Oakbrook is a wonderful outdoor mall with plenty of shopping and food options, including Wildfire, Antico Posto, Maggiano's, and Seasons 52. There are also tons of fast-casual options, like Stan's Coffee & Donuts, Corner Bakery, and Freshii.
This is a great place to go if you need a drink or snack between the ceremony and reception! It's only a short jaunt from Drury Lane.
Downtown Elmhurst is within a 15-min drive of both our ceremony and reception venues and has many options for food and drinks. Aleks's favorite breakfast place is Egg Harbor Café. Also worth checking out: Red Arrow Tap Room (a super-casual pour-your-own-beer bar); Francesca's Amici (delicious Italian); One Fifty One (farm-to-table restaurant with excellent cocktails); and Tannins Wine Bar & Boutique (because, wine.)
If you fancy a stroll, Aleks and Brian's alma mater is a short drive from Oakbrook Terrace and a lovely arboretum. It's especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves are turning and the air is crisp. Aleks recommends getting a coffee to go from Elijah's Coffee & Tea on Vallette before doing a little exploring (Elijah's is where she made her first-ever latte.)
Polar bears!
A Sapp family favorite - get the orange-pineapple or strawberry muffin.
"Good food. Good beer." - The Groom