Sidetrack

Pre-Wedding Jitters Junket

Rehearsal Dinner

Kimpton Hotel Allegro

Just Another Saturday Night at the Hotel Bar

Prairie Production

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Beatrix

Morning After Brunch

Our Wedding

For years, Geoff's friend Dan had told him "I have a friend in Chicago you should meet - he's nerdy, he lifts, he's an actor. You'll like him." "Great - introduce us!" Silence. Finally in the summer of 2015, Dan mentioned that he was coming in town for this guy's surprise birthday party, and asked to stay with Geoff; in return, Geoff got an invite to the birthday party. Deciding it would be uncouth to go to a party for someone he'd never met, Geoff tracked Gabriel down. Over the course of a week, they texted each other constantly - dog photos and silly GIFs. When they finally met on a gorgeous summer Saturday in July, they realized they had more in common than Dan could possibly have realized, and something clicked.

How We Met

In November of 2016, Gabriel was working in the Finger Lakes of New York at Merry-Go-Round Theater, doing a production of SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE. Geoff headed up there for his birthday week and to help Gabriel drive back to Chicago. On his birthday, after some *ridiculous* french toast at a bed and breakfast, Gabriel drove Geoff up to Ithaca, and they hiked the gorges. As they crossed a bridge over the main gorge, a couple hiking in front of them stopped and asked them to take a picture. Geoff happily obliged. When he gave the woman her iPhone and turned back to Gabriel, he found him on one knee, with a gorgeous bracelet in his hands. He said some things. They were beautiful things. Geoff doesn't remember a single word of the beautiful things Gabriel said except "will you marry me." Geoff *does* remember saying "Yes" about 10,000 times in a row.As they left the gorges, Geoff asked Gabriel if there was maybe another waterfall or place to hike nearby - he needed a "moment or two to collect himself" before they went back to civilization. They drove to a nearby waterfall that fell into a rock pool, and walked the short distance to a picnic area alongside. There, Geoff dropped to *his* knee, reached into a pocket, and pulled out the bracelet he had brought, unbeknownst to Gabriel. He said some things. He doesn't remember what he he said, except "Will *you* marry *me*." He remembers Gabriel saying "yes."Turns out that they'd both been plotting this exact same plan - get a bracelet. Go for a hike on Geoff's birthday. Get their engagement on - since the day Gabriel had first left for New York. Geoff's mother knew. Gabriel's parents knew. Their best friends all knew. The only people who didn't know Geoff and Gabriel's dual plan were Geoff and Gabriel.

The Proposal

Our Story

Restaurants

Little Goat Diner

820 W RandolphA very cool, upscale diner by Stephanie Izard of Girl and the Goat and Top Chef

Au Cheval

800 W RandolphThe best burger in Chicago. Period.

Wishbone

1001 W Washington BlvdA laid-back Cajun eatery with a fantastic brunch.

City Winery

1200 W RandolphA brilliant brunch with wines on tap - how can you go wrong?

Details

Photos

Wedding Party

Registry

Q + A

When calling, ask for the "Bleeker-Mudd Wedding Block"

Travel

Science and Tech and Robots, oh my! They've got a LEGO Exhibit right now. Come on. LEGO.

Museum of Science & Industry

Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago

Chicago's annual summer late-night event, The Fly Honey Show is cabaret, burlesque, and variety from a radically body-positive place.

The Fly Honey Show

A world premiere musical based on the 13 year old boy who was the inspiration for the Trevor Project - As he deals with adolescence and all that goes with it, Trevor begins to explore what it means to be himself, influenced by his friends, parents . . . and Diana Ros

Trevor at Writers Theatre 

A new name for a Chicago late-night institution, The Infinite Wrench is a barrage of two-minute plays, new each week, done in the Neo-Futurist's signature style.

TheInfinite Wrench at The Neo-Futurists

What sprung from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition now stands as Chicago's Field Museum. Its neo-Classical buildings are stocked with more than 25 million artifacts—some up to 4.6 billion years old. This vast collection of fascinating relics exhilarates history buffs and curious novices alike.
The museum's main attraction is Sue, the world's largest, best-preserved, and most complete T. rex ever discovered. Purchased for more than 8 million dollars in 1997, the remarkable fossil stands 13 feet (4 m) tall and 42 feet (13 m) long. Enjoy a photo opportunity under her stunted arms and marvel at the mural depicting her as she lived.
As you take in the massive dinosaurs, ancient gems, and stunning taxidermy, stroll toward Ancient Egypt for floor-to-ceiling hieroglyphs, mummified cats, and an authentic Pharaonic tomb. Then discover the Evolving Planet exhibit, a journey through the past 4 billion years of life on Earth, from single-celled organisms to modern city dwellers.
Other highlights include the Hall of Jades, which explores China's prehistoric past and its enduring empire with more than 400 objects on display; the Grainger Hall of Gems, a breathtaking collection of hard-to-find stones and expertly crafted jewelry; and Restoring Earth, an investigation by leading scientists into wilderness conservation.

The Field Museum with optional Jurassic World: The Exhibition

Spend the day lingering over one of the finest collections of art in the world at The Art Institute of Chicago. Download the mobile experience, with audio tours and a location-aware map to help you plot a course through the museum’s 1 million square feet of exhibit space, the second largest in the country, which showcases 300,000 works of art. The Ryan Learning Center offers free art-making for kids, as well as Journey Maker, a new digital interactive tool that allows your family create their own tour of the museum.
The Art Institute boasts the largest collection of impressionist art outside of Paris.
 Ponder the mesmerizing landscape of Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte and peer into the 19th-century before Gustav Caillebotte's Paris Street; Rainy Day. In the American collection, marvel at iconic works like the Nighthawks diner scene by Edward Hopper and the Midwestern farmer and daughter depicted in Grant Wood’s American Gothic.
After years of meticulous conservation and a complete gallery renovation, the museum recently welcomed its beloved collection of early European arts to its new home in The Deering Family Galleries of Medieval and Renaissance Art, Arms, and Armor. The installation features nearly 700 objects from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, including monumental altarpieces, exquisite jewelry, and armored figures on horseback.
Grab a bite to eat at one of the museum's 3 restaurants if you need a break, and be sure to stop in one of the 2 gift shops for an art-inspired souvenir.

Art Institute of Chicago

Get a new perspective of the Windy City on this guided streamlined adventure. Glide past iconic landmarks, along the scenic shores of Lake Michigan, and through the city's most beautiful parks. This is an ideal tour for anyone with a tight schedule, who still wants to catch Chicago's top sights.
Enjoy a 30-minute safety and instructional orientation before heading out to enjoy the charm and beauty of Chicago. Then ride through the centerpiece of this tour, impeccably manicured Grant Park, host to some of Chicago’s largest festivals and spectator events. The 319 acre (130 ha) park is home to the world-renowned Buckingham Fountain.
With your professional guide in the lead, admire the architectural wonders of Chicago’s skyline and cruise along the beaches of the glistening lakefront and Monroe Harbor. Wind your way through Museum Campus, listening to your guide's brief narration of the surrounding structures. Admire the Adler Planetarium's epic dome, the oldest in the country, and marvel at the sheer size of the Shedd Aquarium.

2 Hour Segway Tour

We'd recommend the Lakefront and Museum Campus Tour to see what the lake has to offer.

Chicago Segway Tours

Chicago's signature boat tour, hosted by the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Geoffrey and Gabriel

Geoffrey and Gabriel

Photos