Though Natalie Berg is the VP of North American operations for Viennese coffee company Julius Meinl by day, she’s been an actor since she was young and is a regular on the Chicago professional theater scene. She says opening night at the theater is always special, but there are two shows that stand out. In 2010 she was cast in “The Hundred Dresses” at the Royal George Theater and agreed to go out on a date with Matt Packer, who was a member of the production staff. “I can’t remember the show because I was so focused on him,” she laughs. Fast-forward to last year’s opening night of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s “Welcome Yule,” and Packer popped the question when Berg got off stage.
The couple wed on Oct. 7 at Schram Memorial Chapel in Glenview. Music was an important element: The bride’s cousins sang “Thy Word” by Amy Grant, accompanied by her vocal coach of more than 20 years, and later her aunt sang “Grow Old with Me” by John Lennon. Kicking off their celebration at The Glen Club with 110 guests, Berg had another moment she’ll never forget: their first dance. She had taught Packer the waltz in their living room and although it wasn’t perfect, the dance was still a hit. “The theater came out in both of us and it was so fun. It was better than we could have ever planned,” she says.
— Katerina Bizios
