Sami & Mark’s Wedding Weekend!
September 5, 2026

Hi family and friends! How excited are you for Sami & Mark’s big weekend?!
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 the wedding day.

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IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

Rehearsal Dinner: Quartino Ristorante
626 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
**ATTIRE: business casual/cocktail attire!**

Sami’s Prep Location: Westin River North
320 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60654

Mark’s Prep Location: Renaissance Chicago Downtown
1 W Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601

Ceremony: St. Vincent de Paul
1010 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Reception: RPM Events (next door to Westin River North)
317 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

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TIMELINE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

4:00pm	Check in available at Westin & Renaissance
4:50pm	Everyone attending the rehearsal begins ordering ride shares
5:30pm	Rehearsal begins at St Vincent de Paul
6:30pm	Rehearsal ends Everyone boards the trolley to head over to dinner
7:00pm	Welcome dinner begins at Quartino **ATTIRE: business casual/cocktail attire!**
TBDpm	Everyone takes their seats Welcome toast by Mark’s dad (Mark)
~7:55pm	After first course, Sami’s friends (Syd & Liv) give their speeches
~8:25pm	During second/third course, Andrew gives his speech
10:00pm	Welcome dinner ends

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

6:30am	Beauty team arrives for set up (additional artists arriving 30 minutes later)
6:40am	Those first receiving beauty services arrive at Sami’s suite at the Westin
6:45am	First beauty services begin, other services begin at 7:15am! **schedule below**
7:00am	Light bites and coffee are available for Sami and party
9:00am	All of Sami’s party is in the bridal suite
9:30am	Mark’s party arrives at Renaissance to hang out with Mark (not dressed for the day!) Brunch is delivered from for Mark and party
10:00am	Brunch is delivered from Goddess & Grocer for Sami and party Personal florals (bouquets/bouts/corsages/loose blooms) are delivered to The Westin → Sami’s dad (Dick) heads over to Renaissance with the bouts and hangs out with the guys
11:30am	Mark and party clean up the space and start to get dressed (90% dressed!)
11:45am	Mark and party begin their “getting ready” shots taken → Mark’s dad (Mark) and brother (Tommy) help Mark “get ready”
11:50am	Mark’s mom (Renee) and sister (Rachel) get dressed for the day
12:00pm	Sami’s dad (Dick) is back at Westin and gets ready for the day
12:05pm	ALL pictures of Mark and party are complete Mark, dad, and brother head out to meet his mom and sister for outdoor family portraits Mark’s party gathers their items and cleans up the space Mark gathers his personal items and gives to Matt to load onto the trolley OR Mark brings  to photos to give to his mom/sister
12:10pm	Mark’s mom (Renee) and sister (Rachel) head out to meet Mark and family for family photos
12:15pm	ALL hair and makeup services are complete Sami and party take photos in their getting ready outfits Sami’s mom (Mary) puts on wedding day outfit
12:20pm	Mark and family take photos along the riverwalk
12:30pm	Sami’s party put on their dresses in separate rooms
12:35pm	Once dressed, Sami’s mom and sisters helps Sami put on dress for detail shots Mark’s family photos are complete → Mark, his dad, and brother head back to Renaissance to board the trolley → Mark’s mom (Renee) and sister (Rachel) head back to Westin and join Sami
12:45pm	Trolley arrives at Renaissance Mark’s wedding party heads downstairs and boards the trolley One of the groomsmen loads cooler/bags with snacks, waters, seltzers, champagne, with ice
12:50pm	Sami’s first look with party in the bridal suite  Sami’s dad (Dick) heads down to hotel lobby to get ready for first look with Sami Once Mark and party are on board, trolley departs for church
1:00pm	Sami and party head downstairs  Nicole and Taylor are in charge of grabbing Sami’s personal items and bouquet
1:05pm	Sami’s first look with dad (Dick) on Westin’s outdoor patio
1:15pm	Sami and party take solo/group portraits around Westin
1:20pm	Trolley arrives at church/LP area and loops back to Westin Mark and party take solo/group portraits around the church
1:50pm	Trolley arrives at Westin Sami and wedding party photos are complete Everyone boards the trolley and departs for church Once’s Mark’s photos are complete, he and party can hangout at nearby bar or in church
2:15pm	Mark and party head back to the church  Mark is hidden in the church until confirmed Sami is inside Groomsmen (Chris, Andrew, Patrick, & Austin) are ready to usher/pass programs
2:30pm	Trolley arrives to church Once confirmed Mark is hidden, Sami and party head inside Sami touches up in the side room
2:45pm	Ohana Events checks that the best man (Tommy) has the wedding rings + veil is on Sami
2:55pm	Wedding party begins to line up
3:00pm	Ceremony begins!
4:00pm	Sami and Mark are married!!! Extended and immediate family photos begin at the altar
4:25pm	ALL altar photos are complete Family and wedding party heads outside for grand exit
4:35pm	Wedding party board the trolley and depart for downtown Parents order rideshares to head to the hotel before cocktail hour begins
5:00pm	Trolley arrives at Wrigley Building Wedding party deboards for quick group photos
5:20pm	Everyone heads back to the trolley  Trolley departs for Chicago Trade Building
5:35pm	Trolley arrives at Chicago Trade Building  Wedding party deboards for group photos
5:55pm	Everyone heads back to the trolley  Trolley departs for RPM Events
6:00pm	Cocktail hour begins in the Prefunction Room and/or outdoor patio
6:10pm	Trolley arrives at RPM Events Wedding party head inside RPM Events to join cocktail hour  Sami and Mark stay back for additional portraits by the bridge
6:30pm	Sami gets dress bustled in the bridal suite by Sami’s mom and sisters  After dress is bustled, Sami and Mark join cocktail hour
7:00pm	Cocktail hour ends and MC invites guests into the Ballroom
7:10pm	MC asks everyone to take their seats  Wedding party are lined up for introductions outside the room
7:20pm	Introductions begin: 1) ALL parents together (Dick + Mary & Mark + Renee) 2) BOTH wedding parties together 3) Sami & Mark!
7:30pm	Welcome toast by Sami’s dad (Dick) Followed with blessing by Sami’s mom (Mary) After blessing, food begins to serve
8:35pm	After all entrées are served, speeches begin: 1) Tommy 2) Matt 3) Nicole & Taylor
8:55pm	Special dances begin: 1) Sami and her dad 2) Mark and his mom 3) Sami and Mark Dance floor officially opens!
12:00am	Party’s over!! 🙁 All personal decor items go into Sami’s parents suite and cards go with Sami’s parents
12:15am	Everyone meets at Boss Bar (420 N Clark Street) for an informal after party

CONTACT INFO

Sonya (wedding planner): 216-632-2304
Sami (bride): 630-453-7223
Mark (groom): 781-812-7391
Nicole Gillespie (MOH): 630-445-3539
Taylor Wilens (MOH): 630-445-3541
Tommy Vitello (BM): 781-812-3470
Matt Johnson (BM): 617-910-6848

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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 TO BRING…

Ladies

1. Sami will be providing getting ready outfits so come in comfy clothes but know you’ll be changing
2. Wedding day outfit (already steamed!) + appropriate bras/Spanx/undergarments
3. Black shoes (strappy black heel, point toe, or open toe – plain shoes, no designs)
4. Accessories for wedding day outfits (dainty bracelets and necklaces, mixed metals are fine)
5. If getting nails done, please select neutral nail polish
6. Clutch/purse with personal items/IDs, phone, lipstick, tissues, etc.
7. Mary, Nicole, & Taylor: Speech is 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!) from Black Tux rental OR own tuxedo: black patent leather shoes, solid black dress socks, black tuxedo pants, cotton dress shirt, silver onyx cufflinks, silver onyx button studs, black butterfly bow tie, button suspenders, Notch tuxedo jacket
2. Arrive in something comfortable to get ready in
3. Cell phones, wallets and anything else you may keep in your suit coat pocket (do not put these items in your pants pockets – it will ruin pictures!)
4. Dick, Tommy, & Matt: 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 celebrate!!! 🙂