Chicago's Favorite Wedding Planner
$4,500 starting price
Chicago Area, Midwest & Destination
Service area
Claire Brown
WEDDING & EVENT PLANNER
AWARD WINNER (6X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Big City Bride is a Chicago, IL-based event planning company specializing in weddings and milestone celebrations. The business is a full-time professional wedding planning firm that has operated with the warmth and care of a family business for over 20 years. Based in our cozy Lincoln Park office, we will help you cut through the clutter and choose venues and vendors that align with your priorities, style, and budget. We will guide you through countless decisions, keeping you on track while providing creative ideas and solutions. We pave the way so you can enjoy the planning process and the wedding weekend.
Our powerhouse planners work individually with clients, using collective resources and experiences from the entire Big City Bride team. This approach is exponentially better for our couples. We share essential information centered around maximizing the capabilities of each venue and vendor.
We offer full and partial planning packages as well as month-of coordination. Our planning packages are customized to fit your needs perfectly. We offer hours that will accommodate most any schedule, and we welcome an open line of communication so we can help when you need it most.
What You'll Love About Big City Bride
Big City Bride employs a team of seasoned professionals with years of experience in the event planning industry. Better yet, the company was featured in People Magazine, Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, the Style Network, and more. You can relax knowing these expert coordinators will craft a one-of-a-kind celebration you'll remember for years to come!
Woman-owned Business
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Details
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Planning
Budgeting
Day-Of Coordination
Destination Wedding Planning
Full Service Wedding Planning
RSVP Tracking
Wedding Design
Wedding Website
Wedding Activities
Getting Engaged
Engagement Party
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Bachelor Party
Bachelorette Party
Bridal Luncheon
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner
Welcome Party
Wedding
After Party
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour
Day After Brunch
Reception
Rehearsal
Rehearsal Dinner
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
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- Susan CordoganOwnerI'm a hard-working Chicagoan who loves weddings. I have been immersing myself in the hospitality industry for 25 years. My work includes weddings of ALL kinds, impactful corporate events and extraordinary social celebrations. I've been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, People Magazine, The Knot, Style Network, Crains Chicago Business and more. The Big City Bride team and I are truly grateful for each wedding we are called to do. It is an honor and pleasure to help clients navigate this important and personal journey so they can enjoy the moments that matter and love their wedding.
- Jena HansenWedding & Event PlannerI am totally type A. I can organize anything and bring order to the chaos. Staying positive and productive is my approach to project management. With more than a dozen years of experience in business events I have mastered the art of design and people management. I have broad shoulders and a bright smile so you can lean on me with confidence and ease.
- Arin BuschWedding & Event PlannerNothing makes me happier than color coded to-do lists or a good spreadsheet. My love affair with weddings began in college where I served as the campus wedding ceremony coordinator. That is where I masted the marriage ritual which I deem to be the most important aspect of a wedding. I am a self-proclaimed softy...there isn't a wedding day that goes by where I don't shed some happy tears.
- Chrissy MaglianoWedding & Event PlannerWith nearly 20-years as a Senior Big City Bride Planner, I have had the pleasure of working with most Chicago venues, hotels and vendors. Clients and vendors will tell you that I'm fun-loving, yet calm and meticulous. Busy professionals love my planning style. My goal is to minimize wedding stress and maximize your time to deliver your ultimate dream wedding.
- Johnna MetcalfWedding & Event PlannerMy clients have described me as a "machine." I am highly productive and thrive in high-pressure situations. I provide a streamlined and fun wedding planning journey focusing on each couple and what is at the heart of their wedding. My clients say they feel safe with me at the helm. No plan is too complex. I will engineer all the logistics and deliver excellence every time.
- Madison HansenWedding & Event PlannerGood communication is my secret weapon to successful planning. I truly love collaborating with each client. I am design driven so event styling is my sweet spot, but I love a deadline or solving any issue that pops up. I am told my positive energy is contagious...and I can talk weddings all day long.
- Claire BrownWedding & Event PlannerI am a creative force. I have a comfortable approach that allows the design and details to unfold naturally. I tend to bond with anyone from your in-laws to your bridal party. My couples love the entire planning journey with me by their side. My positive attitude will keep the planning enjoyable...I guarantee I'll be smiling the whole time!
- Kayla PfeifferWedding & Event PlannerI can handle most any situation or challenge with ease. I am relaxed and light-hearted, yet diligent and hard working. I have mastered various types of cultural and religious wedding traditions. I love that each wedding is different and I cherish the friendships I keep with my couples long after the wedding.
Availability
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0290 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Big City Bride receives glowing reviews from multiple reviewers for their exceptional wedding planning services. Clients highly praise planners like Jena and Chrissy for their meticulous attention to detail, organization, and support throughout the planning process. The team’s professionalism, vendor recommendations, and ability to execute flawless weddings are consistently highlighted. Reviewers commend the planners for their ability to bring their wedding visions to life seamlessly, making the entire experience enjoyable and stress-free. Clients express immense gratitude and recommend Big City Bride for their unparalleled service and expertise in creating beautiful and memorable wedding celebrations.Review photos
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Abby W
5.0
7/10/2025
Chrissy Magliano was truly the best wedding planner I could have asked for! We had a lot of moving parts and design elements throughout the entire day and she was so on top of everything. I knew we were in good hands with Chrissy and the entire team at Big City Bride and was able to enjoy the day knowing they had it all taken care of. Chrissy connected us with the best vendors to produce our dream wedding!!
Annaka S
5.0
6/13/2025
We knew from the start that we needed a planner who was not only highly organized and capable, but also someone who could guide us through the many nuances and challenges of wedding planning. Working with Jena from Big City Bride exceeded every one of those expectations. Her calm, confident presence and seemingly endless knowledge of vendors, logistics, and timing helped us feel prepared for every step of the process.
What stood out most was Jena’s persistence and poise. Through every curveball, she never showed anything but grace and a smile. Our wedding weekend ran with incredible precision thanks to the countless hours of planning, attention to detail, and the full BCB team’s expertise. We also appreciated Jena’s thoughtful aesthetic perspective, which made even the hardest decisions feel easy and aligned with our vision.
We’re deeply grateful to have worked with someone so trustworthy, talented, and kind. Big City Bride—and especially Jena—made the entire experience seamless and genuinely enjoyable. We would recommend this team a thousand stars if we could!
Any questions?
Emanuela F
5.0
6/03/2025
Working with Chrissy was truly one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. From the very beginning, she brought a sense of calm, clarity, and genuine care to every step of the planning process. Chrissy's attention to detail, creative vision, and deep understanding of what we wanted made us feel completely supported from start to finish.
Chrissy anticipated needs before we even had to voice them, handled logistics seamlessly, and ensured that everything ran perfectly on our wedding. Thanks to Chrissy, we were able to be fully present, knowing everything was in the best hands.
Chrissy and Big City Bride made our dream wedding a reality and we are endlessly grateful.
Vee S
5.0
6/03/2025
A type A bride’s absolute DREAM! I truly cannot speak MORE highly of Johnna Neilson, Julie Gana and Susan’s entire team at Big City Bride. They are the crème de la crème of wedding planners and we have been in the absolute best hands from our first call over a year ago until now, one week after our wedding day! Johnna runs things smoother than a jar of creamy peanut butter and will ensure you don’t lift a finger on your wedding day. From solving the smallest of hiccups until they are nonexistent, to answering every single ridiculous question, to ensuring the best vibes on our wedding weekend and throughout the entire planning process, I could not have done it at all let alone enjoyed myself as much as I did through the entire process if it wasn’t for Johnna. Every call and meeting has been so pleasant, organized and ALWAYS followed up by detailed notes and actions - which were also followed up with invite reminders to ensure things remained on track. Johnna also never made us feel bad about life getting in the way if there were any delays on our end or flexibility we needed - she remains even-keeled and fluid in however we needed her to be. Her artful balance of zen and structure are the exact recipe for an outstanding wedding planner and an unforgettable and seamless wedding weekend. She also never batted an eye or made me feel dumb about anything I brought up even when I felt super extra or nitpicky. She appreciates and values details. As happy as I am to be married to my husband, I’m also sad to lose such a wonderful and memorable part of this planning journey with Johnna. I shudder to imagine this experience without her because it could not exist in the extraordinary capacity that it came to life if it wasn’t for her and BCB. Johnna is a GEM!
Mia C
5.0
6/02/2025
Waking up the day after our wedding and feeling like it truly couldn't have gone better is one of the best feelings in the world—and that’s entirely thanks to Susan and Madison. Choosing to work with them was the easiest decision we made. Susan had already planned my sister’s wedding and several other incredible family events, so I knew we were in the best hands—and I was right.
From start to finish, Susan and Madison made the entire experience seamless, thoughtful, and beautifully executed. They handled every detail with such care and professionalism that, going into the weekend, we felt completely at ease. We knew everything had been planned to perfection, and all we had to do was enjoy.
Not only are they phenomenal planners, but they are also an absolute delight to work with. They tackled every challenge and offered multiple solutions when needed. Their vendor recommendations were spot-on, and their expert insight and experience gave us so much peace of mind throughout the process. They took our vision and brought it to life—and then somehow made it even better than we imagined.
It honestly felt like we were working with two close friends who cared about our wedding just as much as we did. They thought of everything—even the little things we never would have considered. We truly can’t say enough good things about them - already trying to come up with another excuse to plan a party just so we can work together again!
If you're lucky enough to have Susan and Madison on your team, you're in for something truly special.
Colleen C
5.0
4/14/2025
We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding planner than Johnna! From our very first meeting, she was incredibly organized, attentive, and really listened to my vision! Every detail from the selecting of vendors, to venue setup, to the timeline — it was handled flawlessly. Johnna made the entire planning process SO much less stressful for me while I am living across country planning a 250+ person wedding. Our wedding day turned out even more beautiful than we imagined, all thanks to her hard work and expertise. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a planner who truly cares and delivers above and beyond — Johnna is your girl!! Thank you to the whole big city bride team!
Julianna Z
5.0
4/09/2025
We cannot say enough wonderful things about Jena and the entire team at Big City Bride. From our very first conversation, it was clear that Jena was not only incredibly talented and professional, but also genuinely passionate about creating beautiful, meaningful celebrations.
Every detail was carefully thought out, every vendor she recommended was incredible, and the entire planning process felt seamless and organized.
Everything was absolutely perfect on the wedding day. We were able to be completely present with our family and friends, knowing that Jena had everything under control. Working with her felt like having a close friend in our corner who genuinely cared about making our day special. Our parents were so impressed with everything Jena did to help us.
Hiring Jena and Big City Bride was the best decision we made. If you’re lucky enough to have Jena as your planner, you are in the very best hands.
Kathleen S
5.0
1/24/2025
We hired Jena to be our "day-of planner" just under a year prior to our wedding, which meant we really started working with her about 6 weeks out from the big day. Jena was organized, empathetic, and solution-oriented - a combination that made her essential to have by our sides on wedding day. Both Jena and Madison, who assisted during the wedding weekend events, were so poised, calm, and collected through multiple challenges on wedding day (e.g., unexpected pouring rain, an issue with a guest moments before walking down the aisle, etc.). Jena's organizational skills and problem-solving ability paired with her positive yet calming demeanor made her the perfect person to help plan and execute our wedding. I cannot recommend Jena, Madison, and the BCB team enough. My only regret - and my suggestion to even the most organized bride - would be to get more time with Jena and team than you think you will need. As on top of things as I felt through the planning process, it would have been wonderful to bring Jena into the planning process a few weeks earlier and perhaps even have her arrive a couple hours earlier on wedding morning to help calm all the morning-of nerves.
Carol R
5.0
1/13/2025
Johnna was organized, responsive, and helped ease the stress of preparing for our wedding. She helped the day of the wedding run seamlessly! We are so grateful for her and the Big City Bride team's help in making our day so special.
Lesley B
5.0
12/19/2024
Where to even begin?! From the FIRST meeting with Arin, I knew this was going to be a special experience- she had pre-reserved our dream venue (The Field Museum!) just in case we wanted to get married in November... which we did! Arin is so full of ideas, kindness, and energy- she took my vision of color and RAN WITH IT... leading all of our vendors to create the absolute night of my dreams. Arin is incredibly responsive (nights, weekends, ALWAYS), organized, and creative. She wished me luck and sent me coffee before my dress shopping, asked for updates during my bachelorette, and even texted mere DAYS after giving birth to wish me well on wedding day. Arin shines so bright - and is a safe space in what can be a crazy/confusing industry. I am so thankful to Arin for the happiest night of my life- looking back, there isn't ONE THING I would change. It was perfect.
Katie B
5.0
12/17/2024
I really don't know how I am supposed sum up such a perfect experience with Johnna in just one review. From the very first day speaking with her, I knew she would understand my exact vision and that she would help me feel comfortable throughout the whole planning process. Her attention to detail is second to none, and I am beyond grateful that I had her quarterbacking our wedding vendor team from start to finish. One of the saddest parts of my wedding being over is that I will no longer have my regular emails and touch points with Johnna - she truly felt like an extension of our family and a trusted friend throughout the whole process. All wedding day, I joked that she was my real-life wedding fairy - she thought of absolutely everything I would need so that I could focus on having the most incredible night of my life (which I absolutely did). BCB - you have a true gem on your hands! I cannot recommend you all enough. THANK YOU for making our dream wedding into a reality.
Kara H
5.0
11/20/2024
Johnna was amazing and helpful with helping us plan and organize our wedding! She made herself available to us to navigate our vendors and make sure our vision came alive! We couldn’t have done with without her and would recommend her to anyone getting married!
Kelly E
5.0
11/06/2024
We had the best experience working with Big City Bride, and in particular our wedding planner, Johnna. Johnna and I clicked from our first call / consult. I did not have a super clear vision of my wedding, and did not know where to start, and she put me right at ease and lead us through the entire experience. Now, a bit over a month after our wedding, I am still gushing about how everything turned out. Everyone says something major always goes awry at your wedding and to just expect that….as of now I can’t think of a single thing that went remotely wrong at our wedding!
Everything came together as planned and envisioned, all tied up in a bow. And not for lack of effort! Johnna was so on top of things and knowledgable, and had a great relationship with all of our vendors. Her attention to detail and overall organization were so helpful at keeping us on track. Her recommendations and guidance were always appreciated, and she was incredibly collaborative. And her energy is infectious! Family and guests are still reaching out rehashing what an amazing weekend and beautiful day it was, and how impressed and wowed they were with all of the details. It just all came together even better than I could have envisioned or imagined. Myself, my husbands and my parents cannot stop talking about the day, and are beyond elated and impressed with how everything turned out! Thank you Johnna and Big City Bride!
Caroline Z
5.0
11/05/2024
We had Jena as our wedding planner and could not have asked for anyone better. She was on top of absolutely everything from the start. She would narrow down vendors for us and make suggestions, and she did not lead us astray a single time. Every vendor she suggested was phenomenal. She also attended and helped schedule EVERY vendor meeting with us and asked questions that we didn't even know to ask. When we weren't sure what direction we wanted to go with decor or lighting or something else, she was there to help us. I could tell that she really understood the vision that we had for our wedding day. In the days leading up to the wedding, she was right there helping us keep track of all the last minute things that needed to be done. Our wedding day went off without a hitch thanks to her! Would highly recommend Big City Bride to anyone looking for a wedding planner, their involvement and knowledge is simply unmatched.
Young Ok N
5.0
10/20/2024
When I first discussed whether to hire a wedding planner with my husband for our upcoming wedding, I was initially firm in my stance that we wouldn’t need one. However, due to things getting busy at work for us, we eventually decided to hire a planner for some help. And after going through the wedding preparations with Jena, I came to realize that working with her was one of the best decisions I made during the wedding prep process.
She is bright, professional, meticulous, and wise in leading discussions with vendors. As an expert who had planned multiple weddings, she carefully organized everything that needed to be done for us, dividing tasks effectively and ensuring everything progressed smoothly.
From working with her, we realized there were far more detailed preparations needed for the wedding than I had anticipated, but because she helped me diligently to check off tasks and make timely decisions, we were able to get through it. Meeting her felt like a true blessing! Whenever we had to negotiate with vendors, she always helped us come to wise conclusions together. She also handled difficult conversations with great sensitivity, guiding everything in a direction everyone desired.
Thanks again to meeting Jena and the Big City Bride team! We had a beautiful wedding and if someone were to ask me, I can say with conviction that Jena’s role was essential and I would highly recommend her.
Michelle T
5.0
10/11/2024
The worst part of our wedding being over is that we miss our planner! We worked with Johnna and the whole experience so surpassed expectations. From our very first conversation, Johnna just understood us. Her attention to detail, follow up, follow through, organization and responsiveness were off the charts. From day one she guided us through the wedding planning process step by step and with ease. I never once felt stressed about the wedding - I just got to have fun and enjoy being the bride. I had time to explore Etsy, order invitations and stationary and tend to those little touches that make an event. I wasn't searching for vendors, doing hours of research or anything like that. And with Johnna was so hands-on not only in the planning but in the actual wedding execution that my bridesmaids were stress free also. So many times friends and family have to jump in to help set up or tend to details. Not with Big City Bride. This meant the time I spent with my bridesmaids was joyous and having fun. They were pampered too and that was so important to me. Johnna guided us through every step, in the correct order and presented top notch vendors for our every need. And she always respected our budget (much to my husband's delight). There was never any pressure. And when something went wrong or something wasn't just right - we just called Johnna. She worked her magic and it was taken care of. Our rehearsal, wedding and post wedding celebration was absolutely everything we had envisioned (and I certainly had a big vision!). It was elegant, beautiful and one heck of a good time. Our guests are still gushing about how wonderful our wedding was and that it was so fun. With both of us working full time with busy travel schedules, there's just no way we could have pulled off such an amazing wedding without Big City Bride and Johnna. Our wedding was absolutely perfect and I can't thank them enough.
Katharine W
5.0
8/04/2024
Working with Alex and Big City Bride was the best decision we could have made for our big day! Alex helped us source amazing vendors and made it so easy to enjoy the planning process. She is extremely organized, professional, and kind! Our wedding day turned out beautifully and we are so grateful that we chose Big City Bride to be part of it! THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts, Alex and team!!!
Chelsea A
5.0
7/25/2024
We can't even begin to express how amazing it was to work with Arin and BCB. We called BCB just a week after our engagement and it was the best decision we made. Arin made wedding planning so easy and FUN! Her strong relationships with vendors across Chicago made all of our conversations and decisions so seamless. Her responsiveness, professionalism, organization, and experience made our wedding the most perfect day. It was everything we dreamt of and more. We will recommend Arin and BCB over and over again!
Caitlin M
5.0
7/09/2024
There aren't words to show our gratitude toward Johnna, Alex, and the entire team at Big City Bride (BCB). The love, support, guidance, comfort, expertise, and constant check-ins are just a few reasons BCB is the best in the industry. Alex and Johnna went above and beyond to provide us with our dream wedding. Their attention to detail from day one till the wedding day was remarkable. They truly made us feel so confident that everything would go perfectly (and it did!). We cannot recommend this team enough and we will miss working with Alex and Johnna daily. From being their clients to now friends, we could not be more thankful!
XOXO,
Caitlin & Luke
annette c
5.0
7/03/2024
Johnna & Alex are an amazing team. They were diligent in making sure all of our questions and concerns were answered promptly. They attendion to detail was exceptional. They were very proactive on making sure we staying within our buget and always put the client 1st. They were such a pleasure to work with.. Highly recommend.
Annette
Meghan J
5.0
7/02/2024
We worked with Jena for our wedding and could not be happier with the turnout. From the moment we hired Jena it gradually put my mind at ease. I am a very type A person but I will 100% say that I could not have done this without Jena. From her suggestions to making the timeline perfect and figuring all of the small details out that would have stressed me out beyond belief. Jena was such a joy to work with. She helped make my day so flawless and I was able to relax and take in every moment because I knew she had it under control. If anyone is considering a wedding planner for Chicago please please book with big city bride you will not regret it. They are extremely professional but also have the ability to make you feel so comfortable! I am so so happy with how my day turned out and I owe a lot of that to Jena!!
KATHLEEN K
5.0
6/25/2024
I worked with Jena at Big City Bride and had the best experience with her and the Big City Bride team. I couldn't have asked for a better wedding planner. Jena was organized, easy to work with, professional and incredibly kind and calm during our planning process. She made our wedding vision come true (and some). I can't recommend Jena and Big City Bride enough!
Frances E
5.0
5/31/2024
Thanks to the efforts of Johnna and the BCB team, our wedding was perfect, beyond what we could have imagined. Johnna did a fantastic job streamlining the process, presenting decisions to us on a platter, and then handling innumerable details behind the scenes. She helped us express our vision (helping us think about aspects that we never would have considered ourselves, until maybe the week before when we’d be very stressed!) and then drew on relationships and experience to make it happen. There are so many event planning tips and tricks that Johnna helped us through. Johnna managed to make it feel like we were her only clients with how she generously made herself available often and at short notice. Then on the day of the wedding, she handled coordination of so many vendors and details, solving last-minute problems as needed and letting us focus on enjoying the day. Johnna’s efforts made the whole day perfect for us, and we are so thankful. We’d wholeheartedly recommend her for any future wedding planners, and BCB as a whole consistently exceeded expectations at every step.
Jessica M
5.0
5/28/2024
We couldn't asked for a better planning team than Arin & Big City Bride! They went above and beyond every step of the way and made our wedding day so special.
Grace R
5.0
5/04/2024
We worked with Arin Busch for our Indian fusion wedding and we could not have asked for a better partner for our planning process. Arin is upbeat, super professional, very responsive, and has an eye for detail. She also is familiar with Indian wedding traditions, having planned several Indian weddings before. She had a lot of knowledge and ideas on details we wouldn't have thought of on our own. She also has very strong relationships in the industry and helped us put together an awesome team of vendors to pull off the big day. Everything went super smoothly and according to plan on our wedding day, all thanks to Arin!! We loved working with her, and many many many times said to ourselves 'THANK GOD for Arin'!!!
We are SO glad that we found Arin and chose to work with her. She really helped us make smart choices and keep everything on track, there is no way we could have done this without her!! As someone who was initially skeptical of hiring a wedding planner, I can now confidently say Arin is worth her weight in gold!! We are so grateful to her and to Big City Bride. Definitely work with them!!
Monica D
5.0
4/23/2024
My mother in law put it best- BCB is their weight in GOLD!!! Arin was absolutely amazing. She responded to correspondence almost immediately. She was willing to help with any request. And organized is an understatement! Our day went perfectly and we were able to relax and enjoy it because of BCB. Thank you so much!
Megan K
5.0
2/20/2024
As I reflect on our one year anniversary, I realize my review of Big City Brides is long overdue. Arin Busch was my saving grace during wedding planning. Her and her team are clearly pros in this business and understood what was important to me and my fiancé and helped us execute our dream wedding. Arin is creative, smart, honest, and has the best positive attitude! I was mostly impressed by her strong relationships amongst all the vendors in the business. They all had great things to say about her and BCB and were excited to work with her and us. If you want someone who understands the industry, has the right relationships, and is organized than look no further than Arin and Big City Bride. Now I need another event to plan with Arin!
Audrey J
5.0
2/20/2024
I don't know how to express how grateful I am to Big City Bride and Arin Busch (and her team) especially. They walked me through every step of this wedding journey. Arin is an absolute gem of a person and a smart, capable, supportive, creative, wedding coordinator! The wedding was beautifully done, beautifully run, and all of the vendor relationships were wonderful. Don't look anywhere else, this is the wedding planner you need!
Jillian D
5.0
1/15/2024
My husband and I got married on New Years Eve in Chicago at Union League Club. We had the most positive and enjoyable experience working with Big City Bride. Arin Busch was our wedding planner and I cannot even begin to rave about her enough. She made the entire planning process so smooth from picking vendors to day of coordination, she was truly amazing. She always gave us multiple vendor options and her recommendations were all so good. She was so responsive to my millions of questions and kept us on track with updated timeline sheets with items to be completed. She nailed every single detail and our wedding turned out so beautiful. It was truly the best day of our lives and the wedding of our dreams. Arin made that all possible! On the day of, she was so beyond organized and on top of it. She was willing to do every single task for me including running back up to my hotel room multiple times for me to get my slippers and makeup, bustling my dress, and even lint rolling the floor to make my pictures even better! I cannot recommend Big City Bride and Arin enough. We couldn't be more grateful for our experience.
Taylor H
5.0
1/02/2024
It feels like an impossible task to articulate the value and our experience working with Alex and Big City Bride. Put simply, she was the single most important vendor we chose for our wedding. As a busy working professional, wedding planning was a stressful and daunting task, but Alex sprung into action immediately after we hired her and quickly melted our stress away! Alex isn’t just organized to perfection, but she is also consistent, proactive, and simply an absolutely joy to spend time with. Our friends and family alike raved about how kind and professional she was. Because of all of her hard work, my husband and I were able to enjoy our time as an engaged couple while still having the wedding of our dreams! We are endlessly grateful for Alex and Big City Bride, and recommend to any and all couples. ❤
Julie L
5.0
12/13/2023
Perfection! Jena & Big City Bride provide a 5-star wedding planning experience. Jena helped us to plan a perfect wedding day! We are still in awe of how perfectly the day went from preparations in the morning to the final dance at midnight. Her advice was fantastic and planning was exceptional. Along the way, we kept saying that we didn’t know how we could have done it without her and the wedding day proved to be the same sentiment! It was so wonderful to see how all of the pieces fell in place to create a magical wedding day! Our family and friends were in awe of all of the carefully planned details.
Jena is truly exceptional! Her planning and vendor expertise along with her positive approach make her the perfect wedding planner! Thanks, Jena and BCB!
Lexy C
5.0
11/11/2023
I had an amazing experience with our wedding planner, Johnna! She dedicated time to understand our vision, and was not only friendly and easy to work with but also incredibly organized and hands-on. From securing vendor contacts to ensuring a flawless day, she was always responsive and went above and beyond. Her attention to detail and years of experience turned what could have been stressful into an enjoyable and fun process.
Johnna was instrumental in making our wedding a dream come true, and we couldn’t be happier with our day. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a top-tier wedding planner. Thank you, Johnna, for making our special day perfect!!
Theresa M
5.0
11/07/2023
We do not know where to even begin on describing our experience with Alex – we are honestly speechless. We were in a bind and Alex came in on short notice. When we say short notice; we parted ways with our previous coordinator due to several issues at 3PM. Our walk through was at 5pm! We hired Alex at 3:45p and she was at the venue by 4:45p, 15 mins early! Not to mention she already had a binder with our names and a picture of our venue! From that moment on, she was on top of everything. She literally took over all communication with our vendors, came up with creative solutions to potential issues, was EXTREMELY organized throughout the entire process, and professional as can be . Not to mention Alex is one of the sweetest, kindest, patient, and intelligent human beings we have ever met. We could go on and on but point being, we were beyond blessed that Alex was our coordinator, and know that our day wouldn’t have been as perfect as it was without her. Wedding planning was beyond stressful, and Alex made the process 1000x more enjoyable once we brought her on board. She is truly the best. We recommend Alex at Big City Bride to everyone we know! Thank you to Alex and Big City Bride!!!!
Josh F
5.0
11/06/2023
Johnna is the GOAT! Honestly, there is no way we could have planned this wedding without losing it on a daily. People would constantly ask us "how is wedding planning going?" Expecting us to stressfully answer the question and include colorful language. This was never the case as Johnna took care of literally everything. I HIGHLY recommend working with Johnna & BCB for all the newly engaged individuals! We love you, Johnna!
Nick S
5.0
11/03/2023
It’s proven surprisingly difficult to write this review, as even the kindest of words and feedback seem to fall short in describing our experience and time with Jena Hansen and the Big City Bride team.
The glowing reviews shared by other newlyweds mirror our experience and sentiment. The Big City Bride team upholds a standard of excellence across all aspects of the planning process, and we felt valued, respected, and prioritized from the onset. It was evident that Jena and the team were extremely thoughtful and considerate with each recommendation or suggestion — quite invaluable for us, as we never had a grand “vision” for our special day – something that most other couples had seemingly figured out well before their own planning processes. I was personally quite skeptical of wedding planners and the broader wedding industry prior to working with Jena and yet now hold entirely different views. The cost for Jena’s time and assistance was worth every cent, and she was masterful in pulling every request, idea, and suggestion into a beautiful and memorable wedding weekend.
It’s important that we briefly acknowledge Jena’s patience and grace as well. My wife and I happened to be working through one of the more difficult periods in our lives while attempting to balance the demands of work, wedding planning, and settling into a new and unfamiliar city. We found a generous amount of patience and flexibility with Jena as our wedding planner, yet unexpectedly found the support and empathy of a new friend that was able to relate on a personal level to the recent developments in our lives.
For those still undecided on a need to hire a wedding planner or Big City Bride specifically, please seriously consider reaching out, if even for a brief introductory call. It’ll be well worth your time.
Thanks, again, Jena!
Ashlee G
5.0
11/01/2023
Words cannot describe how thankful I am for making the investment into Big City Bride and our fantastic planner, Johnna. From day 1, I knew they were the firm to make our wedding dreams come true after speaking to some competitors. Johnna made it a point to understand our wants, needs, and desires and she brought them to life. She was incredibly mindful of our budget, which was a breath of fresh air. She was organized, supportive, and a confidante every step of the way. Our wedding exceeded every single dream and expectation we had, and we attribute that to Johnna and the BCB team. I can not recommend them enough. We love you, Johnna!
Samantha L
5.0
9/11/2023
The best decision I made was working with Big City Bride for my wedding. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have had Johnna Metcalf as our planner for our wedding and accompanying wedding weekend events (rehearsal dinner & day after brunch).
I spent the first months of my available wedding planning time waiting to hear back from another planner who was recommended by a friend. I woke up in the middle of the night in a panic from a wedding nightmare and realized this was a sign that I needed a different route for wedding planning. I reached out to Big City Bride and heard back immediately from Johnna. I had clarity about the process, available options and had a detailed proposal about 24 hours after our first call. The degree of professionalism and attention to detail from Johnna and BCB is outstanding!
While I knew I did not have the luxury of time, Johnna never made me feel like we were in a time crunch or panic mode. She took over the wedding planning process and assured me everything would be okay. Boy, was she right! Not only was it okay, it was stress free and so much fun!
Johnna was reliable at all times. I found her level of expertise to be top notch, both in experience and content knowledge. She was communicative and responsive always. If there was ever a detail that I needed adjusted she took care of it immediately. Her responsiveness was simply unbelievable. She is organized, calm, detailed oriented, warm, caring and friendly. The list continues for miles. Johnna is one of a kind and I hit the jackpot with her!
Not only did she execute the vision for our wedding weekend perfectly, she also had so many creative ideas that I loved! She made our wedding better than I could have ever imagined. The weekend of the wedding, Johnna was there every step of the way taking care of each and every single detail. We sat back and enjoyed each moment. Our wedding day and accompanying wedding events were FLAWLESS. My husband and our families feel like Johnna is a new member of the family. She is simply the best!
Nicole P
5.0
9/06/2023
Big City Bride made our wedding day visions come true! Please, please hire them for yours! You will not regret this. We brought them on for the last month/day of - their “petite package” and my only regret was not hiring them on sooner!! If you are on the fence about hiring a planner for the last month, TRUST ME…Big City Bride was worth their weight in gold. I had no idea how insane the last month before your wedding is. I honestly could NOT have done it without our wedding planner. We had the absolute pleasure of working with Johnna Metcalf as our planner. From the moment we connected with her I knew she was a very special person. She possess the highest level of professionalism, industry knowledge and connections, patience, organizational skills, and a calming nature and presence that can ease the worries of even the most nervous of brides. This is truly a gift. She is beyond talented and a truly exceptional wedding planner. All of my friends and family adored her on the wedding day. She went above and beyond from day one to ensure that our Big Day not only ran smoothly, but that it was perfect in every way. She even packed up all of our late night bites (that we didn’t even have a chance to eat at our wedding) and had them sent to our hotel suite! Amazing. This is just one example of all the personal touches that Big City Bride does to go above and beyond to make your day special. Our expectations were not only met, they were exceeded beyond our dreams!
Alex K
5.0
9/04/2023
I really cannot thank our wedding planner, Johnna Metcalf, enough for how amazing of a job she did in planning our wedding. I would consider myself to be organized and type A but didn't have the time to plan a 300+ person wedding myself so I knew I needed to find someone who could help me. From the get-go Johnna was meticulously detailed, which you definitely need to be in this industry and it made me feel SO at ease that every question I had, she already had the answer for me. She helped us tour 7 different venues and chose all our amazing vendors. I had asked for a little more of a moody/whimsical vibe for everything and she found the perfect vendors. She was soo organized, on track and calm throughout it all. She made me feel so comfortable and at ease the entire planning process. Everything was so transparent and she answered every little question me or my parents had while planning. Come wedding day she did an incredible job. It was honestly spectacular to see all her hard work really come together. She saw my vision and executed it perfectly. On wedding day, she was one step ahead with everything and even my bridesmaids mentioned how impressed they were with her attentiveness and organization. Everything went off without a hitch. All our friends and family have said this is the best wedding they have ever been to and truly it has SOO much to do with Johnna and the team at BCB. Jena, helped throughout the process as well and on wedding day and also did an incredible job. I had high expectations (because I am organized myself) and they surpassed them!
Kaylee L
5.0
8/31/2023
Having Johnna and the Big City Bride team there to plan our big day was one of the best decisions we made when it came to our wedding. Johnna was there from day one helping us with everything from venue selection, print materials, linen, to all the nitty gritty details that make a wedding day so special. She gave us her honest opinion, provided so much industry knowledge, and helped us select truly the best vendors to fit our vision. She was communicative, professional, sweet, easy and fun to work with! The week leading up to our wedding when everyone was asking us if we were stressed the honest answer was “no!” We felt stress free in Johnna’s hands and knew that every detail was taken care of. When my husband and I walked into our venue, we were just absolutely stunned at the how everything had come together. Every guest we spoke to during and after the wedding kept commenting on how it was the most beautiful and well executed wedding they’d ever attended. They always say something may go wrong on your wedding day but in our case, everything was done to perfection. I can confidently say that is because of Johnna!
Elana M
5.0
8/23/2023
I will never be able to find the exact words to describe how thankful I am for having Susan Cordogan and Madison Hansen as our wedding planners. Shortly after we got engaged, we connected with a few wedding planners but Susan and her team shined significantly brighter than everyone else. Susan and Madison went up to bat for us, held our hand throughout the entire planning process making it completely stress free, and we had SO MUCH FUN along the way. Needless to say with their dedication, fantastic work ethic and extensive knowledge of the industry, they curated a dream sequence of a wedding weekend for us that felt like magic. We simply cannot thank Susan and Madison enough for bringing our wildest dreams into reality. We will forever be grateful for this amazing experience and cannot recommend the BCB team highly enough!
Tessa B
5.0
8/21/2023
I have tried to write this review a couple times but I couldn't get myself to start it because I knew that it meant that my wedding was over and I will no longer get to work with the most incredible, thoughtful, knowledgeable and hard-working wedding planner Arin Busch from Big City Bride. I truly cannot express in words my gratitude for everything her, her amazing right hand woman Grace Brennan and her team did to make my dream wedding come true- but I will give it my best shot!
The wedding planning process, which can often be overwhelming, was turned into a fun, exciting and enjoyable journey thanks to Arin's impeccable organizational skills. She effortlessly managed timelines, budgets, and vendor communications, ensuring that everything ran smoothly without any stress on our end. Besides Arin's phenomenal industry knowledge, connections and vendor relationships, her ability to listen and understand our vision for our for big day was impeccable.
Whether it was over text, call or zoom- she took the time to get to know us as a couple, understand our preferences, and seamlessly blend her professional expertise with our personal style. From recommending the most epic DJ to helping us select the perfect shade of blue linen napkins, she took the time to work with me through every detail and her attention to even the smallest elements left us speechless.
If you're looking for a wedding planner who will go above and beyond to create an unforgettable celebration, look no further than Arin from Big City Bride!
Jamie R
5.0
8/19/2023
My first wedding vendor review has to be about Johnna Metcalf. Where do I even begin? Johnna is one of the most brilliant, kind, organized, warm, friendly and calm people I have ever met. She’s one of those people where you immediately feel at ease when you’re around her. Hiring her was by far our greatest wedding investment and I would hire her over and over again if I could.
She made our day absolutely flawless - if ANYTHING was sliiightly off or wrong, she caught it immediately, calmly, and handled it with poise - always reassuring us she’s got it covered. I felt 100% at ease, all day, because of her. The DETAILS of what she does for you is unmatched. She cared about our family and we all felt it.
We are obviously still on cloud 9 from the wedding, and haven’t stopped talking about it - but our most frequent compliment by far (from our bridal party and family) is how wonderful Johnna was. Thank you Johnna for the greatest weekend of our lives ❤️
Eleni L
5.0
8/18/2023
I had the absolute pleasure of working with the wonderful Johnna Metcalf for my wedding coordination! When I began the "planning process" it was clear to me that there were so many parts that went into the planning process, and initially I thought I would do it on my own because I was enjoying it so much. Our wedding was at a hotel, with a coordinator and assumed we would be fine. I spent a lot of time inquiring about different planning services, and was drawn to Big City Bride from the beginning. Johnna was the coordinator who responded to my inquiry and it was evident I wanted to work with her from our initial conversation. She not only is an expert in her field, but she has the personality and special touch you would find in a life-long friend. I immediately trusted her and knew I wanted to work with her. Although we only used Big City for their "petite service" Johnna was always available and there to help with any questions I had along the way. Fast forward to the week leading up to the wedding...OMG everyone needs a coordinator- and if you're lucky enough it would be Johnna! I cannot even begin to express how much she did to organize everything from a timeline, to collecting personals, to helping with dress changes... The list goes on and on! Our wedding day was the most special day of our lives. We had the most magical wedding and everything ran so smoothly thanks to my dream team, which included Johnna. She was there from early in the day until the very end of the night. Her energy was professional, upbeat, and efficient. I knew I did not have to worry about anything. I cannot thank her enough for all of her work! I would give my highest recommendation as her for your wedding coordinator! Thank you for everything, Johnna.
<3 Eleni and Elias Koliopoulos
Bridget B
5.0
8/16/2023
I’m fairly certain I will never be able to find the words to describe how grateful I am for having Arin Busch as our wedding planner. After getting engaged and prior to kicking-off planning in any capacity, I connected with a few different planners and Arin was the standout – by far. We fell in love with her and her energy, sincerity, timeliness, organization, and so much more. We shared our vision and she immediately understood what we were looking for – and delivered beyond our wildest dreams. Because of Arin, the planning process was entirely stress-free due to her incredible expertise (the best in the biz); her relationships with so many different vendors and venues across Chicago (+ beyond); and her meticulous attention to detail (truly unmatched). Arin quickly became like a best friend / voice of reason / someone to lean on while planning – and she was always a phone call, text, meeting, or email away. She made sure I was 110% happy with every single decision and did everything she could to make our wedding day the best day of our lives. That said, from start to finish, our wedding day WAS the best day of our lives and BEYOND perfect in every single way. We still have family and friends talking about it weeks and weeks later.. I can wholeheartedly say that none of it would have been possible without Arin & BCB – and we truly cannot thank them enough for creating the best experience we could have ever imagined. Cannot recommend them enough to anyone and everyone!
Mary Kay B
5.0
8/07/2023
There are many talented wedding planners. There is ONLY one Arin Busch. Arin curated a wedding beyond our dreams. Every single vendor she suggested completely nailed the vision of the day. Arin has exceptional taste and her attention to detail was what made the difference between Seen It Before and Pretty to “Spectacular “ and “Stunning”. The whole process of planning with Arin and BCB was fun - yes I said it - easy and stress free. The meetings at BCB’s office had the same feeling. ALL the girls were happy, helpful and so sweet. Arin’s Assistant, Grace, was a dream! She was organized, calm and always smiling. They truly are a team. Our friends and family are still talking about the wedding. It was magical! We wish we could plan 10 more weddings with Arin and BCB. She is that good!
Molly T
5.0
7/27/2023
Chrissy from Big City Bride was one of the first people we reached out to after getting engaged, and it was the best decision we made throughout the wedding planning process. Chrissy jumped in right away with her incredible energy and enthusiasm, and made the whole journey stress-free and fun! Her incredible vendor recommendations, constant communication, detailed timelines and impeccable execution made our wedding dreams come to life. We were able to go into the wedding weekend knowing every detail would be taken care of, and by the end of it we were lucky enough to have had wonderful experiences with nearly the entire BCB team. The words "thank you" will never be enough to Chrissy and everyone at Big City Bride! We will look forward to working with you for family events and celebrations for years to come. xoxo Molly and Matt
Heba E
5.0
6/30/2023
It is impossible to overstate my gratitude for having hired Big City Bride for my wedding I was fortunate to be paired with Jena, who was a perfect planner in every way. Working with Jena was a breeze. She is extremely organized, communicative, and friendly. Nothing phased her!
I was planning my wedding remotely from LA, so I relied heavily on Jena's suggestions, especially for floral and decor. (It all turned out beautifully, by the way!) She set up virtual meetings with vendors, which was super helpful.
Jena was great at having my back when it came to getting what I wanted and also providing context for pricing. I never felt like she was pushing for something I didn't want or wasn't comfortable with. In fact, she would often remind me that it's ok to change my mind or ask for adjustments when needed!
I am a very anxious person, but when the wedding day came around I was sooo calm because I was sure that Jena — and Grace, who joined for the wedding day as an assistant — had everything under control. Jena and team thought of absolutely everything, and even had backup plans in case we needed them. Of course, there were some unavoidable hiccups on the day of, but they were able to problem-solve with us in real time so we could focus on enjoying the company of our guests and not worrying about minor things! I was so grateful for that. My family and bridal party loved working with Jena too.
I had so much fun at my wedding and received so many compliments. I'm 100% sure that so much of that was due to BCB's diligent work. Hire BCB for your wedding!
Joey K
5.0
6/07/2023
Arin (Calamari) Busch, Grace Brennan and the BCB team are amazing! Our family has relied on their expertise for two weddings, and we couldn't imagine choosing anyone else. They helped take a lot of stress out of the planning process and took care of every single detail on the actual day. It was a breeze working with them – they recommended the best vendors, set up meetings, and made sure everything was done well ahead of time. We were married in Grand Rapids Michigan & despite being out of their core geography, the team made it so easy to find & choose vendors. On the wedding day, she was there, making sure everything went off without a hitch, and we can't recommend Arin, Grace and BCB enough!
If you're looking for a wedding planner who will create a stress-free experience, execute flawlessly, and feel like a friend along the way, BCB is the perfect choice.
Anne B
5.0
6/05/2023
We were so incredibly impressed with Big City Bride and specifically our wedding planner, Claire Weller. She was amazing from beginning to end. Claire really listened to our vision and brought all of our ideas to life. She is incredibly creative and added special touches to the wedding/reception that I never would have considered. She was so friendly and many people complimented us on her demeanor throughout the event. We could not have pulled off our wedding without Claire. I highly, highly recommend Claire and Big City Bride for your wedding or event.
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Big City Bride
Claire Brown
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Wedding & Event Planner
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