EDGEWATER — Though Ben Barber and David Simpson have been together for more than nine years, the Uptown couple never thought they'd be able to legally marry.
But when marriage equality became the law of the land in June 2015, the couple knew "it was time."
On Saturday, the men finally exchanged vows at the Broadway Armory in Edgewater during the neighborhood's annual street festival — and they did it surrounded by their community.
"My dream wedding would be our own street fest," Barber said. "The next best was the armory overlooking our favorite street fest in the city."
The couple's Chicago love story spans several North Side neighborhoods, and started when the two met at CB2 in Lincoln Park nearly a decade ago. Three days later, and the pair were having their first date at Reza's restaurant in Andersonville.
Now the newlyweds live just south of Edgewater in an Uptown condo with their dog, Elliot, and have made romantic memories at many of the places surrounding the armory where they married (and where Simpson plays volleyball).
Barber said the couple love to take their dog to Bark Bark Club, enjoy brunch at Broadway Cellars and put back burgers and beer at Moody's.
After the wedding, guests were invited to celebrate among the Edgewater community "under the August stars" as the ceremony's reception.
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