Chicago Reception Sites

[kittenhead]

I've just begun looking for a reception site in Chicago. Naturally I'd love to have the reception someplace fun and interesting yet all online resources keep showing the same handful of venues that are way out of our budget. Can anyone help point me in the right direction?

[Churchlady31]

Kittenhead -
I don't know how big your reception is going to be, but here are two suggestions:

1. Rudi Fazuli's - great Italian restaurant on Clark St., just north of Fullerton in Lincoln Park. Their banquet room holds up to 80 people for a lunch/dinner. Prices begin somewhere around $15 a person. Not for a dinner/dancing reception as they don't have the room. I eat brunch there all the time. Very yummy! Would love to one day have my wedding reception here as it's just around the corner from my church.

2. Leona's - several locations in the city and the suburbs. Excellent food, also Italian. Check out their website www.leonas.com. The restaurants have varying size banquet rooms (also not for dinner/dancing). They also cater if you find a reception facility that will let you bring in your own caterer. Prices can start about $10 a person for a very basic package (not incuding drinks, dessert).

3. I've also heard that Poretta's Banquets are fairly reasonable.

You would probably be better off not having a dinner/dancing reception and just go for brunch or lunch. You'll stand a better chance of getting the date you want, as well as much better prices. I'm not even engaged yet, but I've checked out the options in Chicago, so I know what I'm up against when the day comes. Good luck!

[kirby]

Just because the quoted price for sites is above your budget doesn't mean that you shouldn't try for what you want anyway. Our reception is in Chicago in January (admittedly a slow month, but we bargained for the site for 1/2 of the quoted $3,000 price for a Saturday night and brought the food minimum down by 1/3 just by asking.

[jen_p]

Check out the Woman's Club of Evanston. I don't know the phone number offhand, but it's on Chicago Avenue in Evanston, by the Whole Foods and is beautiful and somewhat unique.

[WTPBear]

I don't know if you live in the city or suburbs. If you're in the suburbs check out the Katherine Legge Lodge in Hinsdale. I'm getting married there in October. They have a web site, but I can't find it right now. Their web site is associated with the Village of Hinsdale, so if you find that web site you'll find it. Also, the Danada House in Wheaton is cool, it's very
reasonable. Good luck!

[andimauro]

Shore Shore Cultural Club. It is a beautiful park district owned facility on the South Shore golf course. It has a beautiful view of the lake and you can see the Chicago skyline on a clear day. Prices?? $750-$1200 depending on the night.
It is in the south side of chicago but you never enter the south side its right on the lake.
312-747-2436

[august11bride]

Try the Chateau Bu'Sche in Oak Lawn. Prices start at $26 pp (includes 4 hr open bar). www.chateaubusche.com.

[Mabbster]

Have you checked out the Shedd Aquarium? They have some pretty strict time restrictions, but what a cool place!

Mabbster

[jbird_man]

I am a student at the University of Chicago and I am not sure how this works for non-students but, I would highly suggest checking out Ida Noyse or the International House on the campus. As a student they are very reasonable.

[Nuku]

I'm not sure where you are either. If you're in the suburbs, the Pavilion in Lord's Park in Elgin is beautiful, only about $100 last I heard (maybe up to about $150 by now), and you can choose your caterer. There are three drawbacks: no alcohol is allowed in the park, there is limited parking close by (you'd have to arrange to shuttle people from the larger lot - or they could walk through the park), and it can be hard to get the date/time you want because it's so popular. There is also a Park District building in Streamwood that can accomadate a lot of people and is also fairly inexpensive. It's called The Barn, and it is a renovated barn. It's very pretty in a country-like setting, if you don't mind something unusual. If you're adventurous about your menu, the India House in Schaumburg has two dining halls (it's in a former grocery store, and it's HUGE!), and they do weddings. The food is excellent. Once again, I don't know the cost, but usually renting out a restaurant is cheaper, because you don't have to pay for catering and the reception site separately.