Located in Wheaton, Illinois, Cantigny Park and Cantigny Golf are prime wedding venues for couples in the Chicago area. To-be-weds can enjoy their special day among gardens or in a country club atmosphere. The former estate of Robert R. McCormick, Cantigny provides an idyllic backdrop for weddings and events of all kinds.

Facilities

The 500-acre estate offers three facilities for events. At Cantigny Park, Le Jardin, on the north end of the Visitors Center, is surrounded by serene display gardens. An outdoor patio provides a perfect spot for pre-dinner cocktails. The room itself accommodates up to 200 guests. At Cantigny Golf, the Red Oak Room provides space for up to 140. The room features panoramic views of the golf course and a soaring cathedral ceiling. Also at Cantigny Golf is the Woodside Pavilion. This space, opened in 2018, is a premium tented-style venue for parties of up to 250 guests.

Couples can choose from seven ceremony sites on property: South Grove, Rose Garden, Rock Garden, Prairie View, Red Oak Patio, Lakeside Patio and Woodside Garden. Each can become an elegant retreat with decor to suit your wedding theme.

Wedding parties and their guests will treasure their time at Cantigny, a scenic venue with numerous opportunities for stunning wedding photography and videography.

Services Offered

Wedding specialists at Cantigny work with clients to match wedding packages to couples’ preferences. On request, the team will provide custom linens and furniture to decorate an event. Couples also enjoy a wide range of catering options, all available on site.

Cuisine

At Cantigny, couples may design their own menu by choosing the entrees they love most. Choose from dishes like Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi, Tuscan Pork with apple mashed potatoes, Mediterranean Chicken, and more. The culinary team also provides a selection of hors d'oeuvres, late-night snacks, and bar options to wow wedding guests.

History

Cantigny was the home and property of Colonel Robert R. McCormick (1880-1955), long-time editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. McCormick’s passing established the Robert R. McCormick Charitable Trust, now called the McCormick Foundation, and Cantigny was designated as a public space for education and recreation. The park opened in 1958. Cantigny Golf opened in 1989.

Cantigny is named after a small village in France, where Colonel McCormick, serving with the Army’s First Division, commanded an artillery battalion in 1918 at the Battle of Cantigny. It was America’s first victory in World War I. The experience made such an impression on McCormikc that he renamed his Wheaton estate Cantigny when he returned from the Great War. The property was originally called Red Oaks Farm.

Today, Cantigny is home to many popular attractions: McCormick House, First Division Museum, display gardens, picnic grounds, walking trails, and a Visitors Center with a gift shop, theater, and café. Concerts, lectures, workshops, festivals and other special events take place on the grounds throughout the year. Adjacent to the park, Cantigny Golf features a 27-hole championship golf course, full-service clubhouse, Cantigny Golf Academy, and the 9-hole Cantigny Youth Links.