Several bed and breakfasts near Harrisburg serve as wedding chapels.
Harrisburg, Illinois, was once a village plotted on just 20 acres of land back in 1853. Situated along the Ohio River, it is now the commercial hub of Saline County. Shopping centers, banks, restaurants and grocery stores dot the landscape in and around the city, and just to the south are more than 270,000 acres of the Shawnee National Forest. Thousands of visitors are drawn to the area annually for the streams and waterfalls, picnicking sites and riding trails. Due to the influx of travelers and the romantic backdrop, Harrisburg is also a terrific place to find nearby wedding "chapels," or popular places beyond the walls of a church where couples can legally marry.
The Irish Inn
Roughly 22 miles from Harrisburg is The Irish Inn (/irishinn.tripod.com), a bed and breakfast located right in the Shawnee National Forest amidst vineyards, wineries and breathtaking scenery. The inn features stone and log chalets, blazing log fires, a vast art collection, antique furnishings and Celtic windows. A Christian minister, Humanist, Native American or other judicial official can be arranged to perform a wedding ceremony in any of the nature areas nearby or right at the inn. Reservations are necessary at this location, which was ranked the best place to elope in Illinois by "Best Elope Ideas."
The Rose Hotel
Nearly 30 miles from Harrisburg is the historic Rose Hotel (therosehotelbb.com/index.html), a five-bedroom bed and breakfast that touts itself as having 19th-century furnishings and plenty of modern amenities. The hotel is located on the banks of the Oho River, situated in the heart of Illinois' famed wine country and just miles away from the beautiful rock formations. All five rooms in the hotel have unique themes, and a stay at this location includes a country breakfast served by an innkeeper dressed in 1800's clothing.
Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods (shawneeforest.com/Hiking/GardenoftheGods.aspx) is located roughly 18 miles from Harrisburg, situated inside the Shawnee National Forest. This area features massive pillars of sandstone that drop more than 100 feet down, creating the perfect indoor-outdoor wedding chapel. The park is open year-round, but those wishing to get married in the area will need to contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for larger gatherings, to make sure the event will not disrupt certain plant and animal life, nor interfere with backpacking, horseback riding or other events going on in the park.
The Lafayette Inn
The Lafayette Inn (lafayetteinn-il.com/) brings the search for a perfect wedding location full circle, as the three-building complex is located right in Harrisburg. Consisting of two mansions and a carriage house, the inn features 14 guest rooms and suites in this turn-of-the-century estate covering two-thirds of a city block. Highlights include the marble walled vestibule, carved walnut staircase and a wrought-iron fence surrounding the property.
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