There are very few rules when it comes to getting married, despite what the internet might tell you. You can throw a black tie dinner for 200 people, rent out your favorite neighborhood bar, or have fried chicken at Parson's with 50 of your favorite people. The best venue isn't necessarily the most expensive or the most popular, it's the one that makes you excited to celebrate there. Hopefully this guide introduces you to a few places you didn't even know were options.

50 guests

Traditional

  • North Pond

  • The Cloister at Sea Hall

  • Salvage One

  • The Ivy Room

  • Firehouse Chicago

  • Chicago Athletic Association Drawing Room

  • Colvin House

  • The Driehaus Museum library rooms

Backyard Energy

  • The Joinery

  • RM Champagne Salon

  • Lincoln Park Conservatory

  • Homestead on the Roof

  • The Dawson patio buyout

  • SPACE Evanston

  • Middle Brow

  • Elske Courtyard

  • Little Roadside Overnight Cabins

Restaurant/ Bars

  • Obélix

  • Rose Mary

  • Lula Cafe

  • Gather

  • Trivoli Tavern

  • The Duck Inn

  • Sepia

  • Miru

  • Tre Dita

  • Maxwell's Trading

  • Bixi Beer

Wait, you can get married there?

  • Chicago Magic Lounge

  • Music Box Theatre

  • Architecture boat charter

  • Big Mini Putt Club

  • The Hand & The Eye

  • International Museum of Surgical Science

  • Big Star patio

  • The Pearl Club

  • Chicago Mosaic School

100 guests

Traditional

  • Café Brauer

  • Theater on the Lake

  • The Rookery

  • Galleria Marchetti

  • Salvage One

  • Artifact Events

  • Stan Mansion

  • Bridgeport Art Center Sculpture Garden

  • Ovation Chicago rooftop

Backyard Energy

  • The Arbory

  • The Roof Crop

  • Lytle House

  • The Wildman BT

  • Catalyst Ranch

  • Homestead on the Roof

  • The Wellsley

  • Firehouse Chicago

  • Loft Lucia

  • Lacuna Lofts rooftop

Restaurant/ Bars

  • Parson's Chicken & Fish

  • Pizza Lobo

  • Fioretta

  • Cabra

  • Untitled Supper Club

  • Piece Brewery

  • Pilot Project

  • Metropolitan Brewing

  • The Publican

  • Bar Avec

  • Café Ba-Ba-Reeba patio

  • Beatnik on the River

Wait, you can get married there?

  • Thalia Hall

  • Sleeping Village

  • Hideout

  • Soho House Screening Room

  • Punch Bowl Social

  • Emporium

  • Chicago Magic Lounge

  • Chicago Symphony Center Buntrock Hall

  • The Den Theatre

  • Diversey River Bowl

  • Rockwell on the River boat dock

  • Kingston Mies

200 guests

Traditional

  • Theater on the Lake

  • Galleria Marchetti

  • Artifact Events

  • Morgan Manufacturing

  • Stan Mansion

  • The Rookery

  • Chicago Illuminating Company

  • Salvage One

  • Chicago Athletic Association

  • Union League Club

  • Chicago Botanic Garden

Backyard Energy

  • Independence Grove

  • Danada House

  • Orchard Ridge Farms Pavilion

  • The Arbory

  • Goose Island Barrel House

  • Bridgeport Art Center Skyline Loft

  • Elawa Farm

  • Morton Arboretum's Meadow Lake

  • Camp Wandawega

  • The Grove Redfield Estate

Restaurant/ Bars

  • Untitled Supper Club

  • RPM Events

  • Fioretta

  • Gibsons Italia

  • Roanoke

  • Bar Siena

  • Goose Island Barrel House

  • River Roast

  • Chicago Athletic Association

Wait, you can get married there?

  • Salt Shed

  • Offshore Rooftop

  • Avondale Bowl

  • Field Museum private rooms

  • Architecture boat buyout

  • Chicago Sports Museum

  • Aster Hall buyout

  • The Dock at Montrose Beach

  • Wildman BT warehouse

  • Chicago Maritime Museum

Lo’s Favorites

For People Who Hate Weddings

  • Parson's Chicken and Fish

  • Pizza Lobo

  • Piece

  • Middle Brow

  • Pilot Project

  • Big Star

  • Hideout

  • The Dock at Montrose Beach

  • Little Roadside

Feels like Europe

  • Obélix

  • Le Bouchon

  • Trivoli Tavern

  • Piccolo Sogno

  • RM Champagne Salon

  • Café Brauer

I Want Everyone To Ask How We Found This

  • The Hand & The Eye

  • Architecture boat buyout

  • Music Box Theatre

  • Chicago Magic Lounge

  • International Museum of Surgical Science

  • Sleeping Village

  • Hideout

  • Punch Bowl Social

Absolutely Unhinged (in the best way)

  • The Wiener Circle after-hours buyout

  • Green Mill

  • A Water Taxi wedding

  • A Red Line bar crawl wedding

  • Montrose Beach + Dock restaurant

  • A Sox game suite

  • Galloping Ghost Arcade

  • The Empty Bottle

  • WhirlyBall

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You got this! Obviously, I would love to hear from you if you are interested in photo coverage. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you are looking for more advice or other vendor recommendations!