As a wedding photographer in Chicago I’ve photographed and experienced a wide variety of weddings throughout the city. One thing that can sometimes catch people off guard though if they don’t live in Chicago or hardly ever been to the city in general is the cost of a wedding in Chicago. That’s why I decided to write this article you’re reading today! To break down the cost of a Chicago wedding and show why even though it may be on the more expensive side, that price point is well justified if you do it right!!

The Cost of a Wedding in Chicago

For anyone living in Chicago or who has visited you can probably guess that Chicago is on the higher end when it comes to wedding costs. This Knot article puts the average cost for a wedding in Illinois at around $37,000. That’s the average for the state though, and Chicago is far different than the rest of the state of Illinois. Depending on the amount of guests a wedding in Chicago will range from $45,000 to $55,000 for 200 to 300 guests. There are of course a LOT of different factors that go into wedding costs, which is what we’re going to take a look at next. It’s important though when planning a wedding in Chicago to be realistic about the money you’ll have to spend to make that dream day of yours happen.

Factors That Determine the Cost of a Chicago Wedding

If you’ve helped someone plan their wedding, or are starting to get into the thick of planning your own, you know just how much actually goes into a wedding day! There are SO many different factors and variables to take into account to make your day exactly what you envision it to be. Of course all these different factors have different costs attached to them, so let’s take a closer look and see which factors have the largest impact on the cost of your Chicago wedding.

Guest Amount

First and foremost is the amount of guests you plan to have on your wedding day. It is estimated for a wedding in Chicago that each guest you invite to your wedding day will add around $180 to $220 to your wedding expense total. This is the single biggest factor that determines the cost of your wedding, as each wedding day is SO different when it comes to the guest amount. As an example, for $180 per guest comes out to $18,000 for 100 guests and $27,000 for 150. 

Venue(s)

Another large factor into the cost of your wedding day in Chicago is the venue or venues you reserve for your date! Whether you opt for an all in one wedding day where your ceremony and reception are at the same location, or you choose to have them at separate spaces, they’re going to take up a larger chunk of your budget. This can vary from venue to venue though depending on what is included, what package you go with, and what day of the week you have your wedding on, so be sure to do your research before booking your venue!

Vendors

Your vendor team is the machine that keeps your wedding day running smooth and like a dream. They’re the ones keeping everything on time and according to plan so that you can actually enjoy this celebration of you and your love! It should come as no surprise then that each vendor is going to take up a chunk of your wedding day budget. Just like your venue, each vendor has different rates and usually different packages. While not every wedding needs each and every vendor, there are some you definitely need and will not want to skimp out on. We’ll cover that in a later section here, but trust me when it comes to your Chicago wedding the cost you pay directly correlates with the experience you’ll have!

Everything In Between

Those are just some of the biggest factors in determining the cost of your wedding in Chicago, but there are so many more that all add up. Things like transportation, where you’re staying, your wedding dress and other wedding attire, wedding favors, wedding party gifts, the list goes on and on! I can’t stress this enough that when planning your wedding in Chicago you need to be realistic and prepared with the overall cost of the day.

Premium Cost for a Premium Chicago Wedding Experience

I’ve alluded to this a few times already throughout the blog, but now it’s time to really dive into it. While it’s true that you can have a beautiful wedding at any budget, you have to be realistic with it. You can save some money through doing as much DIY work for your wedding as possible, but when it comes to the true wedding experience in Chicago there’s no way around the more expensive cost of it. Luckily for you that cost isn’t just an arbitrary number, it actually MEANS something!

Chicago is a city like none other, and a wedding in Chicago is an experience like none other. There are so many layers to this experience, and so many moving parts that go into it, that the cost of your wedding day in Chicago is easily justified. If you budget and plan for the cost you can rest assured that you will have a one of a kind wedding experience that you are going to OBSESS over for years and years to come!

Chicago Wedding Vendors Who are WORTH the Cost

Not every wedding is going to need every type of wedding vendor, but there are some that are MUST haves for your day. For instance you may not feel the need to have a limo service take you from your ceremony to your reception space, but you most definitely are going to want a photographer to capture each and every one of your favorite moments from your wedding day. When figuring out the cost of your wedding in Chicago these are the vendors you most definitely are going to want to budget for so that you can guarantee you get the best service and experience possible from them!

Photographer

I might have just a little bit of bias in this area, but trust me your wedding photos and your wedding album are SO worth the cost for a top quality photographer. They’re the ones that capture your day as it happens. The reason you’re able to look back on the photos from your day and have all the memories and emotions of that moment come rushing back to you. They’re the vendor who’s service on your wedding day you’ll be able to enjoy long past your wedding day!

When looking for a wedding photographer for your wedding in Chicago I can’t stress enough how important it is to hire a photographer with knowledge of the city. It may bring the cost of your Chicago wedding up, but that experience is invaluable. Chicago photographers know the ins and outs of the city, where to head when you sneak out for portrait photos, how to make travel from one location to another work in your timeline, and so much more.

Wedding Planner

A professional wedding planner is a life saver on your wedding day, the value of having someone with their experience and expertise can’t be overstated. Not only is the cost of a wedding in Chicago on the higher end, but also the depth of planning that goes into it. Having a wedding planner who is on your side, and is able to get things done no questions asked is invaluable for your sanity. It lets you relax and focus on yourself and the more personal things you’d like to attend to on your wedding day. A high quality wedding planner will take your vision and execute it to the full extent so you don’t have to worry about each and every detail!

Venue

Your venue, the setting for your wedding day, is most definitely a vendor that is worth its cost for your Chicago wedding! If you think about it, no other vendor influences the feel of your wedding day as much as your venue will. It’s the space you and your guests will spend the most time in, and luckily there are some AMAZING wedding venues throughout Chicago. That being said the best and most unique venues often come at a higher cost for the experience they provide. The price does often come with an incredible experience though in terms of setting, service, and amenities.

Catering

While this might be included or a part of your venue, if not catering is a hugely important part of your wedding day and a vendor that is very much worth the cost! Most venues that have their own catering are established enough where you can count on the food being equal in quality to the venue itself. If they do not have in house catering though you’ll want to find something you and your guests can enjoy as you celebrate. Talk to your venue about if they have a preferred vendor list for you to choose from or if they have any other recommendations. 

Entertainment

You can’t beat quality entertainment! No matter how good a playlist is, nothing matches a skilled DJ that can adjust the music on the fly to fit the vibe of the crowd, or a live band that brings an unmatched energy to the dancefloor. Whichever route you end up taking, the cost of quality entertainment for your Chicago wedding is easily justifiable and something you will NOT regret!

I’m sure by now you can see that while the cost of a wedding in Chicago is on the higher end when compared with the rest of the country, if done well that cost is 100% justified and will give you the wedding day of your dreams! For more wedding planning tips and info be sure to check out my other blogs, and if you’re looking to book me as your photographer send me an inquiry through my contact page!!