Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan and Chloe Mendel’s Wedding at Their Lakeside Home in Highland Park
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Smashing Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan and Maison Atia designer Chloe Mendel first met through a mutual friend, and after eleven years of dating—and two children—he proposed on her 30th birthday at their home in Highland Park, Illinois.
“It was a stunning and unforgettable September evening in 2022,” Chloe remembers. “To celebrate my birthday, we threw open the doors of our home and welcomed our entire family who all flew in for a beautiful dinner in our garden.” As the night wore on, Billy eventually approached Chloe with a birthday gift. “I unwrapped the package, revealing not just one, but three exquisite ring renderings adorned with filigree, emeralds, and diamonds,” Chloe adds. “I assumed this to be a grand birthday gesture. It was only when I looked up into his eyes, brimming with emotion, that the realization struck me. He uttered the words, ‘Is it a yes?’ Confusion swirled briefly, and I glanced at my family, whose tears fell in a domino effect. It was then that everything fell into place. I turned back to Billy, and asked, ‘Is this a proposal?’... and he said ‘Yes!’”
Exactly one year and six days later, the couple stood once again on the grounds of their home among friends and family to say their wedding vows this past weekend. “It is the very place where we had celebrated my 30th, and where our two precious children had taken their first breaths—yes, we had home births!” Chloe says. “Our home, a timeless sanctuary nestled by the lake, had always been the heart of our love story and our family.”
To bring their vision to life, they worked with Michelle Medina from Nora Events. “It was a dream to create our intimate wedding,” Chloe says. “On our beautiful oasis sharing these moments with our nearest and dearest.” A hundred of the couple’s loved ones gathered for an evening that began with spicy margaritas in the prairie grasses that led guests to a lawn overlooking the lake where the ceremony took place.
“My father is the designer Gilles Mendel,” Chloe explains. “So it was a no-brainer for Billy and I to collaborate with him on all of our looks. He has a new couture brand named House of Gilles, so we both wore couture looks. It was a true fairytale experience!”
At 3:30 p.m., the bride walked down the aisle to music played by Mike Garson, the famed pianist of David Bowie. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering served as the officiant, and the couple’s children stood as witnesses. After opening remarks from the mayor, Chloe and Billy read vows they’d written themselves, then exchanged rings they’d designed in collaboration with Graziela Gems. (Billy’s ring is white gold with filigree and a pigeon’s blood ruby and Chloé’s is a hexagon cut diamond with emerald and diamond baguettes.) At the end of the service, Billy broke a glass in honor of Chloe’s Jewish heritage.
“The ceremony was beautiful, regal, simple but tasteful,” Chloe says. “We were elated to finally take this step after 11 years of being together and with our two children—Augustus Juppiter and Philomena Clementine—present, as well as so many dear friends and family.”
While the bride and groom took pictures, guests retired to a historic Jens Jensen fountain area on the property for drinks and hors d’oeuvres while a harpist played in the background. As cocktail hour concluded, guests discovered their seating assignments in the English rose garden, then a path winding through a pumpkin patch led them to the tented dinner area. Chloe’s father, brothers, friends, and the legendary Jimmy Chamberlin of the Smashing Pumpkins gave speeches, and the newlyweds cut into their yuzu and blackberry cake crafted by Petal and Moon Bakery from locally-sourced ingredients.
Following dinner, Frank Catalano and Garson played a set of standards, joined later by Jimmy Chamberlin, and eventually the groom, who sang his classic “Tonight, Tonight” and George Gershwin’s “Summertime.”
Finally, dessert was served upon stone tables in the vegetable garden under the starlit sky. “The after-party, nestled back in our cherished home, featured late-night poker, truffle fries, and endless laughter,” Chloe remembers. “It was a culmination of love, family, laughter, and the promise of a lifetime together—a testament to our enduring love story.”
Photo: Danielle Simone1/59Sketches of our wedding day looks by my father, Gilles Mendel.
Photo: Danielle Simone2/59My wedding gown and party dress hanging by the window. The were both designed by House of Gilles.
