VENUE GUIDE

chicago wedding venues


We’ve put together this helpful list of the best Chicago Wedding Venues. On each page you’ll find important venue details, including contact information, plus our favorite things about each space. As a bonus, look for our secret “Pro Tip” at the bottom of the grey box.

If you don’t see a venue on the list, feel free to reach out with your questions. After nearly 200 weddings as a Chicago Wedding Photographer. there’s a good chance I’ve worked there and would be happy to share my thoughts and advice.

I’m a total sucker for loft spaces, so if you’re into brick & timber, definitely check out this list of the best Chicago Loft Wedding Venues. With some of the best architecture in the world, make sure you don’t miss the Historic and Classic Chicago Wedding Venues. And if you’re looking for Outdoor Chicago Wedding Locations, we’ve got you covered. And if none of those sound just right, consider one of these Modern Chicago Wedding Venues.

Can’t imagine getting married without your pup by your side? Here’s a round up of our favorite Dog-Friendly Wedding Venues in Chicago.

Bridgeport Art Center Wedding

1200 W 35th St, Chicago, IL 60609(773) 247-3000
Comprised of both the Skyline Loft and the outdoor Sculpture Garden, Bridgeport Art Center is actually two unique amazing industrial loft wedding venues in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. You’ll find the Skyline Loft on the top floor of this historic 1911 building. With panoramic views of the Chicago skyline and an incredible 120ft sky light that runs the length of the space, it’s one of the most dramatic loft style wedding venues in Chicago.
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Cafe Brauer Wedding

2021 N Stockton Dr, Chicago, IL 60614(773) 571-0404
Cafe Brauer, located in Lincoln Park, is a historic Prairie School-style landmark with dramatic Grand Hall and outdoor patio options overlooking South Pond. Cafe Brauer is one of Chicago’s most historic wedding venues. With its stained glass windows, Tiffany-inspired glass chandeliers and souring ceiling heights, the second floor Great Hall is the centerpiece of the venue.
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City View Loft Wedding

324 N Leavitt St #200, Chicago, IL 60612(312) 600-8439
City View Loft, located in the West Town neighborhood, is a classic Chicago-style brick and timber loft space along with a dramatic ceremony space, also known as Kitchen Chicago. With 13 foot timber ceilings and picturesque skyline views, City View Loft earns its name from the wall of windows showcasing a skyline view that stretches from Hancock Center to Sears (Willis) Tower and everything in between.
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Bride and Groom pose for wedding portrait on top of the Drake Hotel Roof with the Chicago Skyline in the background at dusk

The Drake Hotel Wedding

140 E Walton Pl, Chicago, IL 60611(312) 787-2200
The Drake Hotel, located in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast, is a 1920 landmark building with multiple event spaces for luxury Chicago weddings. The Drake Hotel is one of Chicago’s most iconic wedding venues. Overlooking Oak Street Beach where the Magnificent Mile begins, the space is perfect for couples planning large-scale productions with hundreds of guests or smaller ceremonies with close friends and family.
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Loft on Lake Wedding

1366 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607(312) 738-2437
Loft on Lake, located in the West Loop, is a quintessential Chicago-style loft with a bow truss wood beam ceiling and a massive 65-foot arched skylight. Loft on Lake also features exposed ductwork, brick walls, 20-foot ceiling heights and a beautiful copper-colored concrete floor. The open-concept floor plan can be set up in a variety of configurations for wedding ceremonies and receptions between 100 and 150 guests, with no posts or beams to obstruct anyone’s view.
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Lyric Opera House Wedding

20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606(312) 827-3523
Lyric Opera House, located in the Civic Opera Building, is one of Chicago’s most dramatic wedding venues with historic architecture and stunning high ceilings in the grand foyer. With the second largest opera auditorium in North America, Lyric Opera House offers one of the largest spaces for weddings in the city with banquet seating for up to 350 people on the stage of the Ardis Krainik Theatre. The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer offers seating for up to 200 guests and standing room for more than 500 people.
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Ravenswood Event Center Wedding

4021 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60613(773) 388-2170
Ravenswood Event Center is a former billboard factory and warehouse turned loft-style event space, with huge open showroom on the ground floor and jaw-dropping top floor Atrium. The top floor Atrium at Ravenswood Event Center features huge glass windows along the east and west facing walls. An arching wood ceiling with exposed steel trusses defines the space, rising to more than 30 feet at its tallest point. The Atrium can seat up to 200 for ceremonies, 100 for seated dinners and more than 150 for cocktail receptions.
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Bride and groom pose for portrait on the historic spiral staircase at the Rookery Building in downtown Chicago

The Rookery Building Wedding

209 S LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60604(312) 374-8215
The Rookery Building, an historic landmark in the heart of Chicago’s financial district, boasts the most famous wrought iron staircase in the city and a glass ceiling lobby redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright. Built in 1888, The Rookery Building was one of the first “skyscrapers” constructed in Chicago. It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1975. The central Light Court lobby transports you back in time with a grand elegance and has remained beautifully maintained.
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Room 1520 Wedding

1520 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607(312) 952-1520
Room 1520, located in the West Loop, is a modern urban loft style wedding venue with minimalistic white finishes and open floor plan. With its chic, yet industrial vibe, Room 1520 is a bit different than many of Chicago’s other loft style wedding venues. Featuring a clean white interior with Italian chandeliers the space creates a romantic atmosphere. The open floor plan is capable of accommodating up to 150 for seated dinner with room for a dance floor and cocktail area.
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