Masculine Elegance: A Private Estate Wedding in Lake Forest, IL
Trey and Kip had a clear point of view from the start. Running Smith’s Men’s Store in Lake Forest had sharpened their eye for classic style, and they wanted their wedding to reflect that same sensibility: structured, refined, and grounded in a masculinity that felt true to who they are. We had our direction and got to work.
The private estate setting in Lake Forest, situated near their church on Chicago’s North Shore, gave us a strong foundation for everything that followed. Florals, lighting, the tent itself — each detail was chosen with care and consistency. Guests were welcomed in with “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast, a moment that set the evening’s tone and reflected how naturally Trey and Kip put people at ease.
The night’s most talked-about moment came from the Giordano Dance Troupe, who swept guests onto the dance floor for a performance of “Proud Mary” that had everyone on their feet. That kind of energy is hard to manufacture. It comes from a couple whose warmth pulled every person in that tent into the celebration with them.
The guest list alone spoke to how many lives Trey and Kip have touched. Coordinating a celebration of that scale while preserving the personal details throughout required the full effort of an exceptional vendor team. It’s no surprise this wedding was featured in Brides magazine — and we are proud of every vendor who helped make it worthy of the page.
We are grateful for the trust Trey and Kip placed in The Creative Planners for their Lake Forest estate wedding.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Tamara Gruner Photography
VIDEOGRAPHY
Our Wedding Movie
FLORIST
M On Square
LIGHTING
Elegant Event Lighting
TENT
Blue Peak
CATERING
George Jewel Catering
CAKE
Gerharts
BAND
Gentleman of Leisure
DANCE PERFORMANCE
Giordano Dance Troupe
Planning a private estate wedding in the Chicago area? Every property has its own set of challenges — and possibilities. We’d love to hear about yours.
