This Chicago Cultural Center wedding may have been on a 95 degree day with 100% humidity, but that didn’t stop Abbey + Nick from having the best day of their lives.

Their Story

Nick and Abbey met in 2017 when Abbey joined the same college business club that Nick was in. After years of dating other people and learning more about themselves, they both realized how much they enjoyed each other’s company. Looking back after 3 years, they found that every memory they had together had always been the highlight of those nights.

They officially started dating in February of 2021 after months of claiming they would wait until Abbey graduated and moved to Chicago. In the past 4 years they have traveled all across the United States and the world. From hiking in Telluride and Glacier, walking through historic cities like Pompeii, to relaxing on a beach in Lisbon.

Nick knew that surprising Abbey with a proposal would take a lot of planning. He began planning this day 8 months in advance! Every October, they would take Friday off of work for a staycation and spend the day in Chicago. This provided Nick with the perfect cover. They planned a simple brunch at Bittersweet, then spent the morning at a spa together. The hope was Abbey would get her nails done for pictures later that evening while at the spa. But she somehow decided a pedicure was a better idea.

That evening they had reservations at a steakhouse, so they got dressed up and went on a walk around South Pond to kill time before dinner. As they passed the Lincoln Park Zoo, and could see the beautiful skyline of Chicago, Nick got down on one knee to ask Abbey to marry him. After the shock wore off, Abbey was able to say “Yes!”

Getting Ready, Ceremony + Portraits

The couple both got ready at the Westin Chicago in River North. Keeping true to many church weddings, Nick saw his bride for the first time on their wedding day when she walked down the aisle. He definitely got emotional! Once family photos concluded post-ceremony, we took the trolley over to the Formal Gardens near Millennium Park for photos. It was truly a hellish temperature outside, but Abbey + Nick were such rockstars throughout the whole thing! We took photos of the bridesmaids and the groomsmen in shifts so that they could take a break to cool down in the trolley. Everyone was chugging Stiegl Radlers, which was the drink of choice for the groom– his (and now Abbey’s) last name is Radler!

Chicago Cultural Center Wedding

Cocktail hour took place in G.A.R. Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center. It was such a gorgeous room. Their reception space, however, was even more jaw-dropping. All 225 of Abbey + Nick’s guests sat beneath the famous Tiffany dome, which contains over 30,000 individual pieces of glass. Lots of oohing could be heard when guests eventually made their way up the Preston Bradley Hall. Guests enjoyed dinner + speeches before the couple shared a dance with their parents. After having their first dance to “More of You” by Chris Stapleton, the DJ announced a reverse anniversary dance. That meant that more married couples were added to the dance floor as the song progressed. It was a great way to get the party started. And boy can these folks party! I will forever be obsessed with this Chicago Cultural Center wedding.

Venue: Chicago Cultural Center / Coordinator: Naturally Yours Events / Hair + Makeup: Blush and Braids Beauty Bar / Florals: Tra Blume / Dress: Winnie Couture / Tux: The Tie Bar / Videographer: Old North Film Company / Transportation: Cloud 9 Limousine / DJ: Paul Michaels Events / Desserts: Vanille Patisserie / Catering: Jewell Events