Love Stories: Clarence and Priscilla Booth’s Chicago Indoor Garden Wedding

The love story of Clarence and Priscilla Booth is made of fate and love. — Photos by Jermaine Horton Studios

It is often said that the best things in life happen when we least expect them. For Clarence and Priscilla Booth, their journey led to a breathtaking Chicago indoor garden wedding that perfectly reflected their romance, style and shared vision.

What began as a chance meeting ultimately blossomed into a love story defined by intention and connection. At the time, Clarence was living in Chicago, building a successful career in tech, while Priscilla was in Dallas, thriving in her work as an anesthesiologist. Both were entering new chapters of life after previous relationships and focusing on themselves, their growth and their careers.

When Clarence traveled to San Antonio in May 2022 to celebrate an anniversary, the visit soon turned into an impromptu weekend trip to Dallas after his friend Jonathan convinced him to keep the celebration going. Jonathan reached out to his childhood friend Andrea to join them at brunch. The trio then went to a party in Forney, Texas. What started as a casual afternoon among friends unknowingly set the stage for Clarence and Priscilla’s paths to cross.

How They Met

While at the party, Andrea convinced her friend and co-worker Priscilla to join them. Priscilla had been in Downtown Dallas speaking with medical students and was on post-call for the hospital that day. Being an hour away from the hospital in case she was needed made the decision even harder. Still, Andrea wouldn’t take no for an answer. That persistence would change everything.

The connection was immediate.

“This was a complete ambush! But there was a natural chemistry,” recalls Priscilla. “It was raw, emotionally charged chemistry that everyone around us could see.”

As all weekends do, the time came for Clarence to return to Chicago. The two stayed in touch. Within a month of meeting, they were frequently connecting over phone and video chat. One evening while Clarence was packing for a trip, Priscilla fell asleep during their call. Clarence kept the video chat going while he packed.

The next morning, Clarence texted Priscilla saying, “Let’s have breakfast.”

Still half asleep, Priscilla assumed he meant breakfast together over Zoom. A few minutes later, she received another message showing an Uber location. “He was on his way to my house! I am scrambling at this point!” exclaims Priscilla.

Clarence had flown back to Texas to see her. “The last two or three relationships didn’t work. We reached the 30-day mark, and I had to see if there was substance here,” recalls Clarence. “The connection was there, but I didn’t trust it at first because of being wrong about people in previous relationships.”

“I was floored! I was excited!” Priscilla says. “It could have gone two ways—the guy could’ve turned out to be a creep. But him coming to Texas I took as a gesture that he was serious. After all, he bought a ticket and showed up at my place early in this. In all honesty, we should never have met. I wasn’t going to go to the party. I was not looking for anything or anyone; it wasn’t my focus,” adds Priscilla.

As the relationship blossomed the couple made every effort to see each other despite their demanding schedules. Clarence’s travel schedule meant learning how to balance work with their growing relationship. “I never wanted long-distance relationships,” he admits. “But with Priscilla, this didn’t feel like a burden.”

They took trips to spend time together. One memorable trip took them to Miami for Art Basel. “It was a great backdrop and gave us opportunity to really get to know each other,” says Clarence.

The Proposal

Clarence Booth surprised Priscilla with a trip to Costa Rica to ask for her hand in marriage. — Photo by Cami Molina Fotografia

After two-and-a-half years of navigating long-distance and demanding work schedules, Clarence knew there was more waiting for them than weekend visits and plane tickets. Distance and time had complicated things, but one thing was certain for Clarence—Priscilla would be his wife and join him in Chicago.

With that in mind, he made a bold move. He began searching for a home in Chicago, eventually putting in three offers and sharing each option with Priscilla. Together, they chose the one that felt right. “I knew we couldn’t build anything more unless we closed the distance gap,” Clarence says.

For his birthday the pair traveled to Turks & Caicos with friends. While the trip was a celebration, Clarence admits the constant travel had begun to wear on him. “I was getting so tired of traveling,” he says.

Still, one final trip remained—a surprise getaway for Priscilla to Costa Rica in July 2024.

But before Costa Rica, Clarence made an important stop. The day before their trip, he flew to Detroit to ask Priscilla’s parents for their blessing. He played a round of golf with her father and asked him for his daughter’s hand on the greens. He later met with her mother and stepfather to ask for their blessing.

Once in Costa Rica, the couple stayed in a private beachfront villa. What Clarence didn’t realize when planning the proposal was that it was the rainy season on the island. Undeterred, he proposed on the beach as rain fell, while a photographer discreetly captured the moment from afar. Inside the villa, a private chef was preparing a five-course meal for the newly engaged couple to celebrate.

The couple set their wedding date for August 30, 2025. In February 2025, Priscilla relocated to Chicago, marking the beginning of their next chapter together.

Priscilla admires her custom engagement ring while in Costa Rica. — Photo by Cami Molina Fotografia

The newly engaged couple share a kiss under an umbrella in rainy Costa Rica. — Photo by Cami Molina Fotografia

The Details

With demanding careers, Priscilla and Clarence entrusted Denise Bonds of Windermere Events & Getaways in Chicago—who also happens to be Clarence’s aunt—to bring their wedding vision to life.

From the outset, the couple knew exactly what they wanted and remained deeply involved throughout the planning process. For Clarence, the wedding was meant to be a visual expression of what Priscilla means to him as well as a celebration of the love and appreciation they share for the people in their lives.

For Priscilla, the atmosphere of the day was just as important as the design. “I appreciate tradition, but I wanted our day to feel festive and full of warmth, like home rather than overly ceremonial or parochial.”

Their vision was an elevated rooftop garden aesthetic layered with lush blue, purple and green florals with abundant greenery. “Priscilla wanted wildflowers without being wild,” says Bonds.

With 285 guests—and an adults-only celebration—the couple needed a venue that could accommodate their vision while still maintaining an intimate atmosphere. They selected The Geraghty in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, transforming the raw space into an elegant, intimate indoor garden oasis. The open floor plan was divided into three distinct environments—ceremony, cocktail hour and reception—allowing guests to move seamlessly through luxurious draped passageways that created the feeling of stepping through a series of curated garden moments.

The ceremony setting was breathtaking. Suspended above the altar was a dramatic circular ceremony ring draped in white silk wisteria, hanging Amaranthus, silk wild smilax vines, green Spanish moss and delicate greenery. The aisle and alter were lined with clusters of allium, roses, delphinium, scabiosa, ranunculus, lisanthus, ferns and mixed foliage that led to a round altar wrapped in white linen.

At the center sat a ceremony table holding the bride’s grandfather’s Bible—a meaningful tribute to his legacy. His protégé, Rev. Jonathan Van Ellis, officiated the ceremony in his honor.

Soft lighting from above cast intricate patterns across the white aisle runner, while faux dogwood and white wisteria trees lined the walls with backlighting. Guests were seated in clear Lucite chairs arranged around the altar, creating an intimate, cocoon-like atmosphere that surrounded the couple.

A trio of live musicians—a violinist, cellist and bassist—played as the wedding party made their way down the aisle. Priscilla’s nephews served as the Flower Man and ring bearer, while her brother had the honor of laying the broom for the couple to jump. “The ceremony was traditional and reverenced by God,” Priscilla says. “We honored my grandfather, a Baptist preacher, by having his Bible on the altar with us.”

The groom wore a custom double-breasted tuxedo while the groomsmen wore semi-custom tuxedos from Suitsupply Chicago with tailored shirts. Instead of floral boutonnieres, the groom and his groomsmen wore African lapel brooches with beveled edges and in gold and diamonds. “It was something unique and different that I suggested since flowers are not really Clarence,” says Bonds.

The bride wore a Netta BenShabu gown with a detachable overskirt, allowing her to transition seamlessly into the reception without stepping away from the celebration. “I did not want to miss any part of the wedding to do a wardrobe change,” she says. “I wanted to spend as much time with family as possible.” Her cascading bouquet, a vibrant mix of orchids, cala lilies, dahlias, roses and greenery, echoed the garden-inspired design.

For the bridal party, Priscilla opted for individuality within a cohesive palette. Bridesmaids selected their gowns with two simple guidelines: each dress needed to be long and black. “I have been to weddings where one dress style doesn’t work for everyone. I wanted my girls to choose the dress that worked for their body type; I wanted them to feel beautiful,” she says.

While the ladies were getting ready for the big day, Priscilla surprised them with strippers who came to the suite to serve Champagne and get the party started. Meanwhile, the men enjoyed their bonding time over cigars and Champagne while helping the groom get ready.

The Celebration

Post-ceremony, guests transitioned into the next “space” of the evening for a two-hour cocktail reception.

As guests entered, they were welcomed by a custom monogram projection cast onto the floor—an elegant, immersive detail that set the tone from the very first step inside. Rendered in a soft, luminous wash of light, the design unfolded like a garden motif beneath their feet. Delicate, organic lines echoed the rooftop garden theme, resembling stylized leaves drifting across a dark surface. At its center, the couple’s initials were thoughtfully intertwined, with their wedding year noted beneath as an “established” mark—a subtle nod to the beginning of their life together.

“The cocktail hour was epic,” recalls Clarence. “We had Champagne, a hand-pulled mozzarella station, and a tequila and caviar rolling cart. The food was flowing. Our guiding principle for the food was to create a menu that reflected our taste.”

While live string music filled the space, the newlyweds, best man and maid of honor (and the photographer) quietly slipped away to a photoshoot downtown with Clarence’s vintage Mustang.

As cocktail hour concluded, guests were invited into the final space for an evening dinner, dancing and celebration. The seating chart was intentionally mixed, encouraging guests from both sides of the family to connect. Dinner selections included braised Wagyu beef cheek and herb‑crusted rack of lamb, Piki Piki Corvina and roasted cauliflower steak with grilled vegetables.

The softly lit ambience carried the rooftop garden theme throughout the reception space, reflected in both the table settings and dance floor. Round and rectangular tables were draped in full-length Juliette Pearl base linens and Lapis Contour & Raisin Lennoz linens in ivory, burgundy and blue. Atop brushed gold rim glass chargers, contour-folded napkins mirrored the linen palette, while classical gold brush flatware completed each setting. Clusters of tall glass hurricanes with gold trim paired with delicate votives cast a warm, romantic glow across the tables.

Glassware included specially ordered Italia cut crystal smoke goblets for Champagne and Italia cut crystal wine glasses, while the bar served libations in Napa glassware.

Centerpieces featured lush garden-style arrangements blending sculptural blooms and softer floral elements. The faux trees from the ceremony lined the walls, adding depth and dimension to the space. A striking focal point emerged in the form of a tropical sculptural installation composed of king portea, allium, palm fronds, elephant ear leaves, ferns and other textural greenery.

The garden theme extended onto the custom nature-inspired dance floor, which evoked a “midnight garden in bloom” mood with its shades of green, gold and cream, and palm frond motif. Overhead, sculptural, modern light installations hung from the ceiling, reading more as art pieces than traditional lighting and enhancing the evening’s romantic atmosphere.

The custom five-tier wedding cake featured a series of perfectly rounded tiers that formed a striking, modern yet artsy architectural silhouette. The colors blended perfectly with the overall color scheme. At its center, the couple’s custom monogram—the same logo that welcomed guests.

As stunning as it was visually, the cake delighted guests with a variety of flavors, including lemon with lemon curd filling, vanilla with strawberry whipped ganache, red velvet with cream cheese filling and marble with cream cheese filling. In addition to the wedding cake, guests enjoyed a rolling cobbler cart and individual strawberry rhubarb cobbler and ice cream.

As the evening unfolded, guests were treated to a dynamic mix of entertainment, with both a DJ and a live band keeping the dance floor energized. A photobooth offered a playful touch while outside, guests walked a red carpet leading to a luxury Airstream transformed into a cigar lounge, where they enjoyed top-shelf scotch and whisky from Clarence’s private collection. “It was all chromed out,” says Clarence. “At some point, the party moved to the Airstream.”

For the after-party, guests gathered for tacos, Champagne and tequila—a meaningful nod to the couple’s tradition of ending their date nights with tacos, and a fitting close to a celebration defined by personal detail and an unforgettable experience.