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Evanston ceremony and Downtown Chi reception

NBADancerNBADancer member
10 Comments
in Illinois-Chicago
Hi all!  I wanted to get your opinions on ceremony location.....my reception is already booked at a downtown chicago venue, but we have yet to book a church for the ceremony.  We are really thinking about using the Millar chapel in Evanston b/c we both went to Northwestern, and only Northwestern grads can use the chapel so we thought it would be meaningful for us.  My only concern is that it will be about a 30 minute drive for people from the ceremony to the reception - is that a terrible inconvenience do you think?  There aren't a ton of other options for churches downtown and close to the reception site b/c for many of them you have to be a member for at least 4-6 months before you can even reserve the church for the ceremony.  I'd love to hear yall's thoughts.  Thanks!
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Re: Evanston ceremony and Downtown Chi reception

  • aimers1525aimers1525 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I might have an unpopular opinion here, but I think it would be fine. I wanted to get married at the church I grew up at, but wasn't crazy about the reception options in the immediate area. We ended up going with a reception venue about 45 mins away; so in two different suburbs.

    Evanston-Chicago is not a big deal IMO. AND that chapel is so pretty :)
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  • MrsPapsMrsPaps member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I wouldn't mind as a guest coming from Evanston to Chicago. I live in Evanston and it's only like 8 miles to to loop from my house. Evanston is sooo pretty and Northwestern has a special meaning. I would do it.
    Do you have it in the budget to offer transportation from the ceremony to the reception for people who do not want to drive? That way no one has to deal with parking downtown.
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  • jsquared62009jsquared62009 member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments 5 Love Its First Answer
    edited December 2011
    I don't think that's bad at all, but you have to know your guests. We chose a reception site close to our ceremony site since a lot of people will be from out of town and are not used to/uncomfortable with driving in the city. If most of your guests are from the chicagoland area and are used to driving I don't think it's bad at all. 30min is really not that long plus it will eat up some of the down time that is usually between ceremony/reception anyways
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  • AbonsutAbonsut
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We're doing the same thing (but at Loyola's).  Since a lot of our guests will be from out of town, we're doing buses for family members and friends staying at the venue downtown.  Our local friends would probably be taking the train or driving anyway.  No one has said anything negative yet, so I'm taking it as a good sign.
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  • tahill2tahill2
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are doing the same thing next summer and like the PP we're providing transportation for our OOT guests. I think you'll be just fine! :) Evanston to Chicago isn't too much of a trek. If you are thinking of providing your guests with transportation, I can send you a list of the charter bus copmanies I've been calling to compare prices if you'd like. But even if you don't/can't provide transportation, I still think it would be ok (maybe you could check with your venue or the chapel to see if they are associated with any nearby garages that give them discounted parking rates? my venue was affiliated with a few).
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