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Weddings

About

South Branch is a charming, riverside restaurant located in the heart of downtown Chicago, just steps from the Willis Tower and Union Station. The restaurant serves as an alternative wedding reception venue for couples looking for a unique urban setting ($25k minimum).

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Frequently asked questions

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?

$25,000

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

$25,000

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

No

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

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Lighting/Sound
Set Up
Tables

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

Cake Cutting
Server(s)

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$35

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

Bartender(s)
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

3

Describe your venue:

Restaurant
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Outside Vendors
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
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
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Chairs
Dance Floor
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

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
November
December

Reviews of South Branch

Katie
Katie Sent on 09/12/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic Venue

Not even 2 weeks ago my fiancé and I had our wedding ceremony at South Branch followed by a cocktail reception with appetizers. If we could do it all over again, we wouldn't change anything. We cannot thank the team at South Branch enough. From day one, Rachel made us feel completely comfortable and that whatever it took to make use feel stress-free and at ease, they would take care of. Their level of professionalism is outstanding - from the early days of planning to the execution of the events, they never once failed to accommodate. All of our guests commented about how delicious the food was, and couldn't get enough. We can't thank the team enough for the time and effort they put into making this truly, the best day ever.
D
Dana Sent on 08/04/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Great choice for a Chicago wedding!

Our wedding reception at South Branch was amazing! We worked with Melanie, who was a delight to work with from beginning to end. The venue itself is the perfect space for a Chicago wedding. We loved having the combination of indoor and outdoor space. Guests were able to be cool and relaxed inside for dinner and eating, but go outside and take in the city lights and river for cocktail hour, drinking, and dancing! Our guests were so impressed with the location. In addition to people saying that it was an absolutely perfect venue, we had several people compliment us on the execution, the flow, and timing of the reception.

The staff at South Branch were so easy to work with and so accommodating. They got dinner out quickly and efficiently. We even had one guest who was stuck at work and running late. The servers brought his dinner out to him on the dance floor when he got there later in the night. They set up all our decorations themselves and did a wonderful job. They played two different videos/slideshows for us that worked perfectly on the TVs inside and outside. They were so accommodating for all the things we wanted to bring and the things that just showed up (lots of glow sticks).

The food was absolutely amazing - the steak was wonderful, it was cooked perfectly, and I think everyone loved their meals. No one ever had to wait for a drink all night. The bar staff were amazing, helpful, and quick to serve everyone.  

We didn't have to worry about anything, it was stress-free, and we could focus on hanging out with our family and friends. I think that's all due to their team and that they are all exceptional at what they do. 
N
Nora Sent on 08/21/2018
5 out of 5 rating
We had our wedding at South Branch this August, and it could not have been a more perfect night. We wanted a more relaxed, cocktail style reception but we wanted to make sure that our guests had plenty of food. We also wanted an outdoor wedding and reception with a solid indoor backup plan in case the weather was terrible. South Branch hit it out of the park on all counts. We ended up having great weather, so we were able to have the entire night out on their awesome patio. Our guests raved about the food, the service, and the fact that they never had a wait at the bar. The staff were wonderful to work with, and the venue's day-of coordinator kept the whole night running smoothly. It ended up being the absolute perfect venue for our Chicago wedding.
E
Elizabeth Sent on 06/29/2016
5 out of 5 rating
From the beginning with our very first e-mails, right down to our wedding day and the days following, working with South Branch was an absolute pleasure. We first worked with Gabi, who was so attentive and helpful, and made our wedding tasting a fun night out for us.

Then two months before our wedding, Christina returned to South Branch from maternity leave and took over for us. She jumped right in like she had been working with us from the beginning and she never missed a beat. She made sure every silly little concern or request we had was addressed, always with a hug and a smile.

My main goal for our wedding day was to not worry about the little things and just enjoy the day, and Christina made that goal a reality. The venue looked absolutely beautiful (as always), the servers were so polite and welcoming to our guests (on the hottest day of the year), and Christina and her team brought my vision to life. Our guests are still ranting and raving about the delicious food and the endless drink options, and the city lights made a wonderful backdrop for a late night dance party.

South Branch even made our pickup the following Monday seamless - they even kept my bouquet in water and our cake in the freezer, and had everything else packaged up and ready to go upon our arrival. I cannot praise Gabi, Christina, and the South Branch staff highly enough, and I will recommend this wonderful venue to anyone who will listen.

THANK YOU SOUTH BRANCH!
D
Dana Sent on 09/08/2015
5 out of 5 rating
We used South Branch for our wedding on August 15, 2015. Jennifer Williams and her team are completely amazing. The entire event was flawless, from the ceremony, to dinner, to the reception afterwards. Throughout the planning process, it was a pleasure to work with Jennifer to finalize any and all details before the big day. I met with her 3-4 times throughout the past year for walk-throughs, food tastings, and pre-event meetings. She always had an answer for any of my questions. One of the reasons we picked South Branch as our venue was due to her confidence, calm demeanor, and organizational skills. She assured us that everything would go perfectly on our big day and she was exactly right. Our guests commented that the food was outstanding, the service was excellent, and even the security guards were friendly. We made a last-minute decision to extend our event from 11pm to midnight and her whole team graciously accommodated our request. Compared to other venues in downtown Chicago, South Branch is relatively affordable for an outdoor, Chicago Loop wedding. The value of the event compared to the cost was on point. We cannot say enough good things about the events team at South Branch.
W
Wendy Sent on 06/24/2014
5 out of 5 rating
My son and daughter in law had set their minds on a venue located in the heart of downtown Chicago. Originally, I wasn't to thrilled about the venue - but as their special day arrived 6/22, I soon discovered how wrong I was in my thinking. We were so impressed how attentive, accommodating and respectful everyone was to us - especially the director of the event - Erin Carroll. She was so pleasant and professional throughout the entire event, consequently this took pressure and stress away from us. She ensured us by having "top notch security" which kept wandering admirers away from our venue. These people were "outstanding" and did a terrific job. The bar and kitchen staff were also very flexible, pleasant and responsive to everyones request. The day went absolutely perfect - and I mean perfect. Everyone had a terrific time and my son and daughter in law felt like royalty. A thousand thanks to Erin and the entire staff for making this day so special.
U
User1303391 Sent on 08/25/2013
4.9 out of 5 rating
Beautiful venue with indoor/outdoor options. Fantastic service and event coordination.
A
Aaron Sent on 07/23/2015
4.8 out of 5 rating
My husband and I held our ceremony and reception at South Branch. Overall, we were very happy with our experience!!

From the beginning, South Branch staff was responsive and helpful. We worked mainly with Jennifer and Christina. Both responded to emails in a timely manner and were available to meet in person at our request. The tasting was lovely and they were extremely accommodating of any requests we threw there way.

The venue itself is beautiful, tastefully decorated and incredible location in the heart of downtown Chicago and right on the river. We had a cocktail style reception with passed appetizers and stationary food items. All of our guests raved about the food and said that there was plenty to go around. Our guests also loved the open bar. If you have family and friends that can drink, this is the bar menu to go for! Great selection of beers and liquors. The servers and bartenders were all incredibly professional and on top of their game.

For being a downtown Chicago venue, South Branch is more affordable than the other options we looked into. We planned our wedding from the west coast and needed a venue that could pretty much handle everything....it was too complicated finding caterers, linens, etc., from across the county. It was so easy and painless with South Branch, they really did take care of almost everything.

The only very small downside was that there wasn't much direction given to our guests when we had our receiving line. However, it also started raining so the staff was dealing with moving the entire wedding indoors when we had planned on it being outdoors. So they definitely were dealing with bigger issues! That being said, the transition indoors was seamless and I appreciate their flexibility and coolness under pressure.

I seriously cannot recommend South Branch enough! We received so many compliments on our wedding, especially the food, venue, and open bar!
B
Bethany Sent on 12/23/2013
4.6 out of 5 rating
without the cooperation of mother nature, this place is still very city chic, but the 4000 sq ft patio really gave the feel we were looking for. having your guests outside on the river surrounded by all the buildings downtown constantly reminds people that they are part of the skyline in the greatest city in the world. plus, it will look like you cost a fortune to ensure they have a good time! because south branch is set in the business district, being a saturday night, everything surrounding us was pretty quiet. when we left to take nighttime pictures, all we could hear through the whole neighborhood was our band rockin it out. it was more important to us that we have good food rather than pretty food, so for us, the only option for our reception was a restaurant. the staff is great and manager erin will make sure that everything is going smoothly every step of the way.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

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Map

South Branch frequently asked questions

South Branch includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Set Up
  • Tables
South Branch includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at South Branch includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
The space offered by South Branch for wedding events is known for:
  • Restaurant
  • Waterfront
South Branch offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
South Branch offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
South Branch offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
South Branch offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Tables
South Branch is recommended by 98% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 5 in average response time, 5 in professionalism, 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in value and 4.8 in flexibility.
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