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Chicago pizza rehearsal dinners(downtown)

kmgulleykmgulley
10 Comments
in Illinois-Chicago
Has anyone had or plan to have a rehearsal dinner at a pizza place in the city?  We are thinking about doing this, although my parents aren't too keen on the idea. Can anyone give your opinions?  Good idea/bad idea?  Our wedding is going to be more formal, so why not make this informal?!
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Re: Chicago pizza rehearsal dinners(downtown)

  • hz80408hz80408 member
    5000 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    We didn't do it, but I think it's a great idea and really fun especially for OOT guests!

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  • aimers1525aimers1525 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Ditto pp--we didn't do it, but I love the idea!
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  • MyWedding13MyWedding13
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I know a lot of people do this and it's delicious, but I wanted a more formal rehearsal dinner. If that is what you want, go for it! It's your rehearsal!!! :)
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  • TEA&CoTEA&Co member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Ditto others, we so badly wanted to do pizza or our favorite Mexican restaurant for our RD, but FILs are paying and majorly vetoed it.  Boo. 

    Agreed that everything is so formal and structured with the wedding, and I thought it would be so fun to sit back with a beer or margarita and just relax and laugh and have fun.  Oh well.

    A good friend had her RD at Connie's Pizza and it was a huge hit.  Her DH's family is from OOT, so they loved the chance to have Chicago pizza.  It went over great! 

    Good luck!
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  • HandBananaHandBanana member
    Seventh Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I second the Connie's suggestion.  They have both the space for the RD and the parking.

    Are you looking for southside or northside?  Are you looking for the city or Chicagoland area?
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  • kmgulleykmgulley
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for the responses!

    I'm looking for somewhere near Michigan Avenue.  I would love to do Connie's on Archer, but I have too many out-of-towners, so am looking for a place within walking distance of the hotel on Michigan.  I know there's Gino's, but I've also noticed terrible reviews.  Haven't been there in years.  Anyone have suggestions close to there???:)
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  • HandBananaHandBanana member
    Seventh Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Are you North or South of the river?  I know there is a Giordano's off Michigan Ave.  Not sure how much space they have though because I have never been to that one.

    North of the river I can only think of restaurants that my co-workers and I eat at.  There is GRAMI's.  It is Grand and right off of Michigan.  I haven't gone but my co-worker said their food is amazing.  Bandera is really cool.  There is always the Grand Lux too.  There is a Bucca di Beppo on Grand and Rush.  Pizzaria Uno is on Ohio and Rush but I don't know how much seating they have. 

    There are a few more pizza places on LaSalle but I have never eaten at them so I can't really recommend them.  I don't even know if they have space for a RD.

    I know Rock Bottom Brewery does RD and has a private room AND a rooftop.  We wanted to do ours there but it made no sense since our church is on the southside. 

    Sorry my suggestions are all over the place. 

    Oh and if you have out of town guests you may want to use this.  www.weddingmapper.com .  My family isn't oot but this is still a great option.
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  • hz80408hz80408 member
    5000 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I'm not a fan of Gino's, but I know a lot of people are and they do have a good location.

    DH's office often goes to Bacino's, near Wacker and Michigan.  He's says it's great.

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  • MINDMNMOMINDMNMO
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I've heard bad things about Gino's too.  There is a Lou Malnati's 2 doors down from Bull & Bear----is that Wells and maybe Hubbard?

    Giordano's is on the corner of Rush and Superior.

    I think pizza is a great idea.  We wanted to do that but we got married the day after Thanksgiving, so that wasn't going to work for our RD :-)
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  • angeliu27angeliu27
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We had our rehearsal dinner at Lou Malnati's on Wells.  It was fantastic!  My OOT guests loved eating Chicago Style pizza.  The dinner was super affordable for downtown.  We had our own room and was able to mingle and grab everyones attention for our gift giving. 

    The only problem we had was we had a time limit and space limit.  We could only invite 40 guests and could only be there for 2 hours max. 

    I highly recommend going this route.  Since our wedding was much more formal, the casual route worked well.  Our guest still comment on how they loved Lou Malnati's.
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  • jaguarxf2011jaguarxf2011
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We do not have pizza planned but it sounds like a very fun idea, plus it just got me hungry thinking about it!
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  • kmgulleykmgulley
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks ladies!  You've all been a great help!  Now feeling more excited to go the pizza route.  Will be checking out Lou's and Giordano's.   Love them both!
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  • laurag579laurag579
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    This is such a great idea!  I'm going to suggest it to FH and see if he agrees =)  He's from Chicago but my family will be OOT.  I'm sure he'll love the chance to share this with them.
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  • 853george853george
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    we live in a condo building downtown that has a nice party room and rooftop deck so we are doing a 'chicago style' themed party the night before and ordering in pizza's from giordannos and having a hot dog vendor and beer/wine/drinks.  you could try to rent a room somewhere and do something like that. I liked it b/c its inexpensive and casual and we are inviting everyone from the wedding to drop by if they are in town in time.
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  • kmgulleykmgulley
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Well I called Giordano's on Rush and Lou Malnati's on Wells.  Giordano's says they don't have private rooms.  Lou's says they don't do parties on the weekends anymore.  Those were my top two choices.  Disappointed!
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