Chicago is jam-packed with incredible wedding venues. It’s got classic ballrooms, beautiful gardens, sprawling zoos, architectural wonders, and everything in between. So when it comes to Chicago wedding venues, the fundamental question is:
Are you looking for an indoor wedding or an outdoor wedding?
Chicago’s got it all — but both indoor and outdoor weddings go hand-in-hand with their own pros and cons. That’s why we’ve put together this guide.
Here at Eventbrite, we spend 24/7 supporting a vibrant community of event creators all over the Chicago tri-state area. Translation: We know all the best spots, and are happy to fill you in.
Read on for the rundown on why Chicago, IL is an amazing wedding spot, the pros and cons of indoor vs. outdoor weddings, and look at the Windy City’s best indoor and outdoor wedding venues.
What makes Chicago a great place to get married?
Chicago, the ideal wedding destination, offers an array of diverse venues to suit every couple’s preferences.
From historic mansions to trendy rooftop bars, botanic gardens to charming churches, the city provides a bustling backdrop for any dream wedding. Its vibrant neighborhoods, including Lincoln Park, Logan Square, and the Loop, add a unique flair to the experience.
With an abundance of vendors, from Michelin Star chefs to quirky florists, and convenient travel links through two major airports plus Amtrak, Chicago grants couples the freedom to choose from downtown or suburban venues.
Explore more of what this city has to offer in our comprehensive city guide.
Now to the question in point.
Indoor vs. outdoor venues: which is right for you?
Chicago wedding venues are some of the most vibrant and unique in the world. But before you settle on the ideal location for your clients, you’re going to have to make a fundamental decision: do you book an indoor venue or an outdoor venue?
To make that call, you’ve got to bear in mind a few key considerations. Let’s take a look.
Outdoor weddings in Chicago
There’s nothing better than watching two people in love exchange their vows in the great outdoors — and Chicago has plenty of one-of-a-kind outdoor wedding venues that will wow your guests.
If you’re not sure where to begin your search for an outdoor venue, the best neighborhoods to explore are:
- The South Loop
- Lincoln Park
- Lakeview
- River North
But there are a few points to consider before booking an outdoor wedding venue. The biggest consideration is the weather.
Chicago isn’t called the “Windy City” for nothing. In the winters, the gale-force winds that blow in from Lake Michigan are bracing (and often overwhelming). Chicago is a city with cold winter seasons and relatively hot summer days. But the springs, summers, and autumns do give you a lot of mild, sunny days that wedding planners thrive on.
You’ve just got to make sure to get the timing right.
Next, there’s space. Outdoor venues tend to offer a lot more flexibility in terms of space and seating. After all, you can seat a lot more people in a city park than you can in a cozy Italian restaurant downtown, right?
Therefore, outdoor wedding venues are generally better if you’re planning a big wedding.
You also need to consider planning and permits. Some outdoor venues don’t have the permits to serve alcohol, and downtown venues are restricted in terms of amplified sound late at night.
Then, there are decorations. When you’re planning an outdoor wedding, mother nature is the guest of honor. That saves wedding planners loads of time worrying about dressing up a blank canvas and spending money to spice up the decor of an empty banquet hall.
Instead of spending hundreds on decorations, you might just want to add some simple bunting or strings of lights to add your own flavor to your outdoor venue. This gives the couple a chance to put their stamp on a venue without detracting from the stunning scenery.
Pro tip: If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, but you’re worried about seasonal weather, make sure to ask venue managers about indoor contingencies. Outdoor venues are used to hosting venues in all kinds of weather — and so your venue of choice will probably have at least one backup plan built into its hospitality packages.
Outdoor venues can be less rigid in both rules and price. But a huge element of your venue cost will center on price. Check out our guide for pro tips on how to choose the right location for your next wedding.
Indoor weddings in Chicago
Not everyone is an outdoor person — and so the couple you’re working with might naturally be better suited to an indoor wedding venue.
The best neighborhoods for indoor weddings in Chicago are:
- The Magnificent Mile
- Oak Park
- North Shore
But if you’re really serious about keeping things inside, there are other considerations at play here beyond bugs and pedestrians.
First of all, with indoor weddings, you get control. You’re not planning your event around the weather forecast. Instead, you get to put on a wedding at any time of year without having to worry about the wind chill or rain clouds.
Just like outdoor venues, there’s also a matter of how much space you need to accommodate your guests. As we’ve already pointed out, outdoor venues typically have more capacity. That means indoor venues will typically put a smaller cap on your guest list. But if your couple wants a more intimate ceremony anyway, that could actually be a good thing.
Next, there’s the matter of venue amenities. If you book a secluded garden outside of town, you’re probably not going to have access to kitchens for caterers, bathrooms, drinks, or any frivolities.
But a lot of indoor venues in Chicago are all-inclusive. By booking the venue, you’re also getting catering and drinks. That can save you and your clients a decent chunk of money in the long run.
Finally, there’s the decor. Unlike choosing a venue with natural beauty, you may end up having to spend time and money dressing up a white-walled event space with little character. That being said, there are plenty of indoor wedding venues in Chicago that are so quirky you don’t have to put up any bunting to make them look special.
Pro tip: Indoor weddings generally mean less space for guests, so you’ll need to manage expectations and make some tough choices about who to invite.
To get the best of both worlds, it’s worth pitching the idea of day guests and evening guests. This enables the couple of the hour to share their big day with their closest loved ones at an intimate ceremony, but then the venue can be rearranged for a busy cocktail reception with hundreds of evening-only guests.
Although indoor weddings can be less stressful, they can also be more expensive. To get an idea of what to budget for, take a look at our guide to venue costs.
What are the best indoor Chicago wedding venues?
Now that we’ve discussed what you should look for in an indoor wedding venue, let’s dive into some of the best indoor Chicago wedding venues.
It’s important to note this list is not exhaustive. There are plenty of unique indoor wedding venues in Chicago worth checking out. But these are three of our all-time favorites, and we’ll explain why.
Best grand ballroom venue: The Old Post Office
If you’re dealing with a bride or groom who’s into The Great Gatsby and the roaring twenties, your first post of call should be to try to book The Old Post Office.
The Old Post Office makes our list because it’s a classic Chicago landmark that will add a big dollop of elegance to your big day. Based on Van Buren Street in the heart of downtown, The Old Post Office is a 1920s art deco masterpiece.
The Chicago landmark has a lobby that can seat up to 700 guests with a dance floor or 1,400 guests for a cocktail-style reception. But it’s also got a number of charming side rooms and additional spaces for more secluded events.
Trust us: if the happy couple wants a fairytale ball in downtown Chicago, The Old Post Office is the place to be.
Biggest “wow” factor indoor venue: The Garfield Park Conservatory
If your clients have a green thumb but are too afraid to gamble on Chicago weather, take a look at The Garfield Park Conservatory.
Settled on the north end of Garfield (James) Park, the conservatory is a plant enthusiast’s dream come true. It’s teeming with stunning flowers and one-of-a-kind plant life, making it a unique oasis in an otherwise built-up urban area.
Its lush Horticulture Hall can seat up to 300 guests. But there’s a range of spaces to choose from and rent out for a wedding — including the entire, sprawling conservatory.
Although The Garfield Park Conservatory does have a few rules and limitations, they allow you to bring your own (BYO) alcohol, with a corkage fee. That gives you a bit of flexibility to work with a drinks vendor to create a unique vibe and theme to match the couple’s wish list.
Looking for a way to connect with new vendors and extend your network?
Check out Eventbrite’s extensive online community of event creators. It’s also worth looking at the wide range of upcoming online networking events designed specifically for professionals working in the wedding industry.
Most unique indoor venue: The Adler Planetarium
If your couple is looking for a wedding spot that’s out of this world, your best bet is The Adler Planetarium.
Based on the northeastern tip of Northerly Island, the planetarium offers beachfront access and stunning views across Lake Michigan. But unlike other lakefront venues, The Adler Planetarium has an incredible indoor space to work with.
This is definitely a spot for bigger wedding ceremonies or receptions, with a capacity of up to 1,200 people.
Catering at the planetarium is inclusive, and the team is very flexible in working with couples and event planners to create a meal that perfectly matches the wedding.
The Adler Planetarium is an absolute Chicago landmark and a piece of the city’s fabric. It was America’s first-ever planetarium, and it’s a quintessential part of the city’s skyline. Think about it: Who wouldn’t want to get married under the stars?
What are the best outdoor Chicago wedding venues?
Indoor weddings offer planners more control and fewer variables to contend with. But there’s just something about outdoor events that enchants guests.
Getting married outside adds a whole new spiritual element to the ceremony that you simply won’t find elsewhere. To help you start your search for outdoor Chicago wedding venues, we’ve handpicked three of our favorites.
Here’s why we love them so much.
Most beautiful outdoor venue: Chicago Botanic Garden
The name says it all.
The Chicago Botanic Garden is everything you could want in an outdoor wedding: beautiful, tranquil, photogenic — but with a weather-proof indoor backup option.
The garden provides a fantastic downtown location with easy access for city residents and those traveling into Chicago from across the country. But where it really shines is in its scenery. This space features more than 2.8 million living plants across 385 acres.
Translation: this is one of the most beautiful wedding venues you’ll find in Chicagoland.
If you want to go for the Chicago Botanic Garden, be aware that you can book it from May up until the middle of October. It’s got a capacity of 275.
Most flexible outdoor venue: The Lincoln Park Zoo
Getting married at the zoo is pretty wild — but it’s also flexible and convenient. The Lincoln Park Zoo is another Chicago hallmark, and it’s got a range of outdoor spaces for your couple’s ceremony and wedding reception.
Choose from up to 15 different spots (including the entire zoo if you’re planning a major event), including the ape house, reptile house, main mall, south lawn, covered pavilions, and more.
The option to dine al fresco is the main appeal of this venue. But your couple can also utilize the zoo’s historic Chicago landmark: Café Brauer. Built in 1900, this iconic patio restaurant is an architectural marvel.
By choosing The Lincoln Park Zoo, you’re also getting a great location. It’s at a convenient waterfront spot just north of the Old Town, with great travel links.
Most photogenic outdoor venue: Promontory Point
If the couple you’re working with are social media influencers or are simply looking for an Instagram-worthy spot that looks epic, you want to book Promontory Point.
Home to Chicago’s second World’s Fair, Promontory Point is a historical icon that offers beachfront dining and some of the most breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline.
As an outdoor venue, it’s important to remember that it’s a seasonal spot. It can only accommodate weddings between May and October. But its stunning open-air verandas are totally worth the wait. Guests can watch the couple exchange vows on the banks of Lake Michigan before dancing the night away, watching the twinkling lights of the Chicago skyline.
If you do go for Promontory Point, it’s also important to know that you must use the venue’s preferred caterer. Apart from that, it’s a pretty flexible venue that allows your couple to put whatever stamp they’d like on the space.
Ready to lock down the perfect Chicago wedding venue and start planning?
Chi-Town is the perfect place for any wedding. But there are a lot of unique wedding venues in Chicago, so you need to know whether your couple is looking for an indoor or outdoor venue.
Each event type has its own pros and cons. But no matter your choice, you simply can’t go wrong in Chicago.
Ready to get to planning the perfect Chicago wedding? Start your search on Eventbrite.
Our sprawling community will let you connect with fellow event creators, venue managers, and networks to find the perfect venue for your couple and plan a day to remember.
