Best Affordable Wedding Venues Chicago

With terrific sights like Lake Michigan, Wrigley Field and Millennium Park, Chicago is a great place to visit or to live. If you’re planning a wedding there, you’ll have lots of options for your ceremony and reception. If you’re on a budget, start with this list of the best affordable wedding venues in Chicago.

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Jacob Henry Mansion Estate

The Jacob Henry Mansion Estate offers a unique, Victorian era venue for weddings. With the mansion, a ballroom, plus lawn and gardens, there’s lots of spots to hold your ceremony or reception. There’s even an historical church on site. With stained glass and a pipe organ, the Old Central Church is a perfect spot for a traditional wedding ceremony.

Rental fees start as low as $600 and vary, based on the season and day. Buffet dinners have a minimum of 75 guests and prices start at only $28.95. They also offer a variety of bar packages at very reasonable prices. Check out their website for all the details: Jacob Henry Mansion Estate Weddings.

Chicago Theater Works

For a beautiful venue that can accommodate your ceremony and reception, check out the Chicago Theater Works. They offer banquet space for up to 180 people for a sit down dinner. And being a theater, they also have a small stage that’s the perfect spot for a wedding ceremony.

Rental fees range from $2,250 to $3,750 depending on the day and season. Best of all, there’s no food and beverage minimums. Their basic bar package starts at $21 per person. And there’s no required vendor list, so you’re free to choose a caterer that fits your budget.

Check out the rest of their price list on their website: Chicago Theater Works.

Loyola University

With three different campuses, Loyola University offers a huge variety of spots for a wedding reception. You’ll find modern halls, historic ballrooms and even outdoor, lakefront spots at Loyola. For a Catholic wedding ceremony, the University offers an onsite chapel on their Lakeshore Campus.

Loyola offers 11 different venue spaces for wedding receptions. Rental fees start at $2,500 and range all the way up to $10,000 depending on the location.

Outside catering is not permitted and there are food and beverage minimums for Friday and Saturday weddings. Check out their price list for all the details: Loyola University Wedding Receptions.

Firehouse Chicago

If you’re looking for a venue with unique decor, check out this refurbished firehouse. The former engine room is decorated with farmhouse doors and a wrought iron staircase. With a side yard and a balcony, as well as the main dining area, Firehouse Chicago is the perfect spot for any type of wedding reception. They can help you plan anything from a cocktail wedding reception to a sit down dinner.

The rental fees start at $1,800 and you’ll need to choose from their list of caterers. The rental fee includes a wedding coordinator, a 60’ tent, tables and chairs, indoor and outdoor furniture, plus lighting and some bourbon barrel decor. Send a request for pricing on their website: Firehouse Chicago Weddings.

Osteria Via Stato

If you’d like to plan a restaurant wedding, Osteria Via Stato offers delicious food and terrific wedding packages. The venue can seat anywhere from 15 to 235 guests and their food has rave reviews.

There’s a booking fee of $250 plus a minimum spend on the night of your wedding. The meal price starts at $110 per person and includes 4 hours of full bar service. For an extra fee, you can add all kinds of treats for your guests, including donuts, gelato bars or late night snacks. See all the options on their website: Osteria Via Stato Weddings.

Chicago Park District

With lake front mansions, modern boathouses and nature filled conservatories and gardens, Chicago Park District offers a stunning range of wedding venues. For a unique reception, you can choose from indoor and outdoor properties that include ballrooms, patios, beaches and gardens.

They have a list of preferred vendors and you’ll need to choose a caterer from their list. Setting up DIY alcohol is not allowed, so if you want to serve alcohol, you’ll need to book a bar package with your caterer.

The room rental fees vary based on the location. Berger Park includes a lawn ceremony and a 1st floor reception for a package price of only $1,645. See a complete list of rental fees on their website: Chicago Park District Wedding Venues.

Berger Park
Clark Park Boathouse
Columbus Park Refectory
Douglas Park Cultural and Community Center
Garfield Park Conservatory
Lincoln Park Conservatory
Northerly Island
Ping Tom Park
Promontory Point
63rd Street Beach House
South Shore Cultural Center
The Tiffany Foundation Celebration Garden

Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies With Chicago Park District

If you just need a spot for your wedding ceremony, you can find lots of pretty outdoor spots on the lakefront, or in parks and gardens around the city. You can apply for a permit to hold your ceremony in one of the Chicago Park District locations. See the wedding FAQs for more about getting a permit: Special Event Venues FAQ.

Some of the most popular spots for outdoor ceremonies are:

Promontory Point
Lincoln Park Conservatory Gardens
Grant Park North Rose Gardens
Tiffany & Co. Foundation Celebration Garden
Cancer Survivor's Garden