A Glamorous Black-Tie Evening at the Intercontinental Grand Ballroom
Krista and Alex’s August wedding was everything we loved about a downtown celebration in Chicago: a historic hotel, a beautiful summer weekend, and a strong commitment to hosting an amazing party! Their guests enjoyed welcome drinks at River Roast on Friday night, taking in the city skyline while catching up before the big day. That morning, after getting ready in the Presidential Suite (one of our absolute favorites in the city!), the couple enjoyed a first look before their church ceremony and portraits in Grant Park afterward. At the Intercontinental, the Grand Ballroom was set for an all-black-and-white reception that carried on with a packed dance floor all night! After an extra year of planning, we were so happy for Krista and Alex, and honestly, a little sad that the extended planning journey was over. Erin Hoyt was the perfect photographer for their vision, and we’re overjoyed to share her beautiful work here.
An instant connection for everyone involved
Jen will never forget meeting Krista, Alex and Krista’s mom, Sandy. Getting cocktails at The Robey, it was probably about ten minutes into the meeting that they stopped talking about the wedding altogether and just started talking like they’d been friends forever. The laughter was continuous throughout the planning process — most importantly, it continued when faced with the decision to move their wedding to 2021 to keep their loved ones safe. This gave them even more time to bond by looking for the silver linings, and keeping smiles on each other’s faces. Watching Alex and Krista finally getting to celebrate their love and commitment to each other surrounded by so many people that loved them was an incredibly special moment.
Kind Words from the Bride
“…Our original wedding date was scheduled for September 2020. When our original plan was looking unlikely to happen in 2020, Jen asked us our thoughts for postponing. Fast forward after a few phone calls/emails, and lots of coordination behind the scenes on Jen’s part – we had a new 2021 wedding date, with hardly any changes, rescheduled within days. I’m still not sure how she did it. I thought I was detail orientated until I met Jen, and her spreadsheets. She gives you all the information you need for all vendor decisions, and tailors her suggestions after getting to know you both and what you have in mind. Her insight was truly invaluable every step of the way…. She made us laugh at every meeting, and we are forever grateful. Our wedding was everything we wanted, and Jen helped our vision come to life…”
A black-tie dream come to life!
Krista and Alex envisioned a truly classic, city-chic black tie wedding with a huge dance floor all night. Having more time to plan led them to fun details like:
- Jet-black, textured linens that gave a luxurious feel to the evening.
- Custom illustrations on their bar signs and table numbers, all done in the style of their beautiful letterpress invitation suite from Magnificent Milestones.
- A striking all-white, all floral centerpiece scheme, accented by crystal features and silver chargers for just enough sparkle to really make the room shine!
Congratulations, Krista and Alex! We loved laughing with you!
Vendor Team
Venue: Intercontinental Chicago // Church: St. Michael’s // Photography: Erin Hoyt // Videography: Charlie Hilbrant // Floral: StemLine Creative // Lighting: Luxe Productions // Rentals: BBJ // Band: Greenlight // Hair + Makeup: Bianca Sansosti Artistry // Trolley: VIP Valet // Transportation: Signature // Rehearsal Dinner: River Roast // Stationery: Magnificent Milestones // Calligraphy: Simply Scripted Ink // Bride’s Dress: Ines Di Santo via Ultimate Bride // Bridesmaids: Jenny Yoo // Groom’s Apparel: Knot Standard // Groomsmen: Formally Modern
