A wedding ceremony with a couple, officiant, and guests. The officiant is reading from a paper, and the bride and groom are standing in front of a floral arch against a wooden-paneled wall.

Thoughts on gatherings

On devotion —
to the unseen architecture of something lasting. To not just how a wedding looks, but how it moves — its pacing, its feeling, its emotional rhythm. Every choice made in service of something effortless, personal, and true. The art of planning lies in that balance: listening closely, noticing deeply, knowing when to hold and when to soften. Not as performance, but as a practice of care.

Hanging floral arrangement with orange and pink flowers in a retail or event space, with neon-colored vertical ribbons and string lights in the background.

On timing —
On leaving room to breathe. On shaping a day that honors the life that follows it, and knowing the real luxury is having the space to actually live it. Ease is part of the design.

photos by dani dahl

Indoor wedding reception with a long decorated banquet table, candlelit centerpieces, and floral arrangements, with a large heart-shaped floral decoration in the background, guests seated and dressed formally, festive string lights hanging from the ceiling.

On texture —
On the layers peeking through, and the heart of it on full display. The façade, the undercurrent, the softness, the structure — every detail, a story. Every part of every beginning, gathered into something you can actually see and feel. A wedding with texture is one that reveals itself slowly with honesty, character, and grit.

A long wooden dining table decorated with floral centerpieces, candles, and tableware, set for a formal event or dinner in front of a wooden paneled wall.

On taste —
On je ne sais quoi. On the things money can’t buy: instinct, history, magnetism. the knowing. the particular ways people come together. A moment in time that could only be yours.

  • You’ve done the planning — now let us bring it all together. Our coordination package is designed for couples who want to be fully present on their wedding day, with a calm, capable team stepping in 8–12 weeks out to refine logistics, build a personalized timeline, align vendors, and tie up every final detail. On the day itself, you’ll have full coverage from me and an assistant from set-up to tear-down, so everything runs smoothly and you don’t have to carry a thing.

  • Our Collaborative Planning package is for couples who already have a few pieces in motion, but want expert guidance to shape the rest with intention, clarity, and ease. We’ll help with budget strategy, venue and vendor recommendations, design direction, contract review, and steady support throughout the planning process — plus everything included in Coordination. The result is a wedding that feels cohesive, personal, and fully supported from the big-picture decisions to the final details.

  • Our Full Service Planning package is for couples who want expert guidance, thoughtful oversight, and the freedom to be as hands-on or hands-off as they’d like. You’ll receive everything included in Collaborative Planning and Coordination, with the added ease of having me lead vendor communication, manage the moving pieces, and reduce how many decisions ever have to land on your plate. It’s a deeper level of trust and support — designed for a wedding that feels beautifully considered, fully guided, and effortless to live through.

  • FILM BY THE ROLL

    CAMCORDER RENTAL

    POLAROID PHOTOBOOTH

    FULL WEDDING WEEKEND PLANNING

    ADDITIONAL DESIGN & STYLING SUPPORT

Offerings

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Offerings *

LET'S START PLANNING
  • A bride in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet, and a groom in a dark tuxedo, walking down a staircase holding hands, in an elegant room with a mounted moose head on a red wall in the background, and scattered confetti on the floor.

    Libby & Sandor, Charles Gates Dawes House

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  • A bride and groom celebrating with an arch of colorful flowers in the background at a wedding reception.

    Grace & Coty, Sarabande

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  • A man in a tuxedo is kissing a woman in a white strapless gown on the cheek. The woman has dark hair, is wearing a pearl necklace, and is holding a fan. They are sitting on a green sofa against a rustic, peeling wall.

    Sarai & Daniel, Beatnik West Town

  • Bride in white gown sitting on a vintage red sofa with groom standing beside her in a black suit, inside an industrial-style room with large windows, stained glass decorations, wooden floor, and vintage furniture.

    Emina & Scott, Salvage One

  • A wedding couple dancing closely during their wedding reception, surrounded by guests, candles, and flower petals.

    Jordyn & Justin, Chicago Winery

  • A man in formal attire with a white shirt, black bowtie, and suspenders, and a woman in a white feathered dress and veil, both making playful gestures and smiling at the camera in a room with blue patterned wallpaper and a beige wall.

    Emily & Taylor, Lake Geneva

  • Couple in wedding attire holding hands and smiling at each other in a lush, green indoor garden with a pond and koi fish.

    Anne & Connor, Garfield Park Conservatory

  • Two men in suits cutting a wedding cake decorated with flowers during a celebration.

    Brock & Geoff, The Joinery

  • A wedding ceremony inside a grand hall with tall windows, floral arrangements, and a bride and groom standing at the altar with officiants and guests watching.

    Alex & Andres, The Old Post Office

  • Two people smiling and making a rebellious gesture while wearing black jackets with 'JUST MARRIED' patches, standing outdoors at night.

    Hannah & Em, Osteria Via Stato

  • A bride and groom walking inside a modern venue with large glass windows, sitting chairs in the foreground, brick and wood interior, and outdoor greenery visible.

    Jenny & Mike, Morgan's on Fulton

  • A bride and groom walking hand in hand down the aisle during their wedding ceremony in an outdoor urban setting with brick wall backdrop and floral arch. Guests seated on wooden chairs are watching and clapping, with some taking photos.

    Rosie & Kirk, Artifact Events

  • A bride and groom standing together during a wedding ceremony, with the bride raising her arms and the groom smiling, surrounded by guests seated on chairs in a rustic indoor venue with brick walls and string lights overhead.

    Dev & Sid, Loft on Lake

  • A wedding reception with a bride and groom dancing amid seated guests, decorated with round paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

    Amy & Luke, Morgan's on Fulton

  • Elegant wedding reception hall with ornate domed ceiling, floral arrangements, round tables set for dining, and a couple dancing.

    Ellen & Doug, The Chicago Cultural Center

  • A newlywed couple in wedding attire celebrating on a rooftop with a city skyline in the background, standing under a floral arch with colorful flowers.

    Bizzy & Jack, Lacuna Lofts

  • A bride and groom standing on the steps of a historic building with large columns, holding a bouquet of white flowers, dressed in wedding attire.

    Paige & Troy, Chicago History Museum

  • A wedding ceremony outdoors with the bride and groom holding hands, surrounded by friends and family sitting and standing on a brick patio with lush greenery and trees in the background. A man in a suit is reading vows with a microphone.

    Katherine & Peter, Salvage One

  • A bride and groom stand hand in hand at their wedding ceremony, smiling, surrounded by seated guests in a decorated indoor venue with plants.

    Ali & Johnard, The Arbory

  • A bride in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet, and a groom in a blue suit dancing together in a decorated venue with string lights and colorful wall art.

    Allison & Chris, Lacuna Lofts

  • A wedding ceremony with a bride and groom standing before an officiant inside a glass-walled venue decorated with string lights and large potted plants, with a patterned backdrop behind them.

    Angela & Chris, Garfield Park Conservatory

  • A bride and groom are dancing in front of a wooden mantel with carved panels in an elegant interior. The groom is wearing a dark suit and brown shoes, and the bride is in a white dress with a veil, smiling as they hold hands.

    Amanda & Alex, Chicago Athletic Association

  • A bride and groom standing together outdoors, smiling. The bride is holding a bouquet of flowers, and the groom is dressed in a dark suit. They are standing behind a low fence surrounded by greenery, with a wooden fence on one side and a garden with flowers behind them.

    Emily & Joey, The Joinery

  • A wedding ceremony taking place outdoors under a wooden arch with the city skyline in the background. The bride and groom are exchanging vows while officiants and guests are present.

    Lucy & Ryan, The HoneyComb & Moody Tongue Brewery

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What People Are Saying

  • Mel is the best!! We started our planning process with basically no idea how anything in the wedding industry worked, and she guided us through every step and made the whole process feel way less overwhelming. She has a great eye for design and helped craft the overall aesthetic in a way that felt very authentically us, from what kind of vendors we wanted to work with and turning some wild ideas into reality. Nothing felt too out there - she just ran with it and found creative solutions for what we wanted! She's also extremely down to earth and kind, and was such a wonderful support to talk things through when the inevitable wedding related stress crept in. Day-of, she handled so much behind the scenes work so we never worried about putting out fires and instead was able to just celebrate the day. Would 10000% recommend working with Mel!!

    - Lucy & Ryan, Partial Planning, 2025 at The Honeycomb & Moody Tongue

  • We had the chance to work with Mel for A & N's wedding, and she was absolutely wonderful to partner with. Our and assistant both mentioned how seamless the night was thanks to her coordination and positive energy. When planners help create that kind of smooth flow, it allows us to focus on keeping the dance floor packed—and that’s exactly what happened.

    — DJ Paul Michaels, 2025 at The Cultural Center

  • Mel was an absolute godsend. She first started meeting with us about two years before the wedding when I was in the midst of grad school and didn't even have a pinterest page put together for what I wanted. Somehow with little instruction she helped put together my dream wedding. Absolutely worth every penny and then some. A month or two out from the wedding it became clear how blessed we were to have such a planner on our side. Really left both me and my (now) husband in awe. I had so much fun at my own wedding that I felt like a special guest and a celebrity, not at all stressed out with how the day was going to go or what might happen. Family and friends weren't even asking me questions on the schedule or how the day might go, they either asked Mel or saw that I trusted her enough that it would just go well. And it did, it went perfect! I do not regret a single thing about our choices leading up to the wedding and could not have imagined a more perfect day. If you are on the fence about choosing a planner this message is for you - do it!!!!!!!

    — Amanda & Alex, Partial Planning, 2025 at The Chicago Athletic Association

  • As a florist, Mel made the process of preparing for a wedding so simple and enjoyable. She was so communicative, organized, approachable, kind, and just generally really amazing to work with! I felt the genuine care that she had for the couple and the day exuding in every moment.

    — The Jade Vine, 2024 at The Charles Gates Dawes House

  • We cannot say enough good things about her. Mel was such a powerhouse the last couple of months before planning. She kept all our vendors organized, kept us moving through the checklist, and even saved us a few hundred dollars when there was an issue with one of our vendors adding last minute delivery costs. What a boss. The day of, Mel kept all our crazy friends and family moving and she was everyone’s best friend by the end of the night. Everything went off without any issues (that we know about). I’m a type A girlie and needed someone who I could trust to keep things organized on our wedding day and Mel was exactly who I needed.

    — Emily & Taylor, Coordination, 2023 at The District

  • Mel was down to earth, calm, friendly, organized and professional! Her demeanor put us at ease and set the tone for all of us in the wedding party. She coordinated with our vendors ahead of the big day, took charge during the rehearsal and gave the bridal party great tips, and was prepared for everything the day threw at us (even a bloody nose on my dress during the first look!). She was a natural with the flower girl and helped out with her during the ceremony, speeches, and dinner to make sure it all went smoothly!

    — Charlotte & Stephen, Coordination, 2022, City View Loft