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.
The wedding, set for July 31, is so cloaked in secrecy that in Washington, where the mother of the bride holds down a day job running international diplomacy for President Obama, details are harder to ferret out than the president’s Afghanistan strategy. Even guests do not know the locale; invitations came with instructions to be within driving distance of Manhattan, plus a promise that specifics would be sent a week before the big day.
The couple? Chelsea Clinton, 30, and Marc Mezvinsky, 32, “an investment banker at 3G Capital Management and a son of two former Democratic members of Congress, one of whom served prison time for fraud.”
Read the full story about the social event of the year in the New York Times. Sorry to say, they did not ask me to officiate :>(
I just booked a wedding for 11/11/11 to begin at 11:11am. The Friday morning wedding will take place at the wonderful Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling.
I have weddings on 10/10/10 (but none at 10:00am). It’s a Sunday. The ceremony is at a chapel in Oak Brook
9/9/9 was a Wednesday. So, I did no weddings. But I heard Las Vegas was especially busy that day.
8/8/8 is considered a lucky day in Asian cultures. Without realizing that, I planned a family reunion in ’04 for that date. Ooops. But a couple of the six ministers on my team did weddings that day.
The biggest day of its kind, by far, was 7/7/7. It is considered to be a lucky number by many. And it was a Saturday. Bingo! I ended up doing 5 weddings that day — and turning down a ton more requests. I ended up on page one of the Sunday Chicago Tribune, on CBS2 News, ABC7 News and FOX32 News (morning and at 9:00pm, the funniest)! It was a hot, tiring but wonderful day.
All of these promise an anniversary date the groom can’t forget. If he does, he deserves to be in trouble :>)
For those looking ahead, 12/12/12 is a Wednesday. And I’m available!
I love weekday weddings — defined as a wedding on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday (that is not a major holiday).
This week, on St. Patrick’s Day — a Wednesday — I married a couple at the bride’s mom’s home in Chicago. They are both Irish. It’s an anniversary he can’t forget! The best man was the bride’s 6 year old son. The ring bearer — holding the real rings on top of the pillow — was the bride’s 4 year old son. The couple were high school sweethearts now, many years later, reunited. The groom’s mom said afterward that she had been waiting 20 years for this! The wedding cake was unbelievable — a rich, creamy white chocolate mousse cake from Rosewood Restaurant. I’ve married a couple there. I’ve eaten there several times. I never had this — which I’m told is on the menu. 15 friends and family were there.
In January, I married a couple on a Wednesday in the afternoon on the Ledge at the Willis Tower (in my mind, it’s still the Sears Tower) Skydeck. We could only do the wedding on the Ledge because it was such an off-peak time. That was amazing. Read the blog entry about that ceremony.
Last year, I was fortunate enough to marry couples on a:
You will have great availability for the location of your choice it’s on a weekday. I will be available (though the Volo Restaurant & Bar almost conflicted with a rehearsal already scheduled.) And you will get a discount (even with me.)
The number of guests tends to be smaller. But that can often be good. It certainly is less expensive.
Everyone, it seems, wants a Saturday at 5:00pm wedding. Consider an alternative. Consider a weekday.
For the first time that I have ever seen, there was karaoke at the end of the reception! It worked. I would recommend it.
The reception was nice but fairly typical — toasts by the best man, maid of honor and father of the bride (all very touching), a photo-montage of the bride and groom (done by the father of the bride), a delicious dinner, dancing, etc.
Then, towards the end of the reception, the DJ, the terrific Matt Windsor of MDM Entertainment, switched it to karaoke! The groom, James, dressed in his military blues, sang first. My wife talked/sang Jim Stafford’s “I Don’t Like Spiders and Snakes.” I sang the Blake Shelton version of “Home”. The crowd was into it — signing up to sing or watching it. It ended too quickly. Except for the groom, we only got to do one song each. But that proves how popular it was.
The ceremony was in the Wolf Ballroom of the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza (in the Sun-Times building). It is on the 15th floor with floor-to-ceiling windows facing south down the Chicago River towards the Willis (Sears) Tower. It’s a gorgeous view. Barbara Martin, Director of Catering Sales, took great care of us. She was even there for the entire rehearsal, which is unusual.
The view from the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza
I married Jeanne and Donald while the three of us were standing on the Ledge of the Sears (Willis) Tower Skydeck!
Wedding on the Ledge!
I was part of the first wedding party to ever have their photo taken on the Ledge (read that blog post). But in this case the ceremony itself was on the Ledge! It helped that the small wedding was on a Wednesday afternoon in January — definitely not their peak time.
There were a few more guests than originally planned — people on the Skydeck who watched the wedding. As always, they were respectful.
4" of glass seperate you from 1300' below!
The bride’s mother would not go on the 4″ glass with a view 1300 feet straight down — not even for one photo. Her picture was taken with the John Hancock building and Lake Michigan in the background. It was a cold but sunny day.
This is an amazing photo op for every bride and groom — only in Chicago! They don’t charge anything extra — just the fee for going to the Skydeck.
How do you handle sound in a tall, beautiful but echo-y room? With a talented DJ with the right equipment. And I have to speak even more slowly than usual, to let the echoes of my voice trail off before speaking the next words.
The two most echo-y venues I have ever done weddings at are:
Grand Ballroom, Union Station, Joliet
Pazzo's at 311, Chicago
They are both echo-y because they have such high ceilings — several stories — and stone surfaces. They are gorgeous beautiful venues as you can see in the photos — they are not cookie-cutter bland banquet rooms. Just a challenge acoustically.
The most important thing is to get a DJ who has worked at and knows that venue well. Do not get a rookie — you don’t want them learning at your expense. Last weekend when I was at Union Station, I had the pleasure to work with Phil Szaflarski of Manna Music. He was the right man with the right equipment.
If in doubt, ask Laurie at Union Station and Faye at Pazzo’s 311 for recommendations. They’re both a joy to work with and very knowledgeable.
The cost of parking in Chicago is ridiculous. I have paid as much as $40 + tip to park for a wedding!
Your guests — especially those who live in the suburbs or out of town — abhor it, too. For some, that may be enough reason to skip your wedding. So, some couples pay for everyone’s parking for wedding and reception. I recommend it, if you can afford it.
For the first time ever, last month I got a parking voucher for a wedding at the Signature Room (95th floor) of the John Hancock building. (You know the building was erected way before 9/11 — you can park inside the building! Security does look into your trunk.)
A New Leaf, just west of Lincoln Park Zoo, is a gorgeous place for a wedding — but has no parking anywhere close. Some couples hire a valet service — free to guests (except for tips). I, too, appreciate the convenience of that.
Consider paying for your guests' parking.
Most Chicago hotels offer valet parking. Consider, if you are able, to provide a voucher for your guests who drive to your ceremony location. They will appreciate it. On the other hand, there are limits to a budget. No one expects you to pay for their parking.
Parking is the only additional charge I have for couples. Otherwise, I have one all-inclusive price for my services. But $40 + tip to park for the rehearsal and $40 + tip to park for the ceremony is real money.
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).
I have done a number of Halloween weddings. Typically, people come to the wedding dressed “normally” but the reception is a Halloween party. One bride had a French manicure — but with orange instead of white tips.
Last weekend, on October 31, I had what may be the ultimate Halloween wedding. For starters, it was at a cemetery in Chicago! That is a first for me. The ceremony was in the cemetery’s chapel — which has crypts on either side. The oldest were people born in 1875. So, there were dead people, in a way, attending the wedding.
There was standing room only — the couple was surprised and amazed at how many people came out for the ceremony. It helps that Halloween was on a Saturday.
75% of the guests dressed up in costumes — at the wedding! The father of the bride was Dracula — and walked his daughter down the aisle that way. (The bride was dressed normally; the groom was in a 50′s white suit.) The ring bearer was a 3 year old boy holding a silver tray with a severed hand with two rings on it (no, not the real ones.) The werewolf was there, so was Spiderman and a lot of other nifty costumes.
The ceremony was otherwise dignified, touching and sincere.
My favorite part of Halloween is the (free) candy. We gave out mini-Snickers this year. Costume parties are fun. I dressed up as a pumpkin at our neighborhood Halloween party last year (orange shirt, orange face paint, pumpkin top hat). As a minister, I think people are too casual in their depiction of evil. I do believe in a real devil and a real heaven and hell.
I will post photos from the wedding as soon as I can get them from the professional photographer at Edward Fox.
I was the first officiant to have their photo taken with a bride and groom — Sharon and Arthur — on the new Ledge at Sears Tower. (OK, technically the Willis Tower but I’m not yet ready to change.) It’s amazing. You walk onto glass and look 103 stories straight down!
No, that’s not me in the photos, below. I’ll post the actual photos when I get them. The photographer — Catherine Chouinard of Chouinard Photography — has a fear of heights but still went on the Ledge to get the photos! A real pro.
The wedding was at the fabulous Metropolitan Club on the 67th floor. (In fact, I had two weddings there on the same day! That’s a first for me. Invited to both receptions.) Weddings are open to anyone there, you do not need to be a member. Ann Turnbull or Joe Flynn will take care of you well.
BTW, the Skydeck will let you get married there at no additional charge — other than the cost of going up ($15 per adult) — for small weddings. Contact Charlene Graczyk. I assume you can not get married on the Ledge due to its popularity. Perhaps I could do the very last part — the actually legally binding part — there.
It’s a one of a kind photo op!
Cultural Traditions, Reception, Weather, Wedding Locations | Rev. Phil Landers | 
July 21, 2010 6:34 AM | 
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