Just 10 People—and One Dog—Attended This Micro Wedding on the Chicago Waterfront

As freshmen at Vanderbilt University in 2008, Danny and Emily found themselves hanging out when his friend met her roommate, but the pair had an instant connection. "From the beginning, Danny was always 'my person,'" says Emily. The relationship continued through college and beyond, as both Emily and Danny stayed at Vanderbilt for medical school. "I can't imagine doing it all without him," she says. Nearly a decade after their first meeting, Danny proposed during a low-key walk in Chicago with the couple's dog, Hank. "After asking Emily's parents for her hand in marriage, her mom helped me find the perfect ring," he says. "When it came time to propose, I knew that Emily wouldn't want a scene. With Hank beside me, we got a 'yes.'"

Emily and Danny began planning a 200-person black-tie wedding at The Ivy Room in Chicago for 2020. "Just three months out from our wedding date, we cancelled the entire celebration," the bride and groom say. "COVID-19 made us reevaluate everything. We knew that risking the health and safety of loved ones was not an option." After a month-long break from planning, the couple pivoted their plans to include a smaller ceremony—for just 10 immediate family members—and an intimate dinner at their original venue. "We knew our wedding was just one special day in the span of a very special lifetime together," the couple share. "We had the support of our families from day one, and they remained open to new ideas as our vision changed."

The couple and their family wore masks during the ceremony and other indoor parts of their day, but planned an outdoor meal that allowed them to safely interact without face coverings. Danny's immediate family drove to the wedding—instead of flying—and the smaller guest list allowed the couple to incorporate heirloom votives and glassware on their table. "When you think about your wedding, focus on what really matters to you and make it happen in a safe, special way," they say. "If you can't have it all right now, just remember there will always more reasons to celebrate in the future."