Holy Family & Germania Place Chicago Wedding Video

Cari & Greg: A Classic Chicago Celebration

On a beautiful Saturday in August 2016, Cari and Greg celebrated their love with a quintessential Chicago wedding that perfectly balanced historic elegance with high-energy celebration.

The Morning

The day began with the couple preparing separately, honoring their wish not to see each other before the ceremony: Cari and her bridesmaids in a suite at The Drake Hotel, Greg and his groomsmen at the InterContinental. These iconic locations framed the getting-ready footage, including the heartfelt moment when Cari’s father, Paul, saw her in her wedding dress for the first time.

The Ceremony at Holy Family

The couple officially tied the knot at the Church of the Holy Family, one of Chicago’s oldest and most beautiful churches. Following the Mass, the newlyweds were greeted with a festive bubble send-off outside the church doors before the bridal party boarded a Chicago trolley for footage at the city’s most recognizable landmarks: LaSalle Street and the Board of Trade, the Art Institute’s South Garden, and the Riverwalk.

The Reception at Germania Place

The celebration continued at the historic Germania Place, the grand 1889 clubhouse in the Gold Coast. The evening kicked off with a high-energy grand entrance to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” followed by a romantic first dance to Joshua Radin’s “When We’re Together.” The night was filled with personal touches, from the champagne toast and emotional family dances to a late-night refuel station, and the celebration peaked with a full-room sing-along to “Don’t Stop Believin'” before the after-party at DryHop Brewers.

The Creative Team

Videography: 312FILMS (Anna & Artem)
Planning & coordination: Clementine Custom Events (Jaci Weber)
Photography: Couple of Dudes Photography
Ceremony: Holy Family Catholic Church
Reception & catering: Germania Place (Kenmare Catering)
Floral design: Hello Darling
Entertainment: Style Matters DJs
Cake: Alliance Bakery
Hair & makeup: Kandice Gibson & Adrienne Wheeler
Transportation: Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co.

A note for couples researching venues: Germania Place has since permanently closed, but films like this one keep its grand ballroom alive.

Love Holy Family? It survived the Great Chicago Fire and appears on our list of the 12 most beautiful churches in Chicago; see two more celebrations there: Mia & Stone and Ali & John.

Planning a Holy Family wedding? We know its light, its history, and its aisle. Check your date →