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About

On WeddingWire since 2015

The Chicago Athletic Association hotel offers a wedding venue and event space in Chicago, Illinois. The ballroom space provides a location full of character and glamour. Enjoy sports memorabilia, vintage decor and luxury suites.

Facilities and Capacity

This architectural landmark provides many different event spaces that feature 19th-century details. The glass-stained windows line the ballroom, while marble staircases and wood carvings decorate every inch of the space. Enjoy views of Millennium Park with up to 250 guests. Couples can also choose to host their event in nontraditional spaces like a reimagined basketball court. Their spaces include:

  • White City Ballroom
  • Madison Ballroom
  • Stagg Court
  • The Tank

Services Offered

The wedding planning team at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel are there to arrange the details for you. They will provide setup and cleanup while you enjoy your day. Your entertainment will have convenient access to lighting and sound capabilities. Couples can also take advantage of a bridal suite, accommodations, and event rentals. Overnight accommodations can be offered as the venue holds a number of rooms and suites perfect for a longer stay. You’ll enjoy luxury amenities and vintage-inspired furnishings in every room.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No

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?

$5

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

$5

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Set Up
Tables

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

Cake Cutting
Dessert
Wedding Cake

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$60

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

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

6

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Historic Building
Hotel

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What bar services do you provide?

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

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Chairs
Dance Floor
Lighting
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Valet
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
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5.0 out of 5 rating
9 Reviews
  • Quality of service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
100% Recommended by couples

15 User photos

9 Reviews
K
Kristen S. Married on 11/27/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Best Weekend of Our Lives!

Please consider hosting your wedding at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel - I PROMISE you will have the best weekend of your life.

We hosted our entire wedding weekend at CAA 11/26-11/28/2021: rehearsal dinner at Cindy's, getting ready hotel suites in the morning (Millennium King for girls, Founder's for guys), TopGolf suite on our wedding morning, ceremony in the Madison Ballroom, cocktail hour at Game Room, reception in White City Ballroom, late-night Shake Shack delivery, and brunch the next morning in the Madison Ballroom. Each step of the way, we had the most incredible, knowledgeable, and responsive staff assisting us from our initial Zoom tour (we booked our wedding from out of state during lockdown if that speaks to the level of trust we had in this hotel!) through the last second of our wedding weekend. I cannot emphasize how wonderful the communication was with all of the staff from start to finish and I found that to be quite unique to this hotel during our wedding venue search.

To begin, the location of the hotel cannot be beaten. CAA has the most beautiful views of Millennium Park and the city overall by far. It is also convenient to get to the hotel itself. There is valet parking for guest convenience in case some need to drive in, easy to take public transportation here, and it is walkable to and from many popular areas of the city.

Next, the hotel itself is visually stunning. It is the coolest mix of historic, gothic, and ornate with a modern twist due to its' renovation/reopening in 2015. I highly recommend the hotel during the holiday season since their holiday decor is some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Additionally, the view of the gorgeous, huge Christmas tree at Millennium Park adds to the magic! I stayed in two different hotel rooms, a standard guest room the night before the wedding and the Millennium King Suite the night of the wedding (which was also our getting ready suite). Both rooms were very clean, comfortable, and had all the amenities I could need. Depending on the location of your hotel room, your view out of the window may vary significantly (as would be the case in any hotel) which may affect how dark your room may be at baseline. Some rooms have very little natural light due to the particular location in this historic building and this is something I wanted to note, but it did not impact my experience at all. The bedroom in Millennium King Suite had some of the best natural lighting in the entire hotel (and obviously incredible views as it overlooks Millennium Park), so if this is important to you I highly recommend this room.

What brings all of these things together is the staff and service at the hotel, it is nothing short of incredible! Kelsey did nearly everything for us during the lockdown and ensured we had a smooth booking process after the venue we previously booked went into foreclosure, Kathryn assisted us with our room blocks and put our mind at ease with each part of that process, Budi was our wonderful catering manager and answered all of our questions in a timely fashion (he also ensured we had the best wedding weekend ever!), Mary made sure we were set up for success with food and drink on the morning of our wedding and brunch, and the banquet captains were nothing short of incredible in helping our wedding flow perfectly. Everyone from the valet employees and concierge to the chef truly wanted us to have a perfect weekend and it showed.

Chef Juan Hernandez curated the most incredible tailored menu dishes based on my husband and I's favorite foods. We could not stop talking about how amazing the food was at our tasting, and our guests had the same reaction on our wedding night! We will remember this forever.

I have nothing but positive things to say about the hotel and the most INCREDIBLE things to say about our experience during our wedding weekend. This hotel will forever be home to us now and we cannot wait until the next time we get to stay there!
S
Susan D. Married on 06/24/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Fairytale Wedding!

My daughter's wedding at Chicago Athletic Association can only be described as a fairytale. She had toured many venues and fell in love with CAA the moment she saw it. The Madison Ballroom was the perfect spot for the cocktail hour, and the White City Ballroom was absolutely STUNNING for dinner and dancing! The views of Millennium Park, the lake, and fireworks were breathtaking! We have had many guests tell us that it was the best wedding they have ever been to! The food was phenomenal and we loved that our guests were able to choose their meal tableside. But the thing that really sets CAA apart is the people...Hannah and Betty were so incredibly helpful and patient (as the mother of the bride and this being my only daughter, I asked a MILLION questions). They helped guide us throughout the process and gave us suggestions that we didn't even think were possible. They continued to follow up with us throughout the process and were always wonderfully responsive. They always made me feel comfortable to ask questions and make changes. They were very accommodating with the special late night snacks we wanted to bring in, some special signature cocktails, as well as décor including a very large mirror for the bride and groom's seating chart. I would highly recommend Chicago Athletic Association and especially working with Hannah and Betty 10/10! It truly was an incredible experience from start to finish!
E
Evelyn R. Married on 10/28/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible

Words cannot even describe how amazing Chicago Athletic Club was as our Wedding Venue. When we asked for something, they went above and beyond, for even the most simple requests. Hannah made our day so easy and effortless, we both felt incredibly lucky to work with this team. We had a big wedding, with lots of requests and they accommodated all of them. Food, venue and hotel was amazing. Also, if you are looking for an LGBTQIA+ friendly vendor look no further. Can’t wait to stay for our anniversary❤️
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Awards

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Pricing

Team

Budi Tanzil
Budi Tanzil
Director of Catering and Convention Services

Our Director of Catering and Convention Services, Budi Tanzil, has been with the Chicago Athletic Association hotel since its opening in 2015. While the hotel itself is an architectural gem, the collective efforts of this team define its identity, and he considers himself fortunate to be part of it. As a wedding specialist, Budi finds immense joy in being part of these celebrations, assisting in dreams transforming into reality. From the initial meeting and year-long planning process to flawlessly executing the event, Budi revels in creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Understanding the significance of balancing work and play, Budi discovers joy and relaxation through his leisure activities. Despite having a chef as a husband, Budi enjoys cooking at home, beach vacations, particularly when in the company of close friends, watching foreign films on Netflix, and finds tranquility in biking along the lakefront.

Hannah Chmela
Hannah Chmela
Catering Sales Manager

Meet Hannah, our Catering Sales Manager, who has been an integral part of our hotel since 2018 when she joined our guest services team. As a part of her role, she conducted historical tours of the hotel's storied spaces, igniting her passion and appreciation for the building's rich history.

Today, Hannah channels that love for these spaces into creating timeless and romantic weddings, as well as unique and memorable corporate events, regardless of their size. One of Hannah's greatest joys is getting to know each couple who chooses to tie the knot at the CAA. She takes great care in ensuring their personalities shine through on their special day by crafting custom menus, selecting the perfect decor, and arranging flexible layouts to match their vision. Hannah takes immense pride in being a part of the CAA team and goes above and beyond to connect clients with other talented local vendors, creating the dream-team for their wedding.


When she isn't busy orchestrating events onsite, you can find Hannah indulging in her hobbies. She loves baking, taking leisurely strolls with her adorable mini-Aussie companion Dudley, and planning parties for her friends and family.

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Chicago Athletic Association Hotel frequently asked questions

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Chicago Athletic Association Hotel includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Dessert
  • Wedding Cake
The bar service starting price at Chicago Athletic Association Hotel includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • Champagne Toast
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Open Bar
  • Premium Liquor
  • Specialty Beer
  • Specialty Wine
The space offered by Chicago Athletic Association Hotel for wedding events is known for:
  • Ballroom
  • Historic Building
  • Hotel
Chicago Athletic Association Hotel offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Chicago Athletic Association Hotel offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Chicago Athletic Association Hotel offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
Chicago Athletic Association Hotel offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Lighting
  • Tables
Chicago Athletic Association Hotel is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.

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