Maggie & JT’s Wedding at Saint James Chapel & the University Club

Maggie & JT: A Timeless Chicago Celebration at the University Club

For Maggie and JT’s November 4, 2017 wedding, we captured the intersection of historic Chicago grandeur and deeply personal family traditions: from the storied halls of the University Club to the sacred architecture of Saint James Chapel, the day was a masterclass in urban elegance.

Morning Preparations: A Tale of Two Floors

Our team split between two distinct atmospheres inside the club: JT and his groomsmen in the 2nd-floor Billiards Room with sandwiches and beer, and Maggie with her bridesmaids in the 6th-floor Barber Shop and Brown Room over breakfast and mimosas, camaraderie on one floor, champagne on the other, and a film that got both.

The First Looks

One of the most cinematic sequences we filmed came at midday: a series of high-emotion first looks for Maggie, first with her father, then a touching reveal to her brothers, before the party boarded the trolley for the chapel.

The Ceremony: Saint James Chapel

The heart of the film centers on the Mass at Saint James Chapel on Rush Street, its Sainte-Chapelle-inspired stained glass providing a breathtaking backdrop for Maggie and JT’s vows.

Golden Hour at the Wrigley Building

As the November sun set, we joined the couple for a session at the Wrigley Building, the golden hour light reflecting off the terra cotta giving their couple’s session the perfect cinematic glow.

The Reception: Grandeur in Cathedral Hall

The celebration returned to the University Club, from a sophisticated cocktail hour in the 8th-floor Library to the club’s beloved dinner bell calling guests upstairs to Cathedral Hall, the Gothic ninth-floor great hall that may be Chicago’s most dramatic dinner room.

• The grand entrance: the bridal party’s high-energy introduction by the band.
• The toasts: a welcome speech and blessing from Father Mark, followed by heartfelt best man and maid of honor speeches between courses, sorbet intermezzo included.
• The dances: the cake cutting and first dance, then the sentimental father-daughter and mother-son dances before the floor opened to all.

The Creative Team

• Videography: 312FILMS (Anya & Artem)
• Ceremony: Saint James Chapel
• Venue & catering: University Club of Chicago, Cathedral Hall
• Floral: Life in Bloom

Love Cathedral Hall? See Kristen & Kyle’s wedding with the same chapel-and-club pairing, and our Cathedral Hall venue post.

Planning a University Club or Saint James Chapel wedding? We know both, from the Billiards Room to the ninth floor. Check your date →