Andrew Cole and Katherine Ring’s story is more than just a workplace romance—it’s a family tradition. They first met when they got seated two cubicles down from each other at the same insurance firm; 35 years before that, Katherine’s parents had met after being seated two cubicles down from each other at the exact same company. The coincidence turned to romance, and Katherine and Andrew dated for five years before getting engaged on a rooftop overlooking the city.
At their wedding just over a year later, the officiant snapped a photo of the bride and groom from the altar of St. James Chapel. The picture captured the couple and the crowd of more than 250 family and friends behind them. “It was such a special feeling to see everyone we love there, witnessing one of the most important moments of our lives,” Katherine says.
The celebration was all about the details. Their theme—garden party elegance—was beautifully brought to life by HMR Designs: Flowers hung from the ceiling at 167 Events, tables were topped with leafy linens, and the dance floor was printed with the same blue-and-white square pattern that had lined their invitations. The venue also displayed a gorgeous view of Chicago, and the skyline lit up at night, a nod back to their sweet proposal.
The couple incorporated many personal touches. “My dad has a tradition where at the beginning of every trip or event, we do an ‘opening ceremony,’ which is a shot of tequila,” Katherine says. “I wanted to incorporate an opening ceremony to the marriage.” They gave it an elevated twist: When the venue’s elevator doors opened, guests were greeted with margaritas below an “Opening Ceremony” sign. “During the reception, the vendors changed the sign on the display to ‘Closing Ceremony,’ which was mini doughnuts for guests to take as they were leaving.”
Andrew, a talented singer, took the stage after dinner to perform his rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” and Katherine joined him to close the night out with Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” as cold sparklers erupted around them. The next day, the newlyweds hosted a “Rehash the Bash” brunch for their guests at Fig & Olive, a fun way to wind down and reconnect with their loved ones after their fairy-tale event.
Glass candles and pastel florals from HMR Designs adorned each table, with signage from Catherine Sullivan Design.
The dance floor was packed all night long—and featured a scenic backdrop of Chicago.
THE LIST
Venues Ceremony: St. James Chapel, stjameschapel.archchicago.org; Reception: 167 Events, 167events.com
Wedding Planner Stephanie Cook, The Creative Planners, thecreativeplanners.com
Bride’s Gown & Veil Monique Lhuillier, Ultimate Bride, ultimatebride.com
Bride’s Hair & Makeup Patricia Fardon, Bianca Sansosti Artistry, biancasansosti.com
Groom’s Tux Tom Barnett New York, tombarnettcustom.com
Rings Diana Rodi Hall, dianarodihall.com
Bridesmaids’ Dresses Jenny Yoo, Bella Bridesmaids, bellabridesmaids.com
Groomsmens’ Tuxes The Black Tux, theblacktux.com
Florals & Decor HMR Designs, hmrdesigns.com
Cake ECBG Cake Studio, ecbgstudio.com
Invitations Catherine Sullivan Design, catherinesullivandesign.com
Welcome Boxes Make It Personal, instagram.com/makeitpersonal_lf Linens BBJ La Tavola, bbjlatavola.com
Rentals Nüage Designs, nuagedesigns.com; Tablescapes, tablescapes.com
Entertainment Ken Arlen Evolution, Arlen Music Productions, arlenmusic.com
Accommodations Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, fourseasons.com
Transportation Cloud9 Limousine, chicagocloud9limo.com; M&M Limousine Services, mmlimo.com
Videographer 312 Films, 312film.com
Photography by: Olivia Leigh Photographie
