Chicago History Museum

er myself, and actually work at CHM quite often on the vendor side. Once I got engaged, I had zero doubt as to which venue I wanted to get married in. I worked directly with Erika, but I do love all of the ladies there. The space is so beautiful and versatile, and the location and views are amazing. We kept the gallery open so that our guests (mostly out-of-towners!) could enjoy and learn more about Chicago. It was a huge hit. We wanted a timeless and elegant but unique wedding, and couldn't imagine hosting it anywhere else. I <3 CHM!

ests departed.... both my husband and I are both OBSESSED with her and everything she did for us and to make our day even more magical then we imagined. Thank you Lorelei and to your team for going above and beyond for us... We will never forget you!!

he stairs and pillars were beautiful backdrops for our pictures. We also had a band and they said CHM is a great room for the acoustics. Erika was great to work with. She was very experienced and always responded quickly. It is a perfect wedding venue and I can’t recommend the space enough!

he wedding night went off without a hitch as Lorelei and her staff coordinated with all of the vendors. Lastly, the room and grounds are obviously beautiful and don’t require much additional decor. We highly recommend getting married at Chicago History Museum.

remendously in bringing our wedding vision to life. It is such a romantic and beautiful space and we are so happy that we had our reception here!!

list of preferred vendors, and we found that many vendors outside of the list in Chicago are familiar with the space anyway, making it easy to coordinate. Communication was always easy and we never felt worried about the space throughout the planning process. We took pictures outside and ended up having our ceremony inside due to rain, and it was just perfect!

away when I needed her. Chicago History Museum is breathtaking especially when you can take advantage of cocktail hour on the patio. Thank you CHM and staff for turning my dream into a fairytale!

of staff turnover, but that never hampered their workings or the results. Our team worked so effectively within the limits of the venue rules to realize our vision. I appreciated that the venue had a select number of options for catering available and a huge list of vendor recommendations for other components of the night. Everyone we worked with from different vendors already knew everyone else, and I thought that spoke well of everyone involved, including CHM--they are clearly a big part of the wedding vendor community in Chicago, with all the contacts and seemingly positive relationships to other members of that community. We had both the ceremony and reception on-site and I just really couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. We are still getting compliments on how perfect the venue was for us and how magical the entire evening felt. The space is a gorgeous palette for your own ideas: it is lovely regardless, but has incredible potential for individuality based on what else you bring into the rooms. I think it's a perfect venue choice for someone seeking history and elegance in their wedding venue.

rgeous and all our guests commented how much they loved the venue. The fact that CHM gives you four caterers to choose from was incredibly helpful since there are hundreds of options in the city; it was nice to get a head start on narrowing down the choices. We picked Blue Plate and couldn't have been happier. The bartenders CHM provides were awesome and choosing a bar package was super easy. The CHM staff helped keep us organized and on track throughout the whole planning process and on the day of our wedding. We loved working with them and would highly recommend getting married at the beautiful Chicago History Museum!

work with and their recommended vendors were fantastic, which made the evening run smoothly.

to an indoor ceremony 100% seamless. It looked like we had been planning to be indoors all along. Jessica was super helpful and provided as much guidance as we needed, which was a lot as we were planning the wedding long distance. She went the extra mile in a few different ways, especially when it came to putting together our beverage package. Her recommendations for table set-up were also spot on. We chose not to have the exhibits open and didn't feel that we missed out on anything, but most of our guests were local and had been to the museum before. The list of caterers to choose from seems limiting at first but I ended up loving not having to crawl through the thousands of caterers in the area, and every company on the list is very highly rated. Although CHM was near the top of our venue budget, in the end it was 100% worth it to have a team of professionals who are used to the entire process and have seen it all before; not to mention the money going to support a Chicago institution rather than a more generic venue. Worth every penny, and we'd book our wedding there again in a heartbeat!

was always available to talk, schedule meetings and be kind and courteous when we felt like we were losing our minds with little details. She helped us pick what she thought was the best choice when we needed it - it was super helpful having someone who had done a lot of events and knew how to create a WOW effect. She was with us from start to finish on the wedding day to make sure everything ran smoothly (and it did!), and we couldn't have asked for a better coordinator. Oh, and the venue is gorgeous. We had some of the exhibits open to have our guests roam around them during cocktail hour and being able to move from indoors to outdoors on a warm summer night was a great plus as well! We could go on forever with details but will leave it at: Don't sleep on the Chicago History Museum!!

rk with for our wedding.

the venue very much since we had a wedding planner but everything went great and people were talking about how beautiful and cool of a venue this was for weeks!

egant and absolutely unique. I really did not have to look further than the beautiful marble and wood floors, but when I looked out onto the Plaza, I just knew this was it. We had our ceremony and cocktail hour outside, and our dinner and reception followed indoors. CHM was a dream to work with. Erika was extremely professional and there to help us literally every step of the way. We honestly felt that she wanted to do everything in her power to make sure we had the most beautiful wedding, and we know she went above and beyond for us. From beginning to end, we were not only blown away by how beautiful the venue looked throughout the entire night but also how we were able to transform the space into our vision, which reflected our true personalities. We are so thankful to CHM and all of the staff who made our night hands down perfect.

was quick to respond to any questions, and was willing to work with us to make sure we had all of the details we needed for our perfect day. Their staff at the event were friendly and professional and helped make everything smooth all the way around. They have a list of 4 caterers to work with and all of those caterers were very helpful as we were designing our menu and pricing out the dinner, and it is clear that they respect and value the weddings held at CHM. Overall, I can't say enough amazing things about our venue and how perfect it was for our day. Thank you, Chicago History Museum!!

beautiful and the location is amazing if you have guests visiting from out of town because they get an amazing Chicago experience. We worked with Erika Johnson at CHM to plan the event and she was very responsive. She worked well with our wedding coordinator (Erika B from Plum & Ivy) and caterer (Paramount), and was able to provide other vendor recommendations. She also was very accommodating with our specific beverage requests. I would definitely recommend CHM to anyone!

d feel, book this place. I got a lot of compliments from guests and many guests noted that the ballroom space even felt like a church (during our indoor ceremony), because of the clean white walls/pillars and beautiful stain glass art pieces. The only potential downside would be flexibility in terms of start time for ceremony/cocktail/dinner, due to the hours of the museum. However, since 95% of our guests were out of state & country, having everything in one site for back-to-back events was perfect.

were amazing, competent, and clearly so committed to making our experience the best if could be. From our initial tour to our contract execution to all of the day of services, everything was perfectly organized and ran even better than we could have hoped. We were hoping for an outdoor cocktail hour but also wanted to get married in the Spring, in a Chicago, and we loved that the museum had great options for both indoor and outdoor needs. We were bummed when it ended up being a rainy day but honestly didn’t even notice that everything was inside since the space is so well laid out. We chose to have the Chicago exhibit open for our guests and the old el train was a huge hit. We primarily worked with Jessica and she was amazing! I can’t say enough good things and I can’t recommend this venue (or just visiting the museum in general) enough!

s and responsive coordination during the process. On the evening of the wedding reception, they made sure that all elements ran smoothly. The bar staff and security were also very friendly. The CHM venue makes for a perfect setting in the summer with outdoor cocktails and dinner and dancing inside.

ng day was smooth and incredible. Thank you CHM!

coat check staff were friendly and professional and helpful. This was a perfect venue for this perfect wedding. The cocktail area allowed easy flow so that we could mingle with guests and musicians could stroll easily, and accommodated the cake service and a photo booth during the reception. The noise level was quiet. There was convenient seating for elderly, and the video area provided for easy viewing of the bride/groom video. The space allowed for 2 bars - and the bartenders were terrific. The banquet area mirrored the cocktail area in being a great space for dining, visiting and dancing. The middle area worked very well for the bridal party table, cake cutting, bride and groom's dance and speeches/toasts. The stage provided a good space for the band and the dance floor was a good size. This was a wonderful experience.

orgeous!! The Tiffany stained glass walls make for a lovely ceremony space that has a church-like feel, but is also cozy and welcoming. Our event coordinator, Erika, was so wonderful throughout the whole process of planning our wedding, from providing helpful vendor recommendations to ensuring that the big day went off without a hitch. It was the perfect place to get married and such a lovely event team to work with :)

ce is elegant, lovely, and spectacular. I couldn't imagine a more character-filled, special venue that could actually accommodate our wedding size. We began working with Melanie as our event coordinator and was then switched to Erika. The transition was very seamless, and they both were great to work with. Erika was fantastic in the weeks leading up to our wedding, working with our wedding planner and all the vendors to make sure we didn't need to worry about anything. She knew I really wanted an outdoor ceremony if we could swing it with the weather, so she made sure we had the extra garden chairs available until the last minute for that flexibility. She also helped make our wedding day logistics simple and was extremely responsive. We had the most wonderful wedding day, CHM was the absolute perfect place!

we didn’t have to bring in a lot of extra décor. We got so many compliments on how it was such an extraordinary and unique venue. Aside from the look of the space, we also loved how many options it offers for a combination of indoor/outdoor events. We opted to host the ceremony and cocktail hour inside since October weather can be unpredictable, but it turned out to be a gorgeous night so our guests were able to step outside during the reception. Working with Melanie leading up to the wedding was also really easy and stress free. She was always quick to answer all of our questions and accommodated a few visits to the museum that helped in the planning process. Overall we’re very happy with our decision to host our wedding at there.

n the plaza because it was luckily a gorgeous day. Although even if it rained it wouldn't have mattered because the indoor option was just as lovely! I would definitely recommend Chicago History Museum to any couples planning their future wedding!

ze) and our reception inside in stunning ballroom space. Melanie was extremely helpful and informative throughout the planning process. On the day of the wedding, she worked her tail off to make sure everything was running smoothly at the venue. I couldn't be happier with our choice of venue. Such a stunning space!

y with any partners you may have…wedding planner, florist, catering. Also, they also allow you to keep one of the exhibits open during cocktail hour which was great because a lot of our guests were from out of town so they could learn a little something about Chicago :) We would highly recommend tying the knot at the CHM. It was an absolutely great experience…would do it all over again if we could!

cing inside by the beautiful stained glass and classical architecture. We love Chicago, and it felt right to celebrate our marriage in the History Museum, and to support a nonprofit. Melanie was the very first person we met with at any venue, and she was lovely to work with from the first day and through our wedding weekend – friendly and knowledgeable and organized. She always made time for us when we needed her. While we looked at other venues for comparison, this was our first choice from the beginning and the easiest decision we made throughout wedding planning. We already cherish our memories of this beautiful evening in a beautiful place! Thank you so much, Melanie, and CHM.

w gorgeous the ceremony was on the stunning outdoor plaza! The ballroom itself is gorgeous and classic. The staff (especially Elliot- the event coordinator) was so accommodating and easy to work with through the entire process! Highly recommend this venue, we had an absolutely perfect experience!

with all of our vendors so that the day-of could go off without a hitch. We had planned to do our ceremony and cocktail hour outdoors, but when an unexpected rainstorm hit, Elliott helped all of our vendors transition seamlessly into the indoor space, which ended up being equally as beautiful as the patio space that we had planned to use. And the reception was equally gorgeous! We would highly recommend CHM to any couple looking for a Chicago wedding venue.

WN venue in Chicago, as we wanted our wedding to be unique. After visiting 5+ other Chicago venues, we quickly realized that nothing would compare to the beauty of CHM. It was important to me that our venue have great outdoor space with greenery (which can be hard to find in the city) but also a great indoor option in case of rain. Having attending a wedding ceremony indoors and having gotten married on the terrace, I can honestly say that both are beautiful. We worked with Elliott, and she was great! So kind, helpful and organized. The wedding went off without a glitch and was just as beautiful as we had imagined. Would choose CHM again in a heartbeat!

for a beautiful place to get married!

elpful throughout the planning process. The venue was loved by all. It is very beautiful, elegant and the setting along the park is very picturesque. The compliments were heard all evening long. We highly recommend the Museum and believe it is one of the finest venues in Chicago.

at CHM was still available because it all came together perfectly! The CHM team was so kind and accommodating given the circumstances, and we were able to rest easy knowing it was in the hands of professionals. We worked with Erika (our coordinator) and she was so responsive, helpful, and worked everything out with the vendors so the evening went smoothly- we didn't worry about a single thing! The CHM space is one of the most beautiful and unique in Chicago, which made for a memorable night for us and our guests. Thank you so much CHM for saving our wedding!

outdoor ceremonies up until just a few hours before the actual wedding. It was important to us to have our guests transition easily from an indoor ceremony to an outdoor cocktail hour back to an indoor reception all in one spot, and this was ideal for that. 2.) You will have beautiful, versatile photo opportunities that incorporate both ends of the spectrum - the gorgeous greenery of the Lincoln Park and the classic architecture of the building itself. 3.) The details of the space - there are several chandeliers, a black and white marble dance floor, and stained glass windows displayed all around the room. We didn't have to invest a ton of time or $ into decor because the space was so beautiful on its own! There are also a few exhibits that our guests enjoyed viewing during the cocktail hour - an old train car, a few portraits, etc. The team here was excellent to work with and gifted us a membership to the museum so we can come re-live this day whenever we are feeling nostalgic! Can't recommend highly enough.

r and indoor spaces. Both were beautiful. My husband even got to do his baraat right there through the park. The staff at CHM were total professionals. If there were any problems, which I'm sure there were, I had no idea.

recommend to anyone looking for a classic Chicago wedding!

ur - every aspect blow our guests away. Even weeks after, our guests were still talking about our wedding and the beautiful venue. The staff was great as well. They were so helpful from beginning to end and the day went by so smooth and easy.

y-of in making sure things run smoothly. We did not have a wedding planner and didn't feel we needed one since Jessica was so helpful. We got many compliments on the breath-taking space and it was wonderful to have our cocktail hour outside on the patio. The space was also big enough to accommodate our 200 guest list! We are so glad that we were able to throw the biggest party we will ever have at the CHM...it was truly the best day of our lives!

were superb. It was an unforgettable day at an unforgettable location. We had our first date at CHM and our proposal there so this space has so much meaning in our lives and we know we can always go back on anniversaries which is really comforting to us.

g to do whatever it took to make my day perfect. My guests continued to talk about the venue and how unique it was. Would highly recommend it!

e for the guests, we didn't feel the need to bring in additional flowers or decorations, which helped us keep within our budget. The CHM staff was AMAZING. They made us feel at ease and did a fantastic job of keeping my wife and I separated pre ceremony. We received multiple compliments from our guests regarding our choice in venue for the ceremony. We would highly recommend this venue for either a ceremony or reception, or both!

hour in the elegant Robinson Gallery, we had dinner and dancing in the Chicago Room, with its stunning Tiffany and Frank Lloyd Wright stained-glass windows. CHM is an architectural gem, both inside and out. This venue is greatly enhanced by the outstanding professionalism and dedication of the staff. Jessica T. was a real pleasure to work with, and she patiently guided us through the decision-making process. She was readily responsive to our emails and phone calls for advice. There were excellent vendor recommendations for florists, etc, and they accommodated our need to use an outside caterer due to dietary needs. There was a delivery delay at the last minute due to one of our vendors, and Jessica responded in the most amazing way, to quickly remedy the problem. Although there are less expensive venues, CHM is certainly one of the best. You will feel comfortable with your experience every step of the way, with the peace of mind that you're in the best of hands. The outcome will be truly spectacular, and your family and guests will be delighted.

were patient, helpful, and very responsive to any and all requests. They were incredibly accommodating. It seemed like they had relationships with all the vendors so everyone was able to work together easily without me feeling like I had to coordinate everything. The space is beautiful and did not feel too full with our 225 guests. Our guests raved about this venue!

binson Gallery and the Crossroads of America exhibit. Guests enjoyed the exhibit, and even those who chose to keep drinking and eating outside of it were able to to have plentiful space to talk and catchup up, or take in the artifacts. The center section of the Chicago Room was the perfect dance floor, and the bar in the Gallery was close enough to not break up the flow, but just outside the dance floor to give you a breather. In addition to the uniqueness and beauty of the space, the whole team was wonderful. Sarah made everything so easy in the leadup, and when one of the suppliers had an issue with the beer we chose, she threw in the second beer (now a replacement) for free without any inquiring. At the end of the night, the staff was incredibly efficient in packing up and helped carry everything to the car so as to let myself and parents just enjoy the night. It's certainly not the cheapest option, and despite unseasonably warm December weather, we really didn't get to utilize the outdoor area, but we wouldn't have changed a thing. Thank you CHM!

errace. Throughout the wedding planning process, I was impressed by Jessie P and Jessica T's knowledge of the industry, professionalism, genuine nature and dedication to helping us best optimize the space for our guest count. It rained just hours before guests were to arrive, causing us to move the ceremony and cocktails inside at the last minute and was blown away with the experience and professionalism the CHM staff exhibited in flipping the space seamlessly and thoughtfully! My guests had no idea that we were operating on "Plan B" and it was a completely stress free experience for me. The evening turned out better than I ever could have imagined and I cannot say enough good things about this venue and the staff. Thank you Jessica T and the whole CHM staff for creating such beautiful memories for us and our guests! I highly recommend this venue! We loved it!

Chicago and having our wedding here was the perfect way to incorporate our love of the city and Chicago history. The rooms are beautiful and showcase any sort of decor and floral you want. We also had our ceremony at the museum and the stained glass windows give it just enough "church" feel. I cannot express how wonderful everything was and how beautiful.

w we'd take whatever day was open in the fall (which was 16 months away from our engagement and also happened to be the Chicago Marathon weekend). I started working with Jessie Pare (who unfortunately is no longer there) who was immediately there for every inquiry, no matter how mundane, and also gave me recommendations for vendors (floral/DJ/photographers/officiant/lighting/etc) which was beyond helpful during the initial planning stages. I like how CHM limits their catering options (we went with Jewell and have no regrets!) as I feel you'll get quality service no matter who you choose since they have that relationship with CHM and they meet their standard of excellence. Our only disappointments were with the bar and exhibit rental. It's mandatory to contract the bar through CHM as it seems to be pricey comparative to other city venues and we felt a little nickeled and dimed (i.e. we had pay for garnishes for specialty cocktails if we chose to have them). The exhibit rental was quite expensive if you look at it from a $500/hr perspective. If it was open for the duration of our event, and not just cocktail hour, or even better communicated by the staff that the exhibit was only open during cocktail hour it would have been a much better experience for our guests and a better investment on our part. However...back to service...later on in the process I worked with Melanie and it was amazing how quickly she picked up on months of past communications with Jessie prior to her departure and all the details that went into our wedding. It was as if I started working with her from the beginning. She also created a payment timetable that was extremely helpful since the venue, bar, and some of the rentals were all contracted through CHM. I also liked how CHM was able to hold our decor items in advance, meet handicap needs, have the capability to have either an indoor or outdoor ceremony and accommodate a week-prior walk-through (along with your caterer...it definitely calms some pre-wedding nerves!) as well as a rehearsal (if there isn't an event scheduled that day). All the spaces were just exquisite. From the North End of the Chicago Room with its stained glass windows, where we had our ceremony, to the all-white Robinson Gallery where we held cocktail hour, to the Chicago Room fully opened with these beautiful chandeliers and classic checkerboard dance floor for the reception, to the Plaza (which I'm dying to see our portraits that were taken on those steps or surrounded by these massive columns) compliments all around for beautiful detail and a feeling of elegance throughout the entire event. I promise if you choose CHM for your venue, you will feel like you are the only person having a wedding there. The level of service from beginning to end (and even after!) is unmatched.

pful. We had alot (and I mean alot) of questions throughout the planning process, and Sarah was always there, ready to get us the answer we needed. The venue itself was stunning -- I chose to go with a neutral color palette because I didn't want to take away from the beauty of the Chicago room, and it was such a good choice. The room was perfect for our 275 guests (didn't feel crowded at all), and the lighting, the stained glass, the checked floor in the center of the room...it all added up to the wedding of my dreams. Our wedding was in early June, so the weather was nice but still a little chilly. Our ceremony and cocktail hour were scheduled to be outside, which from the beginning I had wanted. While we held the ceremony outside, my wedding planner and the team at CHM made the decision to pull cocktail hour inside because it was just too cold, and it turned out to be perfect. I was nervous about the change, but everything went so smoothly - there was plenty of room for guests to mingle in the foyer underneath the beautiful chandelier, and it was as if it was always supposed to be held inside. Other notes: the bar staff was fantastic, getting everyone their drinks in record time! I really can't say enough good things about CHM - I could not imagine getting married anywhere else, and am so glad we chose it for a venue. Last note: the day after our wedding we received a book about historical Chicago weddings and a bottle of champagne from the team at CHM...just another amazing touch.

tember. Reflecting the Georgian architecture of the original building, the Chicago Room has hardwood floors, high ceilings, and big windows that look over Lincoln Park - this place breathes a classic elegance. It feels historic, but it most definitely does not feel old - rather, it feels timeless. And it boasts enough design elements and restrained decorative touches - such as the chevron-patterned wood floors and stained-glass windows - that it requires minimal decoration. The Chicago Room includes two other adjacent spaces (an entryway and an outdoor plaza). We held both our ceremony and reception there, and used all three spaces. One fun perk is the black-and-white tile floor that separates the two halves of the room. It is perfect for dancing! We placed our DJ there and we strung cafe lights (in lieu of uplighting) over the floor. Even the entrance to the Chicago Room, the Robinson Gallery, is gorgeous - a brick-floor hallway with columns and chandeliers, it is an event space unto itself. We used it for the cards/gifts/placecard tables along with the open bar after dinner. Perhaps my favorite perk is that the outdoor Uihlein Plaza is included with the price of the Chicago Room. We held the ceremony and cocktail reception outdoors before moving indoors for the reception. This being Chicago, with wildly unpredictable weather, the museum worked with us to create two plans in case we had to be all indoors. We were able to wait until one week before the wedding to make the final call, which is generous given the amount of work they have to do in either scenario! The Plaza is also beautiful and huge, overlooking Lincoln Park. We used minimal decorations for our outdoor ceremony - we just erected a simple birch bower, and let the Park be our main backdrop. Working with the museum was easy. Sarah Novosad and Melanie Enright were lovely to work with - professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and responsive. The museum also supplies setup and cleaning crews, coatcheck, and security - all of whom were equally professional. The museum did a brilliant job of making our event seem seamless. An important thing to note that as a museum, they do have certain restrictions regarding caterers, alcohol, and decorations. For catering, CHM only works with four exclusive caterers - all of whom are excellent, but none of whom are cheap. For alcohol, CHM supplies their own bar packages, which are reasonably priced. The one problem I encountered was with the wine list. Supplying our own wine would have cost a $30/bottle corking fee (which was out of our budget), so CHM offered us the option to swap in wines of our choosing, if we could find wines carried by CHM's distributors at the same price point as the house wines (Canyon Road). I asked, but never did find out whom the distributors were or what price points the for the house wines, and my wine selections were rejected by the museum. So we wound up upgrading to their highest-priced package, just to secure better wines. Certain decorations are prohibited - mostly anything that could affect their exhibits. They brought that up on my first tour, so I was well-warned. Just be sure to book early - this place goes fast!

n in. CHM was the ideal place for us in Chicago. The coordinator staff was extremely helpful and very informative as this place turns a lot of events, as it should. They treated us like royalty and we truly had an amazing experience with CHM.

pect at a banquet hall or event space, but not necessarily a museum. They were able to accommodate a brunch wedding and they even let guests have access to the museum after the wedding. I would definitely recommend as a venue to someone looking for a beautiful and unique spot.

e very prompt with their replies, etc. We got exactly what we wanted from a wedding/reception venue. the weather held up for the outdoor ceremony (probably our biggest stressor), and the reception was a grand time. Perhaps the second best compliment I can give is, all the other vendors we worked with seemed glad to be working with CHM for our event. As others may have said: the best compliment I can give is, I would not change anything if we had to do it again (like, if our marriage certificate got lost in the mail or something). For some reason The Knot currently lists the capacity at 251-300. Our wedding was around 170, so I have no idea what The Knot is talking about.

sional in every sense, and the whole process—from the initial paperwork to the very end of the reception—went smoothly. Communication was easy peasy; I usually got a reply the same day of sending my e-mail. I don’t know if every event place does this, but I really liked that once you sign the contract, they send you a detailed timeline for milestones, such as payment due dates, when your beverage order should be finalized, when you should have your rehearsal, etc. Another great thing is that since CHM has been hosting events/weddings for years, they know a lot of vendors and a lot of vendors know how to work with them. My then-fiancé and I had no idea where to start with flowers, and the list of suggested florists that came with our registration packet was very helpful – it had florists for a range of budgets, and we eventually chose one from that list. There are certain rules for the space since it’s a museum (conservation first!), so our florist already knew when he could deliver them to the museum and to not bring feathers or loose dirt. A big reason why we chose CHM is because we wanted a one-stop wedding in order to make things easier for our guests, especially the elderly and the out-of-towners. The museum has a parking garage, so your guests don’t have to hunt for parking in this notoriously spot-scarce area. They pick up a validation ticket at the reception, a CHM staff member tallies the total amount taken by your guests, and then you pay for that amount. One more thing of note – we started the process with Jessie P., and Jessica T. took over when she left. The transition was pretty much seamless with Sarah N. answering questions in the interim; there were no delays with wedding planning.

are so many reasons why this is the perfect venue option, but I'll just focus on three. 1) The indoor/outdoor space. We were lucky enough to be able to have our ceremony outside and then the reception inside. However, there was a wonderful backup plan if it rained (which every bride needs to keep her sanity). 2) The museum staff (especially those who deal with events) are a pleasure to work with. They were attentive, helpful, really willing to work with me and my special requests, and most importantly responsive. I think I asked about one million questions over my year of planning and they answered each and every one of them. 3) The museum has a wow factor! Even though you are at a museum, you are somewhat working with a blank canvas. You have the flexibility to turn the space into whatever you want. It really is a magical place to get married!

riendly. We opted to have all of our events indoors (ceremony, cocktails, and the reception) and the space lends itself to that flow very nicely. It's an absolutely gorgeous venue and a fantastic place to get married!

uests the entire time. The indoor space is stunning, and needs very little decoration to enhance the room. The outdoor space backs up to Lincoln Park, and the guests really appreciated being able to go inside and out when they were at the event. Get married here, you won't regret it!

matter. :) CHM is the best of all worlds: It's classic but contemporary, stately but fresh, beautiful outdoors, beautiful indoors, gorgeous hardwood plus that classic black and white checked dance floor, AND it's attached to my fave museum in the city. One highlight of this space is that, if you're planning on having an outdoor ceremony, the rain plan indoors is just as beautiful as the outdoor space, so if it rains you won't feel at all like you're settling. As perfect as the venue looks, though, that's not the best thing about having your wedding here; it's the staff! We worked with Sarah Novosad, who's one of those wedding professionals who you feel so confident in that as soon as you meet her, you stop worrying about everything because you know she's got it all under control. She's also extremely detail-oriented and patient; we exchanged dozens of emails leading up to our wedding, sometimes in painstaking levels of detail about a few special elements, and she always responded quickly and thoroughly. I felt completely confident in her ability to handle every day of our wedding, and that meant that on the day of I could enjoy every minute! I can't recommend CHM more as a wedding/party venue, and I'm so so happy that we went with them.

nd also opened up their permanent Chicago exhibit during cocktail hour for our 150 guests to explore. This was a huge hit and seemed especially appreciated by older guests who were less interested in cocktails and also those who did not know other guests previously. Having the exhibit open felt unique and fun, and was also loved by our friends and family from out of town. We worked with Jessie Pare, who guided us from beginning to end through the planning process. She was sweet, accessible, and knowledgeable; able to provide answers to our questions regarding budget, room layout, other vendors, and itinerary for the wedding weekend. She left no stone unturned and in essence acted as our day of coordinator without even being asked, doing things like reviewing a checklist of what I needed to bring to the rehearsal with me and helping our officiants map out the ceremony layout. She coordinated with our caterer, Blue Plate, and the combination of Jessie and Elinor, our contact at Blue Plate, made for a great team! We felt completely taken care of. Jessie also worked with our band, florist, photographer, and videographer to ensure everything ran smoothly and seamlessly. Leading up to the wedding and on the actual day I had complete confidence in the museum and Jessie, and we were able to fully enjoy the wedding itself. I highly recommend this venue and am hoping someone I know gets married here so I have an excuse to enjoy another wedding at the CHM!

sure to work with. Her intimate knowledge of the venue space, and warm personality helped to calm our nervous excitement and allowed us relax and enjoy our day. The venue itself was perfect for our 250 guest wedding. Our guests were blown away by the park views during our cocktail hour on the pavilion!

f room for my 100+ guests and everyone enjoyed the exhibits and atmosphere of the Museum. The part that makes the Museum an exceptional place to have a wedding is the staff. We worked with Jessie P. and she managed the evening and event perfectly. She helped us schedule the event with our vendors and on the night of the wedding everything and everyone was on time and running smoothly. I am so happy we chose this venue - it is not cheap, but it is worth the price because the service and the experience are the best in the city.

minutes of our wedding reception (when CHM staff packed up the entire room, leaving my parents only responsible for driving up to the loading dock to accept the boxes of our belongings.) No detail was overlooked, and as we reflect on the evening, we can say that our evening was simply -- perfect. Our wedding coordinator, Sarah N., is a professional who knows how to oversee a flawless event while simultaneously keeping a calm (and fun!) demeanor. Through the planning process, she outlined all deadlines for payment, etc. up front, but was considerate enough to send reminders in the days leading up to those deadlines, to ensure I hadn't forgotten them in the midst of all other details. A month prior to the wedding day, CHM hosted an 'event walk-through' where all vendors could gather together to play out the evening and ensure that every piece was considered, and that we had a voice into it all. This part was crucial for me, as I got to witness how well CHM works with its caterers (they have four from which you can select) and I knew our guests were in good hands. On the actual wedding day, our ceremony + cocktail hour plans were changed as it was pouring outside, and we would not be enjoying the outdoor plaza. But again, the staff was gracious and accommodating in ensuring Plan B was just as desirable. They even allowed us to take over the indoor space for family pictures / lingering until the ceremony began, while they somehow managed to set everything up in the background - without us even noticing they were there. Lastly, the kindness of the staff is something worth noting. The bartenders and front desk staff members were welcoming, professional and attentive, and even complimented us on having such nice friends and family. It was humbling to hear that we were represented well, and that all parties enjoyed the evening. I highly recommend using CHM to host a wedding. Nothing was overlooked by Sarah and the CHM staff, and it's my pleasure to say that outside of the weather (which unfortunately CHM does not control) I did not worry about a thing the entire day. The only thoughts claiming my attention were centered around celebrating with my friends, family and new husband - and that alone was worth spending the extra money it took to host it here.

or itself so you don't have to spend a lot of money on decorations. All of my guests loved the museum and visiting the exhibit during the cocktail hour. Jessie was awesome and thought of every detail ahead of time. You will not regret having your wedding here!

ries that we will cherish for many decades to come. My favorite things about the venue have to be the plaza pillars, museum exhibit, checkered reception floor, Frank Lloyd Wright stain glass and the Robinson gallery! The great thing about CHM is that even if you're stuck inside due to the weather (as we partially were!), you're still surrounded by beauty and so many great photo opportunities. Service: CHM has incredible service. I'm not sure if Jessie, our venue coordinator, ever slept because whenever I emailed to ask her a question, she'd get back to me within the hour, day or night. My husband and I planned our Chicago wedding from London to make sure our hometown friends and family could attend. I didn't realise how important it'd be to have someone like Jessie help us along the way but given the added challenge of planning from afar, I don't know what we would have done without her! We had a day of coordinator as well but having someone who knows your event space inside and out on your wedding day was incredibly helpful. Price: Quick tip: There are a few things to keep in mind about the price with CHM. When you book with CHM, you are committing to pay the price to rent the venue and to buy your alcohol package through CHM. You're also committing to go with 1 of a few caterers approved by the venue and lastly, you are responsible for renting the furniture you need on your wedding day. (CHM can source the equipment you need, if you wish to rent furniture through them.) CHM makes this very clear before you sign anything. However, I'd just recommend that you estimate how much each of these things might cost as making the commitment to the venue will affect other decisions that you make.

uly, so it wasn't too hot! The ballroom is stunning with plenty of space. Jessie was so helpful in figuring out some of our details. She had great recommendations when we needed them. She was kind, responsive, and very helpful. There were some tricky situations with a few things and she handled them with grace and poise. We could not have been happier with our venue choice. Our guests loved it too!

ecommendation for videographers, bakery's etc. The whole day went off without any issues- even when rain forced our cocktails to be inside it was still beautifully done. Our friends and family are still raving about the wedding!

n. One of our favorite things about CHM is the rain plan for the ceremony, having the ceremony indoors, would be equally as beautiful as having it outdoors, so no room for disappointment if it rained on our day. The inside of the Chicago Room is elegant, it speaks for itself, and has Frank Lloyd Wright stain glass on display throughout. The cost to rent the museum is a bit on the steep end compared to other venues but I would say it's worth it - aesthetically you can't beat it. Not to mention its convenient and prime location in the city. At the museum we worked with Jessie Pare, she was a joy to work with she is very friendly and personable. You can tell CHM holds weddings almost every weekend, they know what they're doing there and will make sure everything goes smoothly on your big day. Cons: I can't say I really have any bad things to say about our experience with CHM they only cons in my book were it got really really hot during the reception when everyone was dancing and we were told they can't turn down the A/C or keep the back doors open due to the stain glass exhibits and fire code..so that was a little uncomfortable. We had 165 guests and all fit very comfortably. CHM also has a list of exclusive caterer options, although I trust they have strong partners on their list, we were not thrilled with Jewell catering at all. Otherwise it's an excellent and timeless venue, would recommend to all my friends. Make sure you call Jessie early in your engagement CHM books up fast!

team was so responsive from the very beginning. I adored the historic Frank Lloyd Wright and Tiffany stained glass in the room, the classic black and white checkered dance floor, and the beautiful backdrop of the park behind the museum. We held our ceremony indoors (I wanted the stained glass as a backdrop for the ceremony - it was a nice compromise for some family members who wished we had been married in a church) and had the cocktail hour outside, which was a massive hit with our guests. We received compliments all night on how beautiful the venue was. Our primary contact, Jessie Pare, was fantastic to work with - knowledgeable, sweet, and easy going! I would highly recommend the venue to anyone looking for a unique, special spot in Chicago.

quickly and asked what we needed to do to reserve it! It does book early - we toured the museum a week after I got engaged in Dec 2012 for a wedding in March 2014. I went on vacation shortly thereafter and got back to Anna about a week later saying I was sure I wanted to reserve March 29, 2014. In the space of that week, someone else had put a deposit down for my date! The person had 2 or 3 days to get their deposit in, otherwise their reservation cancelled and thankfully for me, they didn't turn in their deposit. I never would have dreamed that a weekend in March would book 15 months in advance! We had both the ceremony and the reception at the Museum - inside since it was late March and freezing. We saved a significant amount of money by booking in March over April ($3k), so we took the last Saturday in March. There are also discounted rates in January and February. Anna was great throughout the planning process and everything was easy. The Museum handles the liquor/bars, and when we wanted to try some of the wines on the wine list, they had complimentary bottles of each for us at the Museum to pick up and try ourselves. They were also flexible on the beer choices and serving a specialty cocktail that my mom likes. There were some charges that came up near the end of the planning process that I was not expecting - $250 to tune their own piano so our band could use it during cocktail hour and $250 to use their loading dock for an extra 30 minutes to allow all of the vendors sufficient time to unload. At that point, you just agree and blindly pay the the bills because you are so deep in wedding mindset that it doesn't even seem like a lot. But figured it was worth mentioning. Overall, the venue was great, Anna was great, and everyone had a wonderful time. Thank you CHM!

it here. We worked closely with Anna at the Museum and are so thankful for all her help in planning and answering our random questions/meeting our needs. Not only is the Museum a Chicago staple, but it's history and access to the Chicago Crossroads Exhibit during our cocktail was just perfect for our diverse family and guest list. The one thing we continue to hear from our friends and family was that for many of them "it was the nicest wedding they had ever been to". We'd have to agree, but then again we're a bit biased. This is truly because of the unique venue but also because of the time and effort put in by Anna to make the night so perfect. Anna handled all our requests, put up with last minute changes, crazy family demands and even the guests we couldn't get to leave the party :) Thank you for making our night one that we will never forget!

ry (cocktail hour) and they were beautiful. Emails were promptly returned and onsite meetings were easy and quick to set up. The Event staff (Jessie was our main contact) were great to work with. They even stepped in on our big day and acted as psuedo coordinators so we didn't need to hire one. The outside vendors we had (catering, flowers, DJ, photographer) worked well with them from what we could tell. Our guests loved the space itself, and that the museum was so easy to find for those who drove in (we bused in most of the guests from the hotel). We had so many compliments that we know we can attribute to the Museum itself and to its staff.

ps. I worked with the coordinator Anna at the museum. She was so wonderful to work with. I did not have a wedding planner and because of Anna I did not feel like I needed one. She contacted and worked with all of my outside vendors. She handled all of the details the day of the wedding so that I was never bothered with any logistical question. I would highly recommend this venue for anyone looking for a unique and gorgeous space and a professional and helpful staff!