Illinois outdoor wedding

Hi Amanda, welcome to WW! I'm not local so I can't give specific suggestions, but have you tried the vendor tab? ^

Also, please change your avatar to something other than the generic rings. They are associated with spam/trolls, so it will help you get more responses to your posts and it also distinguishes you from other generic avatar users, which makes it easier to read the threads. You don't have to make it a picture of your face if you are concerned about privacy, it can literally be a picture of anything. Here's how: On safari/internet explorer: Settings > Profile and Privacy Settings > Account Image > Change Image > Upload > Update Profile Settings

Hi Amanda! Definitely check out WW's venue search if you haven't already! There are search filters you can add for either 'Type' of venue, or 'Setting' (indoor, covered outdoor, uncovered outdoor)

Illinois is pretty big, so you're going to be specific.

When you find your venue, please make sure you have a Plan B in case of rain.

Lincoln Park Zoo has two nice setups for outdoor weddings.

Where in IL?

More information needed, but there are SO many awesome spots.

It's still pretty cool in May in Illinois for an out door wedding. I would check the wether for past years before you book your venue out doors for May.

Where are you in IL? It's a pretty long state.... If you're in So IL - check out the Shawnee National forest! If you're in Chicago - there's the Forest Preserves of Cook County... (there's also FP of Lake County, etc). A few hours south of Chicago there's Starved Rock....

May can be super unpredictable (hot or cold) in my experience in the Chicago area. I know that it gets warm in Southern IL before it does up north but I wouldn't be an expert on what its like year to year.

Oh Camp Shaw-Wa-Na-See in Manteno is another option...

Lake Katherine in Palos Heights is a beautiful ceremony spot but I highly recommend going somewhere else for the reception.

I had a May outdoor wedding ceremony in the Chicago suburbs. It was 68 degrees and overcast, and the next day was 72 and sunny. As long as you have a backup plan, you should be OK. Your profile says that you are in Crystal Lake, so I'll assume you are looking for Northern Illinois. You will still need to be more specific, because inexpensive is a relative term.