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You're in love and want to get married in the city... so what do you do first? Make a reservation for a venue, of course! It's for real (this time) and you want to show your families you've got it under control — so get a great venue. A building with substantial architecture, somewhere accessible, and a vibe that can be tailored to your personality. After the jump, we've gathered nine of the greatest venues in the city for you to have your wedding.
Set in the oasis between The Lincoln Park Zoo and LSD, architect Jeanne Gang has created an pavilion of undulating wood, perfectly framing the Loop's skyline from the north. This is one of the most beautiful spots in the city to have a ceremony--it's close enough to the busier parts of the city, so it's accessible for older people and easy to find. It's also somewhat of a new cultural landmark. After the wedding, a great spot to have the reception is Cafe Brauer on the other side of the pond.
The Garfield Park Conservatory is a little far West, though has parking nearby. We've been here for Sunday afternoon sculpture walks and countless late night fashion shows, so take it from us; this venue looks great in every light and is very versatile.
One part Frankenstein's junk drawer; one part romantic imaginarium, Salvage One is an amazing spot for a wedding reception. Located in somewhat of an industrial district on West Hubbard, the trip here is an adventure. Once inside the building you can explore countless oddities, a garden, a second floor and it's pet friendly.
The Loft on Lake is pretty much a raw space, so if you're pulling off a theme wedding or have a very specific look that needs to be created with minimal distractions, The Loft on Lake is the place. What makes this place great though are the amenities. Among some of the perks are a great kitchen, photography service, fitting room, AV equipment rental and high-speed wi-fi.
If you want a clean cut package, Venue One is the spot. The venue is usually used for small trade shows (like The Makeup Show) and corporate events, meaning that the 'package deal' is where it's at. Sure, you won't get to choose all the frills that may be available at other venues that specialize in Weddings, but at least you won't have to think about (or pay for) those details.
The City of Chicago has some pretty special places, but The Cultural Center is at the top of our list. The historic structure's galleries and offices are smack dab in the middle of downtown on Michigan Ave at Randolph and Washington. The venue's features include rare imported marbles, polished brass, fine hardwoods, and mosaics of Favrile glass, mother-of-pearl and colored stone, and two 38-foot Tiffany stained glass domes.
The recent addition to The Art Institute of Chicago by Renzo Piano is a clean white, modern, bright, lofty structure that connects the museum to Millennium Park. Great for cool city dwelling couples who want their guests to know that they're cool city dwellers who dropped bank on their wedding venue.
There are countless venues in Chicago for beautiful weddings. The Field Museum is ups the ante of beautiful wedding venue to spectacular. It's a historical hall on the Museum Campus in the South Loop filled with relics like woolly mammoth statures, and occasional appearances of human cadavers and ancient Egyptian mummies like Tutankhamen. The price tag on this venue is high so make sure the love has longevity.
A bit further South on Lakeshore Drive near Hyde Park, the beautiful beachfront property of The South Shore Cultural Center commands the attention of the lake and distant skyline. Couples who get hitched here in the Solarium, (Matt & Mindy pictured) are more relaxed but still love the old early 1900s beauty our city is known for. The space, garden bordered by Japanse Pagodas and a double driveway and adjacent golf course are maintained by The Chicago Park District.
Set in the oasis between The Lincoln Park Zoo and LSD, architect Jeanne Gang has created an pavilion of undulating wood, perfectly framing the Loop's skyline from the north. This is one of the most beautiful spots in the city to have a ceremony--it's close enough to the busier parts of the city, so it's accessible for older people and easy to find. It's also somewhat of a new cultural landmark. After the wedding, a great spot to have the reception is Cafe Brauer on the other side of the pond.
The Garfield Park Conservatory is a little far West, though has parking nearby. We've been here for Sunday afternoon sculpture walks and countless late night fashion shows, so take it from us; this venue looks great in every light and is very versatile.
One part Frankenstein's junk drawer; one part romantic imaginarium, Salvage One is an amazing spot for a wedding reception. Located in somewhat of an industrial district on West Hubbard, the trip here is an adventure. Once inside the building you can explore countless oddities, a garden, a second floor and it's pet friendly.
The Loft on Lake is pretty much a raw space, so if you're pulling off a theme wedding or have a very specific look that needs to be created with minimal distractions, The Loft on Lake is the place. What makes this place great though are the amenities. Among some of the perks are a great kitchen, photography service, fitting room, AV equipment rental and high-speed wi-fi.
If you want a clean cut package, Venue One is the spot. The venue is usually used for small trade shows (like The Makeup Show) and corporate events, meaning that the 'package deal' is where it's at. Sure, you won't get to choose all the frills that may be available at other venues that specialize in Weddings, but at least you won't have to think about (or pay for) those details.
The City of Chicago has some pretty special places, but The Cultural Center is at the top of our list. The historic structure's galleries and offices are smack dab in the middle of downtown on Michigan Ave at Randolph and Washington. The venue's features include rare imported marbles, polished brass, fine hardwoods, and mosaics of Favrile glass, mother-of-pearl and colored stone, and two 38-foot Tiffany stained glass domes.
The recent addition to The Art Institute of Chicago by Renzo Piano is a clean white, modern, bright, lofty structure that connects the museum to Millennium Park. Great for cool city dwelling couples who want their guests to know that they're cool city dwellers who dropped bank on their wedding venue.
There are countless venues in Chicago for beautiful weddings. The Field Museum is ups the ante of beautiful wedding venue to spectacular. It's a historical hall on the Museum Campus in the South Loop filled with relics like woolly mammoth statures, and occasional appearances of human cadavers and ancient Egyptian mummies like Tutankhamen. The price tag on this venue is high so make sure the love has longevity.
A bit further South on Lakeshore Drive near Hyde Park, the beautiful beachfront property of The South Shore Cultural Center commands the attention of the lake and distant skyline. Couples who get hitched here in the Solarium, (Matt & Mindy pictured) are more relaxed but still love the old early 1900s beauty our city is known for. The space, garden bordered by Japanse Pagodas and a double driveway and adjacent golf course are maintained by The Chicago Park District.
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