — a couple in Virginia had to deal with 24″ of snow on Dec. 19
The bride and groom made it to the Holiday Inn on time.
The problem was with the wedding coordinator.
And several dozen guests.
And the bride’s three brothers.
And two groomsmen.
And the couple’s minister, all of whom failed to arrive at the hotel thanks to a severe storm that plastered Staunton with nearly 24 inches of snow. At 1:30 p.m., when the wedding was to have begun, “everyone was still stuck in their driveway,” said Ms. Rhiner-Campell, 19, who met her fiancé in April and was engaged in November.
So Ms. Rhiner-Campbell did what any good bride would do: She freaked out. Badly.
“I yelled at a lot of people,” she said. She also considered holding the wedding the next day, but the hotel was filled with stranded travelers and quickly running out of food. “And they couldn’t bring in anyone to make it,” she said.
I have NEVER missed a wedding — not due to illness yet alone weather. But then, it’s been a while since we had anything close to 24″ of snow in one snowstorm.
It does take three to make a wedding happen — a bride, a groom, and an officiant (me). Another minister was found — at the hotel Read the rest of the story in the New York Times article.
Sandy & Jim’s wedding this weekend was where the Obamas had their wedding reception 17 years ago — at the South Shore Cultural Center. It’s a gorgeous building, rebuilt in 1916, overlooking the lake. It is located a bit south of the Museum of Science & Industry. It is owned by the Chicago Park District — so anyone can rent it. There is even free parking!
You just can’t afford to build them like this anymore — very high ceilings with artwork on it, floor-to-ceiling windows with the biggest “bride’s room” (a former library) you will ever see.
The windows go all the way to the floor — and can be raised! So, you can be indoors but have the outside weather. That’s getting the best of both worlds.
The view of Lake Michigan is wonderful. The ceremony was at 5:00pm on a Saturday — so the sun had set. It was, unfortunately, completely dark by the end of the ceremony. The rehearsal was on Friday at 1:00pm — so the views was terrific. Think about that when planning your wedding there. Can’t believe I have never done a wedding there before.
The Obamas were not married there. They were married on October 18, 1992 by the (in)famous Rev. Jeremiah Wright at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
Sandy & Jim’s wedding went wonderfully well. Everyone enjoyed their story — laughing at all the right parts. A sister of the bride and groom each did a reading.
The matron of honor (and bride’s sister) started tearing up when the string trio (Celebration Strings) started playing “I Will Remember You.” That got the bride, Sandy, in tears. The sisters start to laugh so they won’t cry. The groom, Jim, is prepared with Kleenex. He holds Sandy’s flowers so she can pass Kleenex to her sister and wipe her eyes. It was all very touching.
Jim and Sandy’s reception was aboard Odyssey Cruise at Navy Pier. It was the first time I have been at a reception onboard without first having married the couple on the top deck of the boat. (They were married where the Obamas had their reception; read about it here.)
You never know what the weather will be when you plan a wedding — the three of us had met 18 months earlier. You hope for the best and plan for the worst.
At 10:30pm, on Saturday, Nov. 7, my wife, Pam, and I were comfortably on the top deck of the boat — outside — enjoying the magnificent views. In fact, the weather was better than it was at the end of August when the company my wife works for had their dinner boat cruise! She wore a winter coat that evening with gloves. (Unfortunately, I could not attend, I was officiating a wedding at Salvatore’s in Lincoln Park.)
Back to our cruise: to the east was an almost ‘magical’ view I have never seen before — the half moon was low in the sky, there was a bit of fog with the light of the moon reflected in the calm water. To the west was the magnificent skyline of Chicago — clear and impressive. We could see some of the stars overhead. It was the perfect ending for a wonderful reception — started with lobster bisque soup, ended with a moist and creamy chocolate cake followed by a chocolate fountain with wine and dancing (the couple did an outstanding first dance; I don’t dance much, to Pam’s regret).
The patio at Aurelio’s Pizza in Addison. Too cool to sit on the patio — even with the outdoor fireplace. But it’s a great view looking out the window.
If you plan an outdoor wedding, “you always have to think it might rain,” says Darcy Miller, the editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings. And now that everyone follows the forecast 24/7 on cellphones and computers, it’s hard not to worry about the chance of a few sprinkles, if not an unexpected downpour, she said.
“And that means not only planning for bad weather but more importantly figuring bad weather into your budget,” Ms. Miller said.
The New York Times did a story about how to prepare — clear umbrellas for the bridal party ($25), black umbrellas for guests ($17), plastic covers for high heels and more. Read the whole article here.
I insist every couple have an indoor alternative, in case of bad weather. These are some clever ideas of how to get married outside — even if it rains!
Last weekend, I married a couple — Ivana and Pavel — who are from Slovakia. We have a saying that when it rains on your wedding day, it’s good luck. In the country of their birth, it means financial blessing — like money raining down!
The groom said that it originated because, in the old days, everyone was very poor and needed money.
The version here — that it’s good luck — seems to me just to be a way to help brides and groom’s not be quite so disappointed at the weather.
Two other differences:
- there were a lot of children at the ceremony (and the reception)
- guests presented flowers to the couple after their wedding. They gave the bride a kiss on each cheek.
Ivana and Pavel got married on a cool, cloudy afternoon with no rain. They got married at Maya Del Sol in Oak Park. It was too cool to use their beautiful patio.
Many have lamented what a cool and wet summer it has been. As a guy who dresses all in black (well, one small white clerical collar) and stands in the sun to peform weddings, I liked the cool temperatures.
I’ve had several weddings where it was 70 degrees and overcast. Photographers like it, too. No one is squinting or sweating. (Well, the groom, groomsmen and I sweat; the bride and bridesmaids glisten and glow :>)
Cultural Traditions, Reception, Weather, Wedding Locations | Rev. Phil Landers | 
July 21, 2010 6:34 AM | 
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