Leah and Scott‘s Chicago Jewish Wedding | Photo by Jamie & Eric Photography
Welcome back to “5 of Our Favorites,” where we highlight five stunning Jewish weddings each week, all centered around a special theme. This week, we’re heading to the Windy City to showcase some seriously awesome Chicago Jewish weddings.
Chicago is a city that effortlessly blends history, innovation, and style, making it the perfect backdrop for truly unforgettable Jewish weddings. From chic urban venues with stunning skyline views to elegant ballrooms and secluded gardens, Chicago offers endless possibilities for creating a truly smashing Jewish wedding.
We can’t wait to share these stunning Chicago celebrations with you and offer some fabulous ideas for your own big day!
Ranana and Binyamin‘s Chicago Jewish Wedding | Photo by Eliana Melmed Photography
Ranana and Binyamin’s Egalitarian Orthodox Jewish Wedding Filled with Personal Touches at the Chicago History Museum, Chicago, Illinois
We just love it when a couple really makes their Jewish wedding their own – and that’s exactly what Chicagoans Ranana and Binyamin did.
Ranana and Binyamin‘s Chicago Jewish Wedding | Photo by Eliana Melmed Photography
They chose the Chicago History Museum as their venue, in honor of their shared love of art and history, and artistic bride Ranana designed the invitations herself – taking inspiration from the Frank Lloyd Wright window in the room where the chuppah took place. She also did her own ketubah art, featuring night and day water scenes inspired by Chicago’s Lake Michigan.
Ranana and Binyamin‘s Chicago Jewish Wedding | Photo by Eliana Melmed Photography
The couple’s photographer, the spectacular Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Eliana Melmed Photography, captured the day so perfectly. In Ranana’s words,
We knew Eliana from our synagogue community and when we met with her about our wedding we knew we wanted to hire her because she was someone we could imagine spending hours with on the day of our wedding, having fun. Also we knew she would 100% understand what was going on in our very traditional, very feminist Jewish wedding, which was not something we could take for granted with our other (mostly non-Jewish) vendors. Not to mention her photography is beautiful – colorful, joyous, true to life. She was the best! (Ranana’s dad is still raving about how well she handled our big family during the torrential downpour that happened the day of our wedding.)
Leah and Scott‘s Chicago Jewish Wedding | Photo by Jamie & Eric Photography
Leah and Scott’s Windy City-Themed Jewish Wedding at The Shapiro Ballroom, Chicago Illinois
The beautiful Jewish wedding of STG Brides Club member Leah to Scott might just feature the coolest venue story we’ve EVER heard.
Leah and Scott‘s Chicago Jewish Wedding | Photo by Jamie & Eric Photography
You see, back in the ‘60s, Leah’s grandfather owned a movie theater in Chicago, The Alvin – it’s such a big part of the bride’s family’s story that her father was even named Alvin in its honor! After many years of abandonment, just a few years ago the theater was finally renovated and turned into… wait for it… a wedding venue, The Shapiro Ballroom! What more perfect place for these two to wed – especially given that they themed their big day around their love for their home city of Chicago?
Leah and Scott‘s Chicago Jewish Wedding | Photo by Jamie & Eric Photography
Leah and Scott chose their favorite landmarks for photos, including The Chicago Theater, The Bean, & The Art Institute. All of their table numbers were different Chicago landmarks and their guest book was a Chicago Wooden Flag to hang in their home.
Lauren and Andrew‘s Chicago Jewish wedding | Photo by Jaclyn Simpson
Lauren and Andrew’s Vintage-Style Cultural Fusion Peranakan Singaporean and Jewish Wedding at Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool and Lincoln Park Conservatory Illinois, Chicago
Andrew and Lauren’s big day in Chicago fused their Jewish and Peranakan Singaporean backgrounds in just the most inventive and beautiful ways.
Lauren and Andrew‘s Chicago Jewish wedding | Photo by Jaclyn Simpson
A tea ceremony during the chuppah? Perfect. Pineapple tart rugelach? Yes please. Chocolate Shekel favors in Chinese double happiness red packets? Inspired. Everything, from the music to the menu, was chosen with both cultures in mind, finding amazing ways to bring them together.
Lauren and Andrew‘s Chicago Jewish wedding | Photo by Jaclyn Simpson
The venues, Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool and Lincoln Park Conservatory, are two of the couple’s favorite spots – little oases of calm in their Illinois neighborhood. In fact, the wedding took place just a two-minute walk from Lauren and Andrew’s home!
Jacklyn and Jeffrey‘s Chicago Jewish Wedding | Photo by Erin Hoyt
Jacklyn and Jeffrey’s 1920s Glam Jewish Wedding at the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, Chicago, Illinois
We’re obsessed with the gorgeous vintage glam Jewish wedding of Smashing The Glass Brides Club member Jacklyn to Jeffrey.
Jacklyn and Jeffrey‘s Chicago Jewish Wedding | Photo by Anna Stokland
Taking cues from the old-world luxury vibe of their ca. 1929 venue, the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, Jacklyn and Jeffrey turned the hotel’s already stunning ballroom into an eclectic fantasyland, full of luxe florals and pampas grass, in a neutral color palette with pops of gold – including an absolutely stunning gold chuppah, which the couple covered with the groom’s grandfather’s tallitot, and an exquisite replica of an Italian ketubah dating from 1768 which the duo purchased from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Ketubah.com!
Jacklyn and Jeffrey‘s Chicago Jewish Wedding | Photo by Erin Hoyt
We also love that Jacklyn and Jeffrey served Chicago-style deep dish pizza during their party – and for the guests that stayed at the hotel, the couple made them welcome bags featuring Chicago staples like Jay’s potato chips, and Frango chocolate mints.
Jeanette and Chris‘s Chicago Interfaith Jewish Wedding | Photo by JHyde Photography
Jeanette and Chris’s Contemporary Cool Jew-ish Wedding at Le Meridien Chicago, Illinois
Jeanette and Chris’s big day at Le Meridien Chicago has a special place in our hearts because it was the very first wedding of a Smashing The Glass Brides Club member we ever blogged!
Jeanette and Chris‘s Chicago Interfaith Jewish Wedding | Photo by JHyde Photography
Jeanette and Chris are all about contemporary minimalist design, and they channeled their passion for all things modern into an ultra-unique wedding aesthetic. From the geometric hanging centerpieces (!) to the striking cake with metallic geometric dividers between the layers to the stylish stationery (100% designed by the groom!), this wedding has some serious flair.
Jeanette and Chris‘s Chicago Interfaith Jewish Wedding | Photo by JHyde Photography
We’re so thrilled that the couple credits STG with helping them do everything from picking songs to writing speeches, but one thing we can’t take credit for? Jeanette and Chris’s brilliant idea to “table hop” during dinner: instead of staying in one place for the whole meal (or, alternately, running around frantically with no time to eat), they chose four tables to sit at, one for each course. That way, they were able to spend time with more of their guests, in a relaxed way. Such a smart setup!
So there you have it! If you’re planning a Chicago Jewish wedding of your own, we’d love to hear about it in the comments!
