9 Stunning Chicagoland Wedding Venues
Chicagoland is home to plenty of unforgettable wedding venues. No matter what kind of celebration you have in mind, you’re sure to find the perfect venue in Chicago proper or the greater suburban area. Here are a few unique settings to check out when you’re planning your big day, just make be sure to check for availability first.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Image via Flickr by lindsmae
Let nature set the stage for your exciting occasion when you hold your wedding at Chicago Botanic Garden. With both indoor and outdoor spaces available, this destination makes for the perfect wedding spot. This is a world-renowned cultural destination thanks to the serenity and beauty the gardens offer.
With both indoor and outdoor spaces available, you’re sure to find a setting that matches your taste and guest list. Outdoor spaces include the Rose Terrace with seasonal florals and the Searle Courtyard with a Japanese aesthetic. You’ll have blossoming flowers and vibrant greenery as the backdrop to your special day. Natural beauty is always a classic choice, and you’ll certainly find it here.
Chicago’s First Lady Cruises
Shake up expectations with a nontraditional venue. Chicago’s First Lady Cruises offers wedding cruises to take your special event to the next level. You can book vessels that host from two to 250 people, so just you can have an intimate day or celebrate with everyone in your life. The cruises create a luxurious atmosphere, and you can’t beat a backdrop of Chicago’s magnificent skyline as you take your vows.
Elawa Farm
When you want a wedding setting that captures natural elegance, Elawa Farm should be at the top of your list. A public-private partnership runs Elawa Farm, dedicated to preserving the landscape itself as well as the relationship between the architecture and natural surroundings. That means Elawa Farm can offer a dream wedding venue. You’ll have picturesque grounds, from the courtyard to lawns, and a homey yet elegant sense of refinement wherever you go at the farm. You can have an indoor or outdoor ceremony and reception, and you have access to the kitchen, wagon shed, and hay barn.
Mesón Sabika
If you’re hoping for a European feel to your wedding venue, check out Mesón Sabika. Whether you reserve one of the floors for an intimate party or book the entire mansion, you’re getting a taste of Spanish elegance with a celebration here. The mansion exudes sophistication thanks to the original architecture. Think huge, welcoming windows and sturdy pillars that shape the space along with dining rooms with oak beams and lace curtains.
The indoor rooms are ideal for more intimate weddings, or you can go with an outdoor gathering in the gardens. Not sure which to choose? This venue offers a pavilion area as well, where you can have the coverage of an indoor space while still getting that feeling of being outdoors.
Loft On Lake
Loft On Lake offers another venue in heart of Chicago. The industrial urban elegance makes for a unique wedding. Equal parts artistic, homey, and bold, this venue brings together the best of the city. You’ll have plenty of space to transform this venue to fit your every need. Go rustic, or amp up the traditional elegant vibe of your special event.
The loft space offers the possibility of a variety of configurations, so it’s easy to plan for a wedding here. Touches include finished wood trim and chandeliers, adding true sophistication to your day.
Ravenswood Events Center
Chicago is known for its industrial charm. If you want to continue that vibe at your wedding, Ravenswood Events Center, a former billboard factory and warehouse, is the perfect loft space for you.
Memorable features include an atrium with a wall of windows overlooking the lush trees in the Ravenswood neighborhood. Simultaneously intimate, comfortable, and quintessentially Chicagoan, this event space sets the scene with vintage pine and oak along with concrete, brick, and plenty of glass. Take advantage of on-site catering and planning to keep the focus of your big day on you.
Redfield Estate
A great choice if you’re searching for a scenic venue just outside of the city proper, Redfield Estate offers a gorgeous setting for your ceremony and reception. Get swept away by the immaculate grounds, complete with shady, mature trees and a pavilion with a gazebo.
This home itself is the place to go for elegance — cathedral ceilings, a fireplace, and chandeliers set the mood. Two-story windows complete the picture, bathing the room with natural light for a day you’re sure to remember forever. You can have your ceremony in front of the picturesque home, then enjoy your reception in the Great Room of the house.
The Woman’s Club of Evanston
Another historical gem, the Woman’s Club of Evanston makes a great place for a memorable wedding. A recent restoration brought this venue back to the glory of its earlier years, and now you can bask in the rich history of a space considered the “grand dame” of the area. Look forward to a warm and elegant setting when you host your event here.
Special features include black and white marble decorating the main entrance and a breathtaking double staircase. The Grand Hall, complete with original hardwood floors and an enclosed sunroom, is the perfect place for a stunning reception. Take advantage of the quaint Tea Room if you’re planning a smaller cocktail reception.
The Zhou B Art Center
If you want a contemporary feel, you can’t go wrong with Chicago’s Zhou B Art Center. This spot generally hosts galleries, showing off the best artists from Chicago and around the country. You’ll be surrounded by priceless art from the Zhou brothers in addition to emerging and established artists. You’ll also have access to the outdoor garden space, which gives you a touch of greenery in the middle of the city. Whether you’re looking for an intimate setting or a lavish affair, this art center is ready to host it.
There you have it — nine stunning places for Chicagoland weddings. Did your favorite venue make our list? Drop us a line to let us know!