Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk Reviews

Planning an Indian wedding in Chicago — with 700 to 1,000 guests — felt overwhelming at first. We knew we needed a venue that wasn’t just beautiful, but one that truly understood the scale, the culture, and the heart behind a celebration like ours. After searching everywhere, we found the Sheraton Grand on the River… and it ended up being everything we hoped for and more.

From the moment we walked in, we felt supported. Vince was one of the first people we worked with, and he made such a difference. When we ran into a small issue with our room blocks, he handled it with so much kindness and patience. It wasn’t just “good service” — it felt like someone genuinely looking out for us during one of the most stressful parts of planning.

Behind the scenes, Lisa was our quiet hero. Coordinating with third‑party vendors — especially our own caterers — can be complicated, but she managed it all seamlessly. Knowing she was on top of every detail gave us so much peace of mind. We never had to worry about whether things were being handled; she made sure everything just worked.

The venue itself was magical. We split our reception into a cocktail hour and a sit‑down dinner, and the flow couldn’t have been more perfect. The Riverwalk during Labor Day weekend felt like something out of a movie — the views, the energy, the breeze off the water. It created such a joyful start to the evening. And when we stepped into the reception hall… it took our breath away. With the décor in place, it felt grand, elegant, and full of warmth. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful everything looked.

Looking back, choosing the Sheraton Grand was one of the best decisions we made. They didn’t just give us a venue — they gave us a team that cared, a space that elevated our traditions, and a wedding day we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.

The wedding coordinator at the Sheraton was amazing. Elisa Weeks made sure every one of my needs were met. The Sheraton in my opinion was also the most beautiful hotel to have a wedding at.

We knew we had found the venue for us when we walked into the Sheraton lobby. The hotel has an elegant atmosphere and the guest rooms are a good size although somewhat pricey in our room block at $199 a night. But then, that's what is expected downtown in a city like Chicago.

We had our wedding ceremony in the Missouri room and the reception in the Mayfair room for just over 30 guests. The Mayfair overlooks the Chicago River. (They also have a bigger room available for large weddings.) We also had our cocktail hour on the River Esplanade, which is quite beautiful with a view of the city and a big reason why we chose the Sheraton.

The quality of service and responsiveness are both under 4 stars because the hotel's wedding coordinator was usually busy with other events and we didn't receive everything on paper, in writing when we were supposed to. We often waited over a week to hear back from her.

There was also some confusion after the wedding where she had written something down that we didn't agree to and it took a month of discussions until it was finally settled. I think the fact that there was a second wedding in the larger room on the same day affected the service we received. All in all, a beautiful venue, but I'm not sure that it was worth the 22% service charge.

The waitstaff, however, and the chef were wonderful. The chef even prepared a seasonal menu for us, which was absolutely delicious. The pastry chef is also amazing.

I would recommend the Sheraton as a venue. The cost is reasonable if you want an elegant event without the price tag of the Drake or the Peninsula. Just be sure to get everything in writing (and signed) to save yourself the hassle later.

While the food for the reception was very good, and exactly what we had ordered at the tasting, the presentation of the ballroom was poor (wallpaper was peeling off the wall), the tables had to be moved during the receiving line due to a set up mistake, and the service was slow and not professionally dressed.