Catie & Wes’s Wedding Weekend!
January 17, 2026

Hi family and friends! How excited are you for Catie & Wes’s big day?!
We want to make sure you’re as prepared as possible so please take a look through this page to learn all you need to know going into their wedding weekend.

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IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

Rehearsal Dinner/Welcome Reception: Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
1028 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

Catie’s Wedding Prep Location: The Blackstone Hotel #1015
636 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605

Wes’s Wedding Prep Location: The Blackstone Hotel – 1600 Club
636 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605

Ceremony & Reception: The Blackstone Hotel – Crystal Ballroom
636 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605

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TIMELINE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16

2:10pm	Everyone partaking in the ceremony heads to Blackstone Hotel (Crystal Ballroom)
2:30pm	Rehearsal begins at Blackstone Hotel in Crystal Ballroom
3:30pm	Once rehearsal is over, everyone checks in/heads to their rooms to get ready for dinner
4:00pm	Check in available at Blackstone Hotel
4:30pm	Everyone heading to dinner meets in the hotel lobby Trolley arrives to Blackstone Hotel
4:40pm	Trolley departs for Gibsons Steakhouse
5:00pm	Rehearsal dinner begins at Gibsons Steakhouse
6:30pm	Photo (Meghan) arrives to capture welcome drinks at Gibsons Steakhouse
7:00pm	Additional guests are invited for welcome drinks at Gibsons Steakhouse
10:00pm	Welcome reception ends

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17

8:00am	Beauty team arrives for setup
8:15am	Everyone receiving beauty services arrive at Catie’s suite
8:30am	Beauty services begin **schedule below** Breakfast delivered for Catie and those receiving beauty services
11:30am	Lunch delivered from Eatlay for Catie and entire party Those that AREN’T receiving beauty services arrive to Catie’s suite (especially those getting ready on site; if arriving ready, can arrive closer to 1pm)
12:00pm	Wes’s party arrive at Blackstone to hang out with Wes in the 1600 Club *can come fully dressed or get dressed in one of the rooms later in the afternoon* Lunch provided from The Blackstone for the guys
1:30pm	Photographers (Meghan & Yvone) arrive at Blackstone Wes and party go to the rooms to get ready and dressed for photos
2:15pm	Hair and makeup services are completed for Catie and both moms Catie and moms put on their dresses in separate rooms → once Catie’s mom is dressed, Catie’s mom (Maureen) helps Catie get dressed  → once Wes’s mom (Gina) is dressed, she head downstairs to meet Wes
2:20pm	ALL of Wes’s party meets in 1600 Club for photos
2:30pm	Wes and party begin their “getting ready” pictures in 1600 Club → Wes’s dad (Jim) and Connor (BM) “helps” him get ready → Wes’s mom (Gina) pins boutonnière on Wes
2:40pm	Catie’s dad and grandfather are outside of Catie’s suite, ready for the first look
2:45pm	Catie’s first look with dad (Tom) in the bridal suite
2:50pm	Catie’s first look with her grandfather (Bob) in the bridal suite Wes’s photos are complete and he heads to first look location Wes’s party can hang out in 1600 Club until group photos begin
2:55pm	Wes is staged for first look  Catie heads to first look location / Kalin in charge of grabbing Catie’s personal items
3:05pm	Catie and Wes have their first look in the English Room
3:15pm	ALL hair and makeup completed for all of Catie’s party Catie’s party cleans up the space and gets dressed for the day  Once dressed, Catie’s party moves their items to its final location Wes’s party takes any items in 1600 Club back to their rooms and head to English Room
3:45pm	ALL wedding party heads to the English Room Catie and Wes head towards English Room for wedding party portraits
3:55pm	Wedding party pictures begin inside the hotel
4:15pm	Once wedding party photos are done, they can freshen up and head upstairs (besides siblings)
4:20pm	Family begins arriving to the hotel lobby
4:30pm	Family pictures begin at the staircases
5:00pm	ALL formal photos completed, wedding party and family meet in the English Room  Catie touches up her hair and makeup in the bathroom in Art Hall
5:15pm	Ushers are ready at the ceremony site  Ohana Events checks that the best man (Connor) has the wedding rings + veil is on Catie
5:25pm	Family + wedding party head to Crystal Ballroom and begin lining up by the staircase
5:30pm	Ceremony begins!
6:00pm	Catie & Wes are married!!! Immediately following end of ceremony, pictures begin at the ceremony altar Cocktail hour begins in the Art Hall
6:15pm	Catie and Wes have their drinks and apps in English Room before joining cocktail hour  Catie gets dress bustled (both moms, Alyssa, & Shannon to help) in English Room
7:15pm	Cocktail hour ends and guests invited into the Crystal Ballroom
7:50pm	Welcome toast by Catie and Wes
8:25pm	After all entrées are served, speeches begin: 1) Kalin (MOH) 2) Connor (BM)
8:50pm	After speeches, special dances begin: 1) Catie & Wes 2) Catie & dad (Tom) 3) Wes & mom (Gina) Dance floor opens!
12:00am	Party’s Over!! 🙁 All decor items go into Catie and Wes’s hotel room All cards go with Wes’s parents

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CONTACT INFO

Sonya (Wedding Planner): 216-632-2304
Catie (Bride): 708-269-8524
Wes (Groom): 847-804-3357
Kalin (MOH): 708-288-5537
Connor (BM): 847-894-8506

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HAIR & MAKEUP SCHEDULE

Beauty Pointers!

– Hair is best styled with clean (washed day/night before; shampoo 2x and apply condition to your ends only), product-free or limited product in hair.
– IF applying serum/oils, avoid applying to the scalp area
– Hair should be completely dry (BLOW DRY, not air dry, and avoid sleeping with damp hair), unless your plan on a blowout. Anyone with damp hair runs risk of being behind. unless your service includes a blowout
– Part your hair where you think you’d most likely want to style it for the wedding day
– Leave hair down to avoid creases or flatness from a hair band
– Do not apply SPF moisturizers to your skin. You may still moisturize with a non SPF product. SPF causes makeup to fall off quicker.
– Wear a button up shirt or a robe so you don’t mess up your makeup or hair when changing into your dress.
– Brush your teeth and put in your contacts prior to beginning your beauty.
– It is helpful if each bridal party member has an inspirational image prepared to guide them.
– Lipstick will not last all day & night. Pack a touch up lipstick or gloss for reapplication.
– Pluck / maintain eyebrows before the wedding day
– Don’t forget to shave any areas that you want to be smooth/clean

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DON’T FORGET…

Ladies

1. Catie will be providing getting ready outfits on Friday so please arrive in your outfits
2. Wedding day outfit (already steamed!) including appropriate bras/Spanx/undergarments and accessories
3. Getting ready shoes (slippers) and black shoes for your wedding day outfit
4. Clutch/purse with personal items/IDs, phone, lipstick, tissues, etc.
5. Wedding card (if applicable)
6. Kalin: Printed speech for dinner (ideally not read off of your phone). Feel free to email your speech to Sonya@ohanaevents.com if you want a printed copy

Gents

1. Wedding day outfit (already pressed!): black patent leather shoes, black socks, black pants, white cotton shirt, silver onyx button studs, button suspenders, silver cufflinks, black butterfuly bow tie, shawl collar tuxedo jacket, white pocket square
2. Cell phones, wallets, keys, and anything else you may keep in your pocket
3. Arrive in something comfortable to hang out in
4. Wedding card (if applicable)
5. Connor: Printed speech for dinner (ideally not read off of your phone). Feel free to email your speech to Sonya@ohanaevents.com if you want a printed copy

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We look forward to meeting all of you! Let’s get ready to celebrate!