Windy City Cocktails

Specialty cocktails are a been-there done-that phenomenon, we know. But sometimes, they’re just so darn cute, we can’t resist them—especially when they're Chicago-inspired. The mixologists at Renaissance Chicago Hotel, 312-372-7200, marriott.com, agree—so much so that they created a line of martinis to please Chicagoans. Try: a Lincoln Park Passion, a Martini Mile or the Wrigleyville Chill, just three of 10 martinis you can add to your bar offerings. Cost: $10 per person.

Boutique Hotels

If you want to host your wedding at a hotel, but are turned off by the institutionalized feel of a multipurpose ballroom, then a boutique hotel might be the perfect alternative. For a setting that evokes a romantic restaurant or your own elegant dining room, try the chic, residential feel of The James Chicago, 55 East Ontario St., 877-JAMES-55, hoteljames.com. The Great Room at James’s warm, neutral tones will work well with a variety of reception decors—no matter the color scheme. For larger parties, the hotel can open up their adjacent library and dining room, which are canvassed in light, hickory wood paneling and offer spectacular views of the city. Seated capacity 160; no outside caterers.

For the Love of Chocolate

Chocolate bars—a lavish spread of decadent treats—are a reception trend here to stay. And the caterers and pastry chefs who have been receiving requests for them can attribute part of their popularity to the Peninsula Hotel on East Superior Street. If you’ve ever visited the Lobby on the hotel’s fifth floor on a Friday or Saturday night, you already know about "Chocolate at the Pen"—a weekly artisanal chocolate bar of sinful treats including cakes, pot de crème, tarts, mousses, and hot cocoa infused with lavender or allspice. If you’re salivating right now, a chocolate bar may be in order for your reception—check out Chocolate at the Pen, $32 per person, 312-337-2888, chicago.peninsula.com.

Wine Tasting Cocktail Hour

Wine tasting cocktail hours are hot, and with all the new wine boutiques opening up, even your frat-boy brother claims to "know" about aromas and tannins. The Chicago Wine School (wineschool.com) can transform a post-ceremony cocktail hour into a casual instruction on sampling and choosing wines. The way it works: Patrick W. Fegan, the school’s wine director, works one-on-one with you to create a tasting menu of wines from around the world. He then can come to your reception (your caterer must set up the tasting bar) and talk to your guests about the wines you’ve selected. Cost: $500 for a 90-minute session.

After-Party Bowling

If you and your guests aren’t ready to retire, then Chicago’s Lucky Strike Lanes, 322 E. Illinois St., 312-245-8331, bowlluckystrike.com, is the perfect spot for a post-party wind-down. Inside this anything-but-dingy bowling alley is a cool, retro scene where guests can not only bowl but also feast on gourmet hors d’oeuvres such as tomato and cheese s’mores and Thai pizza, as well as sip fancy cocktails. The swanky private rooms can accommodate anywhere from 40 to 200 guests. Unlimited food catering packages start at $1,960 for three hours.

Post-Wedding Brunch

It’s courteous to host a post-wedding brunch for out-of-town guests, especially for those who have traveled great distances. We prefer these events to be relaxed, informal and set to a come-and-go-as-you-please pace, which is why we like the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago, 120 East Delaware Place, 312-280-8800, fourseasons.com/chicagofs. There are several locations and serving styles from which you can choose—from a continental breakfast to a cooked-to-order omelet station, with heart-shaped pancakes and mimosas. For guests who don’t have time to stay and chat, the hotel will prepare to-go boxes filled with goodies.

New Baker We Adore

Fans of Sarah’s Pastries and Candies, 11 E. Oak St., 312-664-6223, sarahscandies.com, know that Sarah Levy is a master with a Kitchen-Aid mixer. Levy attributes her success to using high-quality ingredients to achieve the best taste possible. Meanwhile, the actual cake designs are no less carefully executed. For a springtime wedding, Levy covered each cake layer in pink fondant, adorning the edges with ribbon, sugar paste flowers and a few gold dragées. For the top and base of the cake, fresh flowers and crystals were added for a whimsical touch. Cost: $7 a slice.

Something Cold, Something New

Self-serve candy bars are nearing the end of their three-year domination as the reception sweet spot. The next sensation? Ice cream. The ever-popular (but worthy of its rep) Cold Stone Creamery, coldstonecreamery.com, can set up a stand at your reception for some added entertainment. Seasoned employees make mouth-watering concoctions to order, complete with the marble slab, ice cream and mix-ins. Want to make this idea a take-home treat? Choose your favorite Cold Stone combination, and they’ll package it in individual cups with a personalized label. Cost: $300 for set up and $30 per employee, per hour.

Some Like It Hot

These days, couples with sophisticated tastes want to spice up their menus with ethnic flavors, such as Indian curry and Mexican chilies. But offering ethnic cuisine has the potential to scare away guests with more timid tastes. "Buffet stations offer the most flexibility," says Wendy Pashman of the Entertaining Company, 312-829-2800, entertainingcompany.com. Here, Pashman set up a mild yet flavorful Indian buffet of chicken skewers (seasoned with tandoori sesame), vegetable curry (no scary root vegetables here, just potatoes, peas, carrots and tomatoes), as well as basmati rice and an assortment of ethnic but "safe" sides guests see all the time at local supermarkets, such as olives and hummus.

Ring Pillows Worth Remembering

Let’s face it. You’re going to forget a few details—and the ring pillow is usually one of them. But this cute little accessory is fun to select, so don’t put it off. We suggest you check in with designer Beverly Clark, 800-888-6866, beverlyclark.com. Her new designs in the Nostalgia collection are now available online and include this simple ivory pillow wrapped with a rich, mocha satin ribbon, with pearls and ribbon ties. To check them out in person, visit I Do! I Do! Wedding Accessories, 773-907-8890, 4704 N. Damen Ave., but call ahead to make sure your favorites are in stock. If you’re in a rush, call Beverly Clark directly and you can have your pillow in hand in three working days. Cost: $56.25.

Shuttle in Style

The most clever group transportation option in town: shuttling your VIP’s around in a classic trolley. You can rent trolley’s for your wedding from Chicago Trolley Company, 773-648-5000, chicagotrolley.com, famous for their hop-on, hop-off city tours. One trolley comfortably seats 32 passengers and is weather-ready for both rain and shine. There are a few packages to choose from, but the most popular one is for four hours, transporting the wedding party, parents and favorite friends to the ceremony and reception, as well as a post-ceremony photography pit stop at Millennium Park. Champagne and snacks are allowed onboard, so make arrangements beforehand. Packages start at $990.

Better Group Portraits

Pretty maids all in a row is standard, but kind of boring. Wedding photographer Robin Sloan of Riverbend Studio, 312-563-1427, riverbendphotostudio.com, knows how to jazz up your formal wedding party photos but also keep them wedding album–friendly. For large bridal parties, it’s hard to avoid the inevitable gigantic blob of bodies with a few faces hidden in the middle. To prevent the large lump, Sloan says, "vary the levels if you can, with some attendants sitting, some standing." Sloan positioned the bridal party on these Stonehenge-esque garden stones to space out the party, as well as create an interesting and unique composition.

Alternative Bridal Blooms

Hydrangeas, calla lilies and cymbidium orchids are popular bridal flowers, but some lesser-known blooms are far more stylish and unique. Jenny Anselmo of Scarlet Petal, 773-486-0904, scarletpetal.com, suggests using Nigella (shown left). "This fun and unusual flower adds a bit of whimsy to a bouquet," she says. Kelly Maria Uss of Fleur, 773-395-2770, fleurchicago.com, suggests Nerine lilies. "It is an incredibly flirty flower with an airy, playful quality."

Couture Maps

A map that shows your ceremony and reception sites, plus the sites you think your guests should check out, is a wonderful treat. If it’s possible, include spots with sentimental value, like where you and your fiancé went on your first date or where he proposed. You can include the maps with your invites (along with direction cards) or stick them in welcome baskets. If you’re artistic, try drawing one yourself, but we adore the work of Stephannie Barba, couturemaps.com, who created this map for a Chicago couple (design fee: $350; printed maps start at $105 for 100).

The Big Deal

If you think scoring a discount designer wedding gown means rummaging through racks of dingy, tattered and torn dresses, think again. White Chicago, 222 W. Huron St., 312-397-1571, whitechicago.com, is revamping the discount shopping experience. Here, you can purchase used and sample gowns by designers like Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier and Reem Acra at 30 to 70 percent off their retail prices. Those who resell to the shop must provide a receipt with the retail price of their gown, which must be over $1,500, and gowns can’t be more than three years old. Stock is replenished daily, but if you’re considering buying something, don’t hesitate—the gown may not be there at the end of the day.