It’s no secret that wedding planning can be pretty exhausting at times. There are SO many moving parts, decisions to make, and preparations to take care of that can all lead to a ton of unneeded stress for what is meant to be one of THE best days of your lives! That’s why I’m constantly putting up resources on my blog to help couples navigate their way through some of wedding planning’s toughest challenges, which is what’s brought us here today! Some of the most important choices you’ll be making as you plan your wedding is deciding on the vendors that will make your dream day a reality. Luckily Chicago is home to some of the wedding industry’s most talented and amazing vendors, so let’s look at some of my favorites and how they affect a wedding day!

Wedding Venue

One of the first and most impactful vendors that you’ll book for your wedding is the actual venue you’ll be celebrating at, and Chicago is practically bursting at the seams with incredible venue options to choose from! Whether you’re looking for something glamorous, a mix of modern and industrial vibes, a luxurious space with a rich history, or something else entirely, I guarantee Chicago has the wedding venue for you! The look, feel, and size of your wedding venue greatly impacts your wedding day, so finding the right one is one of THE most important decisions you’ll make!

Some of My Favorite Wedding Venues in Chicago

• RPM Events
• The Walden (Check Out My Venue Feature!)
• Fairlie (Check Out My Venue Feature!)
• Stan Mansion

Wedding Planner

Booking a wedding planner for your Chicago wedding can be a legitimate life saver! There is SO much planning that goes into crafting the ideal wedding day, and with all that planning comes a LOT of stress. A wedding planner will help to alleviate a lot of that stress and ensure that your wedding day runs as smoothly as possible. From helping to create the most romantic and luxurious wedding possible, to specializing in making your planning process as simple as possible, wedding planners are an invaluable member of your vendor team. They’ll be able to handle all the planning details for you, and can even help you find the best vendors to fit your wedding vision, including your venue!

Some of My Favorite Wedding Planners in Chicago

• Ohana Events
• Elegant & Sophisticated Affairs
• Paris Events
• Simplicitee
• Exquisite Events and Floral Design

Wedding Photographer

Another crucial member of your wedding vendor team is your photographer! Am I a little biased here? Maybe, but honestly the importance of booking the right wedding photographer for your day cannot be overstated. We’re the ones that document one of the best days of your lives, photographing your favorite memories so that you can relive them for years and years to come. We do more than just take photos though. I help my couples through the planning process, the overall flow of the day, and do everything in my power to make sure they enjoy their wedding to the fullest! Read more about my package offerings and the experience of having me as your wedding photographer here!

My Favorite Wedding Photographer in Chicago

• Yours Truly!

Wedding Videographer

Another wedding vendor who specializes in documenting your Chicago wedding so that you’re able to relive all the best moments is your videographer! While photographers and videographers both want to document your wedding day in a way that you’ll love, we go about it in completely different ways. This difference in approaches also varies from videographer to videographer as well! Some approach the wedding day with a more cinematic style, while others go for a more emotional and authentic look. Both are fantastic options, and it all comes down to where each couples’ preference lies!

Some of My Favorite Videographers in Chicago

• Old North Film Co
• Katie Doyle Films

Wedding Entertainment

It’s no secret that I LOVE wedding receptions! It’s one of my favorite times to document during a wedding day as there is just so much joy, energy, and excitement in the air that leads to unforgettable experiences! A key factor in how fun and engaging your wedding reception is comes down to the entertainment you book for your vendor team. Luckily for anyone planning a wedding in Chicago, there are a ton of endlessly talented options to choose from, so much so that it can be hard to actually make the choice!

The first thing you’ll need to decide is whether you want to book a DJ or a live band. Both are great as the right DJ knows exactly what the crowd needs at any given moment, while a live band is able to bring unmatched energy and keep the dance floor packed all night! Once you decide on the option that fits your vision best check out some of the options below to see some of the best Chicago has to offer!

Some of My Favorite Entertainment Companies in Chicago

• Luniks Entertainment
• Rendezvous Band
• Toast and Jam DJs
• Best Life Entertainment
• Greenlight Band
• Bluewater Kings Band

Wedding Florist

The vendor that arguably has the most influence on the look and feel of your wedding, outside of your wedding venue that is, is your florist! The right florist can take a wedding day to the complete next level in terms of beauty, style, and experience. Each florist has their own approach to their work, and some even offer additional décor options such as candle displays, so be sure to pay close attention in your search to find the florist that will be able to bring your vision to life!

Some of My Favorite Florists in Chicago

• StemLine Creative
• The Local Petaler
• Primrose Chicago
• Lavender Fields Flower and Décor
• Flowerchild Floral & Event Design

Wedding Hair and Makeup Artist

I know I say this about every vendor, BUT having the right hair and makeup artist(s) for your wedding day is essential to making sure that you look and feel your best! No matter the style you’re going for, be it more natural and subdued or glammed out to the max, finding the right beauty artist to make that vision a reality is so important for your wedding day. I’ve had the pleasure of working with a ton of talented, experienced, and friendly beauty artists in the Chicago area that I am always recommending to my couples as I know they consistently provide a wonderful experience!

Some of My Favorite Hair and Makeup Artists in Chicago

• Anomalie Beauty Agency
• Rare Bird Beauties
• Eileen McNulty Beauty
• Blush and Braids Beauty Bar
• Feeling Pretty Inc

Wedding Caterer

Many wedding venues in Chicago offer their own in house catering, or they may have a few catering companies they’re partnered with that you’re required to choose from. When that isn’t the case though, a catering company is a must book wedding vendor, and my favorite in the Windy City is The Caterist. Every wedding I’ve documented that has booked them has had phenomenal catering, something that every wedding needs! Subpar catering can put a serious damper on your reception, and after all the planning that you’ve put into this day you deserve to enjoy EVERY part of your wedding!

My Favorite Caterer in Chicago

• The Caterist

Wedding Cake Bakery

The last vendor I want to talk about is the bakery that will be creating your wedding cake! A long standing wedding tradition that I love is the cake cutting. It’s such a fun moment to document, and with a beautiful and delicious cake to enjoy it is always a hit with your guests as well! The right bakery will make a cake that’s equally tasty as it is visually appealing, and both of the bakeries below excel at providing both!

Some of My Favorite Wedding Cake Bakeries in Chicago

• Sweet Mandy B’s
• ECBG Studio

What to Know when Choosing Vendors for Your Wedding in Chicago

It’s encouraging to know that there are so many incredibly talented wedding vendors throughout Chicago, but finding the right one for your wedding is where the real challenge begins. Each vendor has their own specialty, style, and approach to their work, and it’s up to you to find the ones that can provide the experience you’re after! 

Decide on Your Vision

First and foremost you and your partner are going to want to decide on the vision you have for your wedding day. What size celebration do you plan to have, a massive gathering or something more personal and intimate? Are you wanting your wedding to feel luxurious and high end, or charming and down to earth? Do you want to handle most of the planning and preparation yourselves, or are you looking to have your vendors take most everything off of your hands? Once you have a vision of what your wedding day is going to look and feel like you can start crafting your team of vendors to bring that vision to life!

Trust Your Team

Once you have the vision for your wedding day laid out, and you’ve booked the vendors that will make your dream wedding a reality, it’s SO important that you put your trust in your vendors! You booked them each for a reason, and with the common goal of making your wedding day the best it can be, it’s important then to give them space to do their best work. Trusting your vendors not only lets them do their best work on the day of your wedding, but it also lets you relax and actually enjoy the day without having to worry about every little detail! It’s a win win! 

For more wedding planning tips check out some of my other articles, and if you’re looking to have me document your wedding be sure to send me an inquiry ASAP so we can start planning your day together!