Here's a tip if you're getting married on the L: Hold on tight

Here’s a tip if you’re getting married on the L: Hold on tight

By Mitch Dudek

Sandra Grigoletti and Eric D’Asto begin the ride of a lifetime. | Pizzoferrato Photography / St. Johns, Mich.

As they sealed their marriage with a kiss, Sandra Grigoletti and Eric D’Asto held onto an overhead strap on a CTA L train.

Moments earlier, the L train had swayed, and Grigoletti was almost pitched over. Luckily, her maid of honor caught her.

It turns out there’s a learning curve when it comes to getting married on the L, the Bridgeport couple found out earlier this month.

“We’re Chicago nerds and just love the CTA and learning about the CTA and the boulevards system and just all things Chicago,” says Grigoletti, 34.

For her wedding aboard a rented CTA L train, Sandra Grigoletti had a transit-themed veil custom-made. | Provided photo

Her veil — custom-made by a costume designer in Canada — featured a CTA map.

She says, “The train operator blessed the wedding by ‘the power of their CTA train car.’ He even let me go on the intercom and say, ‘Doors closing,’ which made me giggle ridiculously.

“It was awesome. Did you know the the train horn they use is actually a step-on button, like a pedal? I would have expected it to be something they push with their finger.”

Two CTA employees who shepherded the couple around town for the Oct. 8 wedding took photos with them.

Just like at any other wedding, Sandra Grigoletti got to walk down the aisle — but this was the aisle of an L train. | Pizzoferrato Photography / St. Johns, Mich.

Grigoletti says she and D’Asto — who both work at Home Depot in the South Loop — paid the CTA about $1,600 to rent a four-car train and ride around for several hours. But they and 25 guests mostly used just one of the cars, she says.

The groom, who’s 39, and guests got on at the end of the Orange Line at Midway Airport and picked up Grigoletti at Halsted Street before heading to Oak Park.

“I was super-worried about missing the train,” says Grigoletti, who got to the platform 40 minutes early with her bridal party. “People kept doing double-takes as their trains passed by and I stood there in my dress.

” ‘I’m just getting married,’ ” she informed the curious.

Grigoletti’s younger brother, James, 27, officiated at the three-minute ceremony.

The newly married couple celebrated with their guests by serving Chicago-made soft drinks, like Green River. The CTA doesn’t allow alcohol.

The L wedding was followed by a boulevard tour aboard a rented trolley and a reception at a restaurant in Ukrainian Village.

“It was amazing,” Grigoletti says.