Chad & Michael's COVID Courthouse Wedding

Chad and Michael were another couple who’s wedding was affected by COVID. After a lot of back and forth, they chose to forego their original large, skyline wedding plans and get married in the basement of City Hall. And although the affair was intimate, it had big style and sweet moments. Read more of their story and enjoy these images by Meredith Donnelly Photography below!

Chad & Michael's COVID Chicago Courthouse Wedding captured by Meredith Donnelly Photography

Written and captured by Meredith of Meredith Donnelly Photography:

A uniquely stunning same sex couple was able to be married and look amazing the entire time, even if their ceremony ended up taking place in the basement of Chicago's City Hall Marriage Courts, striking a pose wherever they went!

Chad and Michael planned an outdoor wedding on the south side of Chicago for May 2020 with a beautiful view of the city skyline only to have their plans completely uprooted by Covid-19, like so many other 2020 couples.

After much back and forth about how and where to get married, they decided to scrap their large event and simply head downtown to the courthouse and get married just the two of them. Unfortunately, Chicago's marriage courts were closed indefinitely! After many months of waiting and some major coordinating with schedules (Michael is a flight attendant), a hot muggy Wednesday morning in late August was secured and Chad and Michael were getting married at 9am in downtown Chicago.

Chad and Michael got ready at the Kimpton Allegro Hotel. Michael had custom attire made in Shanghai for the two of them (Karl Lagerfeld inspired) and topped it off with a floral bouquet and boutonniere from Youth & Yarrow. J&L Catering was originally set to provide dinner for their large wedding, but was happy to provide gourmet charcuterie boards for a lunch in Millennium Park post-courthouse ceremony.

Chad and Michael endured the heat and Meredith Donnelly of Meredith Donnelly Photography was able to capture incredible photos in downtown Chicago despite the insane heatwave!