Saint Clement Church

Rehearsal

The Galway Arms

Rehearsal Dinner

Mass & Wedding Ceremony

Salvatore's Wedding Venue

Cocktail Hour and Reception

Our Wedding

Our love story

How trent and claire came to be

2008-2015

We were friends for a looooong time before we ever started dating! We met at Yellow Breeches Middle School when we were 11. We became good friends in high school (in American History class), where we took many of the same classes and were part of the same tight-knit group of friends. We truly had no idea what was to come!

2015-2019

We both attended business school at Duquesne University! College was SO FUN and we maintained a close friendship all through school. We lived in the same dorm, had many of the same friends, were part of the same professional business fraternity and even spent a semester abroad together in Rome! Trent's house became the main hang-out spot for everyone in the group and we spent most weekends together (though, still just friends)!

We took the leap and never looked back! We started dating in October of 2019 after many years of being each other's best friend.

October 2019

2019-2022

Trent moved to Chicago in Spring of 2020 (great timing!!). But, we still made the most of the experience! Since we were now working from home, Claire took the opportunity to make lots of trips to visit Trent and explore the city as things opened up! We fell more in love with each other and with Chicago!The next 2 years were spent bouncing from Pittsburgh, where Claire lived, to Chicago, then to Philadelphia, where Trent moved in 2021. We took trips to Utah and California! We vacationed in Ocean City, Maryland with Trent's family. We celebrated holidays, birthdays, promotions, and moves! So many good memories were made!

We officially moved to Chicago!! Trent to Logan Square and Claire to Lincoln Park.

July 2022

2022-2024

We have had so much fun in Chicago since our move! Chicago has become so important to us and is the backdrop of so many of our favorite memories together. We also adopted a cat named Virgil during this time!

We got engaged in Amsterdam! On our second day of the trip, we went on a boat tour through the canals and saw the entire city! After the boat tour, Trent led Claire to a quiet canal with no one around and asked her to marry him. She was SO surprised!! They spent the rest of the evening talking and crying (well, Claire was crying), in a cozy historic bar in center city, where they popped a bottle of champagne to celebrate!

February 2024

Our Story

The Who's who

The girls

There is no one else in the world Claire would want to be her Maid of Honor! Lauren and Claire have been friends for more than 15 years and have been by each other’s sides for all of life’s big events. Claire was also the Maid of Honor in Lauren’s 2023 wedding! 
Lauren currently lives in New York City with her husband, Ryan.

Lauren Metz

Keighlee and Claire have been close friends since high school! She is the perfect combination of smart, funny, and honest - all with a bit of a dramatic flair! Keighlee currently lives in Boston, where she is pursuing her Masters in Theological Studies.

Keighlee Arp

Heidi and Claire met in college at Duquesne, where they became fast friends through their business fraternity. Heidi is a fellow cat lover, a loyal friend, and brings so much fun to their friendship! 
Heidi currently lives in Pittsburgh. She is also getting married in 2025!

Heidi Peck

Hailey is Claire’s oldest girl cousin! Claire admires her so much for her positivity, loving spirit, and sense of humor! Claire is so happy to have Hailey join her on the Big Day!
Hailey currently lives in Missouri where she is a freshman in high school.

Hailey Rhoad

The Boys

Henry and Trent met at Duquesne and became friends while playing intramural basketball! They have been friends for more than 10 years and were roommates in college and post-grad. Henry currently lives in Chicago with his girlfriend, Caitlyn.

Henry Olbrish

Dan and Trent met at Duquesne during intramural sports Freshman year! Dan studied abroad with Trent and Claire in Rome, and was roommates with Henry and Trent during school! Dan currently lives in Chicago with this fiancée, Rachel. 

Dan Mahoney

Andy and Trent lived on the same floor Freshman year at Duquesne, but became close friends during Study Abroad in 2016! Andy currently lives in Denver.

Andrew Fedigan

Andy is Trent's cousin! Trent has always looked up to Andy and they have been close since Trent was a kid! Trent was also a groomsman in Andy's 2018 wedding. Andy currently lives in Allentown, PA with his wife, Dawn, and their two daughters. 

Andy Heimbach

The Parents

Tim & Heidi Lynch

Tom & Lisa Thompson

Cat of Honor

Virgil

Wedding Party

Here are the need to know deets...

Reference the below sections for all the details about the wedding

Seriously, everything you need to know is right here

Where is the wedding?

The wedding ceremony is being held at Saint Clement Catholic Church (642 W Deming Place, Chicago, IL). This will be a full Catholic Mass! The wedding reception is at Salvatore's Chicago (525 W Arlington Place, Chicago, IL). These two venues are a short 5 minute walk from one another in the picturesque neighborhood of Lincoln Park, in Chicago’s north side.

When Does the Ceremony start?

The ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00pm.

when does the reception start?

There will be a champagne welcome at 4:30 pm. Cocktail hour begins at 5:00 pm! The reception will begin around 6:00pm.

Where should i stay?

Check out the "Travel" section of our website!

Is there transportation provided?

There is no transportation provided on the day of the wedding. We recommend you stay within walking distance of the venues or Uber/Lyft to and from your hotel or rental! Because the reception venue is so close to the church (just a few blocks!), we will just be walking there after the ceremony!

Is there parking available?

Yes! There is a small parking lot at St. Clement and valet parking at Salvatore's. We CANNOT leave any vehicles at either of these locations overnight. If you plan to drive there, please also plan to drive home.&nbsp; Though there is plenty of parking available, we highly recommend you walk or Uber to the church and walk to the venue following the ceremony.&nbsp;

what is the dress code?

The dress code is semi-formal to formal attire. This means men wear suits and women wear dresses below the knee.

Q + A

Where are we going & how do we get there?

Have no fear, we have all the info!

Where to Stay

We are not designating a hotel block for guests at a single hotel. Instead, we encourage you to stay somewhere that suits your needs! Below are some hotels close to the venue, though there are many options throughout the city. Get those hotel points, girl! If an AirBnB or rental home sounds better to you, we have included some cross-streets that would allow for an easy commute on the day of the wedding and are close to other points of interest! SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR HOTELS NEARBY!

Getting Around

Chicago public transportation (CTA) is a safe and reliable way to move around the city! Do not be intimidated, you can do this! It can get you basically anywhere you want to go for $2. Consider staying near a Red or Brown L stop for easy access to all the major sights! These lines travel North/South and will take you from Chicago’s Northside to downtown. Download the Ventra app on your phone and load money on a virtual transit card, or just tap Apple Pay from your virtual wallet at the entrance of a bus or L stop! Alternatively, Uber and Lyft are abundant and usually pick up anywhere within just a few minutes! The wedding venue is closest to the below bus and L train lines.- L Train, Red Line: Fullerton Stop- L Train, Brown Line: Diversey Stop- Bus route 36- Bus route 22 As stated in the Q&amp;A, we are not providing transportation between hotels and the venue on the day of the wedding.

Airport Information

Chicago's two major airports are Midway International (MDW) and O'Hare International (ORD). Either airport is a fine option! Uber/Lyft pick-up is on the UPPER DECK of TERMINAL 2 at O'Hare airport! We have been confused by this so many times, it doesn't make much sense - don't make our mistake! Midway pickup location is near baggage claim - of course! If you opt to take public transportation from the airport, Midway is serviced by the Orange L line and O'Hare is serviced by the Blue L line. It is honestly very easy to navigate once you are there, just follow the signs!

Hotel Lincoln - JDV by Hyatt

The Willows Hotel

Hotel Zachary, Chicago, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

The Neighborhood Hotel Lincoln Park

The Sono Chicago

Finding a place between these streets keeps you within a 10-15 min walk of the church and reception venue!

Recommended Home Rental Areas

Travel

Things to do in Chicago

Besides Attend our Wedding (DUH!)

We are so excited to welcome you to Chicago for our wedding weekend! We hope you use this opportunity to explore the city we love so much! There are countless things to do, see, eat, drink and experience. Chicago is an integral part of our love story and home to some of our best memories together. We sincerely hope you enjoy your time here!

You can't come to Chicago without stopping by these incredible places!We are members at the Chicago Art Institute, it is one of our favorite things to do in the city! Other favorites include the Wendella Architecture Boat Tour (this NEVER disappoints) and the top of the Willis Tower! Click the link for more.

Must see sights!

Chicago is home to so many beautiful parks, public spaces, historic buildings, nature preserves, and (of course) our expansive Lake Michigan waterfront! Here are some places where you can spend your time, without spending your money! Click the link for more.

Free Activities!

Chicago is known as a foodie destination! These are what we consider to be some of the best places to eat in the city! Breakfast, lunch, or dinner; splurge-worthy or a cheap bite! A few of these places require a reservation in advance, that is noted in the list. Click the link for more.

Get a Bite to Eat!

There are limitless places to drink in Chicago, but these are some of our favorite spots! Ranging from swanky cocktail bars to dives with sticky floors, there is something for everyone (we have also included some family friendly locations). If you're feeling brave, order the Chicago Handshake! Click the link for more.

Grab Drinks!

It's no surprise, we like to shop...Each neighborhood of Chicago has it's own unique flair and we love to spend our weekends wandering around somewhere new! Check out these areas for some of the cutest local businesses, coffee shops, and good vibes. Click the link for more.

shop 'til you drop, baby!

This list includes things happening all around the city on Thursday, Friday, Saturday morning, and Sunday! Check it out and live like a local! Click the link for more.

Trent & Claire

Trent & Claire

Photos

We got engaged!

amsterdam, netherlands

Engagement Photos

north avenue beach, chicago