20 Top Neighborhood Venues for Intimate Weddings, Elopements, and more!
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- posted in: Helpful Tips, Inspiration
There are many amazing spots to get married in Chicago but which location is best for you? We’ve put together this list to explore Chicago’s neighborhoods and which top wedding venues each Chicago neighborhood has to offer for intimate weddings, tiny weddings, and elopements.
NORTH SIDE
EDGEWATER
With locations nearby the beautiful Chicago lakefront perfect for wedding photos, you can’t go wrong with any of these venues for your small wedding celebration.
If you’re looking for an industrial loft style, Lytle House offers an intimate venue with a large glass garage door leading out to a private small garden and patio. After your intimate ceremony nuptials, take wedding photos in front of their large, colorful mural and ivy walls.
Colvin House is a historic Chicago landmark built by architect George Maher, featuring a collection of vintage furniture, a courtyard patio, and beautiful architecture. With gorgeous landscaped grounds and historic charm, they offer specific packages for micro-weddings and small events, perfect for your event size.
Ever dream of sliding down a fireman’s pole? Firehouse Chicago was once an old firehouse, restored into an alarmingly charming event space that is truly unique for intimate weddings and elopements alike. Enjoy the reclaimed farm tables for a small wedding reception and the lush garden for an intimate outdoor summer party.
If you are looking to turn your intimate wedding into a weekend celebration, Emil Bach House offers packages for microweddings and minimonies while providing unique accommodations for your wedding party to stay and extend your festivities in this beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright designed home.
RAVENSWOOD
Formally the home of an antique store, Artifact Events offers a unique backdrop for your small wedding with lounge seating and ambient decor and lighting. Their multiple loft spaces, including a grand staircase and secluded courtyard, gives you endless options for your intimate event.
Interested in having an intimate wedding here? We have an upcoming Neighborhood Nuptials date here on August 15th, 2021. Check out the details here!
LOGAN SQUARE
Nestled in the quirky Chicago neighborhood of Logan Square, The Joinery was formally a millwork shop. The white brick & timber loft boasts lots of natural light through its skylight and doors to its private courtyard. Taking inspiration from its woodworking history, this premier small event venue is perfectly sized for your micro wedding celebrations with unique amenities and decor.
Interested in having your mini wedding here? We have an upcoming Neighborhood Nuptials date here on July 11th, 2021. Check out the details here!
An abundance of natural light and an outdoor skygarden will set the scene for your mini wedding at Greenhouse Loft. This eco-friendly venue includes lots of amenities including a vintage photobooth and custom farm tables, perfect for hosting a small wedding reception. Plus their in-house projector makes it easy to live stream your intimate ceremony to your virtual guests!
At the site of a former masonic temple, Stan Mansion offers a piece of Chicago history in its luxurious event venue that will make you feel like royalty on your wedding day. Either the elegant ceremony room with ivory draping or the romantic Versailles Lounge with built-in bar & fireplace would be perfect for a mini ceremony in an intimate group setting.
DOWNTOWN
The Chicago History Museum is a classic wedding destination in the heart of Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. With breathtaking views and beautiful Georgian-style architecture, the Chicago Room is a premier location for your intimate nuptials. Plus you can enjoy wedding photos on the grand staircase or the lush, newly redesigned gardens.
Interested in having a small wedding here? We have an upcoming Neighborhood Nuptials date here on October 3rd, 2021. Check out the details here!
Nothing says Chicago city elopement like being in the heart of downtown. Sonesta Hotels Corporation has locations near all of the city’s top attractions. Vibrant, eye-catching and wholly authentic, the Royal Sonesta River North is beloved as one of Chicago’s trendiest and most distinctive hotels. Enjoy scenic views of the Chicago River and the spectacular cityscape at the Royal Sonesta Chicago Riverfront. Take a step back in time at the Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel in the Chicago Loop with its rich Art Deco interiors.
The hotel groups’ micro wedding and minimony promotions offer the ideal package to get hitched! If you’re just looking for a place to stay after getting married, they also have special room rates for couples who book one of Neighborhood Nuptials‘ intimate wedding ceremony pop-ups!
WEST SIDE
If you lean more towards boutique accommodations, the Wicker Park Inn is a modern and elegant bed & breakfast nestled in the quiet neighborhood streets of trendy Wicker Park. They have packages for micro-weddings perfect for having a small celebration and a intimate wedding ceremony with your closest friends & family. Plus you can book a full private house rental to host a weekend of celebrating your wedded bliss!
Always wanted an outdoor garden wedding but worried about Chicago’s unpredictable weather? The Garfield Park Conservatory boasts stunning indoor gardens and greenhouses that create an incomparable backdrop for your I Do’s. Have an intimate ceremony out on the Bluestone Terrace, amongst the elegant flowers of the Monet Garden or the main Showroom and Horticultural Hall greenhouses with exotic plants and seasonal flowers. For a private elopement, the Fern Room offers a secluded setting for your vows and breathtaking photos. Event and photography permits are available through the Chicago Park District.
WEST LOOP
There is a colorful hidden gem in Chicago’s far west loop featuring a garden with glass sculptures, breathtaking city views from the rooftop, and a full glass blowing hot shop. Ignite Glass Studios offers a truly unique setting for a small wedding ceremony and reception with multiple outdoor spaces and the option to add on a glass unity ceremony & glass blowing demonstration. One of their glass artists will use two colors of glass that you and your spouse combine to create a one-of-a kind piece of art.
Interested in having an intimate wedding here? We have an upcoming Neighborhood Nuptials date here on September 12th, 2021. Check out the details here!
After getting married in a mini ceremony, you may be looking for a place to host a small wedding reception for your guests. You won’t have to travel far if you host your wedding in Big Delicious Planet’s Urban Garden. This outdoor space is truly a hidden gem in the middle of an industrial neighborhood. It allows you to say I Do’s in front of a lush, ivy wall and then enjoy a farm-to-table dinner surrounded by the crops that supplied it.
WEST TOWN
Designed with fun and function in mind, Fairlie offers a versatile event space in Chicago’s Kinzie Industrial Corridor. Even though the space is larger, it can easily be broken up to create an intimate experience for your mini wedding with gorgeous natural light coming through their atriums. Set your nuptials in front of a brick wall for an industrial look, ivory drapery for a sophisticated style, or the grand custom staircase for a incredibly unique setting.
Interested in having your mini wedding here? We have an upcoming Neighborhood Nuptials date here on May 8th, 2021. Check out the details here.
SOUTH SIDE
SOUTH LOOP
A jewel in Chicago’s vibrant Motor Row District, Mae District is a gathering space and open-air terrace that embodies the classic beauty of old Chicago with a history tied to Al Capone. With three distinct spaces under one roof, there are many options to set a micro ceremony plus have room to have a separate small dinner reception. The industrial black steel beams, custom built-in marble bars and dark herringbone floor offers a sophisticated canvas for your intimate wedding.
Interested in having an intimate wedding here? We have an upcoming Neighborhood Nuptials date here on November 14th, 2021. Check out the details here!
The warmth of contemporary design and modern accents, blended with a rich history, ROW 24 makes you feel part of Chicago at the height of the 1920s. A large Swarovski crystal chandelier anchors this intimate event space that would be an amazing spot for a ceremony in the round. Having a smaller guest count gives you opportunities for unique floor plans!
PILSEN
Do you like casual backyard vibes for your intimate wedding but you’re looking to elevate your celebration? The name says it all, The Secret Garden by Honky Tonk BBQ is a true secret of the Pilsen neighborhood and a incredibly special location for a small wedding. Step through the unassuming front door and be transported into a lush, intimate garden, secluded from the hustle & bustle of the city. See some real intimate wedding inspiration from a Naturally Yours Events wedding here.
Pilsen is a neighborhood filled with a large art community and Lacuna Lofts sits in the middle of it all. Featuring a rooftop deck with amazing skyline views, funky murals, and unique art sculptures, this neighborhood venue is the perfect location for an artistic, quirky couple looking to host their intimate wedding reception.
SOUTH SHORE
The city features many historic locations that are prime locations for a sophisticated, elegant Chicago wedding. The South Shore Cultural Center is a Chicago landmark with endless, stunning views of Lake Michigan, and offers an exceptional experience for Chicago intimate weddings. Event and photography permits are available through the Chicago Park District.
Interested in having a small wedding here? We have an upcoming Neighborhood Nuptials date here on June 6th, 2021. Check out the details here!
