Travel & Accommodations

Travel

Getting to Chicago…

By Air

Chicago has two airports: O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport. Generally, we fly in and out of O’Hare as it’s the bigger of the two and is slightly closer to our house on the west(ish) side of the city. We recommend flying into O’Hare, but both airports work well! Both are connected to public transit (O’Hare, the “L” Blue Line train, and Midway, the “L” Orange Line train) and allow Uber and Lyft pick up services.

By Land

Driving to Chicago is also a possibility if you’re interested in a summertime road trip! We are confident that, with Google Maps, etc., y’all can figure this part out on your own. If you’re coming from the East Coast by car, get ready for the picturesque paradise that is Northern Indiana.

By Sea

Yes, it is true that Chicago is not on the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, but it is on the Michigan Ocean (AKA Lake Michigan). If we lived in Europe, we swear Lake Michigan would be called The Sea of Michigan or something to that effect. Anyway, if you’re interested in renting a boat in eastern Indiana or Michigan or taking a ferry across the lake from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, WI, we’d love to hear about it. We’ve never done this, but it is on our bucket list and expect it could be fun!

Accommodations

Because of the uncertain nature of Covid-19 and how rapidly the state of our world seems to change from day to day, we don’t have reserved blocks at specific hotels. We do, however, have hotel recommendations by Chicago neighborhood (depending on what else you’d like to do with your weekend in our wonderful city!). We think all of the listed hotels are competitive and fairly priced. Additionally, we have talked to each of the hotels listed, and they all seem like great places to stay!

Chicago’s Downtown (The Loop, River North, & Gold Coast)

Chicago’s downtown is iconic, of course. Stay here if you’re wanting to be in the chic, business-forward heart of our city. Additionally, these hotels are close to all of the must see tourist attractions Chicago has to offer: The Magnificent Mile (shopping!), Navy Pier (ferris wheel!), Millennium & Grant Parks (The Bean!), The Art Institute (famous art!), The Chicago River (the riverwalk and architecture boat tours!), and Chicago’s Lakefront (trails for running, walking, and biking!). Staying in the downtown area means you have access to public transit and plenty of available pick up services. Getting from downtown to our welcome drinks location, wedding venue, and Sunday breakfast spot will take about 20 minutes by car (depending on traffic).

  • The Wit
  • The Thompson
  • The Freehand
  • Kimpton Gray Hotel
  • The Claridge House
  • An Airbnb of your choosing!

Chicago’s Northwest Side (Wicker Park and Logan Square)

The Northwest side is and has always been our home in Chicago! Margot has lived in Logan Square for six years and convinced Jake to move to the neighborhood four years ago. The Northwest side feels ultra neighborhood-y and is home to beautiful, sprawling boulevards, older, traditional Chicago-style homes, nice parks, the 606 Trail (Chicago’s less cool Highline), and excellent restaurants. It’s the area of the city that some would call up and coming and others would call gentrifying. Stay here if you’re wanting a more low-key weekend living the way we live every day (we’d love for you to get to intimately experience our favorite neighborhood in Chicago!). Our welcome drinks location, wedding venue, and Sunday breakfast spot are also in this part of the city, so depending on where you end up staying, you could be a short walk or car ride to all of those events! This area is not super close to the lakefront and also has fewer hotel options than downtown, but it’s centrally located along the “L” Blue Line and has plenty of ride share service access should you want to venture to other areas of the city.

  • The Robey
  • Hyatt Place Wicker Park
  • An Airbnb of your choosing!

Chicago’s Lakefront (Lincoln Park)

Chicago’s East side is technically Lake Michigan, but before you arrive at the lake, you arrive in beautiful, well-manicured Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park is just north of Chicago’s downtown, so stay here if you’re wanting to be equally close to downtown, our wedding venue and events, and the lakefront. Lincoln Park is known for being family friendly and has beautiful homes and parks (plus great restaurants!). It’s also home to DePaul University, so it sometimes has a college-y feel, too, depending on where you are. Staying in Lincoln Park also means you’re close to the free Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, and the actual Lincoln Park (gorgeous, sprawling green with paths along the lakefront). Getting from Lincoln Park to our welcome drinks location, wedding venue, and Sunday breakfast spot will take about 15-20 minutes by car (depending on traffic).

  • Hotel Lincoln
  • An Airbnb of your choosing!