This week: The League of Chicago Theatres’ Spring Gala, John Waters at Harris Theater, the Chicago Memorial Day Parade and more.

May 20: The League of Chicago Theatres’ Spring Gala

Jeff Perry, co-founder of Steppenwolf Theatre and star of ABC’s “Scandal,” and Michael Halberstam, artistic director of the Writers’ Theatre, will be honored at this annual event, which ranks among the biggest nights in Chicago theater and brings out the best and brightest in the scene.

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Place: InterContinental Chicago, 505 N. Michigan

Cost: $300. Call (312) 554-9800 or visit Chicagoplays.com/league-annual-gala.com.

May 22: ‘The Artist in All’ (above)

Organized by Misericordia’s Sibling Organization, this 16th annual exhibition and art auction (which also offers cocktails and hors d’oeuvres) features more than 150 original works created by the residents of the Misericordia Heart of Mercy Home, which provides housing, support and services for adults and children with developmental disabilities.

Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: The Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago, 159 E. Monroe

Cost: $160. Call (773) 273-2756 or visit Misericordia.org.

May 21: John Waters at Harris Theater

From “The Book of Mormon” to “Breaking Bad,” pop culture has finally caught up with the less-than-proper sensibilities of filmmaker/screenwriter/actor John Waters, the man behind “Hairspray” and “A Dirty Shame.” But no one explicates the appeal of the banal, gross and deviant quite like the Baltimore native.

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Place: Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph

Cost: $55-$75. Call (312) 334-7777 or visit Harristheaterchicago.org.

May 25: Chicago Memorial Day Parade

Since 1870, Chicagoans have taken to the streets to honor the men and women who have served our country. This year’s parade kicks off with the traditional wreath-laying ceremony, followed by a reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, penned 150 years ago.

Time: Wreath ceremony 11 a.m.; parade at noon

Place: Ceremony at Daley Plaza, Dearborn and Washington; Parade proceeds south on State from Lake to Van Buren.

Cost: Free. Visit Cityofchicago.org.

May 25: ‘Vienna from a different angle’

To celebrate the launch of its new direct flights from Chicago to Vienna, Austrian Airlines is bringing in Viennese dancers for a sky-high performance. The vertical dance routine is inspired by the city’s music scene, food and wine traditions and the waltz, and audience members are inspired to get gutsy and try a vertical stroll between shows.

Time: 1 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Place: Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand

Cost: Free. For more information, visit Vienna.info/vertical.

Taking a chance on Match.com proved instantly fruitful for Kasey Rose and Chad Barnard. After signing up for the online dating site in 2008, the two were each other’s first dates, and they hit it off immediately. Rose and Barnard didn’t wait long to start a family — three years after meeting, they had a daughter, Emmy Lou, and tied the knot at Hacienda San Angel in Puerto Vallarta surrounded by 23 of their friends and family members. Family was paramount throughout the event: Rose’s brother, Bryce, officiated the ceremony and her mom — who was diagnosed with advanced cancer just prior to the wedding — gave a heartfelt speech wishing her daughter and new son well. “She was the most important part of the day,” says Rose.

After saying “I do,” the couple was escorted out of the chapel by a mariachi band and led to the cocktail reception, where they took a shot at the tequila bar to celebrate their union. The two then took to the dance floor, where they impressed guests with a choreographed East-Coast swing and Lindy Hop number — complete with a pancake lift that had Barnard flipping Rose over. Though the guest list was small, the mood stayed lively late into the night. “Twenty people partied like 100,” laughs Rose.

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos by Billy Rood

This week, we cheers Griffin Eliott, ULTA Beauty and Garth Helm.

Welcome to the newest member of the team at Sepia, head bartender Griffin Elliott (above), who will be mixing cocktails for the restaurant’s patrons from his brand new menu starting this week.

The West Loop got a makeover with the help of ULTA Beauty, which opened its latest store May 17 at 16 S. Halsted. The shop stocks more than 20,000 beauty products and features an in-store hair salon and mini-spa.

We’re applauding Berwyn native Garth Helm on his Tony Award nomination for Best Sound Design of a Musical for his work in “Pippin” at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway.

Though Joe Leonard and Caren Anderson grew up in the same South Side neighborhood — and attended nearby high schools — the two never crossed paths. It took a Motown-themed dance party at Western Illinois University for the pair to meet and fall in love. “Joe’s dance moves attracted me to him,” jokes Anderson. Seven years later, Leonard, now a paramedic at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Anderson, a PR exec for Wagstaff Worldwide, began planning a Chicago wedding. But midway through they had a change of heart, and 71 of their friends and family members flew to Negril, Jamaica April 20 to watch them tie the knot.

After a quick beach ceremony, where immediate family members made up the wedding party, Leonard kicked off the Motown-filled reception by bringing back his famous dance moves. Guests kept the party going late into the night, and Anderson and Leonard continued their paradisiacal vacation with a honeymoon in nearby Ocho Rios. “It felt really special to be around all of our friends and with such an intimate group,” says Anderson. “That’s exactly what we wanted.”

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos courtesy Laurie Schuetter, Elle Rose Photo

This week: Mark Shouger, Richard Deb, River North Design District and Pomellato.

Spotted: Pomellato’s ‘Tango’ ring on the finger of Jennifer Lopez (above). The pop star wore the 18K rose gold and brown diamond sparkler in her new music video for the single “Live It Up.” Shop the jewelry line at 41 E. Oak.

Hats off to Mark Shouger, new senior director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. The former general manager of theWit Hotel will now oversee the 15-story house at 211 E. Grand, which provides care and comfort to families of young patients being treated at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.

We’re wishing Richard Demb of Abesmarket.com well with his new venture, Abe’s Services, a directory of the city’s best eco-friendly health and wellness services, such as yoga studios, acupuncturists, holistic vets, nutritionists and trainers.

Cheers to the River North Design District, which recently announced the launch of their neighborhood association, a group of local interior design product showrooms located on the street level of the Merchandise Mart (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza). Mike Cao, owner of Casa Spazio and Jesse Home Element, will be serving as the association’s president.

Eat Greek came by to drop off gyros and spanakopita for happy hour at the Sun-Times. Visit them on their website or on Facebook here!

Diana Gramenos’ and Scott Hoyer’s trip down the aisle was all about simplicity. The duo met on Match.com in 2011, got engaged one year later and spent just five months planning their April 21 nuptials at Loft on Lake (1366 W. Lake). “We were on the verge of eloping, so the key was not looking at more than one of anything,” laughs Gramenos.

Hoyer, a sales manager at Select Plus, a division of Sittercity, and Gramenos, the attorney president of Disability Corner, invited 70 friends and family members to their ceremony, where they exchanged vows and officiate Rev. Phil Landers shared the sweet story of their courtship. Gramenos and her father — a former dance teacher who celebrated his 81st birthday that same day — kicked off the reception with a fox trot, which required only a quick rehearsal in the bridal suite to perfect. Guests then formed a circle for a nontraditional game of spin the bottle: When the bottle pointed at each participant, they had to freestyle-dance to a playlist crafted by Hoyer, who’s a musician in his free time. The evening wound down on a sweet note as the couple cut into a cake that was a mini replica of Gramenos’ dress —one of their favorite details of the evening.

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos courtesy Emily Gualdoni

This week: Cast members of Divergent at the Crosstown Classic, Dr. Steven Dayan, Horacio Nieto and Michelle Forst.

• Spotted: Splash friend and columnist Justine Fedak taking actors Christian Madsen, Ben Lamb, Ben Lloyd Hughes and Jai Courtney (above) from the film “Divergent” to the ballpark May 27 to watch the Cubs and Sox face off.

• We’re thrilled for plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Dayan, who released his new book, Subliminally Exposed — which explores beauty, attraction and mating — June 4. Purchase it at Barnesandnoble.com.

• We’re wishing local fashion desinger Horacio Nieto well as he heads to Columbus, Ohio for his new role as manager of product development at Abercrombie & Fitch’s headquarters. He’ll be back in Chicago once a month to work with his clients and will show his fall and spring collections here.

• Congrats to George the Salon (23 W. Hubbard) stylist Michelle Forst, who was picked to select her favorite hair products for InStyle magazine’s annual Best Beauty Buys Awards.

When it came time to pick the perfect venue for their March 2 nuptials, Amanda Rauschkolb and Brandon Roth looked at about 30 locations before settling on the Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago (909 N. Michigan). “There was definitely a learning curve,” Rauschkolb says with a laugh. “I was never one of those girls who knew exactly what she wanted for her wedding.” Rauschkolb was much more decisive when it came to the rest of her wedding plans: She selected a dress in just one weekend and only looked into a few options for food, flowers and hair and makeup teams.

On their wedding day, Rauschkolb and Roth kicked things off by taking photos all over the city, finally landing at Union Station with their wedding party, where the guys took tequila shots and the girls posed for more pictures. The group then headed back to the Westin, where they welcomed 150 guests from across the country — many from Rauschkolb’s home state, New York, and Roth’s hometown of Milwaukee — and Skyped in Roth’s grandparents from Florida for the Ketubah signing, a Jewish tradition. After dinner and speeches, the couples’ favorite sweets were doled out, including black-and-white cookies ordered in from New York that kept energy high for the rest of the night.

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos by Leo & Jenny Photography

This week, we raise our glasses to Dana Polonsky, William Heard and Mallory Ulaszek.

• We’re thrilled for Dana Polonsky, who’s joining Yorgo Koutsogiorgas and the rest of the Giordano’s family as the company’s new director of real estate development. Polonsky was formerly the director of corporate development for Five Guys Enterprises, and held similar positions with Noodles & Company and Caribou Coffee.

• Cheers to William Heard of Heard Capital LLC, who was selected as one of three hedge fund managers to present at The Real Big Pitch June 5 at the InterContinental in NYC.

• We’re toasting CB (662 N. Western, Lake Forest) owner Mallory Ulaszek, who celebrated her shop’s one-year anniversary June 6 with an in-store bash featuring red, white and dessert wines from Terlato Wines International and light fare from Markethouse (611 N. Fairbanks).

Send us your cheers! 

If you have good news to share — or if you’d like your wedding featured — send a note to Splash@suntimes.com. 

Thirteen-year-old Hayden Katz’s recipe for a perfect Bar Mitzvah was simple: a fire pit, gooey chocolate chip cookies, shots of milk and a great soundtrack. More than 200 of Katz’s closest friends and family members made his dream a reality, showing up to the Highland Park Community House (1991 Sheridan) for Camp Katz — a theme he chose based on fond memories from his six summers spent at Maine’s Camp Cedar. Katz’s camp friends flew in from Connecticut, Maryland and Ohio for the occasion, making the day extra-special by giving speeches at the party.

Guests then snacked on sliders, mac ‘n’ cheese and fries, catered by Jamie Thompson of Personal Touch Events, before watching a video montage of Katz that included his Bar Mitzvah ceremony, which took place outside of Jerusalem on top of Masada. Proud parents Jill and Howard Katz looked on from the “Counselor Lounge” with other adults as the kids hit the dance floor. “My Bar Mitzvah was a four-hour, non-stop party. I spent months developing the song list,” says Katz. Post-party, the Katz’s honored Hayden’s love for nature by planting the juniper and arborvitae trees that P.J. Acostal of Studio AG brought in to decorate the space.

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos courtesy Jeff Schear

We’re thrilled for Greg Cameron (above), who is joining the Joffrey Ballet team as executive director starting July 1. Cameron previously served as the chief operating officer at WTTW/WFMT.

Congratulations to Joe Seigle (left), who was named board president of Chicago’s Jewish United Fund’s Young Leadership Division for the 2013 and 2014 season. Seigle previously served on the board for three years.

Spotted: Sting at Yogaview (2211 N. Elston) for a class with instructor Geri Bleier June 9.

We’re applauding Macy’s for raising $3.4 million in just over two weeks for Got Your 6, a nationwide campaign benefiting a range of nonprofit partners that help veterans and military families.

On an early date, teacher Jennifer Dayan and orthopedic surgeon Roger Chams took their relationship to new heights — they spontaneously flew to the New Orleans Jazz Fest. “If you have that much fun traveling with someone you just met, you know it’s something special,” laughs Dayan. Three years later, Chams surprised Dayan again by proposing to her post-hike atop Masada in Israel.

Upon the duo’s return to Chicago, they began planning their dream destination wedding at Capella Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas, a significant locale for them because of past trips to the city. In the days leading up to their May 18 nuptials, traditional Mexican food, tequila and the local nightclub scene set the stage for some serious bonding between the couple’s 70 friends and family members.“By the end of it, everyone was so comfortable with each other,” says Dayan. Chams capped off the wedding itself with yet another surprise: a fireworks display. “Even my parents, who were hesitant about a destination wedding, were dancing and having the time of their lives,” says Dayan. “It was perfect.”

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos courtesy of Enrique Morales

This week: Joseph “SentRock” Perez, Mary Dillon and the newly renovated Hyatt Regency McCormick Place.

• Congrats to Columbia College student Joseph “SentRock” Perez (above), who won BucketFeet shoes’ design contest. Perez scored a contract and a cash prize, and BucketFeet will release his shoe later this year.

Mary Dillon

• Cheers to Mary Dillon (left), who was recently appointed CEO of Ulta Beauty. Previously, she served as president and CEO of U.S. Cellular.

• We can’t wait to stop by the newly renovated Hyatt Regency McCormick Place (2233 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.). The fourth largest hotel in the world completed its $110 million makeover and celebrated with a ribbon cutting June 4.

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Send us your cheers! If you have good news to share — or if you’d like your wedding featured — send a note to Splash@suntimes.com. 

For any would-be groom, meeting future in-laws is a nerve-racking experience. But for Tim Smithe Jr., getting on the good side of Chicago’s Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy was an added challenge — one he welcomed when it came to winning the heart of the top cop’s daughter, Kyla. Luckily, Dad approved. “He was happy I wound up with a good Midwestern boy,” says McCarthy.

The couple (center) poses with their fathers, Garry McCarthy (left) and Tim Smithe Sr. at their Chicago celebration.

With his blessing, McCarthy and Smithe planned three wedding celebrations in three different cities, kicking off the festivities in Chicago March 29 at Harry Caray’s (33 W. Kinzie). Five generations of Smithes showed up for the bash, including grandfather Walter E. Sr., who began the Smithe family furniture business in 1945.

The following month, Smithe and McCarthy flew to the bride’s native New York to celebrate in Rockland County, then dashed back to Chicago June 1 — the same day as McCarthy’s grandparents’ 61st anniversary — to exchange vows at the courthouse. After signing their marriage license, they immediately joined family for brunch at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago (160 E. Pearson) before jetting off to Paris for an eight-day honeymoon. The pair concluded the revelry by reciting their vows under the Eiffel Tower and visiting the Pont des Arts bridge. “I came to Chicago wanting to try out a new city, but now it’s changed my life,” says McCarthy. “I can’t believe it happened like this.”

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos by Stephen Zezza

This week: Anna Marie Wilharm, David Wolf and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.

• Congratulations to David Wolf (above), president of Related Realty (a recently launched residential brokerage division of Chicago real estate developer Related Midwest), for opening the doors of the company’s 350 W. Hubbard headquarters June 25.

• We’re thrilled for Anna Marie Wilharm (left), who was recently appointed Chicago Humanities Festival’s manager of marketing and public relations. She previously worked in PR for the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

• A heartfelt round of applause to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. On June 25, the organization renamed the Robert R. McCormick Club the Pedersen-McCormick Club in honor of the late Peer Pedersen, a local philanthropist and business leader who contributed to the club for more than four decades.

Send us your cheers! If you have good news to share — or if you’d like your wedding featured — send a note to Splash@suntimes.com. 

For Neil Shah and Urvi Tailor, cramming the night before a chemistry exam their freshman year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign paid off — with more than good grades. “I noticed her around campus, and when I saw her at the library studying the same book, I decided to ask her a question,” says Shah. That moment led to countless study sessions, a proposal upon medical school graduation and, finally, a wedding, nine years after they first met. Starting May 23, Shah and Tailor kicked off four days of celebrations with mehndi, an Indian tradition that involves Henna application for the bride and her bridal party to symbolize a strong marriage bond and fertility. The next day, 400 guests gathered at Jay Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Itasca for raas-garba, an evening of folk dancing and performances by friends and family. Day three marked pithi, a ceremony where the bride and groom — celebrating separately — were covered with a turmeric-based yellow paste for good luck.

The celebration culminated May 26 with Shah and Tailor’s wedding ceremony. The groom arrived at Rosemont Convention Center on horseback, and Tailor entered wearing a red lengha. They were led to the mandap, a pillared structure, where — in front of more than 500 guests — the couple circled a fire four times to solidify their marriage. After leaving by horse and carriage, Shah and Tailor joined guests at the reception, where authentic Punjabi food and desserts flown in from India kept guests fueled until 3 a.m. “It was the little traditions that made the day special,” says Shah. But it was the emotion-filled moment when Tailor’s family gave her away that stood out most. “They were tears of joy and love,” says Shah.

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos courtesy Pramod Rathod Photography

This week: Justin Jacobson and Platinum Events, Blair Zenobia and Paula H. Holderman.

Hats off to Justin Jacobson and Platinum Events: The strategic event production firm recently brought on Erin McDonald to spearhead the wedding and design division.

Congrats to new parents Taryn Williams-Clark and Travis Clark, who welcomed baby Blair Zenobia in May. Tarrah Cooper, press secretary to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, is the proud godmother.

Case closed: Paula H. Holderman, chief attorney development officer at Winston and Strawn LLP, was sworn in as 137th president of the Illinois State Bar Association June 21.

Send us your cheers! If you have good news to share — or if you’d like your wedding featured — send a note to Splash@suntimes.com. 

Alison Victoria, star of DIY Network’s “Kitchen Crashers,” has been tearing apart and rebuilding kitchens across the country for more than five seasons. But when it came to the décor for her own engagement party with fiancé Luke Harding, the expert designer took the night off. Victoria kept things simple at the June 1 bash, requesting only flowers and candles to fill Lincoln Park’s A New Leaf (1818 N. Wells).

As for the dress code, Harding and Victoria went all-out: In honor of their engagement in France and favorite film, “Midnight in Paris,” the pair asked their guests to don 1920s Parisian-inspired attire. The groom-to-be wore a custom three-piece suit by Adrian Park, accessorized with a cane and straw hat, while the bride sparkled in a Rebecca Taylor dress layered with a tulle Reem Acra skirt and embellished with pearls and crystals. Even Victoria’s 82-year-old grandmother, Alice Karacostas, pulled out her pearls for the occasion. Tesa Cigar Co. doled out freshly rolled cigars, and artist Rosemary Fanti sketched party-goers as they mingled, sipped Moscow Mules and snacked on croque monsieur sandwiches, baked brie and raspberry filo bites. Victoria and Harding ended the evening on the dance floor with family and friends — including the entire “Kitchen Crashers” crew — and grabbed the mic for an impromptu karaoke session. The couple will tie the knot at the Drake Hotel (140 E. Walton) in November.

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos courtesy Chris Guillen Photography

Cheers to Jonny Imerman, Monica, Erik and Holly Pedersen, the “Windy City Live” crew and Mike Golden and Thaddeus Wong.

Cheers to @properties co-founders Mike Golden and Thaddeus Wong (above). They recently expanded their real estate services by partnering with Toni Bird, owner of Yellow Bird Vacations, to offer vacation home rentals in Harbor Country, Michigan.

Congrats to Jonny Imerman (left) and his team at Imerman Angels on welcoming a new group of corporate and community leaders to their board of directors. The nonprofit plans to continue providing one-on-one support to those affected by cancer.

We’re thrilled for HGTV host and Daily Splash columnist Monica Pedersen and her husband Erik, who welcomed their first daughter, Holly, July 15.

Let’s hear it for Ryan Chiaverini, Val Warner and the entire “Windy City Live” crew, who are celebrating their second anniversary July 25 with an Odyssey boat cruise.