Matthew & Barbara’s Wedding at the Home Alone Church & North Shore Country Club

Matthew & Barbara: An Emotional North Shore Wedding

This wedding was a profound celebration of legacy, family, and intentionality. From the beginning, Barbara expressed a desire for a film that felt organic and natural, avoiding staged moments so that every frame captured genuine emotion. The day was filled with deeply personal tributes, most notably to Barbara’s late mother, whose presence was felt through handmade chocolates created using her original recipe and process.

The Ceremony at the “Home Alone” Church

The couple exchanged solemn vows to cherish one another in “holiness of heart” at Trinity United Methodist Church in Wilmette, a landmark movie fans will recognize instantly: it is the church from Home Alone, where Kevin McCallister meets Old Man Marley. Filming a wedding inside a piece of cinema history is a rare treat, and its warm sanctuary gave the ceremony a timeless glow.

Key Emotional Highlights

• A father’s journey: Barbara’s father shared a moving account of her birth via emergency C-section, reflecting on the “privilege and joy” of watching her grow from a “tiny little bundle” into a strong woman.
• The “perfect choice”: Matthew, affectionately called “Marb” by Barbara, was celebrated by his best man and family as the “perfect choice” and a man who would “follow her to the end of the earth.”
• Everything means something: from James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend” to the stories of adopting their pit bull terrier mix, the couple wanted every choice to carry meaning, and the film reflects it.

The Creative Vision: Nothing Staged

Barbara was firm in her vision: no staged moments, no traditional first look, no exclusive video-only sessions. Instead, our cameras followed the natural flow of the day, from the quiet morning at the bride’s family home in Glenview to the grand festivities at the North Shore Country Club. We used the limited winter daylight for post-ceremony portraits before the early sunset, focusing entirely on the couple’s connection. This documentary approach is one we love: when nothing is posed, everything is true.

The Celebration at North Shore Country Club

The reception at the North Shore Country Club in Glenview opened with cocktails and a spectacular surprise: a fireworks display lighting up the early evening sky. The night continued with dinner, speeches woven between courses, and a live band that kept the dance floor moving until midnight.

The Creative Team

• Videography: 312FILMS
• Ceremony: Trinity United Methodist Church, Wilmette (the “Home Alone” church)
• Reception: North Shore Country Club, Glenview

We film across Chicago’s North Shore, from Glenview and Wilmette to Lake Shore Country Club in Glencoe and Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest.

Planning a North Shore wedding? We know these towns, their churches, and their light. Check your date →