Help!!!bride from the south looking for a chicago area Venue

As a Chicago (suburb) bride, I can definitely agree that a budget of that size with a guest list of that size will be ROUGH. For reference, we had our wedding at Drury Lane in Oak Brook (just a short drive from Aurora) and for about 180 guests, the venue (Food, liquor, tables, chairs, linens, etc) in itself was about 13k. I agree with Kelly that checking parks, community centers, VFW halls, etc may be your best bet, or else if you have the ability - consider going a little bit further away from Chicago - think Rockford, Machesney Park, etc.

Really I found one that quoted me this, a lot of the things I wanna Dyi like center pieces and stuff .....im only pushing for 80 people maybe less I have lot of people that might not be able to travel.

FA M I LY S T Y L E PA C K A G E S

Standard Evening Package

$ 5 0 . 0 0 p l u s S a l e s T a x a n d 1 8 % S e r v i c e C h a r g e

( $ 5 . 0 0 D i s c o un t f o r F r i d a y a n d S u n d a y E v e n i n g s)

 5 1/2 hour package

 4 hour open premium bar

 Unlimited wine on each table during dinner

 Champagne Toast at the Head Table

 Family Style Served Dinner: Soup, Salad, 2 Main Entrées, Potatoes, Vegetables, Dessert,

Bread & Butter, Coffee & Tea

 Gold Chiavari Chairs with Ivory Cushions

Deluxe Evening Package

$ 6 0 . 0 0 p l u s S a l e s T a x a n d 1 8 % S e r v i c e C h a r g e

( $ 5 . 0 0 D i s c o u n t f o r F r i d a y a n d S u n d a y E v e n i n g s )

 6 hour package

 4 1/2 hour open premium bar

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Oooh I'm getting married at Drury Lane in October! Any words of advice? Things you wish you'd done differently?

Exactly. If you're talking about a 5-6k budget just for this then that's COMPLETELY different than having a 5-6k TOTAL budget. DIY is great, but it still has to be budgeted, and all of those other items need to be taken care of! Just make sure you're doing all the math, not just part

Aleks! Drury Lane is great! We had the best wedding - no complaints whatsoever. We used the Oak room instead of the Crystal room (the one in the back, more commonly used) and we loved every part! My only tip would be to take advantage of your event coordinator (we worked with Tammy B - she was great) - don't hesitate to ask questions, stop in and visit, etc. They may not respond immediately, but they will always get back to you and are SUPER helpful! Also, check the theater schedule - if your reception is happening at the same time as a theater production, warn your guests so they aren't freaking out over parking. There is plenty, but if you're competing with theater attendees it can be a little bit "...omg."

Omg your so right and it says 18% service fees and taxes not included........so I either cut people or widen the budget(which I doubt), I hate this...already stressed and its only been a month lol and thanks for yall advice........... I can have my wedding in Memphis and then I wouldn't have to worry about hair make-up bartender photographer or food (family and friends) but I feel it is unfair to my FH( being that he's the one who actually wants a wedding).

Thank you for your advice I will.

Oh I'm so happy to hear that! Thanks for the advice. My coordinator is Megan and she has been super helpful so far.

We are getting married at Four Rivers in Channahon, IL (near Joliet), which is about 30-45 minutes from Aurora. It is $2,500 for the ceremony and reception space all day, plus a bridal room. It can be cheaper if you use only one of their sites. The food/drinks are not included and they have a preferred list of caterers.

We are very happy with this venue, although our budget is just a bit more than yours. They can accommodate 125 people max I believe. I would definitely recommend county locations, local city sites, ect to save on costs. Hope you find/have found something that works for you!

There’s a place in forest park that can do about 70 people and you can bring in your own. Try Hawthorne’s backyard in Oswego for a larger crowd. No booze will save money. I like mine in Glen Ellyn -Reserve 22. It’s got options.