Renewing wedding vows in Chicago advice please.

chic11

Hi we are an Irish couple visiting Chicago in October 2011 looking for some advice on how we can renew our wedding vows. I have a couple of questions if anyone can answer for me that would be great!

1. Where can i walk in and buy a nice evening/ in-formal wedding dress in Chicago?

2. Where is the best place to get a nice up style on my hair on the day?

3. Any recommended cheap photographers who would take a few pics?

4. Any recommended reverends who preform renewal of vows in the area?

5. Which restaurant would be nice for a romantic meal after the ceremony?

Thanks!

Golfer09

1. Where can i walk in and buy a nice evening/ in-formal wedding dress in Chicago?
Macy's, White Chicago

2. Where is the best place to get a nice up style on my hair on the day?
Art & Science, Elizabeth Arden Red Salon

3. Any recommended cheap photographers who would take a few pics?
It depends what you define as cheap.  Kara Schultz and Kathleen Thame are names that are mentioned on this board quite often.

4. Any recommended reverends who preform renewal of vows in the area?
Rent a Rev

5. Which restaurant would be nice for a romantic meal after the ceremony?
Gejas, Signature Room, Everest, Nomi,

jjpgmm

1. Where can i walk in and buy a nice evening/ in-formal wedding dress in Chicago?
I second Macy's and Nordstrom Wedding Suite (gowns under $2,000)

2. Where is the best place to get a nice up style on my hair on the day?
Salon Buzz and Mario Tricocci

3. Any recommended cheap photographers who would take a few pics?
Depends on the style you are looking for . . . look for a student at the Art Institute or recent graduate looking to start their portfolio.  My photographer is $2,500 but that includes a lot of coverage (10 hours & 2 photographers)

4. Any recommended reverends who preform renewal of vows in the area?
Unsure

5. Which restaurant would be nice for a romantic meal after the ceremony?

I second Geja's (it is a fondue restaurant) and Avenues (at the Peninsula)

MrsPaps

1. Where can i walk in and buy a nice evening/ in-formal wedding dress in Chicago?
Macy's, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales

2. Where is the best place to get a nice up style on my hair on the day?
Mario Tricoci

3. Any recommended cheap photographers who would take a few pics?
We're using Kara Schultz and love her!

4. Any recommended reverends who preform renewal of vows in the area?
Rent a Rev

5. Which restaurant would be nice for a romantic meal after the ceremony?
Wildfire, Spiaggia, Smith & Wollensky

thealphabride

1. Where can i walk in and buy a nice evening/ in-formal wedding dress in Chicago? Macy's  Bloomingdales,  Nordstrom

2. Where is the best place to get a nice up style on my hair on the day?
Mario Triocci?
3. Any recommended cheap photographers who would take a few pics?
   Ttara  Etrheim google her. She worked with my florist, kiokreations.com and shot all my flowers, she is just getting started in business, her photo's a beautiful.

4. Any recommended reverends who preform renewal of vows in the area?
Thomas Whitham from Day of Dreams. He has a photo on his website of a beautiful small candlelight ceremony, just gorgeous!!!

5. Which restaurant would be nice for a romantic meal after the ceremony?
   Best deferred to the gals who currently live in town, but I have been to Geja's and it is very romantic!!!

Where are you having your vow renewal?

chic11

Thank you so much for all your replies. We are on a very tight budget and i got a quote today for $500 just for the reverand to do the ceremony!! :O
It was really just a little quick renewal we were thinking of as we are going for 5 days without our children and thought it would be nice to mark the occassion.
I will keep searching though and thanks again for all your replies.

jjpgmm

Something to keep in mind - Chicago is an expensive city for weddings, vow renewals, etc.  Once I started planning my wedding, I had to double my budget after I realized it next to impossible to plan a wedding within my original budget.  

The dinner alone will be upwards of $150-300 with alcohol and tip depending on where you go!