40 minutes from ceremony location

10 minutes from reception location

Downtown Morris has a variety of offerings such as eateries, clothing boutiques, antique shops, and home decor stores. Walking down Liberty Street, visitors to downtown Morris can stop inside small shops, visit a local historical museum, and enjoy local parks all within a small area. Personal recommendations from Arwen include Whimsy, a lovely clothing boutique, and Verbena Gourmet & Gifts, a shop that sells organic gourmet extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, jams, tea, coffee, gelato, and more!

18 minutes from ceremony location

35 minutes from reception location

The Joliet Area Historical Museum welcomes guests to an immersive journey through time, aimed to preserve and appreciate the history of the Joliet area and its people. Located in downtown Joliet, the museum includes audio-visual presentations, life-size models, and touch screen visuals that bring the rich story of the Joliet area to life. If you are looking to spend an hour or two learning about the Joliet area, this is the place to go!

15 minutes from ceremony location

40 minutes from reception location

The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is an American military cemetery that serves as a final resting place for active duty members of the armed forces. Aside from walking through the many sections of the 982-acre cemetery, visitors can also follow a memorial walking path. Visitors can view a Pearl Harbor attack memorial obelisk, a life size bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln, and a Blue Star Memorial Marker honoring those who have served, are serving, or will serve their country.

50 minutes from ceremony location

1 hour from reception location

With walkable gardens, an immersive museum, and climbable tanks, Cantigny Park has something for everyone. The gardens of Cantigny Park are beautiful, accessible, and continuously evolving. Nearly all of the annual plants in the Cantigny gardens are produced in their on-site greenhouse, and are mindfully replanted every spring, summer, and fall to give guests fresh visuals to enjoy year-round. Also located at Cantigny Park, the First Division Museum provides guests the opportunity to walk through exhibits chronicling the First Division's service history across the World Wars and later US conflicts. Coupled with the area's largest collection of tanks and artillery pieces, the First Division Museum is an experience that cannot be properly described in words. There is so much Cantigny Park has to offer, and is well worth a visit!

1 hour from ceremony location

1 hour from reception location

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is THE ZOO TO VISIT if you are looking for an extra day of fun while in Northeastern Illinois! Featuring over 3,000 animals, indoor and outdoor habitats, a motor safari, dolphin show, family play zoo, and carousel, Brookfield Zoo has something for everyone. If you visit, recommendations of must-see exhibits include the new koala habitat, the living coast (penguins!), and the great bear wilderness walk.

40 minutes from ceremony location

50 minutes from reception location

If you would rather spend a day with flora than fauna, the Morton Arboretum is another wonderful option for those interested in exploring the natural beauty of Illinois! The Arboretum offers a children's garden, maze garden, and 16 miles of hiking trails, as well as special on-site exhibitions. If you visit, be sure to stop by the Ginkgo Restaurant and Café, a dining location dedicated to providing healthy, locally sourced food and engaging in sustainable practices.