FAQs

Question

Transportation for The Weekend

Answer

Shuttles will be provided to/from The Forester Hotel for Friday and Saturday events and run on continuous loops! Friday: Guests can take shuttles into town starting at 5pm (going on a continuous loop all night) on Friday if they want to walk around and grab dinner before the Welcome Party at 8pm at Duffer’s Pub! Shuttles will make loops back to the hotel until 11:30pm. Saturday: shuttles will take guests from The Forester to the venue starting around 4pm for the 5pm ceremony. Shuttles will take guests back to the hotel at the end of the night. Please note that no parking allowed at the wedding venue. If you wish to drive, you must park at St. James Lutheran Church (1380 N. Waukegan Rd. Lake Forest, IL 60045) and await a shuttle. Please note that Ubers are limited in the area so expect longer wait times. The shuttle service should get you everywhere you need to go!

Question

What Time Should I be Ready on Wedding Day?

Answer

Please plan to be in the lobby of The Forester Hotel around 4pm to catch a shuttle to Elawa Farm. Shuttles will depart by 4:15pm in order to start the 5pm ceremony on time. There should be another loop of shuttles for stragglers but please try to get on the early rounds! Reminder that even if you are driving, you CANNOT park at Elawa and must park at the St. James Lutheran Church parking lot (1380 N. Waukegan Rd. Lake Forest, IL 60045) to await a shuttle to drop you at the venue. A shuttle will return guests to their cars in the parking lot, as well as the Forester Hotel, at the end of the night. If you are simply being dropped off at Elawa, getting dropped off at the venue or Ubering there should be fine. Reminder that Ubers are limited and not the fastest in the suburbs.

Question

Wedding Attire

Answer

Semi-Formal/Cocktail Attire. Elawa Farm is a fairly casual venue and portions of the day will be outside and on grass (note that for shoe choice)! Guys in suits, blazers, or sport coats (with or without ties) and girls in dresses or jumpsuits will be perfect! Rehearsal dinner guests please wear cocktail attire Friday night. All other guests going to the Friday night Welcome Party can wear casual clothes! Sunday brunch is casual, athleisure is welcome!

Question

Hotels

Answer

Please visit the Travel tab to book with our reserved block at The Forester Hotel. Shuttles will be running to/from The Forester for Friday and Saturday events. We plan to continue celebrating at the bar in The Forester lobby on Saturday night (The Oaken) after the wedding reception, and also will have brunch in a conference room Sunday morning. If you have any issues reserving a room please reach out! We do have a backup block reserved at The Hilton Garden Inn. As of now, we don't plan to service shuttles to/from The Hilton (only The Forester.)

Question

Weather

Answer

We are hoping for a sunny fall day, but be prepared for a colder day (in the 50s/60s) and for the temperature to drop at night. The ceremony and cocktail hour will be outside, while dinner will be in a tent and dancing will be in the barn. We will have blankets and space heaters around, and there will be covered/indoor space if it rains.