Small Wedding Venues in Chicago that will make your wedding feel like it was hand designed for you!
One of the struggles with small weddings is picking small wedding venues in Chicago. You don't want the space to feel too small, too big and most importantly you want it to reflect your style that you're dreaming of for your wedding day.
As wedding photographers, we capture all kinds of different weddings. But some of our favorite happen to be smaller, more intimate weddings or elopements. These typically have 50 people or less in attendance. Something about having a small group of your nearest and dearest tends to bring about the sweetest moments!
A smaller wedding doesn't equal less of an experience.
With a bigger budget per guest you’re able to put your money towards customizing your day, wowing your guests and creating an unforgettable wedding day experience.
But that's not the best part. The best part about having a smaller wedding in Chicago is getting to really focus on what's most important. And want to know what couples tell us? The people attending the wedding. These are the people who have stood by your side and made you who you are today. They are the reason you two found one another in the moment in time that you did and the reason you'll be walking down the aisle.
The focus of the day becomes more about your love and getting to actually spend time with the people you love - I guarantee you’ll talk to everyone who attends!
I know what you're thinking, but how do I choose? After all picking a small wedding venue in Chicago can feel like a big decision. And it is! Your wedding venue will set the tone and vibe for the whole day. But once you scroll through this inspiration, you'll be all set to explore the many amazing wedding venues here in Chicago that you can take advantage of for your wedding day!
So here’s 7 unique ways to host a small wedding in Chicago!
1 - Your Favorite Outdoor Spot
No matter where you live, there are plenty of beautiful outdoor spots to choose as your small wedding venue in Chicago. Here in Chicago we've got it ALL. From the lakefront to iconic parks to historic architecture Chicago is filled with amazing outdoor spaces just waiting to host a celebration. It's a way for you to not just showcase your love but also showcase this great city. From the Pier at the Planetarium to Wrigley Field, to the Botanic Gardens and the hundreds of gorgeous parks, Chicago you can't go wrong with an outdoor space.
An easy way to make an outdoor space feel more intimate is by strategically placing high top tables and spots to sit along the perimeter of the area. This helps section off the space and also gives your guests a place to relax and chat with one another throughout the wedding day. If you're planning an outdoor wedding, be sure to think through spaces to give some relief from the sun whether that's setting up near some shade or putting up some sort of tent!
Don't forget to think outside of the box and consider hosting your wedding on a rooftop terrace or even in your own backyard (check out these Tulum vibes that this couple channeled in their own backyard!).
Some of our favorite outdoor spots include the Cook County Forest Preserves, Chicago Botanic Gardens and Armour House.
2 - A Meaningful Restaurant
If you and your fiance are self proclaimed foodies, why not rent out your favorite restaurant? Not only will you know that the food will be amazing, but you also can share a bit of your relationship with all of your guests. And let's be honest, one of the perks of living in our great city is that we have one of the greatest food scenes in the country.
Whether this was the spot of your first date, the place you said “I love you” the first time, or the place your future spouse proposed- picking somewhere meaningful will always be a beautiful choice for small wedding venues in Chicago.
When talking with a restaurant about your wedding day be sure to ask how they will accommodate your group. Will it be a private area within the restaurant? Will you rent out the whole restaurant or rooftop bar? If the food at your wedding is important to you make sure that the restaurant can create your favorites for a large group of people. Consider having a custom cocktail at the bar to make the night extra special!
Some restaurants that have a fabulous options are Piccolo Sogno, The Dawson and North Pond.
3 - The Bar Where You Met
Like our last suggestion, why not pick the bar where you met or your go to Friday night spot? Bars make for a really unique and laid-back venue- and all your guests are sure to have an amazing time. Just make sure to check with the bar about restrictions such as outside vendors for food- if they only serve light bites, you may want to bring in some extra help for a full dinner spread.
You'll not only have a fantastic time but you'll make new memories in old places that will last a lifetime!
Some of our favorite bars in the city include River Roast, Celeste and City Winery
4 - A Rooftop View
In our opinion, nothing beats a beautiful skyline view for small wedding venues in Chicago. And fortunately, the Chicago skyline is one of the greatest in the world (we might be biased). There are so many amazing buildings here in Chicago that feature incredible rooftop views. Plus, if you time it just right, you’ll be able to get some gorgeous sunset pictures during your vows. You can’t beat that for a small wedding venue in Chicago!
When planning a rooftop wedding, a great place to start is finding restaurants or venues with a rooftop bar or restaurant. You can also see if certain buildings around the city might offer rooftop access.
There are several venues that even have a rooftop bar with a retractable glass roof which takes away any worry about making sure that the weather cooperates!
Some of our favorite Chicago rooftops for small wedding venues in Chicago are The Art Institute, Gibson's Italia and The Kimpton Gray
5 - Waterfront
Why not say “I do” with an amazing view? If you want to take advantage of, in our opinion, one of the most gorgeous views of Chicago then heading out to the lakefront or beachside is an absolute must! Not only is it a beautiful outdoor spot but the lakefront makes for some amazing and romantic spots.
You can even host your reception waterside or rent charter a yacht for a reception cruise for something fun and different!
When picking a lakefront spot, make sure you pick somewhere that the amazing Chicago skyline is front and center or that you have quick lakefront access. It's worth the extra effort to have our great city shine!
Some of our favorite lakefront spots are Olive Park, The Planetarium and Shoreclub Chicago!
6 - An Amazing AirBnB
We’ve all seen the Buzzfeed articles with those out of this world AirBnB’s and they are the perfect place to host a smaller gathering - especially if you have 20 or less people. And as an added bonus your getting ready spot and pre-wedding day hotel is also taken care of! This option can give you some really unique ideas that you may not find otherwise. Just go onto the site and filter for the number of guests and make sure to select “suitable for events”!
If one of the places you find isn’t listed under “suitable for events” you can always message the host and check to see if they might be able and willing to make an exception.
7 - Traditional Wedding Venues
Last but not least, if there’s a wedding venue you always had your heart set on, go for it! Even the grandest wedding venues can still be scaled down to fit an intimate wedding. Most venues have moveable walls, smaller rooms, or even little rooftops that are perfect for a small affair. Just be sure to inquire with the venue and make sure there are no minimum requirements on guest count.
No matter what you decide to do for your wedding- there’s tons of great options and possibilities for the perfect small wedding venues in Chicago! These are all suggestions of course, but let us know if this helped you in picking your wedding venue - we love hearing from you!
