Help Finding the Perfect Chicago Wedding Venue
If you are planning a Chicago wedding you should definitely check out ChicagoWeddingVenues.com.
The site was put together by some extremely talented Chicago wedding photographers to showcase different wedding venues around the Chicago area and they have done a fantastic job.
Finding the perfect venue to host your wedding can be a daunting task however this website has made that job a lot easier. Instead of spending countless hours driving from venue to venue in Chicago traffic you can now sit at the comfort of your desk and narrow your search down to a few venues that best match the atmosphere you are looking for.
In order to make your venue search as simple as possible the site has the venues broken down by area and type of venue and has some fantastic photos of each one of the venues.
They have not been able to post every single one of the thousands of wedding venues around the Chicago area yet but they are hard at work and updating it frequently.
One Stop Shop Your Wedding!
One stop shop your Wedding!
Your wedding day on average will consume over one thousand hours of time (yes that searching on the Knot does count) and you will spend more money than you will ever care to admit. Here is a little secret that will save you time and money…have your ceremony and reception at the same location!
It’s convenient!
Whether your friends and family are driving 1 mile or 500 miles to attend you big day, getting to the ceremony on time and then to the reception always seems to be feat. It never hurts when the timeline of your wedding flows seamlessly and there are no cars, buses, planes or trains in between. We are spoiled in Chicagoland with innovative reception sites who adapt to the ever changing trends of weddings. Many venues boast of gorgeous gardens, altars with golf course views, and unique indoor spaces as well. You don’t have to sacrifice the most important part of the day (yes Ladies that is the ceremony) by having it at the same location as your reception. Bottom line…your guests will thank you.
One Coordinator, One Timeline= One happy bride
Those of us who had two locations for our ceremony and reception will agree you feel like you are planning two separate events. It will save you so much time to coordinate both together. When working with a reception/ceremony venue you will most often be assigned to one coordinator. The best part about that is you have someone else doing it all for you! Your on-site contact will be familiar with both the ceremony and reception and can help you create timeline that works perfectly. One of the best things for my clients is the flexibility and adaptability to the unexpected changes that can occur. If a ceremony goes longer or shorter we are in constant contact with the kitchen and bar so that the minute the guests exit the wedding or walk in the reception hall doors the hors d’ oeuvres are being passed and the bar is open!
It is budget friendly!
Most venues do charge for having your ceremony at their location. Their prices are probably not any more or less than you might pay at a church or other rented ceremony site. The saving is mainly in the areas of music, florals, rentals, and transportation. If you are having a DJ reception often they can come an hour early and do your ceremony for a nominal fee. Your florist will not have to set up at two locations often helping out your bottom line. Even better, all of your ceremony pieces can easily double to your reception. Recently a bride of mine had a beautiful indoor ceremony with tall vases going down her aisle. Ironically there were 12 tall vases with floral and a floating candle and she had 12 guest tables…perfect use of her budget! If you are planning on covering your reception chairs or renting Chivaris, some sites will even let you utilize the same chairs for your ceremony as well. Talk about getting more bang for your buck, it is well worth your money and it adds elegance to your ceremony as well. Finally, without having to coordinate transportation for the bridal party, family, and your guests you stand to save over a thousand dollars if not more. You can easily get dropped off by a family member prior to the ceremony and do not have to worry about going home until the DJ plays the last song. This allows you to enjoy every moment of your day and save a mountain of pennies in the mean time.
A few final tips when planning your ceremony & reception at the same venue
- Ask about your venue’s rain plan if you are considering an outdoor ceremony
- If the site is outside or in another area make sure it is handicap accessible for all of your guests
- Make sure you meet personally with the coordinator at the venue
- Always ask about hidden fees (set up, delivery, tax, and service just to name a few!)
- Ask about rehearsal conditions and set up time restrictions
- Make sure there is adequate parking close to or near the ceremony/reception location
- Ask your venue about vendors they like to work with. When orchestrating change over, and movement from a ceremony to a reception it always helps when they know each other and feel comfortable working together. Best part…often these vendors give great prices to clients of the venue and will take care of most of the behind the scenes coordinating without you even knowing about it!
Written by Kristina Nemetz, Catering Manager at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, IL
www.arrowheadgolfclub.org
-
By Kristina Nemetz, Catering Manager at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, IL
-
Your wedding day on average will consume over one thousand hours of time (yes that searching on the Knot does count) and you will spend more money than you will ever care to admit. Here is a little secret that will save you time and money…have your ceremony and reception at the same location! Read more
How To Select a Chicago Wedding Reception Site
By Director of Catering Sales
Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza
Planning the wedding reception usually takes several months to over a year for some couples. Starting the process can be overwhelming as there are so many options to choose from. Do we have our reception in a banquet hall, a hotel, a historic landmark? Do we hire a catering company or does the venue include everything? The options are almost endless. However, every couple should have a budget and there are many creative ways to stay within your budget and still have the most beautiful wedding day!
Selecting Your Reception Venue
SELECTING YOUR RECEPTION VENUE:
Ten Considerations to Picking Your Venue
by Patti Herioux
With Love, Event Planner
You took careful consideration when selecting your beloved, now it’s time to take careful consideration when selecting your wedding venue! This venue sets the stage for all pieces of your wedding reception and will be one of the most crucial
decisions you make. Read bridal magazines (Chicago Style Weddings has a great venue section), surf the web, and pay attention to the weddings you attend to get started in your quest to find the perfect setting for your big day. Select a few locations and schedule visits armed with this list of your top ten considerations to making your decision.
#1 First Impression
It’s true, you only get one chance to make a first impression! As you arrive at your prospective venue employ your senses. What do you see as you drive up?
Are the lawns and gardens well maintained? How is the lighting? Are there sidewalks (think about your guests in formal attire and high heels)? Once you are inside of the space what feeling is provoked? I have walked into venues that reminded me of my Grandma’s house… or worse, smelled like a locker room and stale cigarettes. Take in all of these things, what you see… and smell and hear… are what you will get on your wedding day, from the parking lot to the bathrooms.
#2 Color Scheme
When you tour reception venues, you are likely to see the blank canvas. An empty hall can leave much to your imagination and envisioning can be a struggle for many brides and grooms. How will your things look in this room all set up?
Look at what you can absolutely bet on… like draperies and carpet… do the color schemes enhance the colors you have selected for your day? Will your exquisite emerald green bridesmaid dresses look pleasing against pepto pink colored walls? And yes, that pink hall does exist, I’ve been there before!
#3 Natural Environment
We’ve already taken into consideration what the lawns and gardens look like, and hopefully they are up to par. Now take a look at what you see from the room. Are there windows? If yes, what do these windows overlook? Do you have access to usable outdoor space? When will it get dark? Video montages and dancing are most popular when done after the sun goes down… with lots of windows on a sunny summer day that could be well into your party.
#4 How Many Events Run at Once
This is YOUR once in a lifetime day, consider who you want to spend it with. That vision probably doesn’t include another bride. Many venues, such as hotels, can run multiple events at once. I have worked in locations that have been running up to seven weddings at one time! If your potential venue runs more than one wedding, that doesn’t mean it has to be ruled out and it may not even matter to you. If it is a concern, consider how close the event rooms are to each other and if all event guests will be entering from the same area. Does this affect your concerns with strays walking into your wedding or wedding crashers?
#5 Is the Space Large Enough AND Small Enough
Most couples are concerned if the space will be large enough to accommodate their guests. As an event planner my concern is not only if the space will be comfortable for the guests and meal service logistics, but will it also be small enough to make the party look full and robust? You don’t want sardines, but you don’t want peas rolling around in a tin can either. My goal is usually to be
within 50 people of the room’s maximum.
#6 Is There a Logical Place for Everything
Once you have the venue picked out you will have a number of things to fill the space with. While walking through a potential venue try to envision where you think each piece of the day will go – place card table, gift table, DJ or band set-up (more space if you will have lighting), dance-floor, guest tables, head table,
cake table, buffet tables, late night snack table, sweets table, photo booth… whatever your personal needs are. Not only is there enough space, but also is the space conducive to the logical flow of a party?
#7 Staffing
Food and beverage will take up the bulk of your budget, so spend it wisely. The staff at your venue will be the point of contact for your guest. You want a beautiful venue, but also a top-notch service staff. Questions you’ll want to
ask are how many tables does each server have (2-3 is a good number)? Is there a banquet captain? What does the wait staff wear? How many bartenders will be on staff (1 per 100 guests is standard)? How many valet staff will be available? Is there staff for a coat check?
#8 Is It in Budget
As we established, food and beverage is the bulk of what you will spend your money on. Be realistic in the consideration of what you can afford. There is much more to factor into your bottom line price than what is presented on the menu. Start by thinking about what you want to serve… chicken is obviously less expensive than surf-and-turf. Have an idea of your meal selection BEFORE you sign a contract, or I can pretty much guarantee you will blow your budget.
Make your preliminary selections, consider any upgrades and add-ons (extra hour of bar, chocolate fountain, late-night buffet…), factor in ALL of these things. Once that is done multiple that by your number of expected guest, then multiple that by your service charge (estimated 18-23%) and your sales tax. Yes, they tax the service charge. That is your true bottom line cost, don’t get shell shocked in the end when you are handed a bill that is over 30% higher than what you expected.
#9 How is the Food
This one is a bit tougher to tell because you won’t do a tasting until after you have signed the contract. You will have to depend on reviews (most wedding websites have them) and word of mouth. Going with a chain venue is usually a safe bet because there are certain quality control standards. If you are going to a stand-alone venue or using a smaller catering company, make sure you do thorough investigation prior to signing a contract!
#10 Guest Convenience
Your guests will likely travel from far and wide, I’ve even had a wedding that had representation from 31 countries; consider them in your decision. Is the event space convenient for them? Is it easy to find? Is it clearly marked? Is there a hotel close by that will give you a good group rate? Does that hotel have shuttle service? Since your guests are happy to give their time and travels to
celebrating your big day with you, give them equal consideration!
That is quite a list to consider, but you will be happy you did! Remember to bring your camera to take pictures of the venues that meet your standards for review later on. If a potential venue meets all your specifics, take a moment to consider your emotions, can you imagine yourself celebrating your wedding day in this space? If the answer is yes, congratulations, you’ve found your venue!
Ten Things to Consider When Picking Your Venue
by Patti Herioux
With Love, Event Planner
-
You took careful consideration when selecting your beloved, now it’s time to take careful consideration when selecting your wedding venue! This venue sets the stage for all pieces of your wedding reception and will be one of the most crucial decisions you make. Read bridal magazines (Chicago Style Weddings has a great venue section), surf the web, and pay attention to the weddings you attend to get started in your quest to find the perfect setting for your big day. Select a few locations and schedule visits armed with this list of your top ten considerations to making your decision. Read more
-
Become a Fan
Chicago Wedding Professionals
