Congratulations, you’re engaged! As soon as you start planning your wedding, one of the first and biggest decisions you’ll have to make is about your venue: Where will the event be held? What are you looking for? What do you need to do to find Chicago wedding venues that are right for you?
A Variety of Options in the Windy City
The good news is, with so many unique Chicago wedding venues available, you have a lot of options. From botanical gardens to restaurants to lofts to museums, there are all kinds of possibilities. You might want to hold your wedding in a baseball stadium, atop a boat in Lake Michigan, at a fancy event space downtown or another spot. Give yourself time to explore the possibilities!
How to Make Your Choice
To help you narrow the potential venue choices, here are some tips on what to look for when you’re getting married in Chicago. When exploring options, you want something that will check all your boxes, in terms of:
-Big (or small) enough. You want a venue that can fit the number of people you’re planning on inviting to your special day. If you know you’re planning a 500-person wedding, you can quickly rule out any venue that can’t fit that number. Likewise, if you’re only having 25 people in an intimate reception, it probably won’t make sense to visit huge banquet halls.
-Your style. Whether you’re going for trendy chic or simple elegance, the feel of your wedding will be largely shaped by its location. Imagine your wedding colors against the carpeting in the banquet hall or the modern feel you’re after mixing with the hotel’s urban views. If it’s the right fit, you’ll know it, and if it’s not, keep looking.
-Appropriate amenities. Find a space that will accommodate your schedule of events, whether that includes a cocktail hour, a sit-down dinner, a dance hall or all of the above. Are there zones where you can hold different parts of the party? Will spaces flow naturally into one another? Think through these logistics to make sure you’ll have what you need.
-Privacy. Nobody wants someone else’s bat mitzvah or holiday party intruding on their wedding, so think through the privacy levels of your potential venue. Will the neighboring banquet hall affect your space? Could passers-by be distracting at the outdoor park?
-Lighting. Not only will the right lighting affect the ambiance and mood of your wedding, but it also will play a huge role in wedding photographs. Whether you’re planning a day wedding, an afternoon wedding or a wedding that goes well into the night, think through the potential lighting issues. Ask to see all the lights on as they would look for your evening affair, or find out what extra lighting could be added to change the mood.
-Parking. Think about parking spaces when you’re shopping venues. Will there be enough room for all your guests? Especially when you’re turning a backyard or other less-typical venue into your wedding location, parking can be an issue. You could arrange for a shuttle bus or valet parking, or there may be a nearby neighbor or other business that lets you rent spaces for the day.
-Budget. Last but not least, one of the biggest factors in selecting your wedding location is price. You could love one venue but find it is out of your price range, and then you’re back to the drawing board. Figure out what you can afford to spend before you start shopping, in order to save yourself the headaches of starting from scratch.
The bottom line is that finding the right Chicago wedding venue depends largely on your wedding needs. That’s why, before you shop locations, you’ve got to take time to think through your wedding date, guest list, style, desired amenities, etc. Then, when you explore locations, look for something that is just right for you and your soon-to-be spouse! Once you choose the perfect location, you then can find the perfect MENS and WOMENS wedding rings!