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The three things Chicago is most famous for: architecture, Lake Michigan, and great cuisine, are also what make it a fabulous place to have a wedding. And with a little research and planning, your wedding can be a mini vacation for out-of-town and local guests alike.
Tie the knot in an architecturally significant building, dance in the middle of Chicago's world-famous skyline, pose for photographs in front of Buckingham Fountain. It's yours for the asking.
A Room With A View
Keep in mind that the most important part of the event is the ceremony. You are there to get married to the person you love, not to throw the biggest party in the history of your city!
- The second tallest building in the world can host your wedding. Situated on the 99th floor of Sears Tower, Top of the Tower has floor-to-ceiling windows with sensational panoramic views of the city, lake, and on clear days, Michigan to the south and Wisconsin to the north.
- The Mid-America Club has breathtaking 80th floor vistas.
- The Plaza Club atop the Prudential Plaza (an architectural jewel) and La Strada offer 40th floor cityscapes from different vantage points.
- And closer to ground level, Spiaggia overlooks Lake Michigan at the gateway to the Magnificent Mile, and the Crystal Garden, a six-story glass atrium filled with potted palms on historic Navy Pier, is literally on the lake.
"There are so many great places in Chicago that people have the problem of picking one," says Ami Franklin of Blue Plate Weddings, a catering company. "You can go for the skyline, choose a classic building like Union Station, go for a cool funky place, there's everything."
Art Galleries and Museums
A slew of private art galleries host weddings and receptions. One such place is the Mars Gallery, a hip loft full of pop art, outsider art, sculpture, and more. It's great for standup buffets and cocktails. Another is the Chicago Fine Arts Exchange, a larger venue that can accommodate sit-down dinners in a gallery domed by a 60x20-foot cathedral skylight.
The Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art both host swanky after-hours affairs, as do a lot of Chicago museums. Dinner tables can surround the reconstructed bones of Sue, the most complete dinosaur, at The Field Museum. And one of the most popular reception destinations, the Chicago Historical Society, will allow your pet to be in the wedding party. No, Fifi won't be able to lead you down the sweeping grand staircase in the great hall, but she can be your maid of honor on the plaza outside.
"I had clients who wanted their German Shepherds to be best man and maid of honor," says Nit Vyas, a consultant at Calihan Catering. "We did the ceremony on the plaza at the Historical Society. The dogs walked down the aisle with ring pillows attached to their collars. Afterwards, the dogs were rushed home by family members and everyone went inside for the party."
Brenda Wilhelmson is a Chicago-based writer. She has written for The Chicago Tribune, Advertising Age, Creativity, and the Chicago Reader. |
Photo Source: © Yamashiro Studio, Chicago, Illinois
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