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…we eat! Oh, and we rehearse. But everyone knows what happens at the ceremony rehearsal. Let’s talk about the meal that’s happening after!
You might remember that we are hosting a pretty large dinner the night before our wedding. And while the guest count is still sky-high, I’m happy to report that we’ve finally found a place that will hold us all! We ended up choosing a cozy, old-school-Italian style restaurant, just a few blocks from our venue. It’s the perfect mix of comfort food and classic Chicago that Sparks and I had been searching for.
Gioco image via Yelp
We’d eaten at Gioco a few times, and loved the dark wood, timeless feel, and friendly staff. Plus, the food is awesome. Gioco offered us a menu tasting a few weeks ago when the Sparkler sisters (ok, 3 out of 4) were in town, and we jumped at the chance.
Sisters, ready for some Italian grub. (The only pic I took. Bad blogger!)
The tasting went perfectly. And what really won me over was the fact that they served us on Friday. During dinner. At 8:30PM. That’s a HUGE deal in a big city. Most restaurants would have absolutely scoffed at the idea of doling out a free meal during the dinner rush. BIG POINTS, GIOCO. Big points.
We tentatively decided on a menu that includes plates and plates of the freshest antipasti, the BEST Caesar salad I’ve ever had, mushroom flatbread, pillowy gnocchi, and classic Chicago giardiniera. Yum.
To accomodate our large party, well be seated in one of the private banquet rooms in the back of the restaurant. We’ll even have our own bartender. Score!
Our banquet room / Image via Gioco web site
I’m just bummed we couldn’t fit into the real, refurbished, speak easy that Gioco has hiding in the back! So cool!
The speakeasy, complete with bookcase entrance / Image via Gioco web site
Next up: How we’re going to decorate and what surprises we have in store for our guests!
Where are you dining the night before the main event?
Your rehersal dinner sounds amazing! I love Italian food - so much so that we are having it for our reception meal! Our rehersal dinner will be at a mexican restaurant! Yay!
That place is cool! We are doing Italian too, at a local restaurant that also has bocce ball courts!
Your location looks fabulous! Your banquet room is awesome, and if the guests don’t see the speak easy they won’t know what they’re missing.
My FI and I are currently thinking of doing teppanyaki at Sapporo (http://www.sapporoscottsdale.com/) for dinner. We both studied Japanese in college, and we’re going to Japan for our honeymoon. Plus, we figure it’ll be a memorable evening of yummy food and entertainment. Now we just have to figure out how to fit everyone around one teppan table or divide the group.
Oh how I love Gioco - one of my favourite restaurants in Chicago! You’re going to have such a good time, great choice! Despite being a Chicago girl by birth, I’m living in Australia and getting married in small town Wisconsin, hence, we’re doing an uber casual pizza, pasta, and beer event the night before. Had we chosen Chicago as our wedding destination, we probably would be having a very different rehearsal dinner, perhaps even along the lines of Gioco! 
That looks awesome Sparkler! And yay for awesome customer service!
@Ree723: I feel you on the casual, pizza & beer rehearsal! Sparks actually talked me into something a little more formal… I wanted to go to Bricks and drink the Schiltz $1 special
Looks beautiful!! We are having our rehearsal dinner at an amazing little BBQ restaurant in the area. Everyone knows that’s just totally us.
who doesn’t die for amazing Italian food? great choice!
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Mrs. Sparkler, Chicago Age and Occupation: 27, Communications Aficionado Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Publisher Engagement Date: July 21, 2010 Wedding Date: September 2011 Venue: Chicago Illuminating Company About Me: I’m a Southern lady living in the big city of Chicago. Well, lady may be a stretch, but I’m working hard to keep some Virginia charm in our sleek, urban, wedding-palooza! I’m addicted to marathons, not-so-famous bands, Chicago restaurants, and Mark Twain. I cry during SPCA commercials, and I think LOST was the best show to ever hit television. Mr. S and I met at a classy college mixer and, 7 years later, he’s still by my side. He’s the only child, laid back, free spirit... I’m the oldest of five kids, type-A, organizer. It doesn’t work on paper, but we’ve never paid attention to that stuff anyway. Somehow it works. And like they say, sometimes when you know…you just know.
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