Big City Bride

Some people are lucky enough to find the job for which they have a passion and at which they are extremely good. That describes Claire Weller, wedding planner at Big City Bride. My wife and I, for our daughter's wedding, were lucky enough to find Claire.\r \r First, if you are beginning the process, looking at the budget, questioning whether you need or can afford a planner..... do not hesitate. If need be, cut corners somewhere else but going with a planner will be seen as one of your best decisions ever.\r \r In selecting a specific planner, both my wife and I sincerely believe that you could do no better then Big City Bride, and specifically Claire Weller. Simply put....the best of the best.\r \r From our first anxious meeting, to an elegant, flawlessly executed Chicago event, Claire was an always cheerful positive guiding force. All of the requirements were identified, the theme and style was developed, and a comfortable timeline was created. Quality vendors were recommended and in many cases were made available to us due to Claire's influence. When needed, Claire would gently nudge us to meet a deadline, or to make a tough decision. As the big day approached, and our emotions were running high, Claire was a welcomed calming voice assuring us that everything was in order, and furthermore, that she had our back, on the day of the wedding we would have no responsibilities other then to enjoy the celebration.\r \r While her services were invaluable in the planning of the event, I would have to say it was her role as director on the day of the wedding that I most appreciate. My wife and I were literally relaxed honored guests throughout the day as Claire quietly insured that all of the pieces of a beautiful wedding and reception, so carefully planned, came together flawlessly.\r \r In closing, I am sure there are many quality planners in Chicago, the great ones will make it look easy. Claire Weller is extremely personable and professional. With seemingly effortless efficient, Claire Weller insured my daughter experienced the wedding of her dreams, and gave my wife and I a memory that will last a lifetime. \r \r \r \r more

I got married back in August and am just now getting around to writing a review for the amazing Chrissy at Big City Bride because I can't figure out what to say except that I owe her my entire perfect wedding weekend. As an out of town bride, she was invaluable in helping me figure out the overwhelming process of planning a wedding, especially in place I didn't live. From the first time my now-husband and I met her and spent a whole day driving around to possible venues with her, I knew we had hit the jackpot. She listened to what we wanted and made sure our vision for the day was her highest priority. Every time we came back to Chicago for a weekend, she had our vendor appointments booked and organized for us and made sure that between visits we were doing our ""homework"". She is so high energy and enthusiastic - it's kind of like planning a huge party with your best friend! Her true worth though came on our wedding weekend. Leading up to the wedding, everyone commented on how calm I was and my response was always ""because I have Chrissy."" Chrissy managed our whole weekend for us and made sure all our guests were taken of. We didn't have to think about a thing except making sure to have fun and remember it all! Our wedding was everything that we imagined and more and we owe it ALL to Chrissy!! You will not regret hiring Big City Bride and most importantly Chrissy :) more

This was my first experience with a wedding planner, so maybe I shouldn't be saying this - but Chrissy Magliano has to be the best planner in town. She made my daughter's wedding day picture perfect. Ok, she wasn't responsible for the 75 degree no humidity August day, but she was responsible for every other detail that day. From the first time my daughter, her fiance and I met Chrissy 12 months before their wedding day, we knew she would help ensure they had the wedding exactly as they envisioned. For those concerned about control of decisions by using a planner - its just not the case with Chrissy. She will guide and suggest but all decisions are made by the bride and groom. She brought in florists, caterers, photographers, band etc, etc that were well qualified and suited to us and within our budget. She thought about details we hadn't thought about; kept us on track and made the week before the wedding stress free so we could enjoy the festivities and guests. And the day of ...she was nothing short of a goddess. If there were any hitches in the venue set-up, services arriving on time, confusion about logistics, we never knew about them - Chrissy and her team just managed the day flawlessly. As the mother of the bride, I can't begin to imagine what the wedding day would have been like without Chrissy and her team. You won't go wrong or be disappointed by using BigCityBride, and while we can personally attest to Chrissy, I am sure all their consultants are top-notch. more

We worked with Big City Bride throughout our engagement year to plan our wedding. This was quite possibly the best investment and decision we made throughout the entire wedding process, and we strongly recommend working with BCB to engaged couples.\r \r We had family and friends flying in from all over the country and world and had over 200 guests. We also had quite a few events occur in our personal lives which, in combination with the factors above, originally worried us about our capabilities to plan a wedding. From the first visit to Big City Bride's office, we knew that we found the right place and people who would enable this wedding to be exactly what we wanted.\r \r We worked with Chrissy Magliano (more on Chrissy in a minute) as our head planner, along with Kayla Mousser. Even with the staff we didn't directly work with, we had consistent positive interactions. We couldn't walk into BCB without a kind smile, an offer to help with something and/or congratulatory wishes.\r \r Chrissy is exceptional. It's very clear through her work that she not only knows this industry and process incredibly well, but also is very highly respected by others within the industry. Whenever we spoke with vendors (ones recommended by her and also ones whom we contacted on our own) and mentioned Chrissy's name, we would receive nothing but positive feedback: ""Oh, she is the best!,"" ""Oh, we love her.,"" ""Wow, well you are in good hands!."" We predicted that for things to run as smoothly as we hoped on our wedding day, it would be important for vendors to work well together - Chrissy's professionalism and reputation guaranteed this for us.\r \r Aside from her expertise, Chrissy is just the loveliest person to know and work with. During an engagement, you are in touch with your wedding planner quite frequently at times, and I would enjoy seeing Chrissy's emails in my inbox throughout the year. It never became stressful, and I think a large part of that is due to the combination of her talent and personality. She handled unexpected questions with a smile that would come in from family, wedding party members and guests. I think it's important to note that she would also directly address and change any element of our wedding that ended up not feeling like what we envisioned. As someone who changes her mind quite frequently, this was important for me. (For example, the flower colors that I thought we wanted just didn't come out the way I envisioned. This was due to my own vision, not to the quality of the florist, who was fantastic. Chrissy made it very clear that we were going to go back to the drawing board until we got it right. She was dedicated all elements being what we wanted, even if that meant more work for her.)\r \r Above all, I think the most important piece of information I'd like to convey to future brides who are reading this review and considering using BCB - our wedding day was EXACTLY how we designed and pictured it! Chrissy hit the mark 100%, which was, no pun intended, remarkable. My husband and I continue to marvel at how Chrissy and BCB were able to deliver. They can really take a vision and EXECUTE, which again reflects such talent. The room, the flowers, the lighting - it came out exactly how we had discussed it. It's very clear that BCB planners hold themselves to the highest expectations.\r \r Thank you, Chrissy, Kayla and BCB, from the bottom of our hearts. Our wedding was the best weekend of our lives.\r more

*Claire Weller* and the entire Big City Bride team were incredible to work with on my long distance wedding. I live in NYC and working with them made planning my Chicago wedding a breeze. Big City Bride's list of vendors are top notch and their recommendations were on point every step of the way. I also cannot say enough about working with Claire Weller. She is extremely detail oriented, artistic, and always has a smile on her face. When we first started working together I thought she was too good to be true, and I was thrilled to find out that what you see is what you get! She is the real deal when it comes to a professional event/wedding planner. Her finesse and expertise helped me to create a gorgeous wedding that was executed to perfection. She gracefully handles all kinds of competing personalities, goes the extra mile when trying to help you create personal touches, and holds everyone accountable to the timelines and execution planned for the run of show. My wedding consisted of about 150 guests from all over the country and she not only made the wedding go off without a hitch, but also helped us manage last minute accommodation and intercity travel requests for our out of town-ers. If I could get married all over again, I would insist on using Claire as my planner. more

Chrissy,\r \r As Eddie and I sit reflecting on our special day, we find ourselves bowed over in smiles and laughter as we reminisce of the many highlights. We are truly in awe of how special our wedding day really was! Needless to say we are still over-whelmed with well wishes and encouragements from our friends and family. Some days I shed tears of joy thinking of the amazing weekend you help create. Occasionally, we still get the question of, “Why Chicago?” It’s without a doubt that your city has a special place in our hearts and now you share in that with us. \r \r I still cannot believe just how much went into making it all happen. The thing that makes me smile is that you were there every step of the way. Eddie has adopted the joke of “1 take.” However, that was indeed our reality the entire time we worked with you and your team. You've done an amazing job and we were so fortunate to have such a dedicated planner. If what we experienced is any indication of what happens when opportunity and preparedness meet, then we've hit the nail on the head! We knew all along that Chicago would be magical!\r \r It is our hope that we will see you again during our visits to the city. We would love to get together just to show our appreciation. Until then please know that we are beyond thankful for the time, patience, and hard work that you put into making our special day fabulous. We send our love, friendship, and gratitude for all that you've done.\r \r Best,\r \r Sherra & Eddie\r more

We cannot thank Chrissy, and the Big City Bride team, enough for planning and executing the most amazing wedding experience one can have. Our wedding day was PERFECT, and we would not change a thing. That is a testament to Chrissy’s experience and knowledge in wedding production. At first, we were skeptical. But, we read online reviews, just like this one. After meeting Chrissy, I was sold, but my fiancé was not. It only took a few emails from her, and one more meeting, and he was completely sold! It started from the fact that Chrissy spends time getting to know the couple. After that, her in-depth knowledge of Chicago area venues and vendors is unsurpassable. Her organizational skills (which are incredibly important) are beyond reproach. However, most importantly, it is her personality and disarming, warm, and friendly demeanor that really goes a long way. Planning a wedding can be stressful. Chrissy takes on all the responsibilities, and makes it fun for the couple getting married. At times where something might be stressful, or tempers might rise, Chrissy has a way to be able to lighten the environment, and diffuse any anxiety. It is a truly fabulous personality trait. Lastly – let’s talk about the wedding day. Chrissy and her team completely take care of EVERYTHING. As the bride and groom, we never had to think about what was going to happen next at our own wedding. We were there, enjoying every single aspect just as our guests were. We had so much fun; it was hard to believe that it was our wedding! In addition, Chrissy and the vendors we chose (which were her favorites) executed the vision we had of our wedding to the tee. It was beautiful, unique, exquisite, elegant, and FUN! If we were to do this all over again, we would hire Chrissy in a heartbeat! We highly recommend her services to anyone who will be getting married. Chrissy – Thank You! You made our wedding day an incredibly memorable event that will stay with us forever.\r Dr. Melina Kibbe & Dr. Marco Patti, July 2013\r more

Susan was absolutely essential in making our wedding possible, especially since we live in NYC and were planning from afar. She gave us great vendors to choose from and made it easy for us to meet everyone without having to make a lot of trips back to Chicago. She worked around our schedule. You literally do not have to worry about a thing -- I threw everything at her and Susan is on top of it and does it with a smile. Both of us have very demanding jobs and Susan's time management made the whole process less stressful and not overwhelming as I'm sure it could have been. Her execution the day of was flawless. It's been two weeks since my wedding and guests are still talking about it! Would highly recommend her and her team at BCB! more

Perfection, seamless, flawless and exact execution. Those are just some of the adjectives I can use when it comes to Big City Bride – especially Chrissy Magliano. The BCB team is always welcoming, warm and friendly. Having a Type-A personality and finding it hard to let go of control, I found it easy and beneficial to let BCB take over the reins of planning the most important day in my life. From finding me the perfect venue and vendors to ensuring a flawless execution of my vision and the production of the day – I couldn’t have asked for better. I’m still getting complements from my guests on how outstanding my wedding was and how everything flowed without hiccup or pause. My planner Chrissy kept me on schedule the day of and we didn’t run a minute late! Throughout the planning process, she thought of things that never came to my mind and double checked things to ensure accuracy. I felt totally comfortable and at ease in her hands. To sum it up, BCB “gets it” and caters to the needs of any bride. You will not be disappointed! The most important day of my life was also the greatest event of my life because BCB was there and ensured that nothing went wrong (and even if it did, they had the professionalism to keep it away from me and my guests and not make it any of our concern)! I can’t say enough… more

Darcey and Big City Brides is a must-hire for wedding planning! We reached out to Darcey six months prior to our wedding. She was so helpful in recommending vendors and ideas; as a busy working couple, we can't imagine not having her expertise! She advised on the most time-sensitive items first, reached out behind the scenes to see who is reputable and available, provided us with a document comparing several vendors and prices, and then scheduled a single meeting for us at the BCB office where the vendors would come in 15-20 increments to be interviewed. She made the planning process less stressful and even enjoyable! Also, she has a cheerful and fabulous personality which made her wonderful to work with. As for the wedding day, having Darcey there was amazing. It also helped that she was so involved in our planning process because she knew exactly what we envisioned for our big day. We had our ceremony at St. Clement Church in Lincoln Park and the reception at Spiaggia Private Dining Rooms; Darcey already had prior relationships with both venues which made the process go very smoothly. She was on-call and so attentive to all of the details to make sure everything went to plan. We and our families literally did not worry about anything logistically that day, as she had everything under control and planned in five-minute increments-- and everything went seamlessly! Darcey and Big City Brides do excellent and professional work; they are 100% recommended. more

Claire Weller at Big City Bride made our wedding day wonderful! My family and my husband's family could not be happier with her sense of style, financial savvy, and organizational brilliance. Claire connected us with fantastic and affordable vendors. And in working with those vendors, she helped us make smart decisions that saved money, without sacrificing elegance. Claire also made sure to incorporate our spirit into the wedding. The ceremony and reception were cool and unique, but remained classy and conversant with important traditions. On the wedding day, Claire made a huge logistical undertaking look effortless. I highly recommend her services. Claire will save you money, preserve your sanity, and make your big day beautiful. more

We loved BCB and specifically Claire! After recently moving to Chicago, we signed up for the ""grand plan"" package which included a day trip around the city checking out venues, vendor meet and greets and help designing a custom menu for our Indian fusion wedding! Best of all, our package included Claire and her amazing ideas and endless enthusiasm. She gave us exactly the wedding we dreamed of with tons of unique touches and customizations. The actual wedding day itself was amazing, BCB had everything taken care of from a wedding time line for our family/wedding party to helping pack up the last of our cupcakes as late night snacks. Claire even emailed a copy of our marriage certificate to our honeymoon resort when we forget to bring one! My husband and I would highly recommend BCB for your big day! more

Big City Bride was the first wedding planner I called when I got married, and as soon as I talked to Susan (the head hancho lady) on the phone, I knew it was a perfect match. I got along with her like we had known each other for years, and she made me feel like my wedding was the most important event for her and her staff (even though I knew they maybe had others?) She made it VERY easy for me and my family to relax during the whole process--even the week before, I felt confident everything was on schedule. \r \r My ideas were perfectly duplicated and Susan had many more genius ideas to add--she thought of a super creative and elegant photobooth setting in our outdoor venue. She brought up of all the necessary items that I would have never even thought would be needed, such as permits, bathrooms, parking, rain plan etc. She also knew all the best vendors in the city, all I had to do was interview them, look at their work and pick! I was very satisfied with every vendor I used. \r \r During the wedding day, everything went super smooth and the event itself was more than I could have ever asked for. There were 7-10 Big City Bride staff there until the last bus left with our guests at around 2:30am. \r \r I highly recommend Big City Bride to anyone who is not a pro at planning weddings, anyone who wants a smooth relaxing experience for their wedding, and anyone who wants to be connected with the best vendors in the city. more

Choosing a wedding coordinator was just as important as choosing our venue. We had the most obliging, organized and understanding wedding coordinator in Darcey Lohman of Big City Brides. \r We worked with Darcey and BCB from the very beginning of our engagement. Because of their involvement, we never felt helpless or overwhelmed. I was never the kind of little girl who had always dreamed of her wedding or had everything picked out the day I met Mr. Right. I was completely clueless what I kind of wedding we wanted. Darcey provided guiding questions and through our initial meetings helped us come up with a vision for our wedding (Sex and the City meets stuffy Republican); and even made inspiration boards to help choose the perfect colors (navy blue and hot pink). After that, Darcey guided and helped us through every step of our wedding planning. She started by taking us on a site search for the perfect reception venue and even helped me change my name after the wedding. One of the biggest advantages of working with Big City Brides was their relationships with hundreds of vendors. Darcey took care of all the scheduling, negotiating and paperwork with all the vendors. To be honest, all we had to do was say,” Yes, we like that idea, or change this” and everything was done for us. \r Darcey answered my (and my mom’s) hundreds of questions throughout the fourteen months of planning. She was very patient, promptly returned phone calls and emails and went out of her way to make the process FUN for us and our families. We really appreciated the “to-do” lists Darcey provided for us and the biggest help was that she kept track of the budget (and kept us on budget)! This eliminated what could have been some tense conversations among everyone involved. \r The weekend of our wedding I felt like a princess. I had not a worry in the world about what was going on with all the prep at the Chicago Cultural Center as Darcey had a team on site, and she was back and forth between the venue, church and hotel all day. She even sat with me for a while when I was getting ready to help calm my nerves. \r Working with Big City Brides was the best wedding gift we gave ourselves. We can’t thank Darcey enough say enough about how valuable her knowledge and kindness are in making a wedding absolutely perfect!\r \r \r more

I highly recommend Big City Bride for any stage of your planning process! I had already picked out my venues and assumed the biggest decisions were over. I quickly learned that there were SO many details that I wasn't prepared to answer. \r Darcey Lohman saved my sanity! She provided a package that fit my needs perfectly. We met regularly to discuss our to-do list and potential vendors. She scheduled meetings with all of them, reviews, and photos of their previous work. As I was incredibly indecisive, Darcey was so patient and kindly provided as many options as I cared to see! \r On the day of the wedding, I couldn't have done this without Darcey and her assistants. She coordinated all of the vendor set-up: band, caterers, cake, lighting, flowers, make-up, hair, etc. She was there to direct everyone to the right place at the right time... even corralling the groomsmen and getting them lunch. \r Darcey and her assistants were also totally on top of all the transportation: 3 buses, a Rolls Royce, and even a boat!! Because of her, everything ran smoothly and on schedule!\r \r I was really able to enjoy my planning process and especially the day-of. I couldn't have been as relaxed and assured without Darcey! more

You expect people to give the usual compliments during and after a wedding ... ""you look beautiful,"" ""your flowers are gorgeous,""what a beautiful dress."" I loved to hear those things as any girl would! But... my absolute favorite thing to hear after the wedding, and actually, the thing I heard most was, ""You were the happiest bride I've ever seen."" As much as I attribute this to marrying the love of my life, I also give a lot of this credit to our wedding planner, Chrissy Magliano, at Big City Bride. The day turned out more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. The only thing I had to worry about on my wedding day was making sure I took a moment to step back with my new husband and really appreciate the extraordinary space that was created and savor watching all of our friends and family enjoying it. Thank you for the best day of my life, Chrissy!! more

Hiring Darcey Lohman from Big City Bride was hands-down the best decision in the entire wedding planning process. Our wedding was the same weekend of the 2012 NATO summit, and she made what could have been an extremely chaotic weekend completely stress-free by always being two-steps ahead of any of our needs. And I cannot tell you how many guests and vendors approached us afterwards to compliment her on her pleasant and calm demeanor. I can imagine it must be taxing to be wedding planner, but you would never know it working with Darcey â?? she always has a sincere and warm smile on her face and radiates with this infectious positive energy. \r \r My husband and I were married at the Chicago Cultural Center and cannot imagine what the weekend would have looked like without Darcey. Leading up to the event, in addition to all the planning/brainstorming and logistical organization, she helped negotiate concessions with the venue due to significant changes caused by the NATO summit. The day-of she flawlessly coordinated the early arrival/set-up amongst all of our vendors, and was unbelievably attentive to our needs throughout the weekend. She was taking care of everything, everywhere! But unlike some other wedding planners of friendsâ?? events Iâ??ve attended, not in a â??in your face, this is my showâ?? kind of way. I really believe Darcey went above & beyond to help make our day so wonderful and memorable.\r \r But it wasnâ??t just the perfect weekend that Darcey orchestrated that proved her worth â?? it began months ago in the planning process. My fiancé and I were anxious about planning a Chicago wedding from Philadelphia but Darcey was always available to answer any of our questions and was a wonderful source of information/recommendations. While we did not go with every single one of her vendor suggestions, I did appreciate that she was constantly aware of any budgetary concerns. The vendors we did follow her recommendation on were absolutely incredible â?? easy to work with, extremely talented and very professional. Whenever I was particularly stressed or nervous about something, a quick call to Darcey was all I needed to help calm me down and focus me on what was really important â?? being able to celebrate marrying my best friend. We knew we were in great hands and somewhere along the way Darcey became much more to us than a wedding planner â?? more a relationship therapist and a wedding weekend ROCKSTAR.\r \r I understand hiring a professional planner is an investment, but would strongly recommend the services of Darcey Lohman â?? it will undoubtedly be the best money spent on your wedding. I consider myself a very organized person and had the benefit of several friends recommending various wedding vendors throughout the process, but even still I would not have made it through in one piece (mentally, emotionally, physically) without Darceyâ??s help. \r \r Thank you Darcey & BCB! more

Darcey from Big City Bride was the best decision we made in our wedding planning journey. She is excellent at what she does. I could not have imagined doing our wedding and reception without her. She enabled us to have the best day of our life by not having to worry about ANYTHING! Working with BCB is a no-brainer and some of the best money spent for such an important day. more

Kim Gapinski of BCB planned my Chicago wedding and exceeded all of my hopes and expectations. She, along with the other staff members, were so helpful, and made the process stress free. They helped with budgeting, staying on a timeline, finding amazing vendors, and everything else in between. I felt as though I was planning with a best friend and I couldn't have asked for a more fabulous planning process and wedding. Kim and her team helped me to put on the wedding of my dreams, and my husband and I, along with all of our guests had an amazing time. I would recommend Kim and the Big City Bride planners to anyone. Definitely worth the extra expense, it pays off in the end. They are incredibly talented and experienced, and I didn't have to worry about any of the details on the big day, Kim made sure that everything was in order, and made myself and my parents feel so comfortable. Everything was handled in such a professional manner, and I couldn't be happier! Thank you so much Kim and everyone from Big City Bride! more

Big City Bride made our wedding experience everything we could have dreamed of!! My husband and I wanted our wedding (July 9th 2011 @ the Chicago Illuminating Co.) to be different – not like every other one that we had been to in the 7+ years since college. Big City Bride made that happen. Susan Cordogan and her amazing team came up with innovative ideas that would really “wow” our guests. They took our ideas and expanded on them to make them bigger and better than we could have ever imagined. Not only are they creative, but they know how to get you the most for your money – every bride has a budget, and Big City Bride helped us understand what the most important components/costs to a wedding are as well as where we could stand to cut back a little.\r \r Susan’s help throughout the planning process put me and my family at ease, and her on-site management on the big day was a true blessing. Everyone told me that I was the most calm bride they had ever seen. It’s because I knew I didn’t have a thing to worry about – Susan and her team had everything under control from the day of our first meeting until after we got back from the honeymoon. One of the best parts was BCB’s flexibility when it came to meeting times. My husband and I work crazy hours and couldn’t leave our offices mid-day, but Susan met with us whenever we could make the time – sometimes until 11pm!\r \r Hiring a wedding planner can be an expense, but hiring Big City Bride is more than worth it – I am so happy that I got to truly enjoy the planning process as well as the big day by putting all of the details in Susan’s hands. \r \r I am happy to discuss my experience with anyone looking for a great planner. Feel free to ask Susan for my contact information.\r more