5 Chicago Intimate Wedding Venues That Should Be On Your Radar

It’s official, YOU’RE ENGAGED!!! And you and your honey have decided you want to go the intimate wedding route for your wedding day. You’re picturing a dinner surrounded by your closest friends and family, catching up with the people that mean the most to you, all happening in a GORGEOUS city space. BUT, you might not be sure on where to start. When it comes to intimate wedding venues Chicago has A LOT of options, so many that it can feel a little overwhelming honestly. That’s why we are going over my 5 intimate wedding venues in Chicago that you should definitely check out when starting your venue search. Even if you don’t end up going with one of these venues this list should help get you thinking about what to look for in a Chicago venue and what you want for your intimate wedding day. Let’s get into it!

Newlyweds kiss at intimate Chicago wedding venue

Pinstripes

If you’re looking for something fun and different to do for your wedding, Pinstripes is an awesome option for couples who want to have some fun with their wedding guests.  Between its gorgeous patio and indoor seating as well as its bowling and bocce ball options your guests will have a blast engaging with each other and celebrating you! This is seriously one of THE most fun intimate wedding venues I’ve come across in Chicago. This is the perfect option if the traditional wedding setup isn’t quite for you. PLUS, bowling shoes and wedding dresses are one of the coolest looks I’ve come across!

Wedding party takes shot of alcohol at intimate Chicago wedding Venue

Loft on the Lake

Loft on the Lake is what I like to call a bare-bones wedding venue.  They provide a location that serves as a blank slate to create the wedding of your dreams.  The small DIY space serves as the perfect backdrop for an intimate wedding in Chicago, and with its blank slate, you can really make it into anything you want! This venue is great for a couple that has a vision of exactly what they want their wedding to look like and wants to put that vision together themselves. Having a space that you can truly make yours for your wedding day is so special and really adds to the overall experience of your wedding making Loft on the Lake an incredible venue option!

The Joinery Chicago

The Joinery was bought out by a couple of architects that wanted to save a historic Chicago building from demolition.  After adding a few more members to the team they started to transform it into the wedding venue it is today.  The joinery is both romantic and industrial and honestly can stand completely on its own as a venue without any decorations. This makes it a great option for both couples that want to go all out with their decorating and ones that want to keep things on the simpler side. The building has such a classic Chicago feel to it and so much history to it it’s hard not to love this intimate venue! 

Groom shows off his side profile in front of the wedding party

Firehouse Chicago

Located on the north side of Chicago this intimate wedding venue is located in the old Edgewater firehouse.  With its tall ceilings, garage front, and a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces covered in twinkle lights, Firehouse Chicago is the perfect venue for you and your loved ones to celebrate with you. The space also has a 2nd floor with multi-purpose rooms you’re able to rent out as getting-ready spaces. They offer a TON of amenities, some you have to opt into and some are included in your event cost like furniture, outdoor and indoor lighting, and a garden bourbon barrel bar! Oh and I almost forgot they have a fireman pole that you can still use, talk about a fun entrance! 

Bride wears heart sunglasses in front of bar in intimate Chicago wedding venue

The Lytle House

Located only a few blocks away from Firehouse Chicago, this Edgewater Neighborhood venue is the coolest little event space perfect for an intimate wedding.  With indoor and outdoor seating, space for food trucks, and its ability to hold up to 80 guests there’s a lot you can make out of the Lytle House! The Lytle House also has a variety of packages to choose from which give you a lot of flexibility with what your wedding day can look like. The space is similar to the Joinery in the way that as a venue itself it is insanely gorgeous with little to no added decorations to it making it very much worth your time to check out! 

There you have it, five of my absolute favorite intimate wedding venues in Chicago! Like I said before there are SO many options in Chicago to choose from. With this list though I hope you either found a venue that you love, or it helped to get your brain thinking about exactly what it is you want for your wedding day! If you need a photographer for your intimate wedding head over to my contact page here. We can start planning your day at one of these incredible spots, or find something that fits exactly what you’re looking for!

Newlyweds kiss in front of car after their reception at an intimate Chicago wedding venue
  1. […] wedding day.  If you’re still looking for a space to hold your wedding day, check out this blog post for venue ideas and tips for planning your wedding […]

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About Jayde 

Docu-torial Photographer

I'm a Chicago wedding photographer with a passion for people, candid moments, authenticity, and golden hour. I document weddings with a ferocity for the real moments that matter on a wedding day: the moments you lived with the people you love. With 200+ weddings under my belt, I use my expertise to guide my clients to feel comfortable and confident so their images feel like them. 

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