Congress Plaza Hotel

Our wedding at the Congress this month was a dream. Ruthie was incredible to work with, the venue is exceptional (and breathtaking), and the food and drinks were all great (the food on our wedding night was actually better than it was during our tasting, which is crazy to say). My only recommendation is that you host your wedding during a time of year where you have a good chance of getting pictures taken on the roof - those photos are some of our favorites, and you could not ask for better views of the lake and the city.

We had THE MOST memorable time at our wedding reception hosted at the Congress Plaza Hotel on 9/18/21! From the very start, Ruthie and Karen, our reception coordinators, have helped us through the whole process. They were very accommodating with many of the things that came up since we were planning in the midsts of COVID. They were available to answer any questions we had and were very proactive. They made the process of planning smooth and their hard work reflected in the outcome of the reception. My husband, myself and our guests were in complete awe. We are very happy to have had our wedding reception at this location. If you’re looking for grand, classic and ornate, this is place for you. We are forever grateful and will be coming back to remind us of such a memorable time.

The staff was incredibly helpful. With almost a year delay due to COVID, Ruthie was a lifesaver. She answered all of my questions and annoying emails. Karen was very helpful in understanding the hotel booking process. We even had fantastic wait staff who kept several bottles of champagne aside for me. They were able to create a fun hot chocolate bar that my guests are still talking about. And you can't beat the romantic, gorgeous Gold Room. No extra decorations needed.

Obviously, the ballroom is GORGEOUS. I guarantee you will not find a single venue as classy, artistic, memorable, historic, and just beautiful anywhere else in the Chicagoland area, ESPECIALLY not for such a great price! The food was also some of the most delicious banquet food I've ever had! Staff was all excellent, from the wait staff and chef, to Karen the coordinator for rooms and other things you might need, to the security guards even. But of course our wedding coordinator, Ruthie, was the highlight of the show. She answered calls and texts at every hour of every day and made sure that we were taken care of always! Ruthie went above and beyond so many times--from finding little decorations to help make our day look even nicer, to coordinating with all the staff and making sure every little request was granted. She acted as our day-of coordinator, too, staying until the early hours of the morning to make sure we were 1000% taken care of, even though I'm sure that is NOT in her job description! Thank you, Ruthie for everything you've done to make our day so special! And thank you to the entire Congress Plaza staff for a drop-dead gorgeous wedding venue and friendly, helpful attitudes that made our wedding one that I'm sure nobody will stop talking about for years!

The most beautiful venue right in the heart of Michigan Ave. As Chicago as it gets. The people I worked with especially Ruthie and Ashley were so helpful, so relaxed and such a pleasure to work with! They were always there to help and so accomodating. Planning a wedding is stressful so it's the people you work with that really matter and they really helped relieve that stress. I trusted them and knew things were going to be just fine.

We choose to have our wedding at Congress Plaza Hotel. We were very happy we did! We looked at many venues in the city before choosing the Congress. What really sold us was how beautiful and grand the ballroom was. Our guests were so impressed with how beautiful our reception was. Ruthie was a pleasure to work with. She was so patient and understanding. I can admit I was not an easy bride to deal with and she was great with us. I initially was planning to hire a day of planner and decided that there was no need to because I trusted Ruthie to handle the reception for us. The food was great and there were no regrets with choosing the Congress!

My wedding was absolutely amazing thanks to the crew at Congress Plaza. Ruthie and Latoya went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. Michelle (the chef) was so thoughtful (she even checked in on us during the dinner). Not to mention the venue is breathtaking. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for an elegant perfect wedding (with great service).

We had our wedding ceremony and reception at the Congress Plaza Hotel in October, and it was an absolute dream. Every single person we encountered during that weekend was so helpful and accommodating. Ruthie helped us book this place of our dreams, and she was there helping us set up for the weekend and she was there every minute making sure our day went as smoothly as possible. Michelle, the chef, was absolutely amazing and she helped accommodate food allergies that we had in our party with no problem. Francesca was also integral in making sure our day ran smoothly, and she was also such a personable woman and kept me feeling calm and happy the entire day. I cannot say enough how perfect our day was because of the amazing people at the Congress Plaza Hotel. Not to mention it is probably the most beautiful venue I’ve ever seen.

Ruthie, Valerie and team were so helpful. Leading up to the wedding reception was so smooth. The team is friendly and want your day to be perfect. Valerie even went to target for me the day before the wedding to grab new table signs. I would recommend making sure the food comes out fast- some of my guests were waiting on the next courses to come out. Otherwise, everything was perfect. The Gold Room was a perfect setting for our winter wedding. We loved the hotels rich history and old school flair. Thank you!

This place was absolutely beautiful. We had our reception in the Gold room and 2 months later our friends and family still talk about how in awe they were. The food was amazing and the fact that it came with everything made my life 100 times easier! They answered all my questions and their staff kept all the planning running smoothly.

The Congress Plaza Hotel, lead by Ruthie Howard, hands down gave my wife and I the wedding of our dreams! As we planned our wedding from Connecticut, Ruthie and her staff were extra accommodating and flexible with their schedule when we were in town and would call in. In fact, my wife's Matron of Honor did a walk through and showed us on FaceTime to confirm our decision, and Ruthie arranged it all! During our tasting, we failed to inform the hotel that we were bringing guests. It didn't matter, Ruthie and her staff, including executive chef Michelle had us covered. We had an amazing time at the tasting as a family and getting to know the staff. As my wife and I come from two Italian families, which stereotypically means a pervasive knowledge of good food and no shortage of opinions, Ruthie, Michelle, head waiter Tim, and the Congress staff smiled and went on their business in the most professional and courteous manner. What was most impressive during the planning of the meal was the staff's creativity and insight. They let us think things out, steered us away from crazy ideas, and embraced our spin on the event. Only under the most extreme circumstances did we hear no. Ruthie, Michelle, and Karen Rodriguez in room reservations always found a way to make it happen as long as it aligned with Congress policies. For downtown Chicago in the middle of summer, the venue and all its ammenities were very reasonable! Best part - everything was delicious! The candied-apple pork belly was unreal. The parmesan encrusted chicken breast with the pesto sauce was out of this world! All the food, liquor, catering was superb! We felt like we were at a gala that was $1,000 a plate...when it was less than $150! To sum it all up, Ruthie Howard, Karen Rodriguez, executive chef Michele (whose last name escapes me), head waiter Tim, the concierge, everyone in every capacity went above and beyond to accommodate our 160+ guests from all over the country and some from all over the world to show them first-class hospitality beyond reproach. Most importantly, they gave my wife the wedding of her dreams. And mine too! My wife and I will be returning to the Congress once a year to reconnect with everyone, give them business, and enjoy their service. The Congress Plaza Hotel comes with my highest recommendation and approval.

Everything was perfect for our daughter's wedding reception. The venue was set up beautifully, just as we had planned it. The food exceeded our expectations, and the service was wonderful. The coordinator, chef and captain were readily available throughout the evening, checking to make sure everything was running smoothly. The sweet table and pizzas were amazing! All of our guests were very complimentary, and we did not receive any negative comments. Also, the room reservation coordinator was very accommodating with last minute additions. Would highly recommend Congress Plaza as a great wedding venue!

Our wedding last year was so memorable and went off without a hitch, thanks to Congress Plaza Hotel. The Gold Room is absolutely stunning and we received SO many compliments from our guests on how beautiful it was. The service the day-of was also so impressive and appreciated as the staff did everything I expected and more. Leading up to the wedding, we did run into some hiccups where the coordinators were sometimes slow to respond and our coordinators changed once or twice during the time we were planning our wedding. Other than that though, they did a commendable job in organizing our tasting and following my directions for the day-of. The food was great and the cake (provided by The Baking Institute - included in all packages) was even better! Our guests left feeling happy and satisfied. We also decided to have late night snacks and a brunch the next day to fulfill our food and beverage minimum and it was the best thing we could have done. Our guests raved about the breakfast the next morning too and it gave everyone a chance to spend more time together. The Congress is great too because our guests headed to the bar inside of the hotel after the wedding reception was over to continue the party! Overall, I am extremely glad that we had our wedding reception at Congress Plaza Hotel and have nothing but good things to say about my experience!!

Planning our wedding from out of town, it was a challenge to find a venue that we loved. From the moment we contacted the Congress Plaza Hotel, they made everything easy, from planning the food tasting around our schedule, to letting us change the seating arrangements 10 times, to allowing us to bring in our decor 5 days before the wedding. The Gold Room is absolutely STUNNING - even better in person than you can imagine, and so many people told us it was the most beautiful venue they've ever been to. The food is delicious with great portion sizes - the groom was in shock that he was actually full from dinner at a wedding. Plus, you don't have to worry about hidden fees - the hotel takes care of everything from the table linens, to the china, and even a complimentary night in the bridal suite (which is incredible). The drinks were great - the hotel let us do a signature moscow mule for our guests, which were amazing. The bartender would have them lined up and ready to go for the guests. We were also able to do a surprise entrance to the reception from the balcony in the Gold Room, which was a ton of fun! Ruthie was great to work with and very helpful providing suggestions on what other brides have done in the past. Would definitely recommend using the Congress Plaza as the venue for a wedding.

Our wedding was a dream! The hotel is gorgeous, the food was incredible and Ruthie, Karen and Latoya were all such a pleasure to work with. I don't think there's a better location in Chicago, the view is breathtaking, Everything was flawless!!!

Stay away from the Congress Plaza Hotel at all costs! I am embarrassed that I suggested the venue to my son and his new wife for their wedding. The venue was a complete disaster starting with the wedding planners; the position was a revolving door, we had 3 during the course of the 9 month engagement. Each planner was more unprofessional than the person she replaced. While the food at the “tasting” was exceptional, the banquet chef (Nicole) quit shortly before the wedding and the food that was served at the wedding reception was not edible. People were actually spitting out the appetizers during cocktail hour. The food was so bad that our guests felt compelled to tell us to ask for a refund! We had a contract that included the layout of the seating at the reception, the staff completely disregarded the agreement and the wishes of the bride and groom, later citing “fire code” as the reason for disregarding the plan that was co-developed with the first wedding planner. On the day of the wedding, our guests who were staying at the hotel had to wait in line at reception for more than an hour to check in, missing most of the cocktail hour. The hotel staff were unfriendly to our guests and generally not pleasant to deal with. I have hosted several weddings prior to this one and I can truthfully say that this was the worst w didn’t experience ever!

My wife and I held our wedding reception in the Gold Room at the Congress Plaza Hotel, and it is a truly spectacular location. The hotel itself dates from the 1920s, but they've recently been updating some of the rooms, and the ones our guests stayed in were very comfortable. Our wedding booking also included usage of the bridal suite, which was spacious and gorgeous, with views across to the Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. Our main contact throughout the process was Ruthie Howard, the hotel’s Catering Manager. Ruthie put together a wonderful reception, ably assisted by her team (we were especially grateful to Frank, who was in charge of the service during dinner and attended to our every need). Ruthie has a very laid-back style of organisation, compared to other vendors that we worked with, but there was no cause for alarm as she was on top of all the details, including viewing the Gold Room, arranging the food tasting and the menus / drink package, as well as co-ordinating with our other vendors on the day. The food itself was excellent. We were able to attend a tasting in advance, and offer a choice of dishes to our guests (with allowances made for vegetarian and gluten-free requirements). Having attended some weddings ourselves where mass-cooked food can be mediocre, we felt the taste and quality at the Congress Plaza was a definite step up, and comments from our guests agreed. The hotel also offers a tiered system of wine/bar packages, allowing flexibility according to budget. The Gold Room was set up in advance of the event, allowing us time to come in with the florist to drop off centrepieces and wedding favours on the morning, and this made things easier. We had a relatively large event (170+ people), and the Congress Plaza ensured that a complicated operation ran smoothly. Together with the beautiful surroundings of the Gold Room, our guests thoroughly enjoyed the evening, and we're very happy to recommend this venue to future couples.

The views from the lake-facing rooms are spectacular, and the renovations make the hotel feel like true luxury. We booked the suite for the weekend of my wedding at the Field Museum, and it was the ideal place for all the girls to get ready and for the wedding night. Spacious and comfortable and upscale, plus a convenient location close to the wedding venue! Karen was also fantastic to work with for booking a block of rooms for our guests. She was flexible and professional the whole way through. There were some snafus: We had champagne and chocolate-strawberries delivered to our room! ...but it was a night too early so we saved them in the refrigerator and by the time we got to the strawberries they weren't too fresh anymore. Then, the night of my wedding, I came back to the hotel bar with some friends around 12:30 am and was told that we could have three bottles of champagne. They never brought them, and I ended up in an emotional fight with the bar manager, in my wedding dress. He told me they were closed-- which was fine, but I never should have been promised the bottles in the first place, in that case! Not such great service on a night that was supposed to be happy and carefree! Overall, a reasonably-priced hotel on Michigan Avenue. It costs much less than the Renaissance Blackstone, but I suppose you get what you pay for. And it's still better than the Essex!

GOT THE SLEEP I NEEDED FOR THE NIGHT AND THEY HAD ALL THE HELP I NEEDED. FROM THE VALET ALL THE WAY TO ROOM.

Everything went so smooth at Congress and Sohana and her staff were so helpful and nice throughout the entire process. I thought they were affordable compared to the rest of downtown chicago venues. Our guest raved about the ballroom as well!

Karen Rodriguez, Sales Manager, is the BEST to work with! We were able to book all of our rooms with a view of the lake and Karen gave us an unbelievable rate! She even extended the rate 3 days before and after the wedding. The service was fantastic and our family and guests loved the convenience of being centrally located. I highly recommend the Congress Plaza Hotel!!

The hotel itself is really neat and a unique space for a wedding and reception. The Florentine Room (where the ceremony was held) and The Gold Room (where the reception was held) are beautiful. These rooms are breathtaking! Slavyana, the Catering Manager, is amazing! She planned everything perfectly and helped make our day great. The food was also delicious and Krista, the chef, is wonderful. The catering and event staff is beyond amazing. The front desk staff, however, was terrible. Many of our guests had difficulty booking their rooms and had issues with getting service. Again, the food was great and there was a ton of it. It is an older hotel, and some of the guest rooms were not quite up to par - you will not get the modern amenities. The only true complaint I had/have (and this is not necessarily the hotel's fault) was the strikers in front of the hotel on our wedding day and a huge protest across the street. The only reason I gave four stars instead of five is because the rooms are hit or miss, the front desk staff, and the strikers outside the building. Slavyana and Krista are the best. They were wonderful to work with and I would certainly work with them again. I would recommend this hotel for any event or wedding.

Our reception venue was at a very historic hotel and provided an unbelievable 'old Chicago' feeling.

The Gold Room (the ballroom our reception was in) was stunning. I don't think there is a prettier room in Chicago.;HORRIBLE staff/management that are very uneducated and unhelpful. Their actions show their lack or professionalism and courtesy. Also there are people on strike outside the building picketing, which has been going on for at least 4 years. They were giving my guests and my bridal party a hard time as we were entering the hotel. In general, very poor staff service.