December 2019 – ESCAPE THE ORDINARY

Did you know The Monte Bello Estate features five distinctive on-site ceremony locations? Four of these options are set throughout our impeccably manicured grounds, sweeping you away to a serene escape where you’ll vow to forever with the love of your life in front of your closest family and friends. Monte Bello also offers a breathtaking indoor ceremony space so that your guests can comfortably enjoy the beauty of your nuptials despite any unforeseen weather conditions. Featuring crystal chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that showcase early American Oak trees and our restored native prairieland, your guests won’t even realize that our cocktail lounge was the backup plan for your on-site ceremony.

The original ceremony location is the classic gazebo set beneath early American Oak trees overlooking the estate home and backing up to the picturesque pond and dock. With a concrete aisle perfect for a runner, or lined with flower petals, and a permanent wrought iron structure that is ideal for dressing up with floral, garland or drapery, this ceremony space is beautiful no matter the time of year. For a brief time in the spring months (think late-April/early-May) the redbud trees make the perfect backdrop for your ceremony, as the small pink flowers bloom, perfectly outlining the tree branches just beyond the gazebo. Throughout the summer months, the trees reach their potential as they come into full bloom painting a lush green backdrop with the sun playfully gleaming through the foliage; before the fall months sweep in, bringing a crisp, vibrant touch to the grounds as the leaves become bright shades of yellow, orange and red.

Another popular ceremony location is the ‘Narnia’ clock centralized near the garden, estate and outdoor cocktail hour setting. The garden features a serene waterfall that filters toward a bridge over a pond of water lilies that guests can delight in as they await your processional. The clock makes for the perfect altar, acting as a timestamp when you seal your marriage with a kiss, before guests follow the pathway to cocktail hour where they’ll enjoy open bar service and butler passed hors d’Oeuvres.

We’re ever evolving at Monte Bello and love the opportunity to hear what our couples love as they explore our vast landscape. Thanks to a handful of couples that wanted to bring their outdoor ceremony to the next level, finding flatland in the woods a few-hundred feet from the gazebo ceremony. The forest ceremony location is perfect for the couple looking for an organic ceremony among the trees. This space is the perfect natural canvas for you to embellish with as much décor as you can dream of or do nothing but marvel in the beauty of nature as is, with the massive trees overhead.

Lastly, the wildflower prairie ceremony is a stunning option overlooking Illinois’ largest wildflower preserve before the lush tree line takes over. With massive Oak trees framing the space and romantic café lights strung overhead, this is the picture-perfect setting to say, ‘I do’. Sharing this location with our outdoor cocktail hour setting, we can accommodate 170 guests for a seated ceremony before inviting your guests to open bar service while we quickly transition this to an outdoor cocktail lounge for you and your guests to enjoy.

Are you planning your wedding at The Monte Bello Estate? Stay tuned for upcoming blog posts about our most popular first-look locations, as well as other great photo opportunities throughout our grounds and Instagram-worthy places to display your bridal gown.

TheReillyWedding-666 June 2019, photo courtesy of One July Photography