About your Team
Hey there! I’m Rachel MacQueen, the CEO and one of our lead wedding coordinators of Firmly Rooted Events here in Chicago.
My story started where many future wedding planners find themselves: On the other side of the aisle. My husband and I got married in 2021, and just like our plant collection, my passion for wedding planning thrived in the pandemic.
Firmly Rooted Events was inspired by the promise of a firmly rooted marriage. With our expertise – and a little sunlight!— our couples begin their lives together forever lush and in love, with none of the stress.
Since my wedding, I’ve planned over 50 weddings in Chicago and its surrounding areas, and the blooms keep reaching new heights every season. Ironically… we also have over 50 houseplants now!
Between my open door communication policy, calm head and heart in the midst of any day of chaos, and quick thinking in the moment, our couples “couldn’t imagine their day without us,” were “truly able to be present” and “felt comfortable in all steps of the day and before our wedding.”
When I’m not making sure your photographer isn’t in the bathroom and about to miss the first dance, you can find me:
Binging YouTube: Trixie Mattel or Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast to name a few…
Shopping at greenhouses (Proud plant parent here!)
In a tennis match with my husband right next to Lake Michigan
Playing with our corgi, Pierogi <3
I’m really looking forward to hearing about you and your love story! You can tell me all about you and your story in our contact page.
Meet Tori, another lead coordinator!
Tori grew up in Brookfield and now lives in Romeoville with her husband, 2 baby boys, and 2 corgis named Winnie and Turbo. She got her start with her own wedding too about 5 years ago and loved every step of the way. Her favorite thing about working weddings now is getting to see each couple’s favorite people all celebrating together. Outside of working weddings, Tori enjoys hosting game nights, spending time outdoors with her kids, and going on vacations (usually to Disney, haha!).
Meet Claire, administrative assistant and lead coordinator!
Claire started working weddings almost 2 years ago and has had a blast ever since. Her favorite thing about coordinating weddings is when couples infuse their personalities into every detail of their day to make each celebration unforgettable. She is currently residing in Batavia planning her own wedding for this fall! When she’s not working weddings or planning her own, Claire spends her time at the gym, in the kitchen trying out new recipes, or by the piano writing songs!
What other couples are saying:
“Booking Rachel was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding day. She was incredibly professional, extremely punctual and well-prepared, as well as easy-going, and so easy to be around. She was a joy to work with. She made the whole day a breeze for us and infinitely less stressful than we anticipated.”
- Freddy and Emma, Saddle and Cycle Club in Chicago
“We planned a 100 guest wedding in 2 months - that our guests are continuing to rave about, stating how well organized the event was. None of this would have been possible without Rachel's support. She truly was the key to a successful wedding.”
- Kirsten and Manny, Danada House in Wheaton
“Rachel was great to work with! She was attentive to detail, organized, and gave great resources to make wedding planning a breeze. She was easy to communicate with and was always quick to answer any questions.”
- Abbey and Kevin, Hyatt Regency in Schaumburg