I know you are having a Jewish wedding. What should I expect?

If you have not been to many Jewish weddings before, there may be a variety of customs that you experience for the first time at our wedding. First, there will be several events (kabbalat panim, tish, and bedeken) occurring directly prior to the ceremony. The ceremony itself will share some familiar elements with other weddings, such as an exchange of rings, but there will be several uniquely Jewish elements as well, such as circling, signing and reading of the ketubah, and reading of the sheva brachot. See our Jewish wedding FAQ page for more information about Jewish weddings in general and ours in particular.

What should I wear?

Our wedding is not black tie; however, guests are encouraged to be as dressed up as they would like! Semi-formal attire such as cocktail dresses and suits would be quite appropriate, and guests are always welcome to take inspiration from our 1920s art deco venue.

I’m coming from out of town. What weather should I expect?

Chicago weather is extremely variable and unpredictable. Typical high temperatures for April 6 range from the mid 40s to upper 50s, with overnight lows in the 30s or 40s. In rare years, the temperature can get as warm as 70°F or as cold as 30°F. Click here for more detailed historical weather information. Being Chicago, it could easily be almost any weather – freezing cold, snow, rain, thunderstorms, wind, or gorgeous sun. Check the weather close to when you depart and do not hesitate to bring gloves, sunglasses, and an umbrella with you – Rachel sometimes uses all three on the same day!

Please note that if you are staying at The Drake, you will not have to go outside during or to get to the wedding. There will also be a coat check for those not staying in the hotel.