Chicago notables trek to the desert for amazing wedding extravaganza

Under an amazing flower-bedecked chuppah, Neal Snitz and Ashley Zisook seal their wedding with a kiss.

Approximately 500 people — mostly with strong Chicago connections or roots — were in the Palm Springs area last weekend for the truly spectacular wedding of Ashley Zisook and her love, private chef Neal Snitz. Zisook, the daughter of LiliAnn and Ricky Zisook, the well-known, prominent real estate developer and high-profile Chicago charity mainstay, was a beautiful bride, but more importantly, appeared to have one helluva good time at her own wedding. The newlyweds danced the night away and clearly were having as much fun as their guests.

There were three days of beautiful parties — both at the LaQuinta Hotel & Resort and the Empire Polo Club grounds in nearby Indio, California, the site of the actual marriage ceremony and reception. The Zisooks spared no expense as they gave their daughter and her new husband — plus their legion of friends and family members quite the exquisite celebration all will long remember.

As he married the happy couple — who were almost giddy with their joy — Rabbi Steven Lowenstein quipped, “Now, for the remainder of my rabbinate I will be able to say, ‘I played Coachella,’” a funny reference to the fact the famed Coachella Music Festival is annually held on the same site.

One fun touch: The reception included a full-scale carnival set-up — complete with a twirling carousel — ridden by many in attendance, and recorded for posterity with postings to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Among those on hand for the fun were Judd Malkin, Sally and Miles Berger, Sally and Jonathan Kovler, Terry Newman, Alice and Bob Abt, Shelly, Steve, Neal and Herbie Zucker, Marko Iglendza, Carol and Bill Kaplan, Frieda Weinberg, Trudy and Ed Schwartz, Arlene and Keith Bronstein, MaryLu and Ken Roffe, Katherine and Billy Dec, MK and Jerry Zordani, Andy Belzberg, Susan and Charles Ifergan, Roz Supera, Ashley and Pam Netzky, Nancy and Phillip Resnick, Julie and Bryan Barrish, twins Andrew and Jonathan Landan, Terri Lind, Charlene Lieber, Ellen Soren, Ellen Ross, Linda and Richard Robin and Margot Schiff.