Durkin Household

Welcome Celebration

Walden

Wedding Day at Walden

Ceremony

Reception

After Party at Irish Nobleman

Time Out Market Chicago

Brunch at Time Out Market

Halloween Bar Crawl

Lottie's Pub

Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club

Third Location - TBD

Our Wedding

Our Story

Photos

Bridesmaids

My older sister Rachel has been my built-in best friend, fiercest competitor, and lifelong role model. She’s adventurous, outdoorsy, and the ultimate dog mom, living her best Colorado life. 

Rachel Matatsar

My younger sister Carly is the definition of fun—outgoing, charismatic, and impeccable comedic timing. From the moment she could talk, she’s been keeping me entertained, and to this day, we can’t be in the same room without nonstop laughter. 

Carly Mayer

Gail is a gold medalist in real life and in my heart—because let’s be real, she’s basically a superhero. From our U of I days to her Chicago adventures, we’ve been practically glued together. She’s the queen of the dance floor, the ultimate hype woman, and a rockstar mom. 

Gail Kalisz

Mary is the ultimate 'Yes' woman – always ready for an adventure and bringing energy and light to every room. Even though we played different sports in college, we’ve always found ways to challenge each other, whether we’re racing through triathlons or arm wrestling at a bar. 

Mary Drent

Anna is the amazing sister I gained through marrying Sam—and honestly, I’m pretty sure she knew we were meant to be long before Sam did. She’s a supermom to three incredible girls, and somehow manages to juggle it all. 

Anna Durkin

Groomsmen

Forrest and Sam have been friends since Day 1 of freshman football and have done it all together—from countless Lollapaloozas to post-college roommate life in Boston. Whether it’s sharing good news or needing advice, Forrest (aka Dale) is the friend Sam can always count on.

Forrest Christensen

Even though Joey went to a rival high school, he and Sam quickly became friends through Forrest—and the trio has been inseparable ever since. Joey and Sam have a tradition of capping the night with “one last” whiskey… which somehow never ends up being the last.

Joey Ryan

Connor and Sam have been friends since Sam ate all of Connor’s Oreos freshman year of high school—though it took Connor a minute to forgive him. Another member of the post-college Boston crew, Connor’s a go-to for late-night video games and dominant beer pong runs.

Connor Mulhall

Sam met Casey through mutual friends in 2019, and they quickly went from acquaintances to best friends. Whether it was shuffleboard leagues, late nights at Matchbox, or exploring Chicago, they made the most of every moment in the Windy City.

Casey Adams

“Sam Squared” (a nickname no one’s actually used) met on Sam’s first job out of college, where long, grueling days on the jobsite turned into a lifelong friendship. From gallivanting around Boston to visits in Chicago and regular catch-up calls, these two Sams have been through it all together.

Sam McManus

Wedding Party

Q + A

The Emily Hotel

Hyatt House Chicago / West Loop-Fulton Market

Travel

Michelle & Sam's Favorite Watering Holes

Matchbox Bar&nbsp;(770 N Milwaukee Ave) -&nbsp;Sam and Michelle are more than regulars at this neighborhood corner bar. We will usually be holding court, dominating the front corner of the narrow bar. Pro tip: The cocktails might be small, but they pack a punch—just like this cozy spot. Chip Inn (832 N Greenview Ave) - Cash-only, no-frills, and 100% Chicago.&nbsp;If you’re looking for authenticity, this dive has is it—plus a pool table for settling any wedding weekend grudges. Bonus points if you can beat Sam off the table so that he'll hang out with me. Star Bar (853 N Western Ave) - This is where Michelle takes over the TouchTunes like it’s her personal DJ booth, and Sam becomes one with the pool table.&nbsp;Come at your own risk with us, I will not apologize for playing Creed. Aberdeen Tap (440 N Aberdeen St) - This bar is a staple for when Sam and Michelle want pub food, sports, and good vibes all in one place.&nbsp;Beware of mixing mimosas and vegas bombs.

Michelle & Sam's Top Bites to Eat

Brasero (1709 W Chicago Ave) - The perfect place for sharing South American-inspired tapas with friends and family. Pro tip: if going in smaller numbers (or just have commitment issues), you can order half portions of just about everything. NADC Burgers (415 N Milwaukee Ave) - This smash burger is so good it practically derailed our fitness routine. Seriously. We had to change our route home from the gym to avoid temptation, and even then, we still found excuses to “accidentally” end up here. Is it worth it? Oh, 100%. Pie Eyed Pizza (1111 W Chicago Ave) - When your local pizza spot knows your name, your order, and your late-night secrets, you know you’ve found something special. Perfect for 2 a.m. cravings, post-bar adventures, or when “one more slice” turns into the whole pie. Publican Quality Bread (1759 W Grand Ave) - We’d do just about anything to get our hands on their flaky pastries and sourdough loaves—seriously, anything. It's the ultimate “treat yourself” moment. Warning: you’ll have dreams about these pastries later.

Michelle & Sam's Live Music and Dancing

Kingston Mines (2548 N Halsted St) - Tear up the dance floor at this historic blues nightclub in Lincoln Park. There’s usually a cover charge, but trust us—it’s worth every penny for the authentic blues experience! Phyllis' Musical Inn (1800 W Division St) - Step back in time to 1954 at this classic Chicago cash only establishment. Phyllis' Musical Inn has been serving up high-quality vibes and excellent service for decades.

M&S Brewery Recommendations

Midwest Coast Brewery (2137 W Walnut St) - Adjacent to the Walden, this brewery has got high quality beers on tap, a love for dogs, and a recently remodeled roof. We highly recommend stopping in for one to wet the whistle before heading up to the ceremony (it can only make it more fun). Bungalow by Middle Brow (2840 W Armitage Ave) - This adorable spot typically offers live acoustic music, high quality pizza, and crushable brews. We found that this is the perfect spot to wander into after a day of sailing. and of course... Guinness Open Gate (901 W Kinzie St) - the closest you'll come to tasting The Black Stuff on US soil. We went straight to the source on the Durkin family vacation and have no problem bragging to you that we can taste the difference and that we won't drink a Guinness that has been improperly served. We have never turned down the challenge to "split the G".

Things to Do

Registry

introducing our most talented wedding photography team...Sarah Jane Bradley, Katy Carl, and Gianna

@sarahjanebradleyphotoshttps://sjbphotos.com/ @katyycarlhttps://katycarl.com/

Drum roll for our rockstar florist Meghan Radosta! 

https://www.instagram.com/bloomsonbrassie/https://www.bloomsonbrassie.com/

Round of applause for our incredible wedding planners!

Ally Alford &amp; Briscel Martinez are a part of the in-house event planning team at Walden Chicago. They made the experience so enjoyable and easy from the start.

Standing ovation for the food & beverage team at Walden!

https://www.instagram.com/waldenchicago/?hl=enhttps://waldenchicago.com/

Hip Hip Hooray for Koondel Designs

The most talented Pim Koondel is one of my dearest friends and absolutely knocked all of the design work out of the park. @koondeldesignhttps://www.etsy.com/shop/koondeldesign/