With the popularity of intimate weddings on the rise, there are SO many cool intimate venues popping up throughout Chicago.  There is so much to love about intimate elopements and weddings. Between the sweet moments amongst family, the flexibility and free time throughout the day, and even the ease of planning. All these reasons and more are why so many people are starting to opt for an intimate wedding or elopement.  That’s why today on the blog we are going over my favorite intimate wedding and elopement venues throughout Chicago.

Outdoor Intimate Wedding Venues in Chicago

Promontory Point

Promontory Point is the perfect intimate wedding location in Chicago for you and your closest family and friends.  Get married looking out over Lake Michigan surrounded by your friends and family, and then spend the rest of the afternoon on the lakefront!  Promontory Point consists of three different indoor/outdoor venue spaces: The Fieldhouse, The Lakefront Patio and The Front Patio.  All three locations can host up to 100 people for events, but also make for beautiful intimate event spaces.  Spend the evening dancing on the lakefront and if you’re feeling SUPER adventurous you can end your evening with a swim!  For information on how to book your wedding at Promontory Point head to the Chicago Park District website.

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool 

One of my personal favorites! Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool is such a beautiful space to have your wedding with the love of your life. This incredibly secluded park in Chicago feels so removed from the windy city making it the perfect venue for an intimate wedding. Its great location in Lincoln Park also means that you’re right next to downtown Chicago. This means that after your ceremony you’re able to go anywhere you’d like to celebrate.  In order to have your elopement or intimate wedding ceremony at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, you must submit a permit no later than 7 days before your ceremony.  You can find more information on how to obtain a permit here.

Art Institute Gardens

Believe it or not, there are no permits or fees to take photos at the Art Institute or the Gardens!  The Art Institute of Chicago is a BEAUTIFUL venue for either an intimate wedding ceremony, elopement, or photos with your friends and family!  Walk around the Art Institute for your wedding portraits and then meet your family outside for your intimate ceremony. The outdoor space is simply gorgeous and you can’t beat being surrounded by your loved ones and the beautiful trees of the gardens.

Rooftop Venues in Chicago

Homestead on the Roof

Tucked between two brick buildings in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood sits Homestead on the Roof, a perfect intimate wedding venue for those that want to craft the wedding of their dreams. This blank slate wedding venue is the perfect space for you to take the space and make it your own. There’s an indoor event space as well for if you want to have your wedding during the cooler months of the year. The outdoor patio can seat 100 guests while the indoor event space can fit 80. The indoor space of Homestead on the Roof has a full bar available and easy access to the patio making this venue perfect for any time of the year in Chicago!

J. Parker Rooftop

The J. Parker Rooftop is the perfect location for your intimate wedding.  J. Parker’s rooftop patio hosts 10-60 people for horderves and drinks as you celebrate your wedding day!  The patio is well equipped for its events with a clear shelter that can go over the patio in case of rain and other inclement weather. The rooftop has a prime view of Lake Michigan and such a fun modern atmosphere making your intimate wedding experience in Chicago one to remember. 

Loft Lucia Chicago

Loft Lucia is a wedding and event space near Fulton Market.  This wedding venue has the perfect mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, with a covered space as well as a rooftop deck perfect for your intimate Chicago Wedding.  Having an indoor space means that you can have your winter wedding at Loft Lucia. However their outdoor patio space is incredible which makes a summer wedding hard to pass up! Loft Lucia also gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to decorations so you’re able to craft and decorate your wedding exactly how you envision.

Unique Intimate Wedding Venues in Chicago

Ignite Glass Studio

Ignite Glass Studio is such a fun and unique wedding venue.  This Chicago glass studio is available for large events and intimate gatherings alike, and its unique space makes for such a fun wedding celebration.  Have an open cocktail style event or formal sit down evening for your wedding day, whatever you’re feeling! The space has both outdoor and indoor spaces that can both be used for your ceremony or reception. This means you get a lot of flexibility when it comes to booking your venue which is always a plus.

Lytle House

This family owned wedding venue just north of Lincoln Square is the perfect intimate wedding venue.  The Lytle house has a capacity of 80 and is available for either a formal or cocktail style reception. The outdoor section of the Lytle house is perfect for your wedding ceremony. With its mixture of lush green vine covered walls and its brick wall with a massive mural on it directly opposite it is truly beautiful. Head inside for your intimate wedding reception and then open up the outdoor space for your guests to mingle and dance the night away at this amazing Chicago venue!

Wicker Park Inn

The Wicker Park Inn is the sweetest little hotel located in Wicker Park Chicago and is the cutest intimate wedding venue around!  Reserve their intimate event space for you and your closest friends and family to celebrate your elopement in style.  Hire a private chef and spend an evening all together in Wicker Park Inn’s unique space.  You can also reserve wedding blocks within the inn so you all can stay and celebrate through the night!

The Firehouse Chicago

The Firehouse Chicago is one of the COOLEST event spaces in the city.  The firehouse was built in 1906 for Engine Company 70 and is now used as a wedding and event space.  The building was completely restored to its original beauty, from the tin roofs, to the fire pole in the ceremony space, there is SO much character that goes into this space. The space includes a ton of amenities with your reservation as well as additional ones that you can add on. This incredibly fun and unique intimate venue has amazing indoor and outdoor areas and is the perfect spot for your Chicago wedding. 

Like I said earlier Chicago has a LOT of options when it comes to intimate wedding and elopement venues. They all have their own special charm and things to love about them, so deciding which to go with for your wedding might be tough. The great part is you really can’t go wrong with them all being so incredible. Talk through what you envision for your wedding with your partner and choose the one that fits both of your dreams! Head over to my blog for more wedding day tips and to book me for your intimate wedding head to my contact page here.