
Ever After: Krista Wager & Russell Huang
Krista Wager, 30, and Russell Huang, 29, met during their first days of medical school at Northwestern University. “We pretty much became best friends and were inseparable from day one,” Wager says. “We were study buddies.” It wasn’t until later in the school year that they confessed they had feelings for one another and started dating. During their fourth year of med school, Huang surprised Wager with a proposal during a trip to Arches National Park.
They found their dream venue in the Art Institute’s Modern Wing. “We were looking for [something] that really showcased Chicago, because we feel like it’s such a part of our love story,” Wager says. “I absolutely love the Art Institute,” Huang adds. “I could go there 30 days in a row and be totally fulfilled.”
They wed in a summer ceremony in the museum’s light-filled Griffin Court officiated by two friends who had closely witnessed their med school romance. Their vows elicited tears and laughs, with Huang vowing to “not ask you too many questions during episodes of ‘The Real Housewives’” and Wager vowing to “always love your new haircut, even when you do it yourself and can’t see the back.”
Cocktail hour on the terrace and a reception in Terzo Piano followed, along with late-night walking tacos from Big Star, where they went on their first date. They now live in River North and are doctoral residents at Northwestern, he in ophthamology and she in pediatrics at Lurie Children’s Hospital. They mini-mooned in Cancun and hope to honeymoon in Europe next year.
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS
Photography: Jeremy Lawson Photography, jeremylawsonphotography.com
Venue: Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan, artic.edu
Planner: Lori Stephenson, LOLA Event Productions, 1917 N. Milwaukee, lolaeventproductions.com
Bride’s attire: Vagabond Bridal from Lovely Bride, 182 Duane, New York, NY, lovelybride.com
Bride’s accessories: Shoes by Badgley Mischka from Saks Fifth Avenue, 700 N. Michigan, saksfifthavenue.com; veil from Lovely Bride; borrowed sister’s ring and grandmother’s necklace
Groom’s attire: Ted Baker from Nordstrom, 55 E. Grand, shop.nordstrom.com
Groomsmen’s attire: The Black Tux, 917 W. Armitage, theblacktux.com
Hair and makeup: Korena Robinson, korenarobinson.com; Andie Cumber, andiecumber.com
Catering: Terzo Piano, 159 E. Monroe, terzopianochicago.com; Big Star (late-night snacks), 1531 N. Damen, bigstarchicago.com
Dessert: Funfetti cake with rainbow sprinkles by Sweet Mandy B’s, 1208 W. Webster, sweetmandybs.com
Floral: White peony bouquets and succulent corsages by Exquisite Designs, 2010 Fulton, exqdesigns.com
Transportation: M&M Limo, 233 S. Wacker, mmlimo.com
Videography: HWY 61 Films, 1917 N. Milwaukee, highway61films.com