THE SIGNATURE ROOM AT THE 95TH®

Kelly Jo and Matt's Rehearsal Dinner

The Peninsula Chicago

Wedding Reception

Our Wedding

CEREMONY

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM St. James Chapel835 N Rush St, Chicago, IL, 60611

COCKTAIL RECEPTION

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM The Peninsula Chicago108 E Superior St, Chicago, IL, 60611 Attire: Cocktail Dress / Suit &amp; Tie / Formal Weather permitting, the cocktail reception will be indoor / outdoor in the Grand Ballroom foyer and on the Grand Ballroom Terrace. In the event of inclement weather, the cocktail reception will be held in the Avenues Ballroom.

DINNER AND DANCING

6:30 PM – 11:30 PM The Peninsula Chicago108 E Superior St, Chicago, IL, 60611 Attire: Cocktail Dress / Suit &amp; Tie / Formal Dinner and dancing will be held in the Grand Ballroom.

Schedule

In 2021, The Peninsula Chicago was ranked the #1 hotel in Chicago and in 2022 was named the #1 hotel in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report. The Peninsula is located two blocks south of St. James Chapel. Due to close proximity between venues, transportation will not be provided between St. James and The Peninsula. Rate: $450 per night + tax + parking Valet parking is available for $28 (day only) and $76 (overnight)Book rooms directly through <a href="https://secure.peninsula.com/?adult=2&amp;arrive=2022-10-14&amp;chain=5440&amp;child=0&amp;currency=USD&amp;depart=2022-10-16&amp;group=hoff092322&amp;hotel=12602&amp;level=hotel&amp;locale=en-GB&amp;rooms=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hoffmann-Wisniewski wedding block</a> by September 15, 2022Please contact the hotel if the block shows unavailable online

Rate: $235 per night + tax + parking King or two queen bedsOn-site parking is $59 / day - 614 N St. Clair St parking structure (can also be booked through SpotHero)Book rooms directly through <a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1642544659170&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hoffmann-Wisniewski wedding block</a> by September 14, 2022Please contact the hotel if the block shows unavailable online

Courtyard Marriott Chicago Downtown  / Magnificent Mile

Rate: $209 per night + tax + parking King rooms onlyValet parking is $62 / dayBook rooms directly through <a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1642557012498&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hoffmann-Wisniewski wedding block</a> by September 23, 2022Please contact the hotel if the block shows unavailable online

Aloft Chicago Mag Mile

If you do not plan to valet park, we recommend pre-booking parking in a nearby structure via SpotHero and downloading the app to your phone. Please note, there is no on-site parking at St. James Chapel Recommended nearby self-park structures include: 750 N Rush St - The Chicagoan Garage(close to The Peninsula and St. James Chapel)Approximately $30 / 24 hours 614 N St. Clair St(Attached to Courtyard Marriott and close to Aloft Mag Mile)Approximately $35 / 24 hours

Parking

Guests travelling from Wisconsin who prefer to not drive may also take the Amtrak from Milwaukee (MKE) to Chicago Union Station (CHI). In addition to Uber / Lyft, there is a taxi stand located at Union Station on S Canal St.

Amtrak

Airports

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)10000 W O'Hare Ave, Chicago, IL 60666 Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)5700 S Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60638 Uber, Lyft, and taxis are available throughout Chicago and can be taken from/to ORD or MDW.

Travel

HOW WE MET

Both Kelly Jo and Matt interned at KPMG while in college. Matt studied Finance and graduated from Indiana University, and Kelly Jo studied Accounting and graduated from Marquette University. After graduation, Matt started in the Chicago office, and Kelly Jo started in Milwaukee. After passing her last CPA exam in 2017, Kelly Jo decided to transfer teams, as well as move to Chicago. The team she transferred to happened to be Matt's team, and in the summer of 2018 we started dating. Matt and Kelly Jo have celebrated promotions together in both 2018 and 2021 and are still co-workers to this day.

I am not very good at giving the short version of the story, so I will let Chris Harrison explain instead.

THE PROPOSAL

For background, we took two weeks off of work in June and July for a "Surprise Trip". Going into the trip, Kelly Jo was pretty confident that Matt was going to propose, but she did not know where they were going, what they were doing, how Matt would propose, or who else would be there. Matt gave Kelly Jo a list of what to pack and wear each day and gave her a "date card" about an hour before each activity. Kelly Jo was able to guess some of the dates based on the clues, but others she had no idea until they arrived. For example, we had to arrive at the meeting point for the hot air balloon at 6 AM, but Kelly Jo could not figure out what they could possibly be doing so early in the morning.

KJ and Matt's Story

Photos

Alissa is Matt's younger sister. Alissa and Matt both went to Indiana University,  and Alissa helped Matt coordinate the proposal and engagement party. After graduating from IU, Alissa lived in Milwaukee, but recently moved to Chicago and started a new job as a Retail Business Analyst.

Alissa Wisniewski

Clyde is Kelly Jo's older brother. Clyde and Kelly Jo both went to Marquette and unintentionally took the same class one semester while Kelly Jo was a freshman and Clyde was a senior. Matt and Clyde enjoy competing against one another in farkle, bar dice, and croquet. Clyde is a Product Marketing Engineer and lives in San Jose, California.

Clyde Hoffmann

Cydney and Kelly Jo were paired as random roommates during freshman year at Marquette. Over ten years later, Cydney and Kelly Jo are still close friends and have traveled to seven states together. Cydney recently adopted a Golden Retriever named Rosie and works as a Physical Therapist in Madison, Wisconsin.

Cydney Reilly

Ryan and Matt met as floor presidents of the Kelley Living and Learning Community at Indiana University freshman year. Their friendship has grown since then through working together as consultants at KPMG and a shared love of baseball. Ryan is recently married and lives in Des Plaines, IL. 

Ryan Inlow

Allison and Kelly Jo met at freshman orientation during the first week at Marquette. Allison and Kelly Jo became instant friends, lived together during junior year of college, and took a trip to Paris and Copenhagen together in 2018. Allison has a Bulldog named Blue and lived in several states before moving to Omaha, Nebraska where she works as a Physical Therapist.

Allison Field

Kevin was Matt's first friend at Indiana University where he was a manager for the IU baseball team. Kevin, Matt and Ryan have been going on annual baseball road trips since their senior year of school. In his free time, Kevin hosts his own podcast. Kevin lives in Chicago where he works in sales. 

Kevin Yawger

Caitlyn and Kelly Jo met at freshman orientation during the first week at Marquette, along with Cydney and Allison. Caitlyn and Kelly Jo were close friends throughout college and took a trip to Europe together in 2018 with Allison. Caitlyn is a jack of all trades and renovated her own house in Pueblo, Colorado where she works as a Physical Therapist.

Caitlyn Behling

James and Matt met in high school but became most close once in college where they were roommates and part of the Kelley School of Business. James and Matt worked together as presidents of rival on campus business fraternities. James enjoys hiking, staying fit, and a good whiskey. James lives in Chicago and works at KPMG with both Matt and Kelly Jo. 

James Tokuda

Kellie and Kelly Jo met in 2014 while Kelly Jo was an intern at KPMG and was staffed on the same client project as Kellie. Kellie tried to convince Kelly Jo to move to Chicago for years and in 2017 was successful (Kelly Jo moved two blocks from Kellie and across the street from her twin sister). If it weren't for Kellie, Kelly Jo and Matt might never have met! Kellie is a CPA and lives in Chicago. 

Kellie Hansell

Matt R. was Matt's mentor and fraternity "big" throughout college. The two Matts have become close through intramural athletics and competitive Men's basketball leagues in Chicago. After moving from Texas, Matt and Matt were neighbors in Wicker Park. Matt is a recent new home owner in Chicago and works as a Sr. Financial Analyst.

Matt Rowland

Kassie and Kelly Jo became friends at Marquette after joining the same sorority and lived together during senior year of college.  Before moving back to Chicago, Kassie lived in St. Louis and adopted a Golden Retriever named Stella. Kassie, Kelly Jo, and Janessa enjoy going on triple dates together in the city. Kassie is a Nurse and lives in Chicago. 

Kassie Warmuth

Phil is one of the first friends Matt made in college. Although both from Palatine, Matt and Phil did not meet until college. Over the years, Matt and Phil have lived together in three different apartments where they've maintained a competitive rivalry in Mario Kart. In his free time, Phil enjoys tennis and weight lifting. Phil currently lives in Chicago and has recently started a new role at an exciting start up. 

Phil Lapid

Janessa and Kelly Jo became friends at Marquette after joining the same sorority. Before moving to Chicago, Janessa lived in Las Vegas and unintentionally adopted a dog named Stella around the same time that Kassie did. Janessa, Kassie, and Kelly Jo enjoy meeting up to watch The Bachelor together.  Janessa is currently studying to be a Nurse Anesthetist and lives in Chicago. 

Janessa Terry

Patrick and Matt met both rushing Delta Sigma Pi freshman year of college. As a founding member of the "Humble aBROde", Patrick is one of Matt's longest roommates between college and post grad life in Chicago.  Patrick is often the breakout star of the annual Christmas video Matt and his friends create. Patrick is passionate about sketch comedy, vegetables, and creative writing. Patrick lives in Chicago where he works as a consultant. 

Patrick Walsh

Less than two months apart in age, Shaun is Matt's cousin on his Dad's side. Matt and Shaun share many great memories from childhood to adulthood including sliding down the stairs on couch cushions, building castles out of presents on Christmas Eve, golf cart adventures, and pierogi at any Wisniewski family gathering. Shaun attended the University of Illinois and currently lives in Chicago where he works in the broadcast services industry.

Shaun Dolan

Adam is Matt's cousin on his Mom's side and grew up just a few blocks away from Matt's parents house in Hoffman Estates. A few years younger than Matt, Adam also enjoyed playing sports at Fremd high school before taking his academic talents to Indiana University and the Kelley School of Business where he is currently a student. Adam and Matt have enjoyed playing on their grandparents' farm, seeing movies together, family vacations, and cheering on the Cubs. Adam currently lives in Bloomington, IN. 

Adam Walker

Owen and Matt met the first week of college trying to prank each other and have been friends ever since. Owen worked closely with Matt through group projects and their time together in DSP.  Owen is passionate about marching band, WWE, and improv comedy. In college, Matt would watch Owen's improv group perform every Thursday night. Before living down the street from Matt in Lakeview, Owen was a teacher in Tulsa, OK. Owen is currently a consultant living in St. Louis. 

Owen Hoepfner

Brian and Matt met through their business fraternity, DSP. After spending so much time at Matt's freshman dorm building and sophomore apartment, Brian and Matt became roommates Junior and Senior year of college. While most of their other roommates studied abroad, Brian and Matt held down the fort and onboarded the sub-tenants (including Kevin!). Brian is most famous for his scarf flip in the 2014 roommate Christmas video. Before becoming a consultant in Chicago, Brian lived in both St. Louis and Costa Rica. 

Brian Barnabas

Wedding Party

Things To Do

We anticipate approximately a one hour gap between the ceremony and start of the cocktail hour. Here are a few suggestions of things to do during this time.

Stop by Jake Melnick's, a casual bar and pub, for a drink after the ceremony. Jake Melnick's is located three blocks from St. James Chapel and less than two blocks to The Peninsula.

Jake Melnick's Corner Tap

Stop by Z Bar, a trendy cocktail lounge overlooking Michigan Ave, located on the 6th floor of The Peninsula. Upon entering The Peninsula, take the elevator up to the main lobby. After getting out of the elevator, walk toward the concierge desk, take the first right, and take the elevator up to the Z Bar.

Z Bar

Visit Chicago's Starbucks Reserve Roastery, with each of its five levels featuring a different menu and design. The Starbucks Reserve is located on Michigan Ave, five blocks from St. James Chapel and three blocks to The Peninsula.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery

Visit Water Tower Place, an eight-story mall located on Michigan Ave. Water Tower Place has over 100 stores, restaurants, and a live theater. Water Tower Place is located less than two blocks from St. James Chapel and three blocks to The Peninsula.

Water Tower Place

Additional Things To Do

Spending some extra time in Chicago? Here are a few recommendations of places to visit.

Stop by the LondonHouse rooftop for a cocktail, and enjoy the spectacular view of downtown. Take a peek around the east end of the rooftop to see the "cupola" where Matt proposed.

LondonHouse Chicago

Visit Millenium Park and take a picture by "The Bean", a Chicago tourism classic. Face north, look up, and you will see the Aon Center (featured in the background of this photo). Kelly Jo and Matt work on the 61st floor.

Millennium Park

Restaurants

There are countless restaurants and great places to eat in Chicago. Here are a few Chicago classics.

Enjoy a Chicago style deep dish pizza from Giordano's.

Giordano's

Enjoy a Chicago dog, Italian beef sandwich, or chopped salad from this iconic Chicago eatery.

Portillo's

Things to Do

Q + A

Registry

Can we bring our children to the wedding?

We kindly request that no young children attend the ceremony or reception. Please reach out to Kelly Jo with any questions.

Can I bring a 'plus one'?

Each invited guest's name, or a placeholder for 'Guest' is indicated in each party's RSVP form. If you are bringing a plus one, please update the placeholder 'Guest' name with the name of the guest who you are bringing.

When will invitations be sent?

Invitations were mailed in August. If you received a save the date but did not receive your invitation in the mail by August 31, please reach out to Kelly Jo.

When is the deadline to RSVP?

The deadline to RSVP is Thursday, September 15. Please submit your RSVP through the <a href="https://www.theknot.com/us/kelly-jo-hoffmann-and-matt-wisniewski-oct-2022/rsvp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RSVP</a> page.

What is the dress code?

The dress code is semi-formal (cocktail dress and suit &amp; tie). If you would like to dress formal (floor length dress and tuxedo), please feel free to. However, formal attire is not required!

I have a food allergy or dietary restriction. Can I make a special request?

Yes. Please provide details of your food allergy or dietary restriction in the RSVP form, and we will confirm that your meal option meets your needs prior to the wedding.

Will transportation be provided between the ceremony and reception?

No. Due to close proximity between venues (two blocks), we will not be providing transportation between St. James and The Peninsula.

How can we contact you?

Please email kellyjohoffmann@gmail.com with wedding related questions.

Kelly Jo & Matt

Kelly Jo & Matt

K&M