A Union at Union Station
Union Station was more than just a transportation hub for Audrey; it was a testament to time, a marriage of history, and modernity. Its Great Hall, a sprawling spectacle with Tennessee marble floors and Corinthian columns, spoke volumes of Chicago’s bygone eras. Audrey had often sat on its wooden benches during college, daydreaming amidst the hustle and bustle, letting the stories of old envelop her.
Enter Tom, with his charismatic tales of world travels and an odd penchant for antique train models. Their love story was one for the books — a history enthusiast meeting a train aficionado at a vintage book store in Wicker Park. It seemed fate conspired through time to intertwine their paths.
So when Tom proposed, using a 1920s vintage train ticket to Paris as a metaphor for their lifelong journey ahead, Audrey knew exactly where their wedding should be. Their love story deserved a setting as timeless and grand as Union Station.
Planning the wedding was a joyous adventure. The theme? The Roaring Twenties. The couple aimed to recreate the golden age of travel and the elegance of the Jazz Age. Invitations were styled like vintage train tickets. Audrey’s dress, a shimmering flapper gown complete with a feathered headband, was reminiscent of the era’s flapper fashion. Tom looked dapper in a classic tuxedo, complete with a pocket watch passed down through generations.
Guests were greeted at the entrance by porters with golden trolleys, leading them into the Great Hall. The space had been transformed, yet its historical essence was untouched. Jazz tunes floated through the air, the rhythms inviting guests to dance. Tables were named after famous trains of the era, from the ‘Orient Express’ to the ‘Flying Scotsman’.
As Audrey made her entrance, the sun’s rays streaming through the skylights illuminated her, creating an ethereal aura. Tom, waiting at the altar beneath the station’s iconic clock, was moved to tears. Their vows were personal, reflecting not just their love for each other but their shared passion for history.
The reception was an affair of elegance and entertainment. A live jazz band played hits from the twenties, while a photo booth with vintage props — trilby hats, pearls, and cigar holders — allowed guests to step back in time. The menu? Classic Chicago fare with a 1920s twist, including Chicago-style hot dogs, shrimp cocktail, and a champagne tower that bubbled with life.
But the highlight was when an old-fashioned steam train, organized by Tom as a surprise, whistled and chugged into the station. The newlyweds and their guests embarked on a short journey, experiencing the romance of rail travel from yesteryears.
As the night culminated, the echoes of the past mingled with the hopes of the future. Audrey and Tom’s union at Union Station wasn’t just a wedding; it was an immersive journey through time. Their love, much like the tales of old Chicago they so cherished, was destined to become a timeless story, retold through generations.
