Best Wedding Venues in Chicago

Linens, china, table numbers, and personalized menu cards; add-on packages available for pre-wedding bachelor and bachelorette parties in the venue’s other entertainment spaces, such as the Game Room or Cindy’s rooftop bar

Part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Chicago Athletic Association is a former private athletic club (whose members included Olympic gold medalists and the first professional football player) dating back to 1893; since its early days the building has embodied the spirit of play in the City of Big Shoulders. The building underwent a two-year restoration before opening its doors as a boutique lifestyle hotel in 2015. Situated along Michigan Avenue and directly across from Millennium Park, CAA is centrally located: Wedding guests can make excursions on foot to The Bean or The Art Institute of Chicago—that is, if they ever want to leave the property, which boasts a number of restaurants and unique hang-out spaces. Four ballrooms exude 19th-century glamour through Venetian Gothic architecture, masculine decor and original details (think millwork, Carrara marble floors, and stained glass). The per-person price ($189-$289, subject to change) includes hors d’oeuvres, a three-course dinner, wedding cake, and premium bar service for 4-5 hours. Its stellar reviews and accolades—being named one of Chicago’s top 10 hotels by Travel + Leisure in 2018, for example—speak for themselves. The philosophy: Your venue should be as legendary as your love story. 

Dressing rooms for bride and groom, reserved indoor space as backup for inclement weather, free parking, chairs and linens included

Located just 25 miles north of downtown Chicago in Glencoe, the venue is close enough to the city that out-of-town guests can still take advantage of all Chicago has to offer—but being on the picturesque property still feels like an escape. The venue’s roots go back to 1890 with the founding of The Chicago Horticultural Society, and the current permanent location opened in the 1970s. The huge variety of spaces set this venue apart—and each is more beautiful than the next. Couples can host their ceremony in the tree-lined Rose Terrace—fragrant florals wafting in the air—cocktail hour in the adjoining Rose Garden and dinner and dancing for 230 people in the popular McGinley Pavilion overlooking a lake. For larger events of up to 500 guests, the Esplanade is an expansive space that requires a tent at an additional cost. Gourmet cuisine is provided through Chicago Botanic Garden’s exclusive caterer, Culinary Landscape; besides catering, though, there are no limitations on vendors. Weddings begin at $195 per guest (subject to change), plus space rental fees.

Account manager on-site day-of to help manage logistics, access to various museum exhibitions, lake and skyline views from outdoor terrace

It’s easy to see what makes the Field Museum a unique pick—dinosaurs stomping through the event space and gliding through the air, ancient artifacts at every turn, incredible architecture—but it’s practical as well. There is ample room for up to 1,500 seated guests, a variety of customizable spaces to host each part of your event, and a list of approved vendors to make wedding planning easier. It’s one of the most historic spaces in Chicago: First conceived around the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, the museum moved into its current building on the lake in 1921. Stanley Field Hall is the main event space, with soaring 76-foot ceilings and more than 21,000 square feet of space. Gleaming marble and columns set the scene, and an accessible second-floor balcony overlooks it all. Rental fees vary based on guest count, time needed, and other factors.

Chairs and linens included; photo op for bride and groom with the Langham’s famous pink English taxi; complimentary suite for the bride and groom for two nights; daily guest room amenity for the bride and groom

Luxury is found in the details, and it’s the details that make The Langham, Chicago shine. Edible flowers in the reception Champagne service, a martini cart rolled to the bride and groom’s rooms the night before the wedding, and a personal monogrammed gift for the couple from the hotel are just a few of the high-touch details for weddings at the luxury hotel. Opened in 2013 in a Mies van der Rohe-designed building—which gained Chicago Landmark status in 2007—the hotel boasts three venue spaces for weddings varying in size from 130-260. The largest is the nearly 5,000-square-foot Devonshire Ballroom, an exquisitely designed space that can be transformed in many configurations to accommodate both ceremony and reception. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer incredible views of the skyline and Chicago River, and contemporary chandeliers hang from 22-foot ceilings. Three tiered dinner packages ($260-$350, subject to change) are crafted by an award-winning culinary team, and optional add-ons elevate the experience: think a sushi and dim sum station during the reception, a liquid nitrogen ice cream bar late-night, or signature chocolate truffle boxes as guest favors.

Can create a unique attendee website for guests to get event updates, book rooms in the block, and more; dedicated wedding specialist for each couple; baby grand pianos available on site, lake and park views

Hilton Chicago is a massive property on South Michigan Avenue, boasting more than 234,000 square feet of event space across more than a dozen ballrooms and salons, and more than 1,500 guest rooms to house every last wedding guest. There’s enough space for all of your events, and an excellent culinary team to provide customized food and beverage packages—making it our pick for the best all-inclusive wedding venue in Chicago. The hotel originally opened in 1927 as The Stevens Hotel and was purchased by the Hilton Corporation in the 1940s. (Fun fact for film geeks: It has set the stage for movies like The Fugitive, Home Alone 2, and Road to Perdition.) For weddings, the epic Grand Ballroom drips with historic opulence, boasting eight crystal chandeliers suspended from old-world ornamentation on the ceiling, a wraparound balcony overlooking the space, and gilded details. More intimate spaces like the Waldorf Room and the 720 South Bar cater to smaller crowds—without compromising on historic, intricate architecture and decor—or offer options for rehearsals, morning-after brunches, and more. No need to book transportation between events or back home after the party ends: Couples and their guests will never have to leave the property. Tiered wedding dining packages are fully customizable and range from $160-$210 per guest (subject to change). 

Dance floor included; china, flatware, glassware, tables, and chairs included

With a history rooted in education, arts, and literature—it was founded as a gathering place for a small group of college graduates and was granted a charter by the State of Illinois in 1887—the University Club of Chicago takes the cake as one of the most historic places to get married in Chicago. To this day it remains a member-owned private club, and membership or sponsorship (meaning a current member must sponsor the couple for approval) is required to book the venue for weddings. But once you’re in, the all-inclusive options are endless. Multi-course wedding dinners are crafted by Executive Chef Rafat Alzein and served alongside wines from the club’s extensive cellars. As for vibe? Neo-Gothic architecture and decor in the opulent Cathedral Hall includes stained glass windows depicting fields of endeavor from law and science to music and literature, and the cavernous space can seat up to 300 for dinner with a dance floor. A 12th floor gallery offers unparalleled city skyline views from floor-to-ceiling Gothic windows that open onto a balcony for picturesque portraits.

Unique and stunning architecture and views; in-house catering and service staff; location nearby many hotels, shopping, and destinations

An ultra popular pick for weddings of many different styles and vibes, the versatile Café Brauer at Lincoln Park Zoo is perhaps best known for its picturesque setting, making it our pick for the best outdoor place to get married in Chicago. Covered open-air terraces, known as loggias, on the north and south sides of the Great Hall offer a sweet outdoor setting for the ceremony and cocktail hour (and heated tents included in the rental fee November through April make the spaces available year-round). Dinner and dancing takes place back indoors, but the venue’s interior is just as impressive, and its Prairie-style architecture is an ode to Chicago; brick walls and rustic accents can be played up or down with decor. Tigerlily Events is a full-service catering and event management company for the Lincoln Park Zoo, including its restaurants and venue spaces like Café Brauer; the culinary team crafts elevated and delectable dishes offered in two tiered menus ($185 to $220 per person, plus a beverage minimum of $9,500 for Saturday nights; pricing subject to change).

Off-duty police officers included in rental price to keep guests safe, bridal and groom’s rooms, dance floor included, multiple chair options, with upgrades available

Completed in 1897 as Chicago’s first central public library, the Chicago Cultural Center boasts not one but two incredible stained glass domes, one of which is the world’s largest Tiffany dome. Elements remain from the original masterful construction: Think imported marble, polished brass, mother-of-pearl details. The venue’s most well-known and popular weddings space is Preston Bradley Hall, which can seat 320 for a dinner and dancing reception. A stellar view of Millennium Park is outdone only by the interior decor, which includes 25 Tiffany glass chandeliers and graceful arches inlaid with sparkling mosaics (and requires very little additional decor). Meanwhile, the palatial GAR Hall includes a rotunda atrium, and the Sidney R. Yates Gallery—which occupies nearly half city block—can be reserved for larger events of up to 420 seated guests. The venue is owned and managed by Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and is the perfect way to incorporate a bit of Chicago history into your epic love story. Weekend rentals range from $12,000 to $15,000 (subject to change).