Ring Them Bells! Naper Settlement's Charming Wedding Venue

Back in 1864, Naperville, a city just 28 miles west of Chicago, was a bustling pioneer town with comfortable homes, food-supply stores, a saloon or two, and an Episcopal church, natch. The settlement arose from families from the East who could no longer find available farmland or unclaimed land. Like all early American settlements, the church was one of the most important centers of community life.

Today, Naperville is all grown up, with 145,000 residents, bustling restaurants and a gorgeous riverfront walk, historic homes and a non-denominational chapel. The more things change...

The Century Memorial Chapel, like the city, has undergone many changes, and in 1969 the city's heritage society prevented the church from demolition. They restored the building to its original glory, refinishing pews, stained-glass windows, refurbishing the altar railings, the original stenciling, and keeping up a landscape worthy of nuptial photo ops.

Quite large in structure, seating 175, the chapel has quickly become a celebrated place for gay and lesbian couples to tie the knot. The chapel is steps away from the Riverwalk centered on the DuPage River, providing brilliant backdrops and romantic walks for couples and guests alike.

The views are breathtaking no matter the season, as the chapel is located at the Naper Settlement history museum, which features a log cabin, Victorian home and even a blacksmith shop. And yet the city also features movie theaters. Hey, you never know when a cinemas blockbuster might just be the remedy for wedding-weekend stress.

Although civil unions in Illinois have been legal since 2011, same-sex marriage became law on June 1, 2014, making it the 16th state to go gay legal. With 53 percent of Americans supporting marriage equality and more than 5,000 gay marriage licenses issued in the state since June, the search to find a perfect spot to say "I Do" is about to go lovingly ballistic. Consider Naperville your personal wedding planner.

Should you get married at Naperville's Century Memorial Chapel, you can bring your own minister, your own music and your own decorations. If you are in need of services, talk to the chapel personnel for help. The chapel's wedding staff prides itself on giving you the ceremony of which you've always dreamed.

Perks include a rental attendant to help you with the fine details, free parking, wheelchair access and an air-conditioned venue if you choose a steamy summer month. The attendant, part of the wedding-package fee, can also recommend top spots in the area for your reception.

Bonus points for a Naperville Wedding include the Convention Center's free service in finding rooms for you and your party to stay among the 17 hotels in town. If you've ever been in charge of wedding room arrangements, you know what a burden the job can be. But you're not limited to that option: Within five miles are a Marriott, a Hilton, and a Wyndham hotel, among others. And you're close enough to the city that you can always stay downtown.

There are also dozens of restaurants in the area that can work for bachelor and bachelorette parties and pre- and post-wedding brunches, lunches, and dinners, or just for escaping the wedding chaos. Options include comedy clubs, Irish bars, steakhouses, martini bars, and old-fashioned taverns.

Highly recommended is The Lantern, a homey bar and grill that specializes in burgers and beer. Should you want to upscale it a bit, try Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House, a classy and staid seafood restaurant with a conservative feel and private dining rooms.

A quick Internet search also listed at least five gay or gay-friendly bars and restaurants, so talk to Siri once you're settled in.

Want the personal touch? Donna DeFalco, a marketing representative for Naper Settlement, recommends Meson Sabika, a grand, white -columned restaurant with a Spanish flare, although she's quick to add that that is just one of many fine-dining options.

"There's a bustling downtown area where there's always something going on," adds DeFalco. "There are tons of restaurants where you can have a bachelor party and so forth."

While you're in Naperville, you can also bone up on your history, learning about the Naper Settlement, demonstrated best by hitting the local museum, which includes a restored Victorian home. You're also a mile away from the Metra, with direct service to Chicago proper. Bus service is available, as are those ever-present Uber taxis that seem to slowly be taking over all modes of transportation.

Yes, it's convenient, it's Chicago chic, it's cool and hip and historic all at the same time. It's the kind of place you imagine Alicia Florrick ("The Good Wife") checking into to renew her vows, or perhaps to recite new ones should she decide to marry again.

Like her TV title, it's that's good - for two husbands or two wives.

Ready to start planning your wedding? Visit www.napersettlement.org.

David is an established columnist with EDGE. Follow him on Twitter at @DRToussaint.

This story is part of our special report: "Gay Marriage". Want to read more? Here's the full list.