Happen to catch the finale episodes of TLC’s show, Four Weddings, last season? If so, then you may have noticed the beautiful backdrop of Cuneo Mansion and Gardens, a property located thirty miles north of Chicago with a rich history going back almost a century.
Completed in 1918 in the town of Vernon Hills, IL, Cuneo Mansion and Gardens was built as the home of Samuel Insull, one of the original founders of General Electric Company. Furnished in an Italianate style with its gardens and landscaping designed by Jens Jensen, a world-renowned landscape architect, the mansion also features an extensive collection of fine antiques, paintings by world-famous artists, tapestries, sculptures, silver, and porcelain. In 1937, John Cuneo Sr. purchased the home and lived there with his wife and two children, John Jr. and Consuela. In 2009, John Jr. and his wife, Herta, donated the 100-acre estate to Loyola University Chicago along with the collection of art and furnishings. It has since been used as a venue for weddings, special occasions and corporate events.
Recently, TLC filmed its finale episodes of the show, Four Weddings, at Cuneo Mansion and Gardens. The show follows four separate brides as they plan their own weddings but also prepare to have their weddings attended and scored by the other brides in the categories of dress, venue, food, and experience. At the end, whichever bride has the most points out of the four wins a fabulous honeymoon vacation.
Loyola University Chicago is grateful to TLC for choosing Cuneo Mansion and Gardens as a setting for one of its shows and cannot thank the Cuneo family enough for its wonderful donation. The university plans to continually improve the space in order to accommodate a wide variety of events and looks forward to all future weddings and special occasions that will be held on the property.
To learn more about the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens, visit http://www.uniquevenues.com/CuneoMansion
Information on Four Weddings can be seen at http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/four-weddings.