Hayley and Spencer had the most iconic wedding day over Thanksgiving weekend during the biggest snow storm of the year. We are so thankful to have been their day-of coordinators to make sure things were running as smoothly as possible with their ceremony and reception at The Rookery in downtown Chicago.

Hayley and Spencer really love to dance and were so excited to see everyone they love all in one place. They told us their priorities for the wedding day were that they wanted it to be easy and fun - their hope was that they could be stress-free. We made sure with the best of our ability that Hayley and Spencer could have some real fun while we took on the logistics, and we did just that!

Both Hayley and Spencer got ready in separate hotel rooms at LaSalle Chicago, which is really right next to the venue. That’s definitely a nice thing about having your wedding in the middle of the city of Chicago - you have everything nice and local and they were right outside one of the most iconic places that weddings will take pictures at with the Chicago Board of Trade building and street being a huge destination. We would definitely describe Hayley and Spencer’s wedding details as modern, classic, and sleek with the dark green being perfect for a winter wedding.

Hayley’s mom was really sweet the whole wedding day, but starting off the day with a surprise for Hayley of the photos and the handkerchief she gave to Hayley was incredibly kind!

Hayley did a first look with her dad and brother first after finishing getting ready which was so cute and fun - the shots of Fireball before starting off the day were definitely a huge surprise and a hoot for them all! After that, Spencer met Hayley at The Rookery for their first look and some photos together. The snow was already starting by this point - you can see in the background of the first look that it was coming down HARD!

The good news is that they didn’t have to be outside too much, but they got some of the most perfect wedding photos with that snow outside. Joy did SUCH an amazing job getting some of the most beautiful wedding photos we have ever seen and the way she showed how much of a pro she is even in a literal snowstorm spoke volumes about her abilities!

The Rookery is also famous for the winding staircases that are so amazing to photograph too. Hayley and Spencer did their private vows in the library and they were off to take any remaining photos in the iconic spots right where they were without a large need for a drive, which was mighty convenient given that it would be much more difficult with the snow! The main issue was that it made Hayley’s dress a bit muddier than expected rather quickly, but they took it in stride and did the best they could to make it before the ceremony.

Something about the grand staircase for the wedding ceremony at the Rookery is so magical - because of the overhanging balcony too, there were so many opportunities for beautiful, unique photos that you don’t get often with most venues! After the ceremony had ended, it was time for the couple to celebrate while their vendors started the room flip on the first floor with everyone on the second floor.

Hayley and Spencer took some time to themselves and also some time to celebrate with their guests at cocktail hour. But some of our favorite photos of the evening were about to happen too with the nighttime champagne pop and the sparkling snow featured!!

The room flip wrapping up was the perfect time for some room shots - it truly was something out of a movie seeing everything come together so beautifully!! We loved all of the details and how stunning the whole space looked for them.

Hayley and Spencer did a grand entrance from the grand staircase which was so iconic and they were off to do their first dance too! It looked like they were really ready to dance and have fun with everyone - but after dinner and speeches of course wrapped up.

We could really tell how excited they were to be on the dance floor with their guests when the dance floor opened up for good.

The LED foam glow sticks of course were a huge hit, but one of our favorite things about this wedding was just the energy in the room! Hayley and Spencer had set out to have an amazing time celebrating and dancing and that they did. We also loved Hayley’s reception dress change that was perfectly suited for getting down on the dance floor too! The reception dress honestly was such a perfect pairing with her wedding dress and we could tell it was an amazing choice for Hayley to be able to really let loose and have so much fun. We also COULDN’T get over Hayley and Spencer going on the staircases above and seeing all their guests cheering from below, or the dramatic reenactment of “Love Story” by Taylor Swift where they ran to each other from opposite sides of the balcony, proposed, and ran down the stairs to meet and party with their friends and family. It was unforgettable in the BEST way!!!!

Hayley and Spencer grabbed some final photos together before Joy left in a spot that we’ve never even seen utilized which is rare! The vault was so cool but again, we really loved the outdoor shots with the snow coming down. You can’t of course change the weather on your wedding day, but you can make it a beautiful feature like Hayley and Spencer did!

Overall, Hayley and Spencer’s wedding day was surely one of the most fun weddings we have ever had. Their smiles and their excited energy radiates through the cold and snow and it was a pure show of love and happiness!! We are so thankful that they trusted us to help bring everything together for the wedding day. We loved every part of bringing this day together and we won’t ever forget the winter wonderland of our dreams!!

Two sweet reviews from both Hayley and her mom:

“Firmly Rooted Events was truly one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. From the very beginning, Rachel was incredibly organized, thoughtful, and attentive during the planning process. Her communication and attention to detail gave us so much peace of mind and made everything feel manageable and well-supported.

On our wedding day, Claire and Jaz were nothing short of amazing, even in the middle of a Chicago snowstorm! They went above and beyond to make sure our vision came to life exactly as we had dreamed, and they did it with warmth, kindness, and so much joy.

We felt so cared for every step of the way. We cannot recommend Firmly Rooted Events highly enough and are endlessly grateful for Rachel, Claire, and Jaz for making our wedding day so magical.” - Hayley

“Rachel, Claire, and Jazz went above and beyond for my daughter and her fiancé before and throughout their wedding day! From mapping out the timeline, communicating with vendors, following up on details, handling problems calmly and with good humor they made sure that Hayley and Spencer's special day--albeit snowy--was magical!” ~Jennifer, Mother-of-the-Bride