Chicago, like NYC, is famously a city where you can do almost anything.
It’s a great city, and we’ll fight anyone who says otherwise.
It’s a city that has contributed to the American story in ways that can almost only be compared to NYC.
Even those who hate Chicago can’t help but admit to the amount of influence the city has had over the rest of the country.
And you can weave your story into the larger story of this city by getting married here.
But how to choose a wedding venue in such a huge metropolis?
Is it too competitive, or are you spoiled for choice?
Well, as you’ll find out, your best options might actually be in the suburbs rather than the city center. 🏙️
Decide How Far Away Is Too Far
Most people who come to Chicago want to be in Chicago.
There’s no getting around that.
But what most people don’t think about is the fact that, if you live in one of Chicago’s lovely suburbs, you can be downtown in 20 minutes without needing to pay downtown prices for everything.
“Chicagoland” refers generally to all the areas around the downtown of Chicago that constitute the metro area.
Basically, it’s any part of the surrounding area that you can either reach by public transportation or drive to from downtown within around 1 hour.
Within that range of Chicagoland, it’s up to you to decide how far you’re comfortable being from the city center or whatever else you want to be near.
For example, from where we are, you can drive into the city center in about 30 minutes.
That means you can get all the upsides of being near the city center without having to deal with as much of the traffic, noise, and other downsides that are associated with being in the city center.
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Determine How Much Space You Need
This is another area that the suburbs really have an advantage over the city center in.
Unless you’re willing to burn an obnoxiously large amount of money, you’re probably not going to get as much space downtown as you can get in one of Chicago’s suburbs.
Some people insist on having their wedding in a skyscraper or something like that, but unless you’re one of those people, you’ll probably be able to get more of what you want for a lower price in “Chicagoland” vs downtown.
And best of all, you can still get as many skyscraper wedding photos as you want before or after the ceremony.
You just might find that it makes more sense to have the ceremony itself in a more affordable venue away from all the noise and grit of downtown.
Figure Out Your Transportation Needs
And those of your guests.
If you’re coming in from outside of Chicago, then maybe all of your guests are, too.
In that case, most or all of you will probably be fine with driving.
However, If you and/or your guests are living in the city center, there’s a chance that one or more of you don’t have a car.
Those who don’t have a car will need to take public transit or a taxi, and you’ll want to know ahead of time how feasible that is.
The public transit system is pretty good here, but it doesn’t go everywhere in Chicagoland, and taxis over long distances can be expensive.
America excels in a lot of areas, but public transportation hasn’t been one of them since all the trams and trains we used to have got replaced by highways and parking lots around the turn of the last century.
But if all else fails, carpooling is an option that exists.
You Can Never Ask Too Many Questions
We can’t write a whole article about how to choose a wedding venue in Chicago without mentioning that your choice should have some selection criteria.
In other words, you should have a list of specific things that you absolutely need and another list of things that are nice but optional.
Also, ensure that your list of essentials and dealbreakers is actually reasonable.
You might not need a manicured garden with a massive fountain, but you might actually need space for a certain number of people.
Aside from that, don’t hold anything back.
If you’re talking to a few different venues and trying to decide which one to go with, ask them every question you can think of.
It’s better to ask something twice by accident than to forget to ask once.
Like your future spouse, you never know what will end up being important until you realize that it’s missing.
Try to Relax Into Things
Chicago is alive.
We know that’s cliche, but it’s kind of true.
The city moves and grooves to its own beat, and you’re not going to be the one to change any of that.
Instead of trying to force everything to be exactly the way you’d like, try to enjoy experiencing the way things are.
This is a unique place to live and get married in.
So, as you’re researching and finding out how to choose a wedding venue in Chicago, keep in mind that you first chose to have your wedding in Chicago.
And remember that you made that choice for a reason (probably several reasons).
Focus on that as you go through this process.
And best of luck on your new life together!
