Why You Should Plan a Chicago Destination Wedding
As the third largest city in the US, it makes sense that Chicago would be a popular location for destination weddings. There are SO many reasons to consider the windy city for your destination wedding. Between the food, the history, and the amazing vendors, there are so many reasons to love it!
Why Chicago is Such a Great City to Host Your Wedding
It’s really hard to put into words exactly why Chicago is THE city to get married in. Really, to sum it up, there is a place for everyone in Chicago. There are SO many vendors to choose from, endless venues and so much to do. Whether you’re having a local intimate gathering or flying everyone to Chicago for your destination wedding, you’re bound to have a great time.
Endless Options
The number one on the list of reasons why you should get tie the knot in Chicago is the endless number of options. No matter what kind of wedding you hope to have, there are vendors and a venue for you. Chicago has a massive list of beautiful spaces to host your wedding. Each venue is so different from the next!
Get married surrounded by nature in the Chicago Botanic Gardens or the Pilsen Secret Garden. Celebrate with your family by looking over the skyline at places like Ignite Glass Studio or Loft Lucia. Say your vows looking over the lakeshore at North Avenue Beach or in a secluded sanctuary like the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. Or celebrate your marriage inside a piece of Chicago history like the Dalcy, or Revel Motor Row. The variety of options that Chicago provides is absolutely endless. Whether you’re from out of town planning a destination wedding in Chicago or tying the knot in your own backyard you’re bound to find a one-of-a-kind experience in Chicago.
City Vibes
Chicago has a sort of magic to it. Every street you turn on is full of history. With architecture from almost every era, walking through Chicago is like walking through a history book. Every neighborhood and every building has a story and so many unique features. Not to mention that every neighborhood of Chicago has a completely different feel. One thing I love about taking wedding portraits in Chicago is that not one looks the same as the other. There are so many unique nooks and crannies throughout the city and yet, when you look at the photos, you can still feel that they were taken in Chicago.
Iconic Photo Locations
Create the experience of a lifetime for you and your wedding party and visit some of Chicago’s iconic photo locations for your wedding party photos and couples portraits. One of the best things about Chicago is that there are so many unique spaces all within a couple minute drive from one another. Take your wedding party out to Michigan Avenue to take photos by in the Art Institute Gardens, stop by the Tribune Towers for some couples portraits and then pop into one of the fun bars nearby your venue for a drink before you head into cocktail hour. Just with one short trolley ride you can experience SO many of Chicago’s unique locations!
Some of my FAVORITE photo locations for wedding party photos include:
And honestly any of the streets outside of your wedding venue make for beautiful backdrops for your wedding photos.
Great Vendors
On top of the variety of venues and iconic photo locations there are SO many amazing vendors all throughout the city that are so ready to make your Chicago wedding day so amazing! Whether they be caterers, florists, food truck owners, caligraphers, videographers, the list is literally endless! There is literally a vendor for every style of wedding you could possibly think of. If you need help finding vendors for your Chicago wedding day whether you’re from out of town for a destination wedding or just want help searching in your own backyard, I am ALWAYS down to help you find the best vendors for your wedding day.
Chicago Destination Weddings
Chicago weddings are great in general, but destination weddings in Chicago offer such a great experience for both couples and their guests! Everything from lodging, travel and even transportation is easier in the windy city! There are so many ways to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for each of your guests by hosting your destination wedding in Chicago.
A Variety of Experiences
There are SO many cool experiences you can plan into your wedding weekend for your guests! Grab a grill and plan a BBQ out at Promontory Point. Plan out a beach day at one of the many iconic beaches throughout Chicago. Or if you want something a little more intimate for your guests, rent a private room at one of the many amazing restaurants throughout the city. Between the breweries, restaurants and bars, there are so many cool experiences you can create for your guests. After you’re done, walk around town with your wedding party and soak in all of the views and entertainment that the city has to offer.
Lots of Lodging
One of the BEST parts of having a wedding in Chicago is all of the types of lodging the city has to offer. You can go the traditional route and reserve a hotel block. Opt for a less traditional route and book an Airbnb, or for a more intimate experience, book out one of the many inns that make up the city to spend ALL the time with your family and friends in attendance! To check out some of my favorite Airbnb’s for larger groups, check out this blog post! Then look below for some of my favorite alternative stays for all of your out-of-town wedding guests for a Chicago destination wedding.
PRO TIP: These locations also make great intimate wedding venues!
Easy Travel
When planning a destination wedding in Chicago, you are luckily planning a wedding within a short drives distance from two of the busiest airports in the world. Having two major airports in the city makes things beyond easy for easy for guests to travel. Once your guests arrive they will have plenty of options, whether they want to rent a car, try out the public transportation or stick to ubers, or stay somewhere within walking distance of your venue, there really isn’t a wrong way to go! The ease of access to transportation is arguably one of the best parts about planning a destination wedding in Chicago.
If you still need convincing to book your destination wedding in Chicago then you’re going to want to check out some of these images from my past weddings. The city of Chicago is full of magic and I am so happy and feel so blessed to be moving to this city I have fallen so in love with. If you’re looking for more wedding inspiration or Chicago wedding resources, head to my blog page to check out some of my most recent posts!
