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Dan B. Sent on 06/27/2022

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Gorgeous and fun yet low-stress wedding

My husband I had had the pleasure of hosting our wedding ceremony and reception this month at The Crystal Ballroom. We had booked back in August of 2021 with Amy. She left several months later but Jessica who took over was just fantastic. Jessica and the whole team made it very easy to make all the decisions needed ahead of the wedding, then arranged everything so the rehearsal and day of were everything we could have hoped.

Everything looked absolutely beautiful and they did a great job with the decorations we had brought the day prior. We each were given our own suite (really a small one-bedroom apartment) to get ready, and Jessica had it stocked with drinks and snacks, brought us a steamer and anything else we asked for. We were able to use the rooftop terrace for a lot of photos with the wedding party and family. We also walked less than 10 minutes to the lake with our photographer and did couples photos there, so the location was very convenient for that (we did all the photos before the ceremony).

The ceremony was set up beautifully and the team swapped the ballroom to banquet incredibly well during cocktail hour. The bartenders were fast and made fantastic cocktails, including two unique signature cocktails we created. They even went out of the way to track down Ecuadorian aguardiente to use in one of them, which was highly appreciated by his family who had traveled from Ecuador. The food was stellar, with many guests complimenting it. During our tasting the chef gave us some suggestions that ended up changing what we originally were thinking but in such a delicious way. He even did an off menu plantain appetizer for us for cocktail hour. During dinner no one's wine glass was ever close to empty as the staff seemed to be everywhere all the time. The cake (included in the package) was absolutely gorgeous.

Overall we would highly recommend the Crystal Ballroom for anyone's wedding. They are just the nicest people (many of our guests commented on how friendly the staff were), and go out of their way to make everything very easy and low-stress. Thank you Jessica and the whole team for an amazing day!

+3 photos

Carolyn C. Sent on 05/07/2019

5 out of 5 rating

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Elegant and Sophisticated Ballroom

On first glance, the timeless elegant ballroom took our breath away. We were looking for a venue that was intimate, warm and inviting. The Crystal Ballroom delivered on all fronts. We had both our wedding ceremony and reception at the Ballroom.
Meredith and all of the staff members were wonderful; no small detail was over-looked. Planning and communication leading up to our day was timely and efficient. The Ballroom is perfectly situated in downtown Evanston; close to bars, restaurants, shops, etc.. Our guests had to simply walk across the street to the hotel at the end of the evening.
Day-of, we utilized the two bridal suites to take our time getting ready on-site. It was so great to have hair and make-up come to us. Stress free prep! Meredith had our fridge stocked with our favorite drinks and plenty of goodies. The ballroom itself is spectacular, we did not feel the need to decorate much beyond flowers. Cocktail hour took place in the stylish lobby & foyer., with two bars.
Returning to the Ballroom for dinner and our reception---it was breathtaking! And, the food! So so good. Above and beyond the standard wedding fare. Our guests all really enjoyed their meals. Overall, we received so many compliments on everything :)
We truly cannot say enough good things about the Crystal Ballroom and our wedding. We would 100% recommend!

The Crystal Ballroom & Lounge's reply:

Your group was incredible and so much fun!! I truly enjoyed working with you and Ryan and look forward to seeing you guys around Wrigley this summer. Thanks so much for this review. I'm grateful for the trust you bestowed in me to help plan your special day!! Cheers to you both!

Dana Sent on 04/28/2017

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The catering manager Christine exceeded our expectations. Very friendly and showed she loved her job. We all felt very close to her like family. The only reason why we did not choose this venue is because we wanted an outdoor option as well and I have to say it was hard to make the decision because I would not be working with her!

The Crystal Ballroom & Lounge's reply:

Thank you for your kind words, Dana! Admittedly, I would have loved to plan your wedding with you and your amazing family, but I'm so happy you found your perfect venue! All the best to you! - Liz.

Katie Sent on 07/06/2018

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What an amazing venue. Liz and her team were terrific to work with--very responsive and accommodating to all of our requests. The venue is absolutely beautiful with a fantastic location. Pair this with the Hyatt House across the street and your guests will love you. The food was legitimately delicious. We also had our ceremony here, and the transition from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception was handled perfectly. Highly highly recommend this venue!

Olivia Sent on 10/01/2017

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Our wedding was at the Crystal Ballroom on 9/24/17 and we have to say this venue is BEYOND THE BEST! We initially found the ballroom over a year in advance of the wedding and were working with Matthew. While communication with Matthew wasn't the best we loved the venue so much we decided we would sign a contract. Eventually Matthew left and Liz took over which was probably the best thing to happen because Liz was/is a rockstar. Her communication was excellent and she was very easy to work with. There were a few changes that took place (chair rental price, no more use of game room), but in the end it did not matter because everything else could not have been more perfect. The food was excellent, the staff was attentive, and Liz bent over backwards for us. This venue will always have a special place in our hearts and we could not be more pleased with the outcome. Thank you Liz and Crystal Ballroom!

Lorilyn Sent on 09/17/2017

5 out of 5 rating

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5 STARS! We just had our wedding here over Labor Day weekend. It was perfect in every way. The venue is incredibly beautiful and the entire team at the Crystal Ballroom was wonderful. Liz and Linda helped us plan our event and the entire staff put it together. Even though we got a bit off the original time schedule, the guests never knew because the staff worked seamlessly to adjust and keep all the elements in place. Thank you Crystal Ballroom for giving us the best day of our lives!!

Erin Sent on 07/22/2017

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Liz Crompton is the new wedding manager of the Crystal Ballroom. She made the whole wedding planning experience easy, fun, joyful,and she was a pleasure to work with. If we had a request she took care of it and always got back to us with our questions. She always had a smile on her face. She helped us make plan our ceremony, reception, and rehearsal dinner. Chef Tony made outstanding food as well as gluten free and vegan requests for multiple people. Everyone raved about our food and the beautiful venue. The pastry chef made a gorgeous flourless chocolate cake at our rehearsal dinner. Alberto was also wonderful during our reception. Thanks to the wonderful cooperation of the staff for our best day ever!! We will be recommending this venue to everyone we know!

Brittany Sent on 07/23/2017

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We had our wedding reception at the Crystal Ballroom in April! When we saw the Crystal Ballroom on our tour we immediately fell in love. It is a gorgeous room and the staff is so accommodating. We knew it was the perfect place for our wedding! The food and service is impeccable! We had a great time at our tasting session and received many compliments about the food from our guests :)
And Liz is just perfection! She is so easy to work with and thinks of every single detail. She went above and beyond for us and I couldn't be more thankful for all her help. Thank you for everything, Liz!

Nina Sent on 09/01/2015

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Ben and I had our wedding over the weekend on August 8th 2015 at The Crystal Ballroom and Amy, Alberto, Oscar and Matt had worked with us for nearly a year now to help us create the perfect event for our wedding. Amy, Alberto, Oscar and Matt especially (on his first week on the job), knew instinctively how to set up the room to maximize the room space, efficiently time our reception from start to finish, craft a delicious dinner menu and create an enticing space to dance. I know this is something that many people don’t even think about. But remember, the ceremony may last 90 minutes; the speeches 30 minutes; even dinner 60 minutes; but in the end, it’s the overall experience that we had that created those most talked about memories.

Matt’s careful attention to detail and the staff constantly checking in on us says a lot about their attentiveness and wanting to put their best foot forward to make us happy. Thank you for helping us consummate the wedding of our dreams.

The Heimers

Hailey Sent on 08/21/2018

4.9 out of 5 rating

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The second we walked in the ballroom, we knew it had to be our venue. In addition, our wedding planner, Liz, made everything a piece of cake. She told us she wanted to make the entire process as fun and easy as possible, and she certainly delivers on that process. She was available whenever, the entire time, to answer any little question that arose throughout the process. Plus, she was just fun to be around.

That's not to mention anything about the ballroom itself: it is absolutely stunning and the array of things you can do to customize it and make it your own is incredible. They make everything incredibly easy, their staff was very professional and respectful, and the food and cake were absolutely outstanding. Many people commented on the quality of the various foods. At our tasting, it was sincerely difficult to narrow down the various amazing options into 3 offerings for our guests.

You absolutely cannot go wrong at the Crystal Ballroom. They have two spaces: one for the cocktail hour and one for the actual reception. I like that they do this because when the doors are open the guests get to see the actual ballroom for the first time and have a memorable "wow" moment. That's not to say the cocktail space isn't incredible, it is, but the ballroom is something straight out of a movie.

Thank you for helping make our wedding day perfect.

Mallory Sent on 10/19/2016

4.8 out of 5 rating

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Our wedding reception at the Crystal Ballroom was beautiful, well-run & came together perfectly. While we did have a little bump in the road with staff changing in the final months before our wedding day, in the end, we couldn't have dreamed up a more perfect night.

Most of our planning in the year prior to our wedding was done through Matthew, who is no longer with the ballroom. In finding out that he had left, I will admit there was intense fear, panic, and even anger. It was an unfortunate & difficult situation, which may not have been communicated about in the best manner. However, from our very first interaction with Liz, the new ballroom manager, we were put at ease with her professionalism, confidence and knowledge of the event industry-including having been involved with many events at the Crystal Ballroom prior to working there. She was calm in discussing all of our panicked concerns. It became known to us quickly, that our event was a priority, including making sure the transition meant no detail was missed.

From the staff running the bar, to the servers and the chef, everyone ensures the night is of 5 star quality. The food choices are wonderful. It was important to us to not have typical "wedding" food, and we were very pleased with what was offered to us. After having our tasting, it came up multiple times how we were most excited 1) about being married and 2) to eat the food at our reception!

The Ballroom itself is beautiful, we often talked about how it didn't matter what decor we brought in because it was breathtaking on its own. The neutral tones and mirrors allow for a variety of color palettes to be brought in and highlighted to truly match any taste.

I would highly recommend the Crystal Ballroom. It is beautiful and there is nothing even close to comparable on the North Side of Chicago. It is because of the Crystal Ballroom that we could have our dream wedding reception!

Hillary K. Sent on 10/06/2021

4.6 out of 5 rating

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Perfect Wedding Day

We had the most beautiful, fun, and stress-free wedding reception thanks in part to Crystal Ballroom.
I came across Crystal Ballroom in December 2020 while frantically searching for a reception venue after our original venue cancelled our date for September 18, 2021 due to COVID. That's when I met Amy who was very helpful with setting up a venue tour and tastings for an out-of-state couple planning a wedding from 2000 miles away.
Originally there were some planning details missed in email correspondence, but that all got cleared up by the day of the wedding.
Speaking of that, one of the definite perks of the venue is a dressing room for the bride's use all day to get ready. Amy was there bright and early offering coffee and mimosas for myself and bridal party. Amy and the staff did an amazing job decorating the ballroom and lounge-- it fit my vision perfectly.
I loved the cocktail hour and dinner--- the food was incredible and the servers and bartenders were very professional and attentive.
Crystal Ballroom worked with all of our vendors to make sure my husband and I and all of our wedding guests had an amazing time. We definitely had the best party/wedding ever. Our only complaint is it went by too fast...

Laynee Sent on 03/19/2018

4.6 out of 5 rating

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Although we did not end up choosing the Crystal Ballroom and Lounge due to sizing, we loved the venue. Chelsea, our point of contact, was wonderful and came in on her day off to give us a tour of the ballroom and the amenities. She went over each and every detail and even had our party greeted with champagne! The ballroom is a gorgeous indoor space in Evanston, and I would highly recommend working with Chelsea as an expert in wedding planning!

Demi M. Sent on 07/30/2022

3.8 out of 5 rating

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Disrespectful Coordinator, choose somewhere else

Let me start by saying, the venue is gorgeous and the majority of the staff there are wonderful. The food was good, the cake was delicious, and we had a great night overall because we chose to make the most of our special day, and we did. However, if I were you and you’re considering this venue and Jessica is your contact person, then I would go somewhere else. She was very rude to me on my wedding day after I pointed out a mistake that she made. I specifically asked that Tables 1 and 2 be close to us, because that’s where our family’s sat. She replied in email “Yes no problem!” Great, easy enough. On the day of the wedding after we sat down I realized those tables were all the way in the corner. Why tables 1 and 2 would be in the corner is actually very confusing to me, common sense says that’s where the couple would place their most important people. Anyway, when Jessica came over to my table to touch base about something, I mentioned the tables were wrong. She replied with attitude, “This is what you said you wanted.” What a shame to speak to anyone that way during a wedding. She must have checked her email immediately after because when I saw her again she said, “I am so sorry, we sent so many emails!….” I did not find that to be a real apology. The apology came across to me as “I’m sorry the tables were wrong.” She should have directly apologized for how she spoke to me. I later learned she also spoke that way to my brother. She also messed up our Late Night Snack Station by entirely leaving out the flatbreads, but luckily we had other food also so it was fine. The refund that was much more difficult than it needed to be. Overall the night was magic, but if we had known going in that Jessica was going to be rude to me and my family we would have most definitely gotten married somewhere else.

Brendan Sent on 09/30/2016

1.6 out of 5 rating

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It is beautiful. The ballroom, foyer, and lounge made our wedding day look amazing. The food and beverage staff was wonderful, but that is where it stops. This venue's look is not worth the heartache. This is a dated list of what happened:

Our wedding was on September 24, 2016

Oct 12-2015 - We signed the agreement and were truly excited.

Jan-June 2016 - We met multiple times, had our tasting, and felt great that everything was coming together. We were about to print our invites and finalize all the venue pieces

July & Aug-All contact stops. All emails and contact attempts go un-replied. By the end of August we are officially concerned and worried something has happened.

WE FIND OUT THE ORIGINAL PLANNER LEFT IN JULY AND THEY DID NOT CONTACT US UNTIL 2.5 WEEKS BEFORE OUR WEDDING.

According to the original coordinator, he was not authorized to contact us after his departure per Crystal Ballroom policy.

Banquet Event Order was copy and pasted as placeholder content was still in it. Most of the details were left out. So bad that the day of the wedding the pastry chef was not expecting our cake delivery.

Our first meeting with the new coordinator was on the 8th. At which point she told us at the very end of the meeting that she was not going to be at our wedding as she was on vacation that day.

A long list of questions went unanswered with no time to make adjustments. The rehearsal was unorganized as the coordinator spent that time inquiring on ceremony details that should already been figured out in the 2 months prior to the rehearsal.

Missing chairs at the headtable, refusing to decorate according to the BEO, the list goes on. We urge you, just because it looks beautiful, the Event Planners will ruin your memories, cause added stress, and expenses. Be warned.

The Crystal Ballroom & Lounge's reply:

Hi Brendan,

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns. I am so sorry that the staff transition at Crystal Ballroom and Lounge caused you stress. We know that unanticipated staffing changes can cause concerns, which is why we had both the outgoing Sales Manager and myself available to you and your guests the day of your wedding. Our goal here at Crystal Ballroom and Lounge is to ensure that everyone's experience is exceptional. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time to discuss; it's important to me that all of the couples we have hosted and will host have a positive experience.

Kindest Regards,
Liz

Liz Crompton, CMP – Banquet Sales Manager
The Crystal Ballroom & Lounge
529 Davis Street | Evanston, IL 60201
P. 847.570.4400

User2794602 Sent on 09/30/2016

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As beautiful as this venue is, I highly recommend NOT choosing this as your event space. As a Bride, the planning with the Crystal Ballroom event staff became an unorganized nightmare. Please see details below.
-We signed the event agreement: October 2015
-Wedding date: September 24, 2016
-Our event coordinator resigned at the end of July 2016 and the Crystal Ballroom failed to inform my husband and I until September 6, 2016
-Our emails throughout part of July, August and beginning of September went completely unanswered
-The new hire contacted us via email on September 6 (she informed us that she had zero experience working with weddings)
-The venue misplaced all of our wedding plans and details which resulted in a last minute meeting on September 8th to re-plan our wedding vision. At the end of this meeting, the new hire, Liz, informed us that she was taking a vacation day on the day of our wedding and the FOOD and BEVERAGE manager would now be overseeing our wedding
-The rehearsal was unorganized and seemed as if there was no one leading it
-An hour before the ceremony, I, the Bride was humiliated as I had to beg Liz to set up the ceremony décor as originally planned.
-The head table was missing 2 chairs and place settings
-The Maid of Honor was never served a salad
-The guests with celiac disease had to request gf bread
-The pastry chef had no idea that 16 cakes were being delivered that morning
-During the wedding reception, the coordinators approached the Bride and Groom at the head table asking questions regarding how to cut the cake and who to serve it to
-The event coordinator left the venue with the keys that unlocked the closet where the DJ's equipment was stored, causing him to have to return the next day.
-The event staff used our personal decoration boxes as garbage cans. We had to empty food chunks, beer bottles and garbage out of our personal belongings.

Such a shame, as this really was a beautiful venue.

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The Crystal Ballroom & Lounge