Planning a wedding involves countless decisions, but choosing the right location can set the tone for your entire celebration. With its vibrant urban landscape and stunning lakefront views, Chicago offers many venue options that make it stand out as an exceptional place to host a wedding. From a diversity of venues ranging in size and style to the city's rich cultural backdrop, here are some reasons why Chicago should be at the top of your list.
One of Chicago’s greatest strengths is its variety of wedding venues. Whether you envision a glamorous ballroom affair, a chic rooftop celebration, or a charming garden ceremony, Chicago has it all. For those looking for a touch of grandeur, the city boasts landmarks like The Metropolitan, where timeless elegance meets modern luxury. If you prefer something more contemporary, the city’s many sleek hotels and event spaces offer stylish settings with breathtaking skyline views.
For couples seeking something a bit more unconventional, Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods offer unique venues that reflect the city’s rich cultural landscape. Host your wedding in a rustic urban loft in the West Loop, or in a beautifully restored industrial space that blends vintage charm with modern amenities. If you prefer a more nature-infused setting, consider the lush Crystal Gardens on the Navy Pier or other picturesque outdoor venues, where you can say your vows surrounded by vibrant flora and fauna.
Beyond the venue, Chicago’s rich variety of entertainment options ensures that your wedding will be an unforgettable experience. From world-class cuisine and craft cocktails to live music and bustling nightlife, the city offers an abundance of activities for you and your guests to enjoy. Plan a pre-wedding brunch at a trendy café, or a post-wedding party at one of the city’s renowned jazz clubs.
Whether you’re looking for an upscale wedding event that exudes sophistication and style or you’re hoping for a modest, intimate soiree, your wedding should be everything you imagined.
For those looking for the best Chicago wedding venues, the EventUp Venue Directory—the largest collection of curated wedding venues—offers lots to choose from. These perfect venue picks offer a little bit of everything, from massive halls to quaint and cozy spaces for your closest friends.
Offering curated, aspirational, and dynamic atmospheres within the 66th and 67th floors of the Willis Tower, the Metropolitan Club serves the needs of the modern Chicagoan and downtowner. If you’re looking for a venue that is sure to make a statement with its stunning views and sophisticated, elegant decor, this is the venue for you! The Metropolitan orchestrates unforgettable events with extraordinary attention to detail, for which the Club has garnered international prestige.
Part Kentucky rickhouse and part Napa winery, this stunning space is a tribute to Chicago’s storied industrial past. Tucked away in a Chicago neighborhood, Goose Island Barrel House has created a unique event space unmatched throughout the city of Chicago. The team is guided by a respect for the history and culture of beer as well as their passion for, and innovation in, brewing. This unique venue combines a rustic, industrial feel with the coziness of a local hangout spot.
The Crystal Gardens on Navy Pier
The Crystal Gardesn on Chicago's Navy Pier is home to a beautiful, one-acre botanical garden. The garden is housed in a six-story glass atrium with a 50-foot arched ceiling and combines the wonder of the outdoors with the comfort of the indoors. The venue includes more than 80 live palm trees lush foliage, hanging "twinkle lights, " and dancing "leapfrog" fountains to provide a gorgeous, natural backdrop to your wedding. The venue can accommodate anywhere from 80 to 500 people, making the Crystal Gardens ideal for a wedding reception of any size.
A perfect blend of vintage warehouse and modern sophistication, The Arbory was built to provide guests with all the foundational elements to make hosting a wedding a seamless experience. By providing curated styling, modern amenities, AV, live streaming, live production, and other digital integrations, The Arbory allows hosts to focus on the elements that will set their event apart.
The Penthouse Hyde Park checks all the boxes: gorgeous views, lofty ceilings, historic architecture, indoor/outdoor space, and a picturesque location. The venue beautifully melds Art Deco design and modern aesthetics into a rooftop ballroom and outdoor terrace venue with breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline and lakefront. Weddings at The Penthouse Hyde Park include full use of the thoughtfully renovated ballroom, expansive rooftop terrace, and access to the impressive VIP Suite for your special day.
The event spaces at Moody Tongue Brewing Company offer flexibility, style, and comfort. The brewery’s mid-century modern aesthetic and refined industrial design set the tone for a distinctive dining and event experience, while a professional on-site event team ensures attention to every detail. The Private Dining & Events Program at Moody Tongue showcases chef-driven beers, elevated service, and a focused food menu from ten-time Michelin-starred recipient Executive Chef Jared Wentworth. Located in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago, Moody Tongue Brewing Company is within walking distance of McCormick Place, numerous hotels, and a growing hospitality community.
If you’re looking for a swanky, jazz-era, sophisticated vibe for your rehearsal dinner or wedding, look no further than the Turtle Club. The venue offers a true one-of-a-kind Chicago experience with unique craft cocktails, a menu made from scratch, and a spirit-filled 1920s-style atmosphere that thrills guests of all generations. With two fully private rooms and a capacity for groups of 5-250, Tortoise Club is the perfect destination for small or large weddings seeking an old-school Chicago feel.
Located at Fullerton Avenue and Lake Shore Drive, Theater on the Lake is a historic building that offers breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and Chicago’s skyline. Designed in 1913 and constructed in 1920, Theater on the Lake, is a Prairie-style structure constructed in brick with sweeping steel arched pavilions throughout. There are 4 venue options as well as the opportunity of full use of the building. Theater on the Lake is a premier lakefront venue that offers clean, open sightlines and a gorgeous view of the skyline while overlooking Lake Michigan.
Aba & The Dalcy Fulton Market District
Rustic meets elegance at The Dalcy – a private event hall located in the historic Fulton Market District. Sharing the third floor with Aba, a Mediterranean & California-inspired restaurant, the 6,000-square foot venue and 4,000-square foot rooftop patio is the ideal setting for weddings and receptions. From personalized menu cards to all-inclusive packages, the dedicated and experienced wedding team will help make your special day a memorable experience from planning to execution.
Owned by Emmy award-winning TV personality, actor, attorney, and serial entrepreneur Billy Dec, and named one of Chicago’s Best Restaurants by a collection of top critics and publications, Sundra is a wonderful venue for those seeking to go outside the standard wedding fare. The bright, high-energy, sophisticated setting carries over into the 2nd-floor loft-style private party rooms to accommodate weddings and receptions of 20 to 100 guests. The menu boasts Michelin-recommended, modern Asian cuisine, including creative sushi, unrivaled seafood, poultry, beef & pork entrées, salads, and noodle and rice dishes all with creative yet approachable New Asian twists.
Chicago’s blend of diverse venues, cultural vibrancy, and stunning scenery makes it a fantastic choice for hosting a wedding. Whether you’re drawn to its historic elegance, modern sophistication, or unique charm, the Windy City is sure to provide the perfect backdrop for your special day.