"Mangia Bene, Ridi Spesso, Ama Molto: Eat Well, Laugh Often, Love Much"

If you know Erica and me, you know that good food and drink are near and dear to both of our hearts. Over our last six years in Delaware, Bardea has become a place synonymous with joy, laughter & great food for both of us. 

We have made their dining room tables (and Italian wine) the center of many birthdays, anniversaries, and important occasions with friends and family over the last few years. It only made sense for us to celebrate this momentous occasion in a place that holds so many cherished memories. We are thrilled to share one of our favorite places in Wilmington, Delaware with all of you.

Chef Antimo DiMeo (executive chef and owner of Bardea) has been nominated several times by the James Beard Foundation including: Best New Restaurant 2019 & Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic Region, 2022 & 2025. Bardea has previously hosted President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, actress Aubrey Plaza, as well as Philadelphia Eagles lineman Landon Dickerson.

Bring Your Appetites, Friends!

 Wedding Welcome Party:
Sunday, October 12 | 5 pm - 8 pm

Taco Grande

We invite you to join us for a Welcome party at Taco Grande on Sunday, October 12th, 2025.

East Coast Casual Dress Code. Here's some examples from The Knot.

Join Us for Our Wedding Prelude with a glass of Prosecco from 4 - 4:30pm.

The Wedding Ceremony Begins at 4:30pm.

There Will be a 30 Minute Prelude with Live Music & Prosecco.

Dress Code: Cocktail / Semi-Formal Attire.

Wedding Ceremony:
Monday, October 13 | 4 pm - 5 pm

The Garden at Bardea
Please RSVP

Wedding Cocktail Hour & Reception:
Monday, October 13 | 5 pm - 11 pm

Bardea Steak

A block of rooms has been secured for our guests at the Westin Wilmington Hotel. The discounted block room rate is good until September 12th, 2025 but does not guarantee the availability of rooms, so please book your room as soon as possible if you have not already. The block rate is available from 10/8 - 10/17. Check-in begins at 4pm.

For guests staying at the Westin hotel, a shuttle will be arriving at 3:30p, departing for The Garden at 3:45p. There will be two shuttles back to the hotel, the first leaving just after 10p, and the final shuttle back to the Westin leaving just after 11p.

All other guests: complimentary valet parking is available and encouraged for those driving to the venue.

Public transportation between the Philly airport and Wilmington DE is not great. Typically we recommend visitors use Lyft/Uber or a Delaware Express Shuttle, however, all of these options have become significantly less affordable over the last few years. I am happy to help coordinate group shuttles for those interested in saving a bit of $ as more of our guest’s arrival times become known.

For those interested in staying a night in Philly when you arrive, public transportation is much easier. You can catch a local Septa line, straight from the Philly airport, to Center City Philadelphia. From there you can easily transfer to another train or grab a ride share to make your way around the city. Philly is surprisingly walkable as well.

When you are ready to make your way down to Wilmington, you can take a train from Suburban station to the Wilmington Delaware station. The train station is a 1.2 mile walk or a quick Lyft/ber to the Westin hotel.

Schedules for the Airport Line into the city can be found here.

Schedules from Suburban Station to Wilmington can be found here.

Erica and I appreciate everyone who is making the effort to travel to Wilmington, Delaware and attend our wedding. We do not have a wedding registry. 

"Your Presence is the Present!"

The Riverwalk Trail / Wilmington Wildlife Refuge is perfect for those interested in a city hike/leisurely stroll from the hotel. Just make your way to the river walk and turn right. The path will continue for about 3⁄4 of a mile and leads you into the Wildlife Refuge. The Riverwalk is one of Vixen’s favorite city hikes, and was a regular jogging path for Chris and Erica years ago. Fun fact - this is also where Chris and Erica got engaged! 

For those interested in a bike ride. Bikes can also be rented by the hour at a station on the river walk via the FIN app. You can find the FIN bike rental station near the Riverwalk Mini Golf (unfortunately, closed for the season) just behind the Delaware Children's Museum. If you ride past the wildlife refuge and continue on the Jack Markell Trail for about 5 miles, the bike path will eventually lead you to Old New Castle, home of beautiful Battery Park and Jessup’s Tavern. Originally built in 1674, Jessup’s Tavern is the oldest bar in Delaware and has one of the most extensive draft beer lists of any bar on the east coast).

If you have a bit of free time during your visit, here are a few of our favorite things in the immediate vicinity of the hotel.

Close to the Hotel:

Delaware Children’s Museum

Delaware Contemporary Art Museum

IMAX Movie Theater

About a 30 Minute Walk:

The Queen Theater

The Grand Opera House

Walkable Food/Drink:Breakfast: River Rock Kitchen / Starbucks / The Riverfront Bakery / DE Duck Cafe

Lunch/Dinner: Iron Hill Brewery, Big Fish Grill, Timothy’s Riverfront, Riverfront Asian Cuisine & Bar, Docklands Riverfront, Banks Seafood, Riverfront Market Place.

Saturday, April 18, 2026

Irish American Heritage Center

4626 N Knox Ave, Chicago, IL 60630

Can't make it to Wilmington in October? No worries! There will be another opportunity to celebrate with us next spring in Chicago. The Chicago Spring Celebration is family friendly. Come as you are and enjoy live music, open bar, and local fare including pizza, beef sandwiches and more.

Check Back Here Soon for More Info!