Need help with venues in Illinois

Hi Toya, congratulations on your engagement!! I'm not from Illinois, but have you tried using the vendor section of this website to help you search? I know many WW users have found their dream location using the vendor tab!

Hi Toya, congrats! I'm an Illinois bride myself - what part of the state are you thinking? During our venue search near Chicago, it was hard to find places that did let you bring in your own food, drinks, etc. that didn't drive up the price. We did find, however, that the more willing you were to be away from the Chicago area (Rockford, Loves Park, etc.) the more options you could find. A friend of mine had her wedding in a converted barn (but didn't do the rustic theme - it was super elegant) and they brought in their own caterer, alcohol, etc. They just rented the space itself. I Definitely would recommend using the vendor search function here - it was incredibly helpful for us!

Hi Toya

As the PPs mentioned, the WeddingWire venue directory is a super helpful tool when searching for your venue. You can check it out here - Chicago Wedding Venues. It’s also possible to change the location and apply different filter options such as amenities, capacity, etc.

You can reach out via their WeddingWire storefronts and see if it’s possible to rent the space and bring your own liquor, food, etc.

Depending on where in Illinois you’re located, there’s a couple of options-I’m in northern Illinois and was originally thinking about going a similar route (luckily my aunt is friends with a banquet hall owner and a Friday date got me such a good deal I couldn’t pass it up). There’s the Horticultural Hall in Lake Geneva and I believe the Groton Community Center in Lake Forest could work too! Just keep in mind that there are a ton of extra costs (usually linens, dishes, glassware, set-up, etc.) to take in mind so make sure to ask for everything that’s included!

View Quoted Comment Ok thank you for that information, I appreciate it. By the way congratulations to you when are you getting married?

View Quoted Comment Congrats to you too! We’re getting married June 19, 2020!