CWPR 2015 Fall/Winter

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B A N Q U E T S , R E C E P T I O N S , S H O W E R S & P A R T I E S
C H I C A G O W E D D I N G & P A R T Y R E S O U R C E
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In addition, metropolitan weddings are
über-convenient for guests. Those who live
close by don’t have to pay for lodging and
may be able to use public transportation to
avoid driving after a night of revelry. Out-
of-towners can simply book a room upstairs
from or within walking distance of your
bash.
As for a city affair’s downsides, traffic takes
the cake. You’ll also want to mention if any
large events may impede public transport
or clog the roads for drivers. And be sure
to note parking garages near the venue, as
you don’t want to walk down the aisle with
half-empty rows because half your guests
are driving around in circles looking for a
spot.
More things to make you think twice: If
you have chosen a major city, expect to pay
a premium for all your vendors, and know
that those venue fees and minimums don’t
come cheap.
THE COUNTRY WEDDING
Whether you’ve got your heart set on say-
ing your I do’s amid a field of flowers, at a
vineyard or in a barn, a key advantage of
having a country wedding is that there’s al-
ready gorgeous scenery to serve as the back-
drop. Big, open spaces make it easy for you
to create whatever atmosphere you want:
elegantly Old-World, woodsy and sweet,
a festive ranch hoedown, or a glamorous
garden party with bocce ball and croquet.
These settings typically have a ton of natu-
ral character, minimizing the need for extra
embellishment. If there’s no onsite catering,
you also can save money by bringing in your
own alcohol, which is a great way to show-
case your favorite local wineries, breweries
and distilleries. And you’ll likely having the
ceremony and reception in the same place,
which means you won’t have to pay for two
venues or transportation between sites.
But like any wedding, country destinations
also have their concerns. Unless your loca-
tion is an established wedding venue, every-
thing from the table and chair rentals to cre-
ating a cooking space for the catering team
to furnishing generators, lighting and porta-
ble bathrooms might be your responsibility,
not to mention all the cleanup afterward.
For this reason, even if you’re having a very
informal event, hire a wedding planner or
day-of coordinator who can handle all the
details, plan for contingencies and ensure
everything runs smoothly.
Keep in mind that you’ll also have less lo-
cal vendors to choose from, or will have to
pay more for city-based vendors to travel
or make deliveries to your locale. If it’s very
remote, you’ll want to make sure there’s
enough lodging for friends and family near-
by, or organize transportation to get guests
safely to and from town in a timely manner.
Copyright © CTW Features
City or Country...One thing is for sure,
you want a personal backdrop
for your big day.