Amanda & Dan’s Wedding at The Langham Chicago

Amanda and Dan were married on October 29, 2017, and never had to leave The Langham. They got ready upstairs, said their vows in the ballroom, and danced in the same room a few hours later. We were both there all day, eleven hours, from the first details in the late morning to the last song at ten.

Getting ready, and two letters

Amanda and her bridesmaids got ready in the bridal suite, and Dan and his groomsmen met a few floors away. Before they saw each other, each read a letter from the other, and we filmed both.

A first look in the Pavilion

At two o’clock they saw each other for the first time in the Pavilion, the room where The Langham serves afternoon tea. From there the portraits went out into the city: the Chicago Theatre sign, a pink taxi, the LaSalle Street Bridge, the Riverwalk and the Wrigley Building. Just before four, they stepped into the finished ballroom together, before any guest had seen it.

An interfaith ceremony in the ballroom

The ketubah was signed in a room beside the ballroom while a piano and violin duo played the guests in. The ceremony was unplugged and led by a rabbi and a priest together. Dan walked his parents down the aisle to “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” the wedding party followed to “Clocks,” and Amanda came in with both of her parents to “Thinking Out Loud.” Two friends gave the readings, and the recessional was Queen’s “You’re My Best Friend.” Right after, Amanda and Dan took a few minutes alone together before joining their guests.

The reception

Cocktail hour moved into the foyer while the ballroom turned over, and the bars were stocked with custom napkins that promised “Trust Us You Can Dance.” The shades that stayed closed for the ceremony were opened, and the chuppah went up again behind the sweetheart table. The band started the moment guests walked in, and the napkins turned out to be right: people were dancing before dinner. The wedding party came in to “Get Ready,” Amanda and Dan to “Love On Top,” and their first dance was Sam Cooke’s “Nothing Can Change This Love.”

Amanda’s parents welcomed everyone to the Northwestern fight song, the challah was blessed, and the cake was cut to “How Sweet It Is.” Amanda danced with her father to “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” the maid of honor and best man gave their speeches, and Dan danced with his mother to “You’ll Be in My Heart.” The horah started at eight thirty, and the night ended at ten with everyone on the floor for “Oh What a Night.”

The teaser

Filming at The Langham Chicago

When the ceremony and reception share one room, the turnover makes or breaks the day, and The Langham handles it better than almost any venue we have worked with. The ballroom looks completely different from ceremony to reception. For Amanda and Dan’s vows, the shades were closed and the room was set with the chuppah and rows of chairs. An hour later, during cocktail hour, the chairs were gone, the tables were set, the shades were open, and the chuppah stood behind the sweetheart table. It felt like walking into a second venue, and on film the two halves of the day look nothing alike.

The Pavilion was just as good for the first look. The light there was beautiful, soft and even on both of them, and it let us film the moment close without adding lights or pulling Amanda and Dan away from each other. If you are getting married at The Langham, it is the first place we would suggest for a first look.

Wedding team

• Venue and catering: The Langham Chicago
• Officiants: Rabbi Ari Moffic and Father Tom Hurley
• Photography: Lilly Photography (Jiho Park)
• Florals and lighting: Ashland Addison
• Band: Rendezvous, Greenlight
• Cake: Sweet Mandy B’s
• Hair: MB Chicago (Magnificent Brides)
• Makeup: NARS artists
• Photo booth: Photo Booth Time
• Videography: Anna and Artem, 312FILMS

More weddings at The Langham: Courtney’s wedding at The Langham and Saint James Chapel and Kristine & Matthew at The Langham and St. James Chapel.

Getting married at The Langham? We know the ballroom, the Pavilion and the city around it. See our Langham venue guide, or check your date →

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