I can’t think of a more romantic way to spend the evening of your wedding than at a planetarium. I’m so in love with this idea of dining, drinking, and dancing under a screen of stars and planets. It seriously has me all giddy. Not to mention that gorgeous Vera Wang gown and those sparkly Jimmy Choos. J. Winter Photography captured all the gorgeous details of this amazing wedding and you can see it all right here.
From J. Winter Photography… Shortly after Brooke said “yes” to her long-time beau’s proposal, the couple learned that John had landed a job with the Foreign Service at USAID. His first assigned position? Cairo, Egypt! Brooke had always loved travel and was thrilled at the chance to accompany John on his trot across the globe. This exciting opportunity inspired their stunning, travel-themed wedding at the Adler Planetarium.
The wedding morning was relaxed and began with hair styling by Gina Scalpone of Beauty on Call and makeup by Andie Cumber in Brooke’s suite at Hyatt McCormick Place. With the help of her best friends, Brooke slipped into her stunning Vera Wang gown and her crystal-coated Jimmy Choos while Jenn Winter photographed. The weather had been beautiful all day, however just as the pre-ceremony photos were about to begin, the wind picked up. The outdoor ceremony plans changed quickly as the ceremony décor toppled and began to roll down the lakeshore! Luckily, Brooke and John’s coordinator, Shannon Gonzalez of Five Grain Events, along with the talented Food for Thought and Event Creative teams, were able to execute Plan B without issue. Event Creative brought the outdoors in with topiaries framing the ceremony space. The room glowed amber as Brooke and John said “I Do!” in a sweet ceremony officiated by John’s aunt.
The cocktail hour was held in the Welcome Gallery, which glowed with dynamic lighting patterns and a photo slideshow of the happy couple. As guests made their way into the reception, they found their luggage tag escort cards waiting for them next to the map-covered luminaries. The beautiful view of the lake and the city welcomed the guests into the reception. Jesse at Event Creative brainstormed with Brooke and her mother to come up with the mono-floral arrangements with map and globe accents to go along with the world travel theme. Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner by Food for Thought and heartfelt toasts by friends and family. Instead of a guest book, Brooke and John asked each guest to fill out predictions and place them in a time capsule to be opened and read upon the occasion of their 10-year anniversary. As the sun set over the lake, the subtle glow of the hanging candles created an enchanted scene. The dance floor filled as the Underwater People played all the hit dance tunes and some fun ’80s songs as well. ShutterBooth Chicago provided copious numbers of hats, glasses and masks to enhance the photo booth experience Brooke and John had arranged for their guests. The fairytale ending of fireworks over the lake was the cherry on top of this decadent event!
Wedding Photography: J. Winter Photography / Wedding Venue: Adler Planetarium in Chicago, Illinois / Floral Design + Decor: Event Creative / Event Coordination: Five Grain Events / Catering: Food for Thought / Wedding Cake: Bittersweet Bakery / Wedding Invitations: Magnificent Milestones / Band: Underwater People / Photo Booth: ShutterBooth / Accommodations: Hyatt McCormick Place / Transportation: Swift Shuttle / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair: Gina Scalpone of Beauty on Call / Makeup: Andie Cumber / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid