Free/cheap ceremony ideas?

Any city parks are always free and available for reservation!

I used to live in Elgin! Try to get a park permit ($50) at wing park outside the gazebo

Lords park?

How about your reception venue?

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How about the Robert Soule Ampitheater in nearby Barrington? Best wishes!

State parks! Some let you reserve for a 100 bucks or so. Other are totally free but they're "pop-up" so you have to "claim" your pavilion so it's good to have a backup plan just in case!

There's the gazebo on the fox river that you could probably get a permit for.

I am using my reception venue, the wedding & reception are going to be in the same place just different rooms! :-)

Thanks so much for all the responses! My wedding venue does offer the ceremony as well but it's an extra $700. We were just trying to see if we could find something cheaper before we went ahead with this option.

If you go to an outside space, you'll probably need a permit, chairs, a sound system, and transportation for your BP from the ceremony space to the reception.

It really never ends up being cheaper.

Not sure how distance you are willing to travel, or how many guests you are planning on having, but the Schaumburg center for the arts provides rentals with no fee or permit. From their calendar, it appears that they have your date available. http://www.villageofschaumburg.com/visitors/weddings.htm

Don't forget you'll need to rent chairs and have them delivered, then moved. You can't just leave them in the park for someone to steal once you leave and move to your reception area.

Speak to your reception regarding space for the ceremony. They likely have it and it will most likely be less expensive. Easier to move any floral arrangements you want to use for the ceremony and the reception as well.