Last weekend – a lifetime ago! – we were in Chicago for my nephew’s wedding. As a kid, I lived outside the city for a year-ish, so it’s fun for me to go back and see it every once in a while. While I didn’t live in the city, we did drive in quite a bit for pizza, eat at an authentic Greek restaurant (sadly no longer there) to see Frank Lloyd Wright houses, view the city from the top of the John Hancock tower, and just exploring the city.
The wedding itself was at the Chicago Art Institute, just a couple blocks from the Swissotel, where we stayed. That put us right into the heart if downtown Chicago; in fact, our hotel room looked out over the river at the famous Dusable Bridge on MIchigan Avenue.
Before the evening’s festivities, we had a few hours to sightsee and grab lunch. While our daughter went on a bike ride with her cousins to Navy Pier and thereabouts, my husband and I took a cab to the Chicago French Market, where there are about 30 something restaurants under one roof. Pastrami sandwiches, artisan cheeses, crepes, Cajun food, smoothies, juice bars, Kosher foods, scrumptious bakeries, lobster rolls – it was amazing! When neither of us could decide what we both wanted, this was the perfect compromise in that we both got exactly what we wanted!
As if we hadn’t eaten enough – and dinner in only 3 hours – we arrived back at the hotel to a lovely tray of goodies along with an itinerary of the weekend events.
We had a really lovely dinner with family and friends of both sides after we arrived, and then in the morning, as is my custom when we travel, I went out for a morning run. Fortunately we were just a block away from Millenium Park and a couple from Grant Park, so I was able to run alongside Lakeshore Drive and catch a beautiful sunrise that reflected off the Chicago Skyline. It was perfect weather (especially since Chicago had had 2 cold, snow flurry weeks prior!) and it was a wonderful wonderful time exploring the city before it got busy.
On the way back, I met up with my husband and his brother at breakfast, then we all moved to the lobby where the bridal party was staying. Everyone had a fairly relaxed day. We took our daughter, two of our nieces and one spouse to Navy Pier to ride the ferris wheel, then we all headed to Gino’s East where we met more family for famous deep dish pizza. Oh, it was SO good!
After our bellies were as full as they would be if we ate 3 Thanksgiving dinners back to back, we made our way back to the hotel to change for the wedding. I wore a vintage 1940’s dress I bought in college, while my daughter rented a dress that was beautiful on her!
The wedding itself was so so incredibly picturesque and moving. It took place on a rooftop garden at the Art Institute, and the dusky skyline served as a gorgeous backdrop to the the bride and groom as they took their vows. It was definitely a one-of-a-kind wedding!
We loved meeting so many kind, thoughtful, funny, gracious people, and are so happy there’s a new addition to the family! It was a wonderful weekend, and we can’t wait to go back to visit Chicago!!!
I loved the pictures. I’ve only driven through Chicago. The wedding looked lovely too. Everyone looks lovely.
Thank you – it WAS lovely!