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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

W W W . C H I C A G O W E D D I N G R E S O U R C E . C O M

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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.