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Weddings

Attributes highlighted by couples

Helpful staff
Unique aesthetic style
Guests comfort
Amenities

About this vendor

Linda Schuemann
Linda Schuemann
Senior Catering Sales Manager

Asian-owned

37 years in business

We speak Arabic, English, Hindi, Indonesian and Spanish

Small team (2-10 members)

From the walk down the aisle to the final farewell, Elara Convention Center at the Holiday Inn Crystal Lake ensures every detail of your wedding reflects your individuality.

Facilities and Capacity

The newly renovated Elara Convention Center is 19,500 square feet with 18 function rooms. The ballroom is over 11,000 square feet and accommodates weddings up to 1,200 guests. The wraparound outdoor deck overlooking our private pond is perfect for a bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, or pre-reception cocktails. Perfect venue space for indoor and outdoor weddings. The Holiday Inn Crystal Lake & Elara Convention Center is just what you're looking for to create extraordinary experiences for your wedding day.

In addition to our state-of-the-art convention center, the Holiday Inn Crystal Lake features 197 newly renovated guest rooms on 6 floors, including 86 double bed rooms, 95 king rooms, and 16 suites. All guest rooms feature high-speed internet access, on-demand movies, HBO, and Kuerig Coffee Makers. Guests will enjoy dining at the award-winning restaurant, gathering at the lobby cocktail lounge, and unwinding in the fitness, or at the area's largest resort-like indoor pool.

Services Offered

When you choose Holiday Inn Crystal Lake for your wedding, your Sales Catering Manager will work with you to create customized menus from our onsite catering and help you determine each detail to make your wedding day memorable. From intimate affairs to grand events, our 19,500 square feet state-of-the-art Elara Convention Center is the first step in creating extraordinary experiences for your wedding day.

With an unwavering dedication to making this day a priceless memory, Holiday Inn Crystal Lake provides personalized event planning for wedding ceremonies, receptions, engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, and bridal showers. Choose from provided barware, flatware, linens, china, and glassware as well as a variety of audio visual services available to add on to your wedding package. Complimentary parking with shuttle service. Wheelchair accessible.

Location

Just 40 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, Holiday Inn Crystal Lake & Elara Convention Center is situated in a community full of charm and personality. The Holiday Inn Crystal Lake is surrounded by lush acreage overlooking the quaint Lake Acorn and is McHenry County’s most complete hotel and conference center.

The community of Crystal Lake is an outdoor lover’s paradise! In their free time, your visiting guests can experience swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, kayaking and wakeboarding. Rich in historical charm, they can discover the Dole Mansion, Colonel Palme, or Bettendorf Castle or spend a whole afternoon exploring Downtown Crystal Lake’s shops and dining.

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?

$500

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

$500

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?

$500

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

$500

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

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

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

Cake Cutting
Server(s)
Wedding Cake

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

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

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

50

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

21

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Banquet Hall
Garden
Hotel
Restaurant
Waterfront

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

What catering services do you offer?

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

What bar services do you provide?

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

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Centerpieces
Chairs
Chair Covers
Dance Floor
Decor
Lighting
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 Elara Convention Center

T
Teresa Sent on 11/09/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful Venue!!

Holiday Inn was a wonderful Venue for our wedding. Everybody was amazing especially Lisa Miles. Anytime I had a question she had an answer. Thanks to the staff at Holiday Inn I had a low stress beautiful wedding! The food is amazing!
U
User2593313 Sent on 05/01/2016
5 out of 5 rating
Morgan was wonderful through this whole process! From organizing the day's events to troubleshooting on the day of, Morgan was with us every step of the way. Morgan actually started with the Holiday Inn after we booked our wedding and she picked up where the other coordinator left off flawlessly. She did not miss a beat! She is extremely organized and does a great job of ensuring that all of your needs are met. In addition, Morgan communicates very well and responded to all of our questions day and night. The Holiday Inn is also extremely flexible and allowed us to do a lot of unique things for our wedding. We brought in a lot of outside decor and they happily set everything up. When it came to the day of our wedding we were very impressed with the Holiday Inn's ability to very easily manage our large event (about 170 guests). Our ceremony was in the atrium outside of the reception room and the transition from ceremony to reception (which we were worried about!) went seamlessly. Our guests didn't even notice them break down the ceremony area while we did our receiving line (which was Morgan's suggestion). The food at the Holiday Inn was excellent! Everything came out very hot and we received several compliments about the quality. Overall, we loved the Holiday Inn and our wedding day was beautiful! We would highly recommend them!
L
Lauren Sent on 10/29/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Fall wedding

Extremely well taken care of. Addressed all of my wedding wants and needs. Professional staff, Beautiful venue, great food, and overall Amazing value.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

21
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
illustration message review

Are you interested?

Real Weddings

Samantha & Matthew
115 photos · 05/04/2019

Team

Francisca Headrick
Francisca Headrick
Director of Sales
Linda Schuemann
Linda Schuemann
Senior Catering Sales Manager
Safitri (Fi) Thorton
Safitri (Fi) Thorton
Catering Sales Manager

Professional Network & Endorsements

Elegant Presentations Elegant Presentations Wedding Planners

We have worked with the staff at the Holiday Inn Crystal Lakes for many years. They are a great group to work with. Flexible, professional, and always willing to do what ever is needed for a successful event!

Photo Booth Of The Stars Photo Booth Of The Stars Photo Booths

Holiday Inn Crystal Lake is always a pleasure to work with. Great venue for all types of events!

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Wedding couple

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Elara Convention Center frequently asked questions

Elara Convention 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
Elara Convention Center includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Server(s)
  • Wedding Cake
The bar service starting price at Elara Convention Center includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • Champagne Toast
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Open Bar
  • Signature Drink
The space offered by Elara Convention Center for wedding events is known for:
  • Ballroom
  • Banquet Hall
  • Garden
  • Hotel
  • Restaurant
  • Waterfront
Elara Convention Center offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Elara Convention Center offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Elara Convention Center offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
Elara Convention Center offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Centerpieces
  • Chairs
  • Chair Covers
  • Dance Floor
  • Decor
  • Lighting
  • Tables
Elara Convention Center is recommended by 96% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in average response time, 4.9 in value, 4.8 in quality of service, 4.8 in flexibility and 4.8 in professionalism.
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