Congratulations! Your BFF (or family member) has agreed to be the officiant at your wedding. This may be their first time, and neither of you have any idea where to start or how to get officiated. Of course you can hire a professional officiant, but having a fun, charismatic loved one lead the ceremony on your big day can really add a special touch.
As wedding planners based in Chicago and Miami, the Fierce Productions team loves to see friends and family officiate their loved ones’ weddings, so we created step by step guide on how to get ordained and plan out the ceremony:
Caryn and Katie had to postpone their OG wedding due to the pandemic - but both of them wanted to still get married, so they held an intimate ceremony in 2020 and a reception in 2021! They decided to skip the formal ceremony and just have a party with all their loved ones.
Abigail and Maxwell got married at the Garfield Conservatory. They had a lovely Ketubah ceremony in the venue’s Fern Room, then hosted the main ceremony in the Horticulture Hall. The ceremony was a traditional Jewish ceremony where they walked down the aisle towards a bright orange chuppah, performed the Sheva B'rachot, and even broke the glass! Atmosphere Event Group and The Flower Witch both did amazing jobs with the decor and floral arrangements, and grasping the client’s vision.
As wedding planners in Chicago, the Fierce Productions team has been to many hotels to assist with celebrations, and even to assist while the couple and wedding party gets ready. We have collected our list of favorite hotels in Chicago to get ready in, and we even asked some of our favorite vendors to share their favorites too.
Here are the top 5 Chicago hotel rooms to get ready in on your wedding day:
Mrig and Kara’s wedding day aesthetic is a blend of Eastern India and New England - the regions that their families call home. While being a world apart, with one region ancient and the other nascent by comparison, the overlapping hallmarks of the regions are compelling. Both are the bedrock of their countries' histories. Water is the lifeblood of both. And both have been home to notable philosophers, writers, academics, artists and global leaders.
Hallie and Russell’s wedding was a gorgeous explosion of colors, textures, and plenty of sparkles! (Just the way we like it). It was such a blast co-creating the design with the couple, and transforming a personal residence into a whimsical wonderland. You’ll notice from the photos the ways we brought bright splashes of color in the backyard, adding that whimsical, and playful element to the event. They really stood out amongst the greens, and the duller colors of the San Diego mountain side. The pepper trees on the property were also decked in disco balls transforming an area of the yard into a magical disco forest. Almost like stepping into a different world right on the property. At night, we had a light up pathway leading guests to the dance floor, while the star lanterns and fairy lights hanging from the trees added the extra magical flair.
You’re planning a wedding and you want all of your guests to be vaccinated. How do you tell them? What is the best messaging and wording? In this blog we share our tips on how to require your guests to be vaccinated with wording you can use via your wedding invitations, emails and website.
When Kiersten and Jake reached out, they wanted to have a chill, outdoor wedding at a personal residence. During our consultation they shared how much they love playing games, D&D, and Lord of the Rings. They even got engaged when they finished reading the books together. We played around with ideas, and decided to incorporate Lord of the Rings ‘flavor’. Kiersten had gorgeous ear pieces that represented elf ears, the colors were earthy greens and regal purples, the guest box was carved wood with elvish text, and Leelee's Garden made a gorgeous arch incorporating many gorgeous twigs, and deep greens to give off forest vibes. There was even moss used down the aisle.
Nyla and Jay got married at the gorgeous Arts Club of Chicago. As a couple, they loved dramatic and unique architecture, and the Arts Club was the perfect venue for them. A grand staircase to help make an entrance, a half museum and dramatic event space—an architect’s dream! Not to mention they were able to hold the ceremony on a stage, with golden curtains in the background. It was a beautiful and grand moment. Cornell Florist also did an amazing job with the floral bouquets. The deep dark red, added a dramatic yet romantic flair to their design.
Chicago may have been dark and gloomy on this wedding day, but inside Celeste, there was nothing to be gloomy about! With wonderful ideas from us, the venue, and Mother of the Bride/Vendor/Designer Amy Crum, we were able to convert the rooftop restaurant into a colorful, and wild flower filled celebration. With a limited number of guests, this wedding became an intimate gathering to celebrate the couple. Everyone sat on cushioned benches instead of chairs during the ceremony, there were plenty of lounge areas for guests to relax and drink cocktails, and the reception table was a long dining table for everyone to dine, and mingle together.
Kathryn and Fred have been dear friends of mine since college, so when they asked me to plan their wedding I couldn’t say no!! Their wedding was at The BRIX on the Fox , where they were able to transform the space for their needs. There were many beautiful, and playful moments during this wedding. They had some of their friends sing during pre ceremony, and even during the ceremony as accompaniment to the officiant. They sang many of the couple’s favorite tunes that ranged from Beyonce, to Hamilton, to Disney. As huge fans of Harry Potter, there was a dazzling moment when the officiant pulled out a Harry Potter wand to make the “unbreakable vow” during the final exchanges. When it came to the reception, there were personalized wooden centerpieces, each with carved out memories, locations, and interests of the client; a subtle way to tell the couple’s story.
Meg and Marc had an amazing gothic themed wedding. Their wedding date was close to halloween and they wanted to embrace it. All the decor was dark and spooky, and even the hor d'oeuvres provided by Cocina Fusion had some spooky surprises. To add some glamor, there were also many pops of color. Meg had beautiful purple hair that really popped against the white hair piece, and dress. The florals by Flowers for Dreams had bright splashes of orange and purple (that matched Marc’s fashionable bowtie). What was also heartwarming, was as an LGBTQ+ couple, they had pins for guests to wear to respect everyone’s pronouns.
Clara and Addison originally signed on with us to have a “Shakespeare in the Park” Wedding. They were going to perform Much Ado About Nothing, and when the characters got married it would become the actual wedding ceremony! Unfortunately, due to Covid we had to “downsize” a bit, but we were able to adapt the vision and keep many of the original elements. They were able to have a wonderful gathering at Cheney Mansion with picnic blankets, and a lounge for everyone to sit at. Each blanket had a picnic basket with snacks and treats from Hearty Boys, and each blanket was titled after a Shakespearean Play (to also help assign seats for guests). The couple even performed a song for their guests, and had everyone sing When I’m Sixty-Four by the Beatles with a live String Trio. It was a glorious day for everyone to celebrate love, the couple, and enjoy some afternoon tea!
So you’ve got that newly blinged finger and your wedding glow still hasn’t left you. What’s next? Your honeymoon, of course! Getting married is memorable enough as it is for you and your partner, but a honeymoon just takes it up to a whole new level.
