Meet Us
Meet Us
The Gilded Aisle is an award-winning luxury wedding planning firm recognized
for curating unique experiences that celebrate our clientele and the places
they’ve chosen to wed.
THE GILDED AISLE team
who we are
You know you’re living your life’s passion when you get up every day and are excited to start working – and yet, it doesn’t feel like work. I’ve been fortunate to have planned special events, black-tie galas, fashion shows and fundraising benefits for more than a decade but it wasn’t until a friend asked to help plan her wedding – in two weeks – that my love affair with weddings began.
oWNEr
master WEDDING PLANNER™
Destination Wedding Specialist - The Travel INstitute
Italy Specialist - The Travel Institute
Dual Us-Italian Citizen
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Despite the countless weddings I’ve now planned, I still get teary eyed. Witnessing such heart-felt moments throughout the day and seeing the incredible love that surrounds my couples, who I have come to care deeply, will get me every time!
I received my BA Degree from Indiana University and recently earned my Master Wedding Planner™ designation from the Association of Bridal Consultants. I am one of 58 Master Wedding Planners in the world. I’m also a Certified Sandals Specialist and received my “Honeymoons and Destination Wedding Specialist” designation and “Italy Specialist” from The Travel Institute. Currently, I live in Lake Forest with my husband, our two kids and two Bengal cats, Leo and Mars. I'm also blessed with two older step-children.
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A few fun facts about me:
• I was destined to become a wedding planner! My planning experience actually goes back to my high school days when I was guilty of throwing the only high school party ever attended that included a keg of beer and my mom’s good silver. In case you’re wondering: No, my parents did not know about it. Yes, they came home MUCH earlier than anticipated. No, my mother was not amused at being mistaken for one of the young party-goers when she was cautioned by an escaping teen not to come in because “my mom and dad had just got home.” (Her terse response: “I am her mom.”) And no, the flattery did not soften my punishment!
• I have traveled to 21 different countries (Okay, 22 if you include Vatican City).
I love exclamation points – a lot!! And smiley faces ☺︎☺︎
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• I'm a certified feng shui consultant and have appeared on both ABC News Chicago and NBC News Chicago. While I no longer actively consult, I love that I can use this aspect of my background in my day-to-day planning whether it’s coming up with colors, lighting or scents that will invoke my client’s vision for their day.
• I have a weakness for anything almond flavored – or with blueberries. (Yes, I’ll show up on the morning of your wedding with my famous homemade blueberry scones in hand.)
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LYNNE KENNEDY
meet YOUR PLANNERS
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Hi I'm Chelsea! I have been planning (pretend) weddings on family members ever since I was a little girl. I turned my passion for event planning into a real profession after graduating from The University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. I am a Designated Professional Wedding Planner through the Association of Bridal Consultants and bring an in-depth knowledge to our team on the inner workings of venues. I spent more than 6 years on the inside as an event producer for both small and large-scale venues with a focus on weddings. This eventually led me to pursuing my interest in wedding planning full time.
I truly love planning weddings and events because of the joy it brings the client. Planning events for multiple venues at the same time has taught me a great deal about organization, communication, and attention to detail, which is demonstrated in my work. I can't wait to meet all my future clients and I look forward to helping you plan your big day!
senior planner, chicago
designated professional wedding planner™
A few fun facts about me are:
• I am currently a volunteer for Make-A-Wish Illinois
• I was a dancer for 18 years and studied dance at the University of Illinois. In my younger years, I danced with the Joffrey Ballet.
• I love to travel! I try to visit another country at least once a year. My favorite place to travel to is Greece, which I've been fortunate enough to visit the past 3 years.
• I have been a Chicago native my entire life and bought my first house here when I was 25. I love Chicago and am excited to continue my work here as a Wedding Planner!
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Chelsea kiely
meet YOUR PLANNERS
Hi, I'm Alison and I’ve liked being part of weddings since I was very young. When I was three, my grandmother showed me my aunt’s wedding dress and asked me if I liked it. I said no! I thought it would be better if it was “a little shorter, more sparkly, and PURPLE!” Thankfully, my tastes have evolved a bit since then.
I went to Loyola University Chicago, where I studied theatre with a focus in stage management. That training comes in very handy in the events industry, You might be surprised how similar coordinating a play is to coordinating a wedding! In the events world, we call the minute-by-minute wedding day schedule, the "timeline" and in the theater world, we call it the "run-of-show." My theatre background has taught me how to work with large groups of people to create something beautiful together, and I love bringing that knowledge to weddings.
Wedding Day Management Coordinator
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A few fun facts about me:
• I love to bake! I’m known to bring dozens of cookies to most parties that I attend, and my most prized possession is my 100th anniversary edition KitchenAid stand mixer. It makes mixing those dozens of cookies a breeze!
• I don’t just like to make baked goods, I love to eat them too! I adore French patisserie (the ones that are too difficult for me to try and make on my own). My favorite local treat is the fresh raspberry ice cream from Sweets in Lake Forest during the summer.
• My favorite vacation destination is Bermuda, which happens to be where my parents honeymooned. I’m usually not a fan of the ocean, but it’s so warm and beautifully blue there that I have to make an exception!
• I love to travel and have visited over 40 countries. I am conversational in Mandarin, Ni Hao!
• I coded my own wedding website and empathize for busy brides! I was working, getting my MBA and planning my wedding in a one-year sprint.
• As a Midwestern Chicago girl with southern roots, Go Tar Heels, I love New York and building a home here with my wonderful husband.
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Allison Sparrow
meet YOUR PLANNERS
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I have been crazy about weddings ever sinceI was 5 years old and walked down the aisle in an exact mini replica of the bride’s wedding gown. (I went on to play in that dress for as many years as I could get it zipped up!)
I enjoy entertaining and have a passion for people and making them smile. I believe weddings are one of the happiest times in our lives and I want to help you make your dream wedding come true! From big picture ideas to attention to the smallest of details, I will make sure that your wedding day will be a memorable event.
lead planner, california
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My love of bringing people together fits right into the theme of wedding planning. My previous life in the corporate world consisted of managing people, products and projects. I now bring these same skills sets to wedding planning – which include creativity, organization, communication, negotiation and getting the job done on time and on budget. I have an MBA and I also attended the Straus Institute at Pepperdine Law to get my certificate in negotiation– a definite asset in the wedding world where I’m negotiating numerous contracts on behalf of my clients.
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A few fun facts about me:
• I love to dance. Do not be surprised if I break out dancing if I hear music during one of our meetings. It makes me happy and I hope my enthusiasm will be contagious and you will start dancing too!
• I have lived in Southern California most of my professional adult life and have been involved in the local community and fundraising. As part of the Women’s in Business Committee, I was Chair of General Meetings and worked on the annual conferences. I served on the Board of Directors of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce as well as the Executive Board for the USC Trojan Athletic Parents Association.
• I have had speaking engagements on the topic of negotiations and business acumen for the MB Women in Business, Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Southern California College of Optometry.
MARY CLAIRE ORENIC
meet YOUR PLANNERS
Italy is a country of romance and the most beautiful place to be in love. I’m the “boots on the ground” and the perfect complement to our American team. I actually studied law but found my passion showing off my beautiful country of Italy. I’m multi-lingual in Italian, English and French and not only help with scouting wedding venues and translating our contracts but arranging tours, accommodations and ground transportation for our clients and their guests.
I also love helping people who come to Italy to re-trace their family origins. In doing so, I have come across some of the most beautiful, quaint little towns as well as extraordinary centuries-old churches which love sharing with our wedding couples. Whether I’m connecting people to their heritage or wedding clients to one another, at that end of the day, that’s what makes me happiest.
logistics coordinator, italy
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Fun facts about me:
• I love Reese’s peanut butter eggs but we cannot get them here in Italy.
• I live in an ancient little town that is steeped in traditional festivals. For one annual event, a long communal table winds through the main piazza of the town for a feast with all the villagers.
• Sharing my Italian culture and traditions is one of the favorite parts of my job. In Italy, after you make a toast at the wedding reception,
we say “Cin Cin” (pronounced chin-chin) – it’s our version of “cheers!”
Here’s a little language lesson that will impress your love. “Sei ilgrande amore dellamia vita” means “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Of course, if we’re planning a romantic trip for you to propose it Italy, then you’ll need to know “Mi vuoisposare?” which means “Will you marry me?”
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francesco curione
meet YOUR PLANNERS
Awarts + Press
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