Wedding | Catherine & Matthew

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We first connected during the pandemic, just as people were starting to travel again, on the dating app Hinge. Not long after we began chatting, Matt left for a work trip to Italy (he works in the coffee industry), so our first date had to be put on hold. By the time he returned, Catherine - who was working at TikTok - was off to France for a friend’s wedding. Wanting to be fully present while abroad, she deleted her dating apps. The moment she landed back in Chicago, she opened her phone to find a message from Matt - and the rest is history.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

After four years together - and three of them living under the same roof - we knew we didn’t want to drag out wedding planning once we got engaged. At first, we dreamed of a European destination wedding, but since we got engaged in October 2024, rushing to plan something abroad for Summer 2025 felt overwhelming. We also knew our family and friends would need time to plan ahead, so staying local in Chicago, where we both grew up and live, made the most sense.

As we looked at venues, everything felt like a traditional Chicago wedding -beautiful, but not really “us.” We also wanted something small and intimate, but our guest list made that tricky. To keep things stress-free, we ultimately chose to focus the day on us and our immediate families. It was a tough decision, but one we don’t regret - and thankfully, no hurt feelings!

How many guests did you have?

13.

What was your budget? 

Being in our mid-thirties, we wanted to be thoughtful about budget - knowing that big life milestones, like building a home together, are right around the corner. At the same time, we didn’t set a strict number because our priority was creating a day that felt perfect for us. By keeping the celebration focused on just us and our immediate families, we were able to avoid going overboard on costs while still including everything that mattered most. In the end, our wedding felt like a true reflection of us - simple, meaningful, and unforgettable.

Tell us about your outfits.

When we first got engaged, Catherine quickly purchased what she thought would be her dream dress from Pronovias - a very traditional style (picture Kate Middleton’s wedding dress). But as our wedding plans evolved, she realized it didn’t quite fit the intimate, city-chic celebration we were envisioning. Instead, she turned to a Lela Rose dress she had originally planned to wear for her bridal shower. With its effortless silhouette and fringe details that moved beautifully in the wind, it struck the perfect balance of modern city bride - without leaning into the boho look she wanted to avoid. The look came together with cream Valentino shoes, a coordinating scarf, and playful Oscar de la Renta pearl costume jewelry.

Matt’s outfit was equally personal. His dinner jacket was custom designed by his sister-in-law in a deep green jacquard fabric, with a surprise twist: a cheetah-print lining inspired by the menagerie motifs and De Gournay wallpapers we both love. To add to the playful elegance, he paired it with black velvet Stubbs & Wootton smoking slippers - perfectly capturing the fun, eclectic spirit of the day.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

Since we knew our wedding would be in Chicago, one of our non-negotiables was including our dog, Lenox, in the wedding photos. Beyond that, our biggest priority was making the day feel like “us” rather than a traditional Chicago wedding. The private dining room at Le Colonial - the “Monkey Parlour” - captured that perfectly. Even the name felt like it was made for our style, and it set the tone for a celebration that was intimate, unique, and full of personality.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

It was especially important to Catherine to be married in a traditional Jewish ceremony, and we were able to honor that while still creating a fun, eclectic, and intimate celebration that felt uniquely ours. With the help of our vendors and Le Colonial, the day came together perfectly.

Any tips for couples getting married?

We planned and styled everything ourselves, and that made the process so much more fun and personal. Every couple is different - some love the traditional wedding route, while others (like us) prefer to do things their own way. My biggest advice is to stay true to what feels right for you as a couple. I wouldn’t change a thing about our day, and seeing how much our guests appreciated all the little details made it even more special.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

The moment we decided to get married in Chicago, I knew I wanted to work with Alisha Tova. I’ve always loved her photography style and her seamless ability to use flash to create an editorial, yet timeless look. She only had one date available in Spring 2025, so we booked her before securing any other vendors - or even the venue! Having photos that truly captured us felt like the most important investment, and we were more than willing to figure out everything else once we knew we had our dream photographer.

Photographer: Tova Studios @alishatova | Flora: Vale of Enna @valeofenna | Ceremony Location: Chicago Sinai Congregation @chicagosinai | Reception Location: Le Colonial Chicago

@lecolonial_restaurants | Celebrant: Rabbi Amanda Greene | Makeup: Joanna B. Artistry @joannabartistry | Hair: George the Salon (Color) @megangeorgethesalon & (Styling) @georgethesalon | Cake: ECBG Cake Studio @ecbg_studio | Stationery: Paper Source | Dress: Lela Rose @lelarose | Suit: Lake Forest Custom Clothiers @lfcustomclothiers | Veil: Pronovias @pronovias | Engagement & Wedding Rings: United Gem Ltd. | Shoes & Scarf: Valentino @maisonvalentino | Earrings: Oscar de la Renta

@oscardelarenta | Handbag: Bottega Venetta