“Weddings Remembered” will take place from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. The entire community is invited to historical wedding exhibits, wedding cake and desserts, prizes and gifts, a classic car show along Oak Park Avenue, and dancing in the Arms’ ballroom to the Ed Clarke Orchestra beginning at 2 p.m.
Before it was an independent, assisted and short term retirement community, the Oak Park Arms was one of the finest and most gracious hotels in the western suburbs. Brides and grooms competed for dates, because everyone wanted their receptions at this elegant hotel.
Founded in 1922, the Oak Park Arms was the wedding reception site of prohibition brides, flapper brides, Depression brides, war brides, rock and roll brides, hippie brides, and of course traditional brides. You name it. The Arms has seen it.
Sponsored by the Oak Park Historical Society and friends of the Oak Park Arms, the historical display includes many wedding photos taken at the Arms and wedding dresses from the various eras. Items include shoes, hats and wedding accessories as well as a 1940s dress w/veil on loan from Dominican University. The Oak Park Historial Society is loaning a 1940’s military uniform, three wedding dresses from the 1930s, a 1920’s wedding dress and undergarments.
Irene Twohey’s 1926 wedding dress with her wedding portrait at the Arms is on loan from Twohey’s daughter. There is also a 1937 wedding dress with a photo of Maxine Solberg as a bride and a photo at the same fireplace mantle of Solberg’s daughter in same dress.
The event is free and the public is warmly welcome to the afternoon of wedding nostalgia. For more information call 708-386-4040 or visit https://www.oakparkarms.com.
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Media Contact: Andy Richardson
Ginny Richardson Public Relations
630-789-8899 or arichardson@gr-pr.com
