Wedding Style: Weekend Weddings in Chicago
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Everyone knows a pair of jetsetters who got married in a far-flung destination like Venice or Vail. This type of wedding offers guests an activity-packed “vacation” on top of typical dinner-and-dancing wedding fare. Apply the same concept to your celebration. With so many out-of-towners on the scene, it’s no longer just a wedding, it’s a weekend-long extravaganza. Even if your location seems less than exotic, creative hospitality will make the wedding weekend an endlessly fascinating trip. Here’s a Friday to Sunday guide to keeping guests out of trouble.
WARMING UP THE CROWD Remember freshman orientation at college? You were so busy traipsing to barbecues, bonfires, and beer bashes you barely had time to get homesick. Similarly, your guests will appreciate having places to be and things to do.
Send out save-the-date cards to give guests a heads-up on the date of your wedding and urge your guests to arrive on Friday. A save-the-date mailing not only lets guests plan ahead, it also gets them excited for the fun. Later send out a newsletter and highlight addresses, lodging options, driving directions, weather tendencies, public transportation information, where you’re registered, and anything else you see fit to include. Or, create a 24-hour wedding web page listing similar wedding-related information for guests at www.theknot.com/weddingwebpage.
When guests get into town, serve them up with a “wedding packet” waiting in their hotel that reiterates transportation information and directions, and points to good restaurants and local attractions. You may also include an itinerary of the weekend’s outings and events.
Some couples also welcome their guests with “goodie bags” filled with local souvenirs, maps, sight-seeing guides, and snacks. As a final courtesy, special guests like grandparents should probably be retrieved at the airport in person. However, you definitely won’t have time to do this—enlist a dad or a pal to play chauffeur, or arrange pick-ups through a car service.
KNOT NOTE: To warmly welcome favorite out-of-town guests, leave goodie bags filled with treats in their hotel rooms. Stop in at Accent Chicago, where you can load up on neat-o stuff like Sears Tower playing cards, Chicago pop-out maps, and Navy Pier Ferris Wheel ornaments. Toss in some Tootsie Rolls and Wrigley's gum for real Windy City flavor. Accent Chicago (312) 654-8125; 875 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago.
THE PRE-WEDDING PARTY On Friday night, take the concept of “rehearsal dinner” to the next level. A review of the party protocol: The guest list includes immediate family, wedding-party members and their spouses/significant others, and the parents of any child attendants (inviting the children themselves is optional). With this in mind, many of your out-of-town guests may also be invited to the rehearsal dinner, but if you want the event to be an intimate affair and don’t want to leave other guests hanging, think about doing the rehearsal two nights before the wedding day (Thursday) and then have a party for out-of-towners on Friday night. Or, have one large “rehearsal dinner” for everyone who came in from out-of-town for the wedding. This isn’t another wedding; you don’t have to go all out (plus, you won’t want to overshadow the main event, anyway.)
Traditionally, the groom’s family throws these fetes, but these days it’s up for grabs. You can even make the parties pot luck/b.y.o.b. Your location can be as casual or as fancy as you like. We know brides and grooms who have partied in pizza parlors, on cruise ships, and beneath tents in backyards. Invitations are standard; you can include them with your wedding invitation or do a separate mailing.
KNOT NOTE: The best rehearsal dinners are those that provide not merely a meal, but an experience. Bring out-of-towners and the wedding party together the night before the wedding at a rehearsal celebration that offers a taste of old Chicago: The Berghoff. Guests can tuck into such German favorites as sauerbraten and Wiener schnitzel. The Berghoff (312) 427-3170; 17 W. Adams Street.
PRIMPING & PLAYTIME In some wedding circles, it’s tradition to schedule some relaxing, diverting get-togethers with the wedding party for the morning of the wedding. This works best if the wedding is planned for after 4pm.
What happens: the groom, his attendants, and male family members get together for a quick game of touch-football, a round of golf (the groom or groom’s family pays), or burgers and beers at the local pub. Meanwhile, the bride, her attendants, and female family can gather for the bridal luncheon, an all-girls gathering hosted by an aunt or family friend. At the bridal luncheon, bridesmaid gifts are doled out and it’s generally a time to chill out and swap stories. A super-indulgent trip to a spa can take the place of a formal luncheon, and sometimes happens the day before the wedding. Usually the bride will treat, but sometimes the maids are expected to pay for the services themselves. (Knot note: be sure your bridesmaids know who is financing the escapades before you sign them up).
Alternatives: Plan a co-ed breakfast, a sailing expedition, participate in a road race, or tour the town as a group. The point is to bond and de-stress with your favorite closest friends.
KNOT NOTE: On the morning of the wedding, grab your bridal party and head over to Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa. This plush pampering place offers just about everything a bride or her crew could want, from hair and makeup services, to manicures and pedicures. The "Wedding Party" package includes a shampoo and style with scalp massage and a makeup application -- we think the bride also deserves the soothing Desert Stone Massage. Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa (312) 988-9191; 919 N. Michigan Avenue, 4th Floor, Chicago.
AN ALL-INCLUSIVE AFFAIR “It’s not all about you.” How many times have you heard it? Avoid narcissistic cliches by being extra-gracious. And remember you can keep guests entertained and feeling loved by making the extra effort.
Begin by providing transportation to and from your guests’ hotel(s) through a local bus service. It’s a great way to get the whole group together, ensure everyone arrives on time, and enable them to live it up at the party without having to drive themselves home.
Have a slide show or video presentation chronicling the ins-and-outs of your relationship so that guests can really relate to what they’re celebrating. Give friends and family who aren’t in the wedding party a sense of belonging by assigning them important day-of-the-wedding tasks like manning the gift table, making sure everyone has signed the guest book, and seeing that Grandma never wants for wine.
Outfit the bathrooms with thoughtful amenities, and make a point to stop by every table and formally say “thank you.” A formal toast to the crowd is another way to flaunt good taste and gratefulness. Favors, finally, are always appreciated —- choose a local treasure to complete your guests’ out-of-town experience.
KNOT NOTE: Eliminate drinking-and-driving dramas by providing transportation for your guests. You can arrange to have them picked up at the ceremony and transported to the reception en masse, or transport them to all of your wedding day destinations -- if most of your guests will be shacked up at the same hotel, you can have them picked up there. Rent fun reproduction trolleys from Village Trolley (847) 228-7662.
LAST LAUGH Like all good things—fireworks displays, operas, The Nutcracker Suite—a grand finale is a must. During the wedding weekend, the festivities culminate with a post-wedding brunch on Sunday morning hosted by the couple, their parents, a friend, or family member.
Plan to meet up at the hotel, a restaurant, or at someone’s home. Paper plates are allowed—a simple bagels-and-coffee spread may be the perfect follow up to a full-blown night of formal revelry. A post-wedding brunch is an informal, carefree time to say goodbye to guests as they leave town, recall moments from the night before, and maybe visit guests you didn’t get to chat with at the wedding.
Sometimes, if you’re brunching at home, some of the opened wedding gifts will be on display, usually the china, crystal, and linens. Brunches, like the rehearsal dinner, are usually invite-only, and usually include all out-of-town guests. Make sure someone confirms RSVPs because people might be planning to leave town right after checkout.
Many couples depart for their honeymoon directly after the brunch, so be prepared to say a graceful goodbye, and if you’re driving yourselves to the airport, go easy on the mimosas.
KNOT NOTE: The last hurrah is the post-wedding brunch, which provides a relaxed venue to relive all your favorite nuptial moments before everyone scatters back across the globe. Take your tired-but-happy group to a Sunday jazz brunch at Bistro 110, where the tasty food and urban atmosphere have made this spot a local favorite. Bistro 110 (312) 266-3110; 110 East Pearson Street, Chicago.
-- Amy Elliott, with reporting by Lisa Carse
WARMING UP THE CROWD Remember freshman orientation at college? You were so busy traipsing to barbecues, bonfires, and beer bashes you barely had time to get homesick. Similarly, your guests will appreciate having places to be and things to do.
Send out save-the-date cards to give guests a heads-up on the date of your wedding and urge your guests to arrive on Friday. A save-the-date mailing not only lets guests plan ahead, it also gets them excited for the fun. Later send out a newsletter and highlight addresses, lodging options, driving directions, weather tendencies, public transportation information, where you’re registered, and anything else you see fit to include. Or, create a 24-hour wedding web page listing similar wedding-related information for guests at www.theknot.com/weddingwebpage.
When guests get into town, serve them up with a “wedding packet” waiting in their hotel that reiterates transportation information and directions, and points to good restaurants and local attractions. You may also include an itinerary of the weekend’s outings and events.
Some couples also welcome their guests with “goodie bags” filled with local souvenirs, maps, sight-seeing guides, and snacks. As a final courtesy, special guests like grandparents should probably be retrieved at the airport in person. However, you definitely won’t have time to do this—enlist a dad or a pal to play chauffeur, or arrange pick-ups through a car service.
KNOT NOTE: To warmly welcome favorite out-of-town guests, leave goodie bags filled with treats in their hotel rooms. Stop in at Accent Chicago, where you can load up on neat-o stuff like Sears Tower playing cards, Chicago pop-out maps, and Navy Pier Ferris Wheel ornaments. Toss in some Tootsie Rolls and Wrigley's gum for real Windy City flavor. Accent Chicago (312) 654-8125; 875 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago.
THE PRE-WEDDING PARTY On Friday night, take the concept of “rehearsal dinner” to the next level. A review of the party protocol: The guest list includes immediate family, wedding-party members and their spouses/significant others, and the parents of any child attendants (inviting the children themselves is optional). With this in mind, many of your out-of-town guests may also be invited to the rehearsal dinner, but if you want the event to be an intimate affair and don’t want to leave other guests hanging, think about doing the rehearsal two nights before the wedding day (Thursday) and then have a party for out-of-towners on Friday night. Or, have one large “rehearsal dinner” for everyone who came in from out-of-town for the wedding. This isn’t another wedding; you don’t have to go all out (plus, you won’t want to overshadow the main event, anyway.)
Traditionally, the groom’s family throws these fetes, but these days it’s up for grabs. You can even make the parties pot luck/b.y.o.b. Your location can be as casual or as fancy as you like. We know brides and grooms who have partied in pizza parlors, on cruise ships, and beneath tents in backyards. Invitations are standard; you can include them with your wedding invitation or do a separate mailing.
KNOT NOTE: The best rehearsal dinners are those that provide not merely a meal, but an experience. Bring out-of-towners and the wedding party together the night before the wedding at a rehearsal celebration that offers a taste of old Chicago: The Berghoff. Guests can tuck into such German favorites as sauerbraten and Wiener schnitzel. The Berghoff (312) 427-3170; 17 W. Adams Street.
PRIMPING & PLAYTIME In some wedding circles, it’s tradition to schedule some relaxing, diverting get-togethers with the wedding party for the morning of the wedding. This works best if the wedding is planned for after 4pm.
What happens: the groom, his attendants, and male family members get together for a quick game of touch-football, a round of golf (the groom or groom’s family pays), or burgers and beers at the local pub. Meanwhile, the bride, her attendants, and female family can gather for the bridal luncheon, an all-girls gathering hosted by an aunt or family friend. At the bridal luncheon, bridesmaid gifts are doled out and it’s generally a time to chill out and swap stories. A super-indulgent trip to a spa can take the place of a formal luncheon, and sometimes happens the day before the wedding. Usually the bride will treat, but sometimes the maids are expected to pay for the services themselves. (Knot note: be sure your bridesmaids know who is financing the escapades before you sign them up).
Alternatives: Plan a co-ed breakfast, a sailing expedition, participate in a road race, or tour the town as a group. The point is to bond and de-stress with your favorite closest friends.
KNOT NOTE: On the morning of the wedding, grab your bridal party and head over to Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa. This plush pampering place offers just about everything a bride or her crew could want, from hair and makeup services, to manicures and pedicures. The "Wedding Party" package includes a shampoo and style with scalp massage and a makeup application -- we think the bride also deserves the soothing Desert Stone Massage. Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa (312) 988-9191; 919 N. Michigan Avenue, 4th Floor, Chicago.
AN ALL-INCLUSIVE AFFAIR “It’s not all about you.” How many times have you heard it? Avoid narcissistic cliches by being extra-gracious. And remember you can keep guests entertained and feeling loved by making the extra effort.
Begin by providing transportation to and from your guests’ hotel(s) through a local bus service. It’s a great way to get the whole group together, ensure everyone arrives on time, and enable them to live it up at the party without having to drive themselves home.
Have a slide show or video presentation chronicling the ins-and-outs of your relationship so that guests can really relate to what they’re celebrating. Give friends and family who aren’t in the wedding party a sense of belonging by assigning them important day-of-the-wedding tasks like manning the gift table, making sure everyone has signed the guest book, and seeing that Grandma never wants for wine.
Outfit the bathrooms with thoughtful amenities, and make a point to stop by every table and formally say “thank you.” A formal toast to the crowd is another way to flaunt good taste and gratefulness. Favors, finally, are always appreciated —- choose a local treasure to complete your guests’ out-of-town experience.
KNOT NOTE: Eliminate drinking-and-driving dramas by providing transportation for your guests. You can arrange to have them picked up at the ceremony and transported to the reception en masse, or transport them to all of your wedding day destinations -- if most of your guests will be shacked up at the same hotel, you can have them picked up there. Rent fun reproduction trolleys from Village Trolley (847) 228-7662.
LAST LAUGH Like all good things—fireworks displays, operas, The Nutcracker Suite—a grand finale is a must. During the wedding weekend, the festivities culminate with a post-wedding brunch on Sunday morning hosted by the couple, their parents, a friend, or family member.
Plan to meet up at the hotel, a restaurant, or at someone’s home. Paper plates are allowed—a simple bagels-and-coffee spread may be the perfect follow up to a full-blown night of formal revelry. A post-wedding brunch is an informal, carefree time to say goodbye to guests as they leave town, recall moments from the night before, and maybe visit guests you didn’t get to chat with at the wedding.
Sometimes, if you’re brunching at home, some of the opened wedding gifts will be on display, usually the china, crystal, and linens. Brunches, like the rehearsal dinner, are usually invite-only, and usually include all out-of-town guests. Make sure someone confirms RSVPs because people might be planning to leave town right after checkout.
Many couples depart for their honeymoon directly after the brunch, so be prepared to say a graceful goodbye, and if you’re driving yourselves to the airport, go easy on the mimosas.
KNOT NOTE: The last hurrah is the post-wedding brunch, which provides a relaxed venue to relive all your favorite nuptial moments before everyone scatters back across the globe. Take your tired-but-happy group to a Sunday jazz brunch at Bistro 110, where the tasty food and urban atmosphere have made this spot a local favorite. Bistro 110 (312) 266-3110; 110 East Pearson Street, Chicago.
-- Amy Elliott, with reporting by Lisa Carse