Lazy Daisy Diner & Cafe

Rehearsal Dinner

Rose Bowl Tavern

Welcome Drinks

Urbana Market at the Square

Wedding Vows

The Space

We're Married Party!

The Yard on Broadway

Hangover Brunch/Saying Goodbye :(

Fall

Our Wedding

We're getting married... kind of! We want to celebrate getting married, but we aren't doing it the traditional way. We plan to say our vows at a tent in the Urbana farmer's market, feel free to stop by and watch if you want to wake up early and see the cool pumpkins and squashes everyone grows out here! Later on is the main event, a dinner and party at The Space, a local restaurant in Champaign, Illinois. We will already be married by this point in the evening, and can't wait to celebrate with all of you! We can't wait to see you, hug you and show you the town we love so much! The goal of all of this is no stress, no pressure. Come as you are. Be there for what you'd like, and most importantly, enjoy our town, our local businesses and time with each other. We're getting married here (and like this) because this place represents something so special to us —&nbsp;peace, love and joy in the life we live, in a community we care for. We can't wait to share it with you. More soon!&nbsp;

What is a not wedding wedding?

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

Getting to Champaign-Urbana for Our Not Wedding Wedding!

We are so excited to celebrate with you in Champaign, Illinois on&nbsp;Saturday, October 18, 2025, at&nbsp;The Space! This page provides some helpful information for making your travel arrangements. Local AirportFor the most convenient travel, we recommend flying into:Willard Airport (CMI): Located right here in Champaign, CMI offers regional flights from Chicago (ORD) or Dallas (DFW). From those two airports, you can reach more than 200+ destinations worldwide. Once you arrive at CMI, you can easily take a taxi, rideshare, or hotel shuttle to your accommodation. Alternative AirportsIf you are unable to find convenient flights into CMI, here are some alternative airports within driving distance: Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI) - Bloomington, IL:&nbsp;Approximately 45 miles (about a 50-minute drive) from Champaign. St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) - St. Louis, MO:&nbsp;Approximately 180 miles (about a 3-hour drive) from Champaign. Indianapolis International Airport (IND) - Indianapolis, IN:&nbsp;Approximately 125 miles (about a 2-hour drive) from Champaign. Driving Distances from Alternative Airports (Estimated):Bloomington (BMI) to Champaign:&nbsp;~45 milesSt. Louis (STL) to Champaign:&nbsp;~180 milesIndianapolis (IND) to Champaign:&nbsp;~125 miles Rental Car Information (Estimated Cost: October 17 - October 19, 2025):Please note that rental car prices can vary significantly depending on the company, car size, and availability. We recommend booking in advance for the best rates. Based on current trends and estimates for that time frame, you might expect to pay approximately:Economy Car:&nbsp;$100 - $150Compact Car:&nbsp;$120 - $180Mid-Size Car:&nbsp;$150 - $220 These are just estimates, so be sure to check with various rental car companies for the most accurate pricing for your specific needs. We use Avis when we rent cars, but major rental car carriers are available at all airports listed. Public Transportation from Chicago AirportsIf you are flying into Chicago, you have several public transportation options to reach Champaign-Urbana: From O'Hare International Airport (ORD):Train (Amtrak):&nbsp;You can take the 'L' (Blue Line) from O'Hare to Union Station in downtown Chicago. From Union Station, Amtrak offers several daily trains to Champaign-Urbana. The train journey typically takes around 2-3 hours. You can check the <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/home.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amtrak website</a> for schedules and ticket prices.Bus (Various Providers):&nbsp;Several bus companies offer direct routes from O'Hare to Champaign-Urbana. These often provide more frequent departures than the train. <a href="https://peoriacharter.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Peoria Charter</a> is probably the most reliable and well-known. The bus journey usually takes around 2.5 - 3.5 hours, depending on traffic. From Midway International Airport (MDW):Train (Amtrak):&nbsp;Take the 'L' (Orange Line) from Midway to Union Station in downtown Chicago. From there, connect to an <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/home.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amtrak train</a> to Champaign-Urbana. Important Note for Public Transportation:&nbsp;We highly recommend booking your train or bus tickets in advance, especially if you are traveling closer to the wedding weekend, as seats can fill up. Hotel BlocksWe have secured special rates at the following hotels for your convenience: Hyatt Place Champaign:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hyatt.com/shop/rooms/cmizc?checkinDate=2025-10-16&amp;checkoutDate=2025-10-19&amp;rooms=1&amp;adults=1&amp;kids=0&amp;corp_id=G-25EW&amp;accessibilityCheck=false" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Book Here</a>, or call (217) 531-2800, use option 0, and ask for the Ehlinger Williams Wedding Block (Group Code: G-25EW)Located in Champaign, offering modern amenities. Hotel Royer Urbana, IL:&nbsp;<a href="https://group.tapestrycollection.com/dp2fl1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Book Here</a> - A charming historical hotel located in Urbana, opened in April 2025 after many years of renovation. Please use the booking links or mention our wedding block when making your reservations to receive the discounted rate. We encourage you to book your accommodations as soon as possible to ensure availability. We can't wait to see you in October! If you have any questions regarding travel, please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

Travel

Things to Do in Champaign-Urbana (Mainly Places to Eat)

OK, so if you don't know, Jake launched and is running a food and drink website in Champaign-Urbana called <a href="ChambanaEats.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ChambanaEats.com</a>. Below are some recs, but please check <a href="ChambanaEats.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ChambanaEats.com</a> and <a href="smilepolitely.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Smile Politely</a> for more. What you will not see here is recommendations for on-campus eats. If you want to brave college students, there are a number of excellent eateries (even ones that were <a href="https://chambanaeats.com/news/new-york-times-features-8-champaign-urbana-restaurants" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">featured in the New York Times</a>) along Green Street. That said, I (Jake) will not be going on campus during my wedding, and while I love these students, I probably wouldn't recommend you do that either. Urbana, IL (near Hotel Royer, Welcome Drinks, Farmer’s Market, Rehearsal Dinner Location &amp; Farewell Brunch) Encanto Restaurant &amp; Bar115 W Main St.Urbana, IL61801 Encanto is a great, spacious spot for Peruvian/Mexican food. Your typical American-Mexican classics are here, as well as some outstanding Peruvian staples like Lomo Saltado, Aji de Gallina and more. Reservations are almost always unnecessary, and they have seating for both small groups and larger groups. You are welcome to call and ask though! Siam Terrace212 W Main St.Urbana, IL61801 Siam Terrace is one of our go-to spots. We eat there regularly, and probably order from there at least twice a month. The cuisine is Thai and you can’t go wrong with pretty much anything on the menu. It’s a smaller place with fewer large-group options, but the service is fast, very casual and solid. Reservations are almost always unnecessary, but you are welcome to call and ask. The Courier Cafe111 N Race St.Urbana, IL61801 Courier Cafe is a great diner-esque family restaurant. It gets crowded fast for brunch/breakfast and does NOT accept reservations. I’m not sure how dinner works. Don’t expect gourmet food, but expect classic, simple, diner food (but not like thousand-page menu, just the hits). Masijta Grill Korean BBQ202 N Race StUrbana, IL61801 We have yet to have a less than amazing experience at Masijta. The move here is the unlimited Korean barbecue (requires a full-table-opt-in), but they do have other options. They’re very diligent about not having food waste, so be cautious when ordering, but you can always (always!) order more. It’s got a mix of sizes for seating, and again, like most places on this list, reservations are probably unnecessary. Bunny’s Tavern119 W Water St.Urbana, IL61801 Bunny’s is your classic dive bar with dive bar food. It’s not Michelin Star, but it is exactly what you want for a night of drinking. Think classic American bar food — likely fried, incredibly fast and fun. This is a townie spot, so there are people who have been occupying those barstools at Bunny’s for years. The food is solid, and they have a lot of space. Baldarotta’s Porketta &amp; Sicilian Sausage208 W Griggs St.Urbana, IL61801 Baldarotta’s has the best sandwiches in C-U. Full stop. This classic Italian deli-style spot has incredibly heavy and delicious sandwiches, all along with some wings, pizzas, gelato and more. The dining environment is relatively unassuming, but the food makes up for it. Pro move here is to order it to go and grab a beer at 25 O’Clock Brewing next door. We go to 25 every single week on Fridays. We love ‘em. Black Dog Smoke &amp; Ale House201 N Broadway AveUrbana, IL61801 OK, Texans. We know your barbecue is superior, but let me tell you: Black Dog is where it’s at. Their newly-reopened Urbana location is their original spot and they serve a completely different menu than their Champaign location. Great daily specials, really solid smoked meats, and a good bar menu. Black Dog is the kind of place in our town where we ask “why don’t we go here more?” Highly recommend. Silvercreek402 N Race St.Urbana, IL61801 Silvercreek is yet another American-ish spot with all of the classics you’d expect, along with a good bar. It’s a slightly nicer experience, and is probably the “fanciest” spot on this list, but is just as good for casual hangs as it is for good food. It’s spacious and there’s a lot of room, but if you’re looking for a meal that will be good and also pleasing to everyone, this is probably where you want to end up. The Yard on Broadway (Farewell Brunch location)401 N Broadway AveUrbana, IL61801 While we don’t recommend doubling up on spots, our Farewell Brunch location is a really solid choice for good eats in Urbana. With a taco spot, fried chicken joint, burger place, ice cream vendor, coffee shop and bar, this food hall is great if no one can decide on what they want. It’s incredibly spacious, and is good for a longer hang or a quick in and out. Writer’s Room at Hotel Royer210 S. Race St.Urbana, IL&nbsp;61801 Writer’s Room is solid. I don’t have a glowing review of it, but it’s a good hotel bar restaurant. Here’s where you should go if you are people’d out and not particularly ecstatic about getting to see places in Urbana. You won’t be upset with the food, but you probably have (and will) eat better elsewhere. That said, it’s a great place to unwind with a cocktail and a quick meal before sleeps (especially if you’re staying at the Royer, I probably wouldn’t go if I wasn’t). For Drinks:Yellow Rabbit, 136 W Main St., Urbana —&nbsp;Speakeasy! Enter through the bookshelf. Great vibes, great drinks. Analog Wine Library, 129 N Race St., Urbana — Wine bar! Great selection, cool, artsy vibes. 25 O’Clock Brewing Company, 208 W Griggs St., Urbana — Favorite local brewery. Great selection, BYOF (bring your own food), billiards, lots of space, great staff Gallery Art Bar, 119 W Main St., Urbana — cocktail bar with great NA options. Normally live music, small place. Loud, but cool vibes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Fast Casual/Takeout/Quick: Culver’s, 201 W University Ave., Urbana — Good takeout burger.&nbsp; Shawarma Joint, 102 E University Ave., Urbana — Amazing Palestinian-owned Shawarma/rice bowl/Mediterranean spot. Wood N’ Hog BBQ, 101 W University Ave., Urbana — Best BBQ in C-U. Black-owned. Simple, Crushable. Patricio’s Pizza &amp; More, 300 S Broadway Ave., Urbana — Inside Lincoln Square mall. Great pizza, calzones, etc. Great excuse to go see Lincoln Square Mall (the weirdest, coolest mall in America maybe?) Champaign, IL (near Hyatt Place, The Space) Blind Pig BrewpubBig Grove TavernSeven Saint’sNeil St. BluesSticky RiceWatson’s Shack &amp; RailNando MilanoHamilton Walker’sThe LiteraryEsquire LoungeFarren’s at the InmanPizzeria AnticaSam’s CafeHound’s Rest/CourtMaize Other Notable Area Spots to Visit (probably only if you have a car): Huaraches MoroloenRiggs Beer CompanyGood Judy’s Bagel &amp; Espresso BarSun SingerSan MaruHoulihan’s

Things to Do

Registry