We left Chicago at 6Am and arrived in Philly by 9AM to start a very long, very fun day!
We took the train to downtown and then walked to our hotel so we could see sites like the amazing City hall.
The groomsmen ( and two wives) headed to Men's Wearhouse where they got fitted for tuxes ( and Seasteadt found his favorite reversable coat).
The guys loved catching up!
Then we headed to Jim's Steaks for Philly Cheese Steaks...Brians was with peppers, onions, and WIZ!
Lots of Yuengling Beer would be consumed over the next 48 hours!
We were with Anthony and lots of great friends...what better to do than to do a mini-pubcrawl...day before wedding style ( just one beer)!
Brian and I met at Connie and Brian Seastedt's wedding almost 9 years ago! Connie and I loved being together all weekend. It had been a few years since we had actually seen each other!
On to the next, and then the next. At the 3rd stop, there was actually a really cute sight seeing area. We checked out the pier and the boats and tried to be like the statues above us.
The neighborhoods in Philly were so cute and quaint! And a bar on every corner.
Our mid-afternoon crew before the rest of the Loyola Crew got in and met us out!
The wedding was in the most gorgeous Basillica you could ever imagine. It was like something from Rome! When we walked in for the rehearsal-it tool my breath away ( sadly- the lighting does NOT do it justice)
We headed to an incredible Italian restaurant for the rehearsal dinner and ate, and ate, and ate!
It was such a wonderful celebration of love and family and friends! A toast to the Bride and Groom!!!
While everyone else nursed their hangovers Saturday morning, Brian and I were up super early ( Brian ran 4 miles and did an ab workout before I even got up) and we headed out to try and see Philly in 3 hours!The Liberty Bell!
A park outside Independence Hall
The Congress Building and Senate Hall!
And coolest of all, the room in Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence AND the Constitution were signed!
Brian asked me for money and said "You give to your church, I give to mine" ( I love my History lover)
Super fast lunch, home to get ready...never a dull minute...right before the ceremony, Brian is bent over the alter trying to sew the top button on his jacket that fell off!
Stunning!
Again, the picture doesn't do it justice but Anthony was beaming! My favorite thing to do at wedding is when everyone turns to watch the bride enter the room, I turn to the groom to see him see his bride for the first time!
And she was gorgeous!
The big tear jerker of the ceremony...Maria's brother is at the Naval Academy and in the choir. As a surprise to his sissy, he flew in 10 choir members to perform three songs, including the most incredible arrangement of Ava Maria in 10-part harmony I have ever heard ever- not a dry eye in the house- really! Especially from Maria- she was so happy and so proud and she and her brother kept making eye contact as if to say "Thankyou" and "I love you!" Precious!
Anthony and Maria Ippolito!
This card box was made by Maria's grandmother out of Maria's mom's wedding dress- ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The cocktail hour was an hour and a half and had something like 15 appetizer stations! I think I ate more at the cocktail hour than I usually do at regular weddings!
Me and Brian and Benji and Sarah!!!
Did I mention the bar? It was also pretty impressive!
There was a traveling, Italian band too!
When we got into the Crystal Tea Room and got settled at our stunning tables, we saw all these ladies headed to the dancefloor to peak into a large basket. What was it? FLIPFLOPS!!!!!! For sore feet! Each one bagged and beautiful with a size at top!
Brian's parents came too and represented Galesburg!
I know, I know- I keep saying how amazing and wonderful everything was but it's true- the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, the cocktail hour, the place, the food, the desserts, the people, the family, the love, the love, the love- everyhwere we went we felt welcomed, loved, and included. Knowing Maria and Anthony ( and now their families), there could be no other way.
A park outside Independence Hall
The Congress Building and Senate Hall!
And coolest of all, the room in Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence AND the Constitution were signed!
Brian asked me for money and said "You give to your church, I give to mine" ( I love my History lover)
Super fast lunch, home to get ready...never a dull minute...right before the ceremony, Brian is bent over the alter trying to sew the top button on his jacket that fell off!
Stunning!
Again, the picture doesn't do it justice but Anthony was beaming! My favorite thing to do at wedding is when everyone turns to watch the bride enter the room, I turn to the groom to see him see his bride for the first time!
And she was gorgeous!
The big tear jerker of the ceremony...Maria's brother is at the Naval Academy and in the choir. As a surprise to his sissy, he flew in 10 choir members to perform three songs, including the most incredible arrangement of Ava Maria in 10-part harmony I have ever heard ever- not a dry eye in the house- really! Especially from Maria- she was so happy and so proud and she and her brother kept making eye contact as if to say "Thankyou" and "I love you!" Precious!
Anthony and Maria Ippolito!
This card box was made by Maria's grandmother out of Maria's mom's wedding dress- ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The cocktail hour was an hour and a half and had something like 15 appetizer stations! I think I ate more at the cocktail hour than I usually do at regular weddings!
Me and Brian and Benji and Sarah!!!
Did I mention the bar? It was also pretty impressive!
There was a traveling, Italian band too!
When we got into the Crystal Tea Room and got settled at our stunning tables, we saw all these ladies headed to the dancefloor to peak into a large basket. What was it? FLIPFLOPS!!!!!! For sore feet! Each one bagged and beautiful with a size at top!
Brian's parents came too and represented Galesburg!
I know, I know- I keep saying how amazing and wonderful everything was but it's true- the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, the cocktail hour, the place, the food, the desserts, the people, the family, the love, the love, the love- everyhwere we went we felt welcomed, loved, and included. Knowing Maria and Anthony ( and now their families), there could be no other way. My favorite part of the night was the toasts. All three were out of this world- touching, funny, silly, and full of love. I was at the bar getting a drink when Mr. DiDonato started talking. I knew it was a big deal and he was a big deal when my bartender refused to fill my glass until after the toast..." I think we all should listen to Mr. DiDonato" Enough said, that gave me enough time to grab my camera and snap this sweet picture of the couple holding hands under the table while Mr. DiDonato made us all cry! GOD I LOVE WEDDINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some of the Galesburg boys and Mrs. Ippolito
The Galesburg crew and their spouses!
As you can see, all the ladies were excited to see a huge basket full of anything a girl could need in the bathroom....pantyhose in different sizes, deodorant, lotions, perfumes, qtips, safetypins, hairspray, mints, etc.
Then the DESSERT ROOM! Yup, I said ROOM! Not just delicious cake but a huge chocolate fodue bar with anything you can think of to dip ( including oreos my favorite)! Fruits and tarts, and mousses, and fudge, and anything you could imagine. Here Connie's plate got a bit excited about the fodue fountain! Oh, and they had a liquere bar with tons of different after dinner liqueres served in mini- chocolate shot glasses!
And if we hadn't gotten enough just by being guests, Maria's grandma again went over the top and made amazing cookies and pastries for all of us and they were wrapped in these beautiful boxes with Anthony and Maria's name!
The last dance!
No one wanted the party to end so most of us headed to the hotel bar for a few more hours! What a night! 
Some of the Galesburg boys and Mrs. Ippolito
The Galesburg crew and their spouses!
As you can see, all the ladies were excited to see a huge basket full of anything a girl could need in the bathroom....pantyhose in different sizes, deodorant, lotions, perfumes, qtips, safetypins, hairspray, mints, etc.
Then the DESSERT ROOM! Yup, I said ROOM! Not just delicious cake but a huge chocolate fodue bar with anything you can think of to dip ( including oreos my favorite)! Fruits and tarts, and mousses, and fudge, and anything you could imagine. Here Connie's plate got a bit excited about the fodue fountain! Oh, and they had a liquere bar with tons of different after dinner liqueres served in mini- chocolate shot glasses!
And if we hadn't gotten enough just by being guests, Maria's grandma again went over the top and made amazing cookies and pastries for all of us and they were wrapped in these beautiful boxes with Anthony and Maria's name!
The last dance!
No one wanted the party to end so most of us headed to the hotel bar for a few more hours! What a night! Thenext morning, THe DiDonato's hosted a beautiful brunch at the hotel for everyone so we could all re-hash the night and say goodbyes! Truely amazing!
We headed to the famous LOVE statue for one last shot before we left for the airport!
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