This was a richly detailed, stunningly beautiful Chicago Wedding held on Chicago’s North Shore at the elegant Lake Forest Academy.
The bride, Eve, and the groom, John, are both very talented musicians, and actually met in a choir they both sing in!
They were both very passionate about the music at their wedding, and gave me a lot of input while we were creating their playlist.
The fabulous Chicago Wedding Designer Sandy Raphael guided the proceedings throughout the event with poise, warmth and tenderness.
The ceremony was exquisitely beautiful. It was held in the garden of the Academy, with the chuppah set up at the far end of a long aisle.
The Monte Carlo Strings, a superb ensemble created and produced exclusively by Bradley Young Entertainment, (with Bradley at the piano),
played lush arrangements of the couple’s favorite jazz standards by composers like Cole Porter and George Gershwin, creating a very distinctive musical touch.
The bride actually chose the Gershwin song “Our Love Is Here To Stay” for her processional song.
Eve looked radiant as she came down the aisle…The entire ceremony was just gorgeous!
Following the romantic ceremony, the Bradley Young Quartet played light, swinging jazz for the cocktail hour outside on the terrace adjacent to the Fountain Room.
It was a glorious, balmy summer evening. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees as guests sipped mimosas and fine wines, and munched on delectable hors de oeuvres.
I saw people swingin’ and swayin’ as they snapped their fingers and tapped their toes to familiar songs by artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble.
Then, the big moment: The Bradley Young Orchestra fired up, the doors to the Great Hall opened,
and the guests began coming in to the swinging Big Band Sound that the bride and groom requested, with great hits by Sinatra and Harry Connick…it was FANTASTIC!
Once everyone was inside, the bride and groom were introduced, and started things off with a bang with their first dance, “Our Love Is Here To Stay”.
This was a special arrangement we performed for them by Frank Sinatra, sung by Byron Woods, one of our four marvelous vocalists!
Soon, the dance floor was packed for a fun and fabulous Dance Set which really got this festive crowd “In The MOOD”!
Throughout dinner, the BYO played a delightful mix of classic jazz standards, smooth jazz, light pop and rock music,and love songs that set an elegant, romantic tone.
In between courses, the guests were invited to dance. For example, after salad, I invited the bride and her father to begin the dance set with their special song together…
this is sometimes called “New York Style”, and really works beautifully to create a lively, engaging party!
After dessert, The Bradley Young Orchestra transformed the classic atmosphere of The Lake Forest Academy to a spectacular and sexy DANCE CLUB with
our spectacular mix of Big Band Swing, R&B, 70s, 80s, 90s, and Top 40 Hits that had this AMAZING CHICAGO WEDDING going FULL OUT until well after midnight!
A really MAGNIFICENT Chicago Wedding from start to finish…Once again, our thanks and Congratulations to Eve and John!
We wish them the best from all of us at Bradley Young Entertainment!
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