10 Activities to Keep You Busy During Your Wedding Weekend in Rockford, Illinois
As a wedding photographer, I know how important it is to plan out each and every little detail of your wedding day. This is your one shot at making your wedding dreams a reality, and you want to get it just right. With all the effort, concentration, and planning that goes into your actual wedding day, it’s incredibly easy to overlook what you and your guests will be doing outside the festivities of the day itself. While this isn’t quite as crucial as planning the wedding itself, you and your guests will appreciate knowing what there is to do throughout the wedding weekend outside of enjoying the wedding’s festivities. Luckily Rockford, Illinois is filled to the brim with things to do during the weekend of your wedding, which we’ll be taking a look at today!
10 Things to Keep you Busy in Rockford, Illinois During Your Wedding Weekend
1. Visit Hidden Creek Estates
First on our list of things to do during your wedding weekend is a visit to the gorgeous Hidden Creek Estates which is just north of Rockford, Illinois. Some of you may recognize Hidden Creek Estates from some of my previous blogs as this is one of my all time favorite wedding venues! Though Hidden Creek Estates is fantastic as a wedding venue, if you already have a venue booked I still recommend checking out this space as it can really elevate your wedding weekend. They have a phenomenal wine bar to enjoy, stunning guest houses that you can book to stay in during your wedding weekend, monthly events to enjoy, and more. Whether you choose to have your wedding here or elsewhere, a trip to Hidden Creek Estates is something I recommend for pretty much any wedding weekend in Rockford, Illinois.
2. Check Out Prairie Street Brewing
Next on our list is another one of my favorite wedding venues, and one that I’ve actually written an entire feature piece about, Prairie Street Brewing! Much like Hidden Creek Estates, this wedding venue that can be found in the heart of Rockford, Illinois is more than just a wedding venue, and is a must visit during your wedding weekend. Being a brewery you can of course expect fantastic beers, but they also have an incredible in house kitchen. This combines with the wonderful atmosphere of the space and the live music or comedy shows commonly put on at the brewery to make Prairie Street Brewing a must visit during your stay in Rockford.
3. Marvel at the Anderson Japanese Gardens
Next on our list are the immaculate Anderson Japanese Gardens. These award winning gardens are home to gorgeous Japanese architecture and pristinely kept gardens that will have your jaw on the floor. The Anderson Japanese Gardens have 12 acres of land to explore and enjoy, but there’s more to them than their overwhelming natural beauty. Enjoy breakfast or lunch here with the Anderson Garden’s on site restaurant, Fresco at the Gardens, take an architecture tour through the gardens to find some hidden Frank Lloyd Wright gems, or even join a calligraphy workshop at the gardens. There is so much to experience and enjoy at the Anderson Japanese Gardens, and with their close proximity to Rockford, Illinois’ downtown you and your guests can easily enjoy them during your wedding weekend!
4. Enjoy Rockford Roasting at the Embassy Suites
If you’re looking for a place to stay for your wedding weekend in Rockford, Illinois I highly encourage you to check out the Embassy Suites for a number of reasons. First is the amazing Rockford Roasting coffee shop, one of my all time favorite coffee shops. Their excellent brews are the perfect way to start each morning during your stay. You’ll also find one of the most scenic restaurants in Rockford at the Embassy Suites, The Top! As a rooftop bar and restaurant, The Top offers incredible views of downtown Rockford for you to enjoy while having a meal with your loved ones either leading up to the wedding, or celebrating it the day after.
5. Experience The Music Box
Up next is The Music Box, a cocktail bar and music lounge that prioritizes the listening experience of their customers. This fresh take on a music venue is incredibly refreshing, and a must visit for any and all lovers of music. On nights without live music The Music Box operates as any traditional bar would, with TVs on and a warm and inviting atmosphere for their patrons to enjoy. On nights with live music though is where the magic really happens! The space of The Music Box has been designed so that the owners can rearrange it to fit the needs and style of whichever artist is performing. The TVs are off, and the live music becomes the focal point of the entire evening. It’s a fun spin on the traditional cocktail bar, and something you should definitely check out during your wedding weekend in Rockford, Illinois.
6. Explore Rock Cut State Park
For anyone looking to experience the natural beauty that Rockford, Illinois has to offer during their wedding weekend, Rock Cut State Park is the place for you. This state park has over three thousand acres to explore via the hiking trails throughout the park. The centerpiece of the park is the beautiful Pierce Lake, which you can enjoy in a multitude of ways. Whether you want to rent a kayak and head out on the water, bring your fishing gear along to toss some lines into the lake, or hike around the lake to marvel at the beauty of the landscape, there’s a lot to enjoy here at Rock Cut State Park. For those looking to really get adventurous during their wedding weekend, you can also camp in Rock Cut State Park, making this a true getaway for the avid outdoorsy couple!
7. Visit the Aldeen Golf Club
On the east end of Rockford, Illinois is our next option to keep you busy during your wedding weekend, the Aldeen Golf Club. The first and most apparent appeal of the golf club is of course the award winning 18 hole golf course. This public golf course has a fantastic reputation and is the perfect spot to either unwind after your wedding or ease some of the stress leading up to the day. In addition to the golf course, Aldeen also has a renowned in house restaurant called Alchemy at Aldeen, which I can confirm wholly deserves its reputation! Also as a quick shoutout, if you’re still looking for a wedding venue, you should consider the Illinois Bank & Trust Pavilion, which is on site at the Aldeen Golf Club.
8. Check Out the Rockford City Market
If your wedding weekend in Rockford, Illinois happens to fall between May and September, consider checking out the Rockford City Market. Taking place on Fridays between Mid-May and late September, this market has something for everyone to enjoy. Multiple stages for live music, tons of food vendors, antique and vintage vendors, local brewery tents, fresh produce, and more make the Rockford City Market easily one of the best highlights of summertime in the city.
9. Experience the Historic Laurent House
On the north end of Rockford is one of the iconic and historic Frank Lloyd Wright houses, the Laurent House. This house created by the esteemed architect is the only one of his homes that was designed to be wheelchair accessible. The single story home features the magnificent and iconic architecture that Wright is known for and is open for tours Fridays from April to November, and weekends from April to December. If you’ve yet to experience a tour through one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s incredible homes it’s something you should look to rectify as soon as possible as they really do live up to their insane reputation. The home also hosts some events throughout the year that elevate the experience even further.
10. Get Historic at the Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens
Our final stop for your wedding weekend in Rockford, Illinois is on the south end of town, the Tinker Swiss Cottage. Originally built in 1865, and standing the test of time as one of Rockford’s oldest homes, the Tinker Swiss Cottage opened as a museum in 1943. The guided tours of the home and beautifully kept gardens provide an experience that truly encapsulates the rich history of Rockford through the lens of a house and family that was there when the city first began to grow. In addition to these tours though, the museum hosts many events throughout the year for you and your wedding guests to enjoy during your wedding weekend!
And there we have it, 10 great activities and experiences for you to enjoy during your wedding weekend in Rockford, Illinois. As you can see there are so many things to do and places to see either before or after your wedding day, both for you and your guests to enjoy. It makes Rockford a pretty easy choice for couples looking to decide on where to have your wedding. If you’re interested in having your wedding in Rockford be sure to check out some of our favorite venues, and if you’re looking for a photographer to document your day be sure to send Forest City Photographs an inquiry via our contact page!
