RAVENSWOOD — While engaged couples plan their incredibly cool wedding and reception at the Fifth Annual Indie Wed market, they can relax at a party thrown for them.
For the Feb. 1 event — showcasing the wares and services of more than 100 small businesses hawking everything from vintage bridal gowns to mix-and-match place settings — organizers have added the Cirque de l’Amour vaudeville-themed wedding lounge.
In between meeting with stationers and florists, prospective brides and grooms can retreat to the lounge where they'll be plied with craft cocktails while enjoying can-can performances and carnival games. There's even a kissing booth for couples who need a reminder of what brought them to Indie Wed in the first place.
Founded in 2010 by Kelly Maron Horvath, owner of Paper Stories, a suburban letterpress studio, Indie Wed is the unconventional cousin of more traditional bridal expos, with an emphasis on local, artisanal vendors.
Tickets are on sale online, $15 person or $25 for two. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 1, at the Ravenswood Event Center, 4043 N. Ravenswood Ave.