River Forest Country Club

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Our Wedding

Once upon a time&hellip; in a galaxy far, far away&hellip; there lived a Disney Princess and a Jedi Knight. It was their destiny to fall in love and bring balance to The Force and Magic. Therefore, an evil Sith Lord and Wicked Queen conspired to keep the princess and jedi apart so they could not disrupt their evil plan to destroy love in the world (which is always the plan of any Sith Lord or Wicked Queen, as we know from all epic tales). The Princess, named Lauren, lived in the quiet village of Wood Dale, just outside the Kingdom of Chicago. And Matthew, the Jedi Knight, lived on the planet of West Hills, not far from the magical La La Land&hellip;but we will get to that part later. 





&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Both Princess Lauren and Jedi Matthew knew they wanted to explore other worlds and learn new things. The village of Wood Dale was too quiet and provincial for Princess Lauren. The villagers did not understand Princess Lauren’s big dreams and creative ideas. Matthew grew tired of the excessive heat and violent earth-shakings of Planet West Hills. He loved his family, but wanted to get away from evil orcs of Cleveland High School.











&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Princess Lauren and Jedi Matthew traveled to a new galaxy called The East Coast. Although they were in the same galaxy now, they were each on a separate planet. Jedi Matthew lived and trained on Planet Boston – an often cold, but beautiful planet. Aside from an annoying group of Red Sox Jawas, he forged strong friendships and trained in the ways of The Force to heal the sick. Lauren lived on the Planet New York in the bustling kingdom of Manhattan. She learned to sing and dance and tell stories by the very best. 

 











&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After 8 long years, Jedi Matthew moved to the Kingdom Manhattan to continue his Jedi apprenticeship in a subspecialty of The Force lore called anesthesiology. The Sith Lord and the Wicked Queen were now concerned the two would meet and not only prove the power of true love, but fulfill their destiny bringing balance to The Force and Magic and would destroy all their menacing plans. To keep the two of them apart, they cast a spell of invisible separation. No matter how close together Princess Lauren and Doctor Jedi Matthew would be in space, they would never be able to meet. This made for a dark time for Doctor Jedi Matthew and Princess Lauren in the Kingdom of Manhattan. They met and dated other people in the kingdom, but no one was quite right.

 











&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Because of their destiny to be together, Princess Lauren and Doctor Jedi Matthew both moved to the magical La La Land. They even both lived on the same path, Los Feliz Blvd, near the enchanted hills of Griffith Park. However, due to the Sith Lord and Wicked Queen’s spell, they never saw each other, and were made invisible to one another. 

 











The only one who could break the spell was the Tinder Fairy using the not so ancient, but very new power of Algorithm. Algorithm was so new, in fact, it was the only power that could break the Sith Lord and Wicked Queen’s curse. The only problem, was both Princess Lauren and Doctor Jedi Matthew, would have to find each other through a series of swipes. With each swipe they would come closer and closer to finding each other, but would have to endure an endless stream of awkward correspondences. Finally, after years of wading&nbsp; through the swamp frogs, they swiped right on one another! On October 25, the year two thousand and sixteen, St. Cripsin’s Day, the spell was broken and Doctor Jedi Matthew found Princess Lauran. 

 











Their connection was strong, and a visible disturbance in The Force occurred. Doctor Jedi Matthew asked Princess Lauren to a Masquerade Ball and the two started to fall in love. Princess Lauren knew he was her destined partner when on the day of Saint Valentine he gifted her with the Machete of Mystery and Hardhat of Hogwarts. She had yearned for these accoutrements for years, but only Doctor Jedi Matthew had the knowledge and courage to present her with these gifts. 

 











Together they travel to many lands: Santa Barbara, Lake Tahoe, San Diego, Jamaica, San Francisco, and Chicago. And Doctor Jedi Matthew knew he wanted Princess Lauren to live with him in his Farmdale Castle of Studio City. However, the Wicked Queen and Sith Lord made one last effort to stop their love. They cast the spell of Allergies on Princess Lauren, which made her violently sneeze whenever she would enter the Farmdale Castle of Studio City, because of the fur-bearing, Jelicle cats, Maebe and George Michael and the loveable and oafish German Shepherd, Harley Quinn who all resided with Dr. Jedi Matthew. However, Princess Lauren knew her love of Doctor Jedi Matthew was too strong to be shaken. It took her this long to finally find him, and she was not going to give up without a fight. So, she met with Magician Harrari, who brewed a potion for Doctor Jedi Matthew to administer to her. As long as she took her potion every few days, she could defeat the Allergy spell!

 











After two years, Princess Lauren moved into Doctor Jedi Matthew’s Farmdale Castle of Studio City. Princess Lauren’s best friend, Matt The Divo, once told her, “you’re a catch. He’s a catch. You caught each other. Catches abound!” They did catch each other and together, bringing balance to The Force and Magic, they plan to fight zombies, whitewalkers, sinkholes, and death eaters together!&nbsp;





After their long journey to find each other,&nbsp;Doctor Jedi Matthew knew that almost everything was right in the world of La La Land. He knew that there was one thing missing. This was not a thing that fell on the shoulders of anyone but him. Doctor Jedi Matthew knew the importance of a single rose to the relationship of Princess Lauren and himself. He remembered what it meant to the Masquerade Ball. He took the Machete of Mystery and gently cut a rose from the ground. He did not just choose any rose, but the most beautiful rose that emerged out of the soil. This rose was special. This rose was shiny. This rose held a special secret inside. Doctor Jedi Matthew kneeled on one knee to the love of his life and presented her this rose. Inside of its beautiful petals lay a shiny object. The circular piece could represent their infinite life together filled with love and happiness. She only need answer him with one simple word.













“Will you marry me?” 

 













Her answer to him was&hellip;.









"YES!"

Once Upon a Time... In a Galaxy Far, Far Away...

Social Media

Please feel free to use the following wedding hashtags for your social media posts:&nbsp;#sowainlove #weddingtashtag&nbsp;

Our Story

Downtown Chicago Attractions

The Art Institute of Chicago

<a href="https://www.artic.edu/">https://www.artic.edu/</a>

Chicago Architecture River Tour 

<a href="https://www.wendellaboats.com/">https://www.wendellaboats.com/</a>

The Field Museum 

<a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">https://www.fieldmuseum.org/</a>

The Sky Deck 

<a href="https://theskydeck.com/">https://theskydeck.com/</a>

Millennium Park 

<a href="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park.html">https://www.chicago.gov/city/e...</a>

Shedd Aquarium 

<a href="https://www.sheddaquarium.org/">https://www.sheddaquarium.org/</a>

The Magnificent Mile

Michigan Avenue shops, restaurants, and historic buildings&nbsp;

Details

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

Registry

<a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1624402823428&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1624402823428&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink</a>This hotel is located 8 miles from the wedding venue and 13 miles from O'Hare International Airport. Within walking distance, just across the street of the Marriott Oak Brook is Oak Brook Center. Oakbrook center has many shops and fun restaurants to enjoy! You can make a reservation at the link above or call them directly and say your are with the Sowa/Tash Wedding Room Block.

Chicago Marriott Oak Brook

<a href="https://www.hiexpress.com/redirect?path=rates&amp;brandCode=EX&amp;localeCode=en&amp;regionCode=1&amp;hotelCode=CHIBS&amp;checkInDate=16&amp;checkInMonthYear=082021&amp;checkOutDate=20&amp;checkOutMonthYear=082021&amp;_PMID=99801505&amp;GPC=STW&amp;cn=no&amp;viewfullsite=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.hiexpress.com/redirect?path=rates&amp;brandCode=EX&amp;localeCode=en&amp;regionCode=1&amp;hotelCode=CHIBS&amp;checkInDate=16&amp;checkInMonthYear=082021&amp;checkOutDate=20&amp;checkOutMonthYear=082021&amp;_PMID=99801505&amp;GPC=STW&amp;cn=no&amp;viewfullsite=true</a> This hotel is conveniently located next to the wedding venue. They will provide scheduled, free shuttle rides to and from River Forest Country Club. However, this hotel is unfortunately not located within walking distance of shops or restaurants, but is a short (2 mile) ride from the quaint, downtown Elmhurst. The wedding block has a range of rooms at the following rates: King Bed $119, two Queens $129. You can make a reservation at the link above or call them directly and say your are with the Sowa/Tash Wedding Room Block.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bensenville - O'Hare

Travel

Tasty and trendy restaurant in Downtown Elmhurst&nbsp; (near the wedding venue and Holiday Inn Express Hotel).

GIA MIA Elmhurst

This is our favorite local, family pizza joint (near the wedding venue and Holiday Inn Express Hotel).&nbsp;

Mamma Maria's Pizzeria & Ristorante

Upscale Italian restaurant&nbsp;in Downtown Elmhurst (near the wedding venue and Holiday Inn Express)&nbsp;

Francesca's Amici

Local, craft, microbrewery in Downtown Elmhurst&nbsp;(near the wedding venue and Holiday Inn Express).

Elmhurst Brewing Company

Casual, family breakfast and lunch place&nbsp;in Downtown Elmhurst&nbsp;(near the wedding venue and Holiday Inn Express).

Rainbow Cafe

Cute and yummy breakfast and lunch&nbsp;in Downtown Elmhurst&nbsp;(near the wedding venue and Holiday Inn Express).

Egg Harbor Cafe

Traditional Chicago chocolates&nbsp;in Downtown Elmhurst&nbsp;(near the wedding venue and Holiday Inn Express).

Fannie May Fine Chocolates

Chocolate and ice cream shoppe&nbsp;in Downtown Elmhurst&nbsp;(near the wedding venue and Holiday Inn Express).

Kilwins Elmhurst

Movie theatre that opened in 1924 and updated in 1938 by architect Roy Blass to an Art Deco style inside and out. Located&nbsp;in Downtown Elmhurst&nbsp;(near the wedding venue and Holiday Inn Express).

Classic Cinemas York Theatre

Outdoor Mall with many department and speciality stores&nbsp;and restaurants (both upscale and casual)&nbsp;that are&nbsp;walking distance from&nbsp;the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook Hotel.&nbsp;Personal favorites and Yelp recommended&nbsp;restaurants located in Oakbrook Center: Corner Bakery, Mon Ami Gabi, Pinstripes, Seasons 52, Stan's Donuts & Coffee, El Tapeo, Old Town Pour House, Roka Akor,&nbsp;The Cheesecake Factory, Wildfire, and Shake Shack.&nbsp;

Lauren & Matthew

Lauren & Matthew

Photos