Real Wedding: Jen & Tom

Kayla Hardersen Kayla Hardersen | February 28, 2023 | Wedding Features,

JEN PHAM & TOM NEUNER

July 16, 2022

Ceremony: Holy Name Cathedral

Reception: The Old Post Office

Photographed by Lindsey Taylor Photography

THE DETAILS Following their Catholic ceremony, the two changed into áo dàis—traditional Vietnamese wedding outfits—for cocktail hour. There were other homages to the bride’s heritage, too, like a surprise performance by Vietnamese lion dancers at the reception.

THE PARTY Guests blew bubbles around the couple as they entered onto the rooftop of The Old Post Office. Each bubble bottle had a message about Tom’s best man, Brendan, who had passed away months earlier after a battle with cancer. “We wanted to honor him at our wedding in subtle ways,” Jen says. “We know that he would’ve wanted our wedding day to be a celebration of our love.” –KH

A peek inside the reception hall.

THE COUPLE Jen Pham and Tom Neuner’s Friday started off like any other: Frisbee with friends in their “secret” Lincoln Park hangout. When Jen finally missed the Frisbee Tom had desperately been trying to throw over her head and turned away to grab it, he got down on one knee. “It was an incredibly special day because it was very ‘us,’” Jen says. “Nothing fancy, just being with close friends doing something we love to do.”

The cake was vanilla with buttercream filling.