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Award winner thanks to recommendations from couples on WeddingWire.com.
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Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center

Up to 200 guests
Ceremony/Reception
Outdoor/Indoor
Get Ready Rooms

Why couples loved this venue

  • Quality catering
  • Guests comfort
  • Amenities
amanda
Mitchell
Allison
LIndsay
Sarah

Recommended by 98% of couples

About this venue

Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center is a vintage hotel wedding venue located in Utica, Illinois. Built in the 1930s, this lodge in Starved Rock State Park has elegant charm that adds to the timeless splendor of your wedding day. This rustic wedding venue is sure to make your wedding dreams come true.

Facilities and Capacity
Couples may host up to 200 wedding guests at Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center. There are six available event spaces for couples to choose from and utilize when customizing their wedding day. For those that wish to have their wedding indoors, the Great Hall features a magnificent stone fireplace that can be turned into a reception and bar area. For couples that want an outdoor ceremony, The Courtyard was created with you in mind. Surrounded by the beauty of the outdoors, winding paved walkways and several stone benches, the stone terrace with antique lighting provides a romantic ambiance. This outdoor area can also be transformed from your ceremony to your reception area for an intimate dinner.

Services Offered
One of the unique aspects of Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center is the trolley service they provide from area hotels to your wedding venue. In addition, Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center can provide the following event services:

  • Accommodations
  • Event rentals
  • Event planning
  • Cake
  • Lighting/sound

Features

Small team (2-10 members)

Experience

  • 87 years in business

  • We speak English

Links

Visit website

FAQ

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

1,750

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

1,750

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

2,250

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

2,250

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Parking
Set Up
Tables
Transportation

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

6

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Historic Building
Hotel
Park

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Bar Services
Catering Services
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink

What event items are available?

Chairs
Dance Floor
Drapery
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Shuttle
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
November
December

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center

Weddingwire
4.9/5 81 reviews
Google
4.5/5 2120 reviews
K
Kristen Sent on 01/03/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Enchanting and professional!

Our experience with Starved Rock Lodge was absolutely incredible, from start to finish. The picturesque and nature filled outdoor area and cozy indoor lodge provided the perfect backdrop to have our dream wedding, creating an ambiance that was both enchanting and romantic. The venue is well maintained and the staff was not only professional and accommodating, but also went above and beyond to ensure every aspect of our day ran smoothly. Jenny was our contact and I cannot say enough good things about the work she put in and kept straight for our wedding, and was extremely responsive to all the questions we had along the way in our 1.5 years leading up to the wedding. Being an all inclusive venue was a major plus as well and really made the entire process so easy to have our wedding there. We had an alternative wedding as well and felt more than welcome that it is an accepting venue for whatever you want or need for your wedding. Working with the preferred vendors as well made everything so easy, as Starved Rock has great communication and rapport with them, so it was even less to worry about. The food was also outstanding and we also had guests comment on how it was the best wedding food they've had. Our guests (and us) are also still raving about the incredible atmosphere and beauty of Starved Rock, making it a truly unforgettable and perfect choice for our day!
amanda
Amanda Sent on 05/15/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Great experience!

We had our May 2024 wedding at Starved Rock Lodge and it exceeded my expectations! The grounds and reception spaces are just beautiful! Working with Jenny up until our wedding was a very positive experience and the communication was great. All our guests had a great time and many made a weekend of it and came down early to enjoy the hiking and amenities of the hotel. Would highly recommend as a micro destination wedding!
Mitchell
Mitchell Sent on 07/21/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful, Friendly, Excellent Value

Starved Rock State Park is a breathtaking green space in Illinois, and Starved Rock Lodge is the perfect venue and gateway to the park. The beauty on our wedding day still takes me aback. Hannah and the crew at the lodge were easy to work with and were far and away our favorite venue. They delivered on every promise and made our day extra special. The food was excellent, and the value was tremendous. Thanks for making our day even more special!
R
Rebecca Sent on 12/15/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful wedding venue and awesome food!

Starved Rock was such a beautiful venue! Although we did bring some of our own decorations, we really didn't need much as the natural setting of the lodge was beautiful in and of itself. The scenery provided for the most beautiful pictures that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Everyone worries about how their wedding food is going to come out in such large portions, but I guarantee you will not need to worry about that with this venue! Every comment we received about our food at the wedding was extremely positive and everyone absolutely LOVED the food! Hannah really helped us make sure everything ran according to plan and ensured that we had the most perfect and memorable day! She was so willing to answer every question myself or my mom had about their venue, and they were a great help. Thank you, Hannah and Starved Rock, for hosting the most perfect wedding! - Rebecca and Jordan Royal
Allison
Allison Sent on 11/03/2021
5 out of 5 rating

The Dream Venue

Starved Rock Lodge was the absolute dream wedding venue for us. Not only is it gorgeous, but it has everything you need in a venue—included catering, a rain-day option, PLENTY of reception space, lodging, and more. We worked with Hannah for about two years and she was so amazing. I must say I emailed her A LOT with questions and she always had a quick response and expert advice. We felt so taken care of the entire process and everything was just so easy with Starved Rock. It was a huge bonus for us that they set up/took down the tables, chairs, ceremony area, and flatware for us as well. Not to mention us and our guests RAVED about how good the food was! Our wedding was the most magical day and Starved Rock provided the absolute perfect backdrop for it.
L
Lauren Sent on 10/03/2021
5 out of 5 rating

A Wonderful Experience

Working with Starved Rock for our wedding celebration was a wonderful experience in a time of uncertainty. We first booked our wedding with Starved Rock at a wedding expo they hosted in 2019. Back then we thought we’d be getting married in 2020, but as the pandemic would have it, we ended up pushing our larger celebration at Starved Rock out to September 2021. Everyone we worked with was incredibly flexible and responsive when working with us to confirm availability for our new date, and help make that transition go super smoothly. They even automatically rescheduled the hotel bookings for people in our block!

The days leading up to the wedding, and the Big Day itself, were wonderfully handled –– Jenny and Hannah helped keep us on track and organized, fielding many questions from both myself and my mom along the way.

All in all the venue was beautiful, and the food was so good! Staff were courteous and respectful – everything went so smoothly. We got so many compliments from our guests – many of which had never been to Starved Rock previously. We had a lovely time.

L
Lindsay Sent on 07/21/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Most perfect wedding venue!

A quote from my dad, “people ask me how the wedding was and I tell them exquisite. It was exquisite. I can’t stop thinking about it.” Starved Rock in the summer…there is nothing more beautiful. It was the best weekend of our lives and we could not have picked a better venue or a better person (Jenny) to work with. The ceremony space is breathtaking and we didn’t even add anything but chairs! The room for dinner was so romantic and gorgeous and even the dancing room, with the help of SueZ’s linens was so romantic and beautiful. It’s so reasonably priced. You can’t beat the views, food, or service!
LIndsay
Lindsay Sent on 12/22/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful location for a Ceremony - Wedding Planner Review

I am a Wedding Planner with MODE Events and I am based in Chicago. Due to Covid, one of my couples had their original wedding venue close. They chose Starved Rock as their new location, and it was TRULY meant to be! The team at Starved Rock was very accommodating , easy to work with, and quick to respond to our questions. I really hope to do another wedding there - it was SO stunning! Highly recommend working with their team and having your wedding here.
Sarah
Sarah Sent on 07/11/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful location

Starved Rock was an absolutely beautiful reception venue. We have always loved hiking around the park and it was truly special to be able to have our wedding here. The Starved Rock sales team was a pleasure to work with, they were flexible and very knowledgeable and made my wedding day go as smoothly as possible.
Ann
Ann G. Sent on 04/05/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Excellent very professional

Service was excellent, very professional staff food was perfect and sweet table was fantastic everything was just perfect hotel was very clean and attended to all my guests needs promptly I would recommend this venue to everyone!!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

81
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2011 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2010 Winner
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Are you interested?

Team

Starved Rock Sales Team
Starved Rock Sales Team
Coordinator
Jenny Roulston
Jenny Roulston
Sales and Catering Manager & Assistant General Manager
Hannah Cook
Hannah Cook
Sales Consultant
Tiffany Sigala
Tiffany Sigala
Sales and Activities Specialist

Professional Network & Endorsements

Simple Elegance Events & Entertainment Simple Elegance Events & Entertainment Wedding Planners

Jill and the staff at Starved Rock are wonderful to work with. They are very accommodating and helpful. We couldn't ask for more positive experiences than when working with them. The venue is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the staff is great. We look forward to being a part of many more weddings at Starved Rock!

Map

Location

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Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center frequently asked questions

Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
  • Transportation
Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Open Bar
The space offered by Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Historic Building
  • Hotel
  • Park
Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Drapery
  • Tables
Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center is recommended by 98% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in average response time, 4.9 in professionalism, 4.9 in value and 4.7 in flexibility.

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