Millions of engaged couples turn to WeddingWire as their trusted wedding resource, with the largest directory of local wedding vendors in Illinois. Easily find the best wedding services in your area with detailed vendor reviews, prices and availability for your wedding day.
Matthew Robert Creative is a wedding film business based out of New Lenox, Illinois. Founders, Matthew Holdren and Ben Jones, centered their business on creatively exploring ways in which they could produce top-quality cinematography. This team is dedicated to collaborating with couples and... (Wedding Videographers Chicago)
Amore Albums is located in Rolling Meadows, Illinois and provides heirloom-quality wedding albums and photo books. The company was started by photographers who realized there was a need for simplifying the album-buying process. Their mission is to fill the homes of their clients with the timeless... (Wedding Favors)
Plan + Gather Events is a full-service event management company based out of Saint John, Indiana, that specializes in custom events of all sizes. From day-of coordination to full wedding planning, this team can make sure that each and every event is inspiring, extraordinary, and unforgettable. The... (Wedding Planners)
RedBank Studios is a wedding photographer and videographer based in Chicago, Illinois that offers outstanding customer service and visual storytelling. Owners and lead photographers, Bogdan and Elena, specialize in capturing special moments through an artistic lens in a variety of mediums. This... (Wedding Photographers)
Located in Chicago’s suburbs, La Vita Photography is a company designed to capture one of the most important and memorable days of your life, your wedding day! At La Vita Photography, we strive on working diligently with our clients to ensure your wedding dreams are made into reality providing you... (Wedding Photographers Lake Zurich)
As a premium supplier of men's custom fitted clothing, Enzo Custom provides the highest quality service to all our clientele. Offering custom tailored suits, bespoke shirts, custom blazers, custom top coats and many other accessories to make you look the part. Enzo Custom is not a traditional... (Wedding Dresses)
Aisle Chic is a premier bridal attire boutique in Chicago, Illinois. This unique shop provides sample gowns from top designers, for a fraction of the original price. All gowns in their inventory come from couture bridal salons or directly from designers. You can find the luxe gown of your dreams for... (Wedding Dresses)
Steve Weber Films is a professional videography service located in Jacksonville, Illinois. I am dedicated to providing couples unmatched customer service and a high-quality recap film of their big day, My goal is to make everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera. I document your big day from... (Wedding Videographers)
CONGRATS YOU'RE ENGAGED! Let the planning begin! Brenda Elizabeth Photography is here to help! I provide my couples with a Wedding Welcome Guide to answer any questions + show you any little detail you have yet to think about. Being a Brenda Elizabeth Couple you will experience an in person... (Wedding Photographers Calumet City)
Wolsfelts Bridal & Tuxedos is a family owned bridal attire service in Aurora, Illinois. This boutique offers a complete menu of service to help you plan all the elements of your wedding aesthetic, from your dream gown to bridal party accessories. Whether you come to Wolsfelts having an exact vision... (Wedding Dresses Aurora)
Lansing Cleaners is a wedding dress business operating out of Lansing, Illinois. Boasting several decades worth of experience, this family-owned business is very knowledgeable on how to take care of your wedding-day attire. In particular, they are highly skilled when it comes to making sure your... (Wedding Dresses Lansing)
RedFilm is a photography and videography company in Chicago, Illinois. They use a combination of cinematic, short form, storytelling, traditional and documentary styles in their work to create a unique final product that exceeds your expectations. RedFilm wants to help capture and share the... (Wedding Videographers Chicago)
Bella-Hill is located in Racine, Wisconsin. Our Creative Team wants to capture your wedding day in the most authentic way possible. The CINEMATOGRAPHY styles incorporate cinematic, short form, documentary and storytelling styles, while the PHOTOGRAPHY is focused on fresh creative, magazine and... (Wedding Videographers)
A full-service wedding transportation company in Moweaqua, Illinois, Timi's Tours Transportation specializes in customized luxury motor coaches. Family owned and operated, this company has been a dependable part of the Illinois wedding industry since 2006. The ideal one-stop shop for all your... (Wedding Limos Moweaqua)
VitaSteel Rings is a Magna, Utah-based wedding jewelry company that specializes in men’s and women’s rings crafted from authentic tungsten. These modern pieces are designed to last and offer an alternative to traditional ring selections. Each ring’s surface is nearly impossible to scratch or damage.... (Wedding Jewelers)
Illinois is a land of contrasts. It's one of the most populous states, yet includes vast expanses of beautiful, uninhabited territory. It has one of the biggest & boldest cities in the U.S. (Chicago), but also exemplifies main street USA with hundreds of small towns and villages. And even the state's climate can contrast itself within a matter of minutes. Illinois weather is notoriously unpredictable during certain times of the year (more on that later). For soon-to-be-newlyweds, Chicago offers everything for a perfect Illinois wedding: world-famous architecture, historical sites, trendy neighborhoods and literally hundreds of wondrous Chicago wedding ceremony and reception venues. The entire city is a wedding photographer's dream. Chicago is also located in the heart of the state's Great Lakes region, particularly the Lake Michigan waterfront. The entire northeastern portion of Illinois is always a popular spot for wedding planners. The Illinois countryside includes hundreds of miles of Mississippi River waterfront, as America's most famous waterway forms the state's western border. Also, the Ohio River forms the state's southern border with Kentucky, giving Illinois two of the most storied rivers in American history. Many couples plan accordingly, with rustic steamboat-themed wedding celebrations on the rise. Other state highlights include Peoria, located in the north central part of the state, and Champaign, which is located almost due south of Chicago. Champaign is home to the University of Illinois, and many alumni plan their Illinois wedding in and around the Champaign region. Springfield, the capital, exemplifies Illinois' Midwestern character, and is another area currently en vogue with wedding planners.
If you're planning a wedding in Illinois, keep a close eye on the weather. Summers can be steamy, and Illinois winters can be absolutely unforgivable, (especially in the northern part of the state, due to lake-effect snow). Many couples choose to play it safe with their Illinois weddings, opting for spring and autumn celebrations. But all four seasons are wedding worthy times of the year. Keep all of your options open; there are few states that offer the wedding-ready venues, natural scenery, small town serenity and urban excitement of Illinois. Fall foliage, sparkling blue lakefront areas, sweeping architectural masterpieces, rolling river valleys - Illinois has everything a wedding planner could want in terms of photogenic backdrops. And that means deciding on a color can be a difficult task. Try to match your tone with the surrounding season and locale, or go for bold contrast to mix things up.
The cost of an Illinois wedding varies greatly across the state. While the state sales tax is 6.25%, local and municipal taxes (we're looking at you, Cook County and Chicago) can nearly double the base rate up to 11%. Generally, prices head south when you literally head south from Chicago. A wedding in the city of big shoulders will demand a big price tag. Only Los Angeles and New York City weddings cost more than Chicago. Swanky Chi-town venues can cost upwards of $300 per person, once catering costs are figured in. However, that doesn't mean all Illinois weddings are mega-expensive. In fact, the state stacks up favorably with other affordable locations in the United States. Weddings in Peoria, Springfield, Champaign and other mid-sized Illinois cities are considered average or slightly above average. Illinois' wedding décor possibilities are fitting of a state with so much to offer. Unique Chicago wedding catering options in the Land of Lincoln include everything from hearty country fare to elegant, sophisticated urban dishes. For décor, you can do it yourself or choose an Illinois wedding decorator.
Illinois wedding license requirements aren't terribly stringent, like other states. The cost of your marriage license ranges from $15.00 to $30.00, with Chicago and Cook County licenses in the upper range. There is no waiting period to receive the license, and only a 1-day waiting period from license receipt to wedding day. Keep in mind, an Illinois marriage license expires after 60 days, so make sure your venue, caterer, photographer and all other logistical considerations are taken care of well beforehand.
