Unique, affordable venues in Chicago?

How big of a wedding? In chicago or surrounding suburbs good?

Http://www.chicagostyleweddings.com/

check out this site.. you can search for venues, see pictures, search by size, budget... good luck, have fun!

If it is not too big of a wedding, check out Al Capone's hideaway in Saint Charles

The upstairs is a beautiful place to rent out, and the food is DELICIOUS!!! I had my rehearsal dinner there, and people still talk about the food.

http://www.al-capone.com/steakhouse/index.html

I am getting married at the Redfield Estate at the Grove in Glenview. It is gorgeous, and if you do a weekday, super cheap.

Maxim's in Chicago is not cheap, but super unique and Moulin Rouge-y.

Not sure how big yet, maybe 200ish and I think they are really trying to stay downtown. Saw Maxim's when searching earlier...looks cool! Thanks Hayley, will check out those links!

Does she need to be in Chicago? For 200 people, it will be very hard to do something for less than $10k in the city. But Joliet is very close and there are a few great spots there (Haley mansion, I think there is an old rail road station that is unique).

I'm thinking that's going to be VERY hard to do or else be a very minimal reception. Would a public park (not a venue or anything, just a random park) be acceptable?

Taxes and tip alone on food are usually 26% (minimum) in Chicago, which might leave out a lot of venues...

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer.

A downtown wedding is going to be kind of hard to do for 10k. I know, I tried!! (lol) We're actually having ours at Seven Bridges Golf Club in Woodridge. Absolutely beautiful and waay more reasonable.

Here's the Parks Department events page: http://www.cpdit01.com/resources/permits.special-event-venues/

There are some parks that are reasonable, but then you need to factor in caterers, labor, security, insurance...

I looked at a total of nine venues in the downtown area and you won't be able to find any place under $75/person. That doesn't include between 20-22% gratuity on top of another 13.75% Chicago tax - YES, 13.75%! Believe me, it should be a crime...

Hotel Monaco is a cute boutique hotel that can hold 200 (I think). Mitchell Ray is the wedding coordinator and we met with him when we were deciding (we went with The Sax Hotel instead - just because we like it more). Their cheapest package is $100/person. We are getting married at the Sax Hotel (old House of Blues Hotel), which is fantastic and completely different - like you've never seen They can only hold 160, though.

I had the same problem that you're finding for your sister's wedding, as Chicago was where I had my heart set on getting married (majority of family is from there). I almost considered using Michael's Red Hots in Highland Park and trying to do something more upscale than Hot Dogs there, although they wanted a pretty hefty price for it. That's why we've moved ours to NYC instead of Chicago and doing ours in Central Park where there's only a $25 fee for securing spots for 100 guests and having a photographer, and using the Carnegie Deli so we can make our PP limit on the lower side. I don't know if Millenium Park may work out there with her budget. If I remember correctly seeing a lot of very picturesque spots throughout that park that could work well. I'm pretty sure some caterers if she goes for a picnic lunch or dinner in the park kind of reception could help with the food budget part. I also don't know how expensive Harry Carray's may be, that's another option, or Portillo's.

I had the same problem that you're finding for your sister's wedding, as Chicago was where I had my heart set on getting married (majority of family is from there). I almost considered using Michael's Red Hots in Highland Park and trying to do something more upscale than Hot Dogs there, although they wanted a pretty hefty price for it. That's why we've moved ours to NYC instead of Chicago and doing ours in Central Park where there's only a $25 fee for securing spots for 100 guests and having a photographer, and using the Carnegie Deli so we can make our PP limit on the lower side. I don't know if Millenium Park may work out there with her budget. If I remember correctly seeing a lot of very picturesque spots throughout that park that could work well. I'm pretty sure some caterers if she goes for a picnic lunch or dinner in the park kind of reception could help with the food budget part. I also don't know how expensive Harry Carray's may be, that's another option, or Portillo's.

Thanks all. I know it probably won't be possible, but she hasn't set a budget or a guest list. If she can get it down I think she can do it. Thanks for the suggestions, will look there. Have contacted a few places and I have some time. Thanks all!

I do not know the cost but a friend of mine got married in the South Side Cultural Center.

There is a place called Michelle's Ballroom in Chicago that is extremely reasonable and beautiful! It was once a federal bank that has been converted into a ballroom. http://www.michellesballroom.com/

Nkuch4---where did you have your wedding for around 10k?