July 9, 2023 | Photography by Kristina Lorraine Photography
Chris and Alissa were coworkers at Chicago’s famed architecture firm, Studio Gang, but Alissa says it took a while before they “mustered up the courage” to finally go on a date. When they did, it turned out to be the first step of designing a new life together.
When it came to planning the wedding, the creative couple chose to be equally involved in planning the details. “We approached wedding planning as a shared creative project,” Alissa explains. Chris had spent summers in Lake Geneva for the past 20 years at his family’s home in Geneva Bay Estates, so the couple set about planning the perfect Lake Geneva wedding weekend.
The festivities began on Friday night with a dinner and welcome reception at Pier 290’s Upper Deck. On Saturday, guests boarded the Duchess, part of Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s fleet, at the Riviera docks for the trip to the lakeside ceremony, which was performed by a close friend who customized the vows to include references to the couple’s Lake Geneva connections.
Following the ceremony, everyone boarded Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s Lady of the Lake for photographs on the pier at Black Point Estate before arriving at the Riviera Ballroom, which was festooned for the reception in beautiful pink and blue florals. For their grand entrance, Chris and Alissa performed a choreographed dance to Frank Sinatra’s “Luck be a Lady” before settling in with their guests for a dinner of beef filet, chicken or portobello ratatouille. A nine-piece band provided after-dinner entertainment. “It was so fun to hear them in the historic ballroom!” Alissa says.
THE DETAILS
CEREMONY & RECEPTION VENUE: Private park and The Riviera Ballroom
ENGAGEMENT & WEDDING RINGS: Groom’s family heirloom; Tiffany’s
BRIDEʼS GOWN: Rue de Seine via Alice in Ivory, Chicago
BRIDEʼS SHOES: Margaux
BRIDEʼS ACCESSORIES: Jennifer Behr gold leaf headpiece
BRIDESMAIDSʼ DRESSES: Anthropologie
GROOMʼS FORMALWEAR: Daniel George, Chicago
HAIR: Clear Waters Salon and Spa and Dave Keller at Barkers Barbershop, Chicago
EVENT PLANNER: Becky Dreyer of Something Blue
INVITATIONS & STATIONERY: Designed by groom; printed at MI-TE Printing, Glencoe
FLORAL & DECOR: Willrett Flower Company, Dekalb; Dish & Decor Vintage Rental, Algonquin; EP Event Rentals, St. Charles
CATERING, CAKE & SWEETS: Celebration on Wells
ENTERTAINMENT: Bluewater Kings Band, Chicago
TRANSPORTATION: Lake Geneva Cruise Line
