Ashley & Patrick
Things To Do
Notre Dame Campus Tour
The Eck Visitors Center has free public tours that include visits to the Grotto, Basilica, Main Building (the Golden Dome), and the Hesburgh Library (“Touchdown Jesus”). Tours of Notre Dame Stadium are scheduled separately. Advance reservations and telephone reservations are not accepted. If you opt for a self-guided tour, refer to the photo above where we have included a map of campus with the main points of interest outlined in numerical order to guide you from location to location. 1 - The Morris Inn - Hotel and reception venue 2 - Basilica - Ceremony venue 3 - Law School Arch - start your walking tour here 4 - Notre Dame Stadium North End Zone Tunnel 5 - Hesburgh Library (Touchdown Jesus) 6 - Main Building (Golden Dome) 7 - St. Edward's Hall - Home of our Celebrant Fr. Ralph 8 - The Grotto 9 - St. Mary & St. Joseph's Lakes 10 - Log Chapel - the original chapel on campus 11 - South Quad 12 - The Bookstore - get some swag!
Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
“For those who know Notre Dame, no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t, no explanation will suffice.” - Lou Holtz For those who have never had the privilege of visiting Notre Dame, we recommend taking a short walk from the Basilica to the Grotto, located right behind where the ceremony will take place. It is one of the most beautiful and sacred places at Notre Dame, and it would mean the world if you took the time to light a candle and say a prayer for the Bride and Groom!
Saint Mary & Saint Joseph's Lakes
A trip to Notre Dame is not complete without visiting Saint Mary's or Saint Jospeh's lake (or both!). The lakes are breathtakingly peaceful, especially for an early morning walk. You will find the Stations of the Cross along your walk along Saint Joseph's lake and many friendly ducklings along your trek around Saint Mary's lake. The lakes are one of the cornerstone pieces of an already majestic campus as they are literally in the official name of the university, University of Notre Dame du Lac. Fun fact: when Father Sorin first arrived to this hallowed land in 1842 he only saw one lake since they were both frozen over! Hence the university's official name is "du Lac" and not "des Lacs".
Eddy Street Commons
For those looking for more casual drink or bite to eat than the Morris Inn has to offer, Eddy Street Commons is located right off of E Angela Blvd, near the main entrance to campus on Notre Dame Ave. Approximately a 10 minute walk from the Morris Inn, Eddy Street is filled with several sports bars and restaurants, such as Brother’s and O’Rourke’s, as well as some late night fast food options and some shops. You can find everything from pressed juices and coffee to pizza and sandwiches. This would be a great spot to check out the night before, or to kill some time between the ceremony and cocktail hour! O’Rourke’s is open until 12am and Brother’s is open until 2am.
Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore
Not your typical college bookstore and not a bad place to check out, just for the experience, if you have never been to Notre Dame. There is a coffee shop and bakery inside & two stories of endless Notre Dame apparel and gifts. About a 5 minute walk from the Morris Inn and the Basilica! Open 8am-7pm Monday-Saturday & 9am-7pm on Sunday.
Rohr’s
Since there will be a few hours between the ceremony and the start of the rest of the evening, Rohr’s is a great option for those who could use a cocktail of their own before cocktail hour, or even for those who are staying at the Morris Inn or near campus and are looking for a place to hang out the night before the big day. It is located in the lobby of the Morris Inn, just a short walk from the where the ceremony will be held at the Basilica. It is upscale and elegant with a Notre Dame flare. Cocktail hour and the reception will be held inside the Morris Inn as well, so you won’t have to go far! Open until 11pm on Friday & Saturday.
Legends
Legends is another great option for a place to check out between the ceremony and cocktail hour. Located right on campus, near the stadium, Legends is a sports bar with great food, drinks and an even better atmosphere. They are open 11am-8pm Tuesday-Saturday, so this would be a great place to kill time on the day of the wedding without having to walk very far!