Riverside Bride

By
November 2019 View more

Though Gina Coleman and Tom Day both grew up in Wheaton and recently moved to Chicago’s Gold Coast, much of their love story revolves around Naperville.

A friend of Coleman’s happened to be dating Day’s roommate, which led to their first meeting at a get-together of mutual friends in Naperville five years ago. They exchanged numbers and were in touch again the next day. “I don’t think we ever stopped talking since the day we met,” says Coleman, 26, a digital marketing account manager for C-4 Analytics in Chicago. “She likes to talk and I like to listen a lot,” says Day, 28, a sales arborist for the Davey Tree Expert Company in Wheeling. “We get along really well in that aspect!” 

They later moved into a Naperville apartment together and adopted a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Quigley, named for their favorite downtown Naperville pub. In the spring of 2016, Day popped the question to Coleman at home and surprised her with an engagement party of family and friends gathered on their building’s terrace. Their rehearsal dinner was in another beloved hangout, Empire. 

Their wedding began with an outdoor ceremony at Naperville Country Club, where they recited their vows under a greenery-draped wooden arch handcrafted by a friend. Day, a White Sox season ticket holder, surprised Coleman by bringing along their jerseys to wear for a photo op after the ceremony. Together with their bridal party, they boarded a bright white trolley and rode to the Naperville Riverwalk to take photos before their reception for 180 guests at Elements at Water Street in the Hotel Indigo. 

Though feasting, toasting, and dancing with their guests made for a night of celebration, one of their most treasured moments as a newlywed couple took place before the wedding reception even started. 

“We got to go into the reception space before the cocktail hour was over,” Coleman says. “It was so nice and quiet … and we got to walk around and see everything before anyone else came in.” 

WEDDING DETAILS 

Venue: Naperville Country Club and Elements at Water Street at Hotel Indigo, Naperville

Bride’s attire: Lovers Society gown from Lovely Bride, Chicago

Bridesmaid’s attire: Amsale gowns from Brideside, Chicago

Hair and makeup: Luxe Traveling Hair & Makeup Team, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Groom’s and groomsmen’s attire: Men’s Wearhouse, various locations

Catering: Elements at Water Street at Hotel Indigo, Naperville

Music: Soda (ceremony musicians and reception band)

Cake: DeEtta’s, Naperville

Florist: Amy Constanzo, Aim Studios

Invitations: Mitch Rice, the bride’s uncle

Rings: New York Jewelers, Chicago

Transportation: Way To Go Trolley & Bus Rental, Palatine

Videographer: Anchored Films, West Chicago

Photos by Adams Photography