Chicago Rehearsal Dinners, Bridal Showers + Parties

Private Dining by Sepia

Beautiful + Intimate Venue For Parties of 10-100

4.9

Verified reviews from real couples

I had a fantastic experience with Sepia Private Dining. The food was delicious (as good as the restaurant), they were so accommodating with our requests, service was extremely good and professional, and the space looked great (especially after the renovations to put in the wood paneled wall). We got hors doeuvres (4pp), bar with cocktails, four course meal but with dessert substituted for a dessert table, and a wedding cake. That was honestly a bit too much food, so I can confirm the food is definitely more than enough to be filling for people (portions are a bit bigger than the restaurant ones, but just as high-quality). We had 50 guests and the size was great for our reception (we did ceremony in a church). Josh was so easy to work with, it was a breeze to get every set up for the day and select food, etc. They put name cards as per my seating chart, set up all the decor excellently, coordinated without issue with our florist, and had menus for the day. I was beyond happy with how smoothly our reception went and how elegant it felt! I definitely recommend them for a smaller wedding. The custom wedding cake they made for us was fantastic also. I was able to request a flavor not actually on the list and kind of unique (rosewater with rasmalai-inspired filling) and the pastry chef did such an amazing job with it! The space is also larger than it looks in the photos - there was more than enough space to have cocktail hour and then transition to tables.

Lisa C.

5.0

Kali, Stephanie, and the entire Private Dining team at Sepia did an absolutely incredible job hosting our semi-intimate wedding of 58 people. The food and drinks were incredible and our guests were so impressed with their entrees and the elegance of the entire event.

Katie B.

5.0

Private Dining by Sepia is a wedding rehearsal dinner and party venue located in Chicago, IL. This sophisticated restaurant setting will dazzle your guests, perfect for creating memories with loved ones as you enjoy the seasonal American cuisine. Private Dining by Sepia combines Michelin-starred cuisine by Chef Kyle Cottle with stylish design and impeccable service. The venue's seasonal menus highlight the best of each season, and they have both a cocktail reception and a seated dinner menu. They favor local artisan growers who use sustainable practices and are dedicated to offering you an authentic dining experience. Private Dining by Sepia offers comprehensive services, including customizable wine tastings as an optional package for your event. Their wine and cocktail lists receive the same careful attention as their dining menus, and they emphasize interesting artisanal winemakers. Your guests will enjoy the delicious housemade cocktails. Every detail is thoughtfully curated to create an unforgettable evening that perfectly sets the tone for your celebration.

LGBTQ+-owned Business

19+ years in business

Speaks Chinese, English, Spanish

Medium team (11-20 members)

Details

Settings

Restaurant

Venue Service Offerings

Bar & Drinks

Cakes & Desserts

Food & Catering

Rentals & Equipment

Service Staff

Wedding Activities

Getting Engaged

Engagement Party

Rehearsals & Parties

After Party

Bachelor Party

Bachelorette Party

Bridal Luncheon

Bridal Shower

Brunch

Couples Shower

Engagement Party

Rehearsal Dinner

Welcome Party

Wedding

After Party

Day After Brunch

Rehearsal Dinner

Any questions?

4.9

out of 5.0

8 reviews

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Katie B

Highlighted review.

12/09/2019

Kali, Stephanie, and the entire Private Dining team at Sepia did an absolutely incredible job hosting our semi-intimate wedding of 58 people. The food and drinks were incredible an...

d our guests were so impressed with their entrees and the elegance of the entire event.

Lisa C

9/30/2025

I had a fantastic experience with Sepia Private Dining. The food was delicious (as good as the restaurant), they were so accommodating with our requests, service was extremely good...

and professional, and the space looked great (especially after the renovations to put in the wood paneled wall). We got hors doeuvres (4pp), bar with cocktails, four course meal but with dessert substituted for a dessert table, and a wedding cake. That was honestly a bit too much food, so I can confirm the food is definitely more than enough to be filling for people (portions are a bit bigger than the restaurant ones, but just as high-quality). We had 50 guests and the size was great for our reception (we did ceremony in a church). Josh was so easy to work with, it was a breeze to get every set up for the day and select food, etc. They put name cards as per my seating chart, set up all the decor excellently, coordinated without issue with our florist, and had menus for the day. I was beyond happy with how smoothly our reception went and how elegant it felt! I definitely recommend them for a smaller wedding. The custom wedding cake they made for us was fantastic also. I was able to request a flavor not actually on the list and kind of unique (rosewater with rasmalai-inspired filling) and the pastry chef did such an amazing job with it! The space is also larger than it looks in the photos - there was more than enough space to have cocktail hour and then transition to tables.

Any questions?

Catherine A

10/01/2021

This venue was a perfect size for our 37 person wedding reception. Our guests started at Sepia’s bar next door and then joined the party! The food and drinks were amazing. We had ...

a some coordination and accommodation issues we didn’t expect to a struggle with, but we spoke to the owner/GM afterwards and he made it right.

Amanda J

9/18/2016

Kali and her team at Private Dining by Sepia did a phenomenal job creating an unforgettable wedding reception for us and our 50 guests. Serving amazing food was a top priority for...

my husband and me when planning our wedding, and Private Dining by Sepia does not disappoint (as the Michelin star already suggests). Several of our foodie guests said that the braised short ribs were the best that they had ever had--huge kudos to Sepia! Kali was also super helpful providing her recommendations for the evening's menu, especially since tastings are not offered for Private Dining events (totally not a big deal though; the food will be amazing). Sepia's Pastry Chef created our wedding cake, too, which was just as incredible as the rest of the food. If you are planning an intimate wedding in downtown Chicago, look no further than Private Dining by Sepia. The Sepia team makes the planning process so easy--you'll be able to enjoy the evening just as much as your guests and not have a single worry! Thanks for an unforgettable wedding, Sepia!

Brian W

1/09/2016

After looking at a dozen different reception venues, we fell in love with the aesthetic of the space (the modern chandeliers are to die for)! Being separated from the restaurant w...

ith a private entrance, the space feels unique and grand. The subtle coloring worked wonderfully with neutral flowers and allowed the chandeliers to really shine! A few months before the wedding we went in for dinner to get a sense of the menu (just a note, Sepia does not offer a true tasting, but neither do most restaurants that we spoke with). Both of us being vegetarian, we wanted to make sure that we would be able to eat something more inventive than risotto! We trusted our planners suggestions on the meat entrees (ale braised short ribs and grilled sturgeon) and were absolutely blown away at the chef's creation for our entree (roasted butternut squash steak, smoked onion, braised chickpeas, wheat berries, tahini)! The creativity of the dish and seasonal influences were exceptional. With a background in fine dining and with many guests being avid "foodies" dinner was obviously very important for us. It truly was a legendary evening and our guests our still talking about the food and service months later. In particular our first course, a sunchoke soup with charred sweet onions, was a standout for everyone. The event planners at Sepia were extremely accommodating and helpful through every phase of the process. The evening of the event, the service staff made sure every guest had a drink in hand and seemed to go above and beyond. For the soup course, presentation was amazing, being poured table side for each guest. If you are looking for a smaller, unique and memorable dinner I would highly recommend Sepia!

Anonymous

1/08/2016

Working with Andrea at Sepia was a perfect experience. The night was seamless and I had so many compliments on how perfect the night went and how delicious the food was.

Jillian E

10/06/2014

I recently got married and our dinner was held in Sepia's private dining space (next door to the restaurant). It was amazing! If you're like me and looking for a sophisticated, wor...

ry-free venue for your small-ish wedding (we had 29 people), look no further. I was very hands-off and trusted the professionals to do what they do best. Andrea and the Sepia team did not disappoint! My husband and I wanted to be able to enjoy our day and we did exactly that. It was like we were guests at our own wedding - We felt so comfortable and taken care of throughout the whole process. We opted for a 5 course tasting menu that the Chef personally created for us. How cool is it to have a menu unique to your wedding prepared by a James Beard Award nominee at a Michelin Starred restaurant?!?!? The food was indescribable. That's how good it was! The venue itself is stunning (those chandeliers!!!) so not much is needed in the way of decor. They have a collection of mercury glass votives and other items to add to your floral arrangements if you want. The space was perfect for our group as we had one long table for all of us and the rest of the space was used for mingling and dancing. I would say a group of 50-60 would also have been comfortable in the space. The service was absolutely great. The staff is friendly, attentive, there when you need them - gone when you don't. They really made sure to take care of my grandparents, which I thought was a nice touch. All in all, I am SO happy with how everything turned out. Nothing went wrong the whole night... how many people can say that about a special event???

Anonymous

9/22/2013

Sepia's event space is absolutely perfect for anyone planning a smaller-size, modern downtown wedding. Our aim was to have an intimate ceremony with a dinner-party style reception,...

and we could not be happier with our choice to use Sepia. From the first communication to the actual night of the event, every single person involved was professional, accommodating and happy to do anything we needed. Delicious food is a guarantee with Sepia, but the event coordination was so well handled. I had nothing to worry about as the bride (Sepia even provides votives, small decor, menu cards and place cards -- they make it so easy!). All food and beverages at our wedding were served with the same attention to detail and fabulous service you'd get at the restaurant. Dinner courses were presented to all guests uniformly, flatware was provided for each course, and nothing went without prompt refill. We and our guests felt pampered and well-treated, which was very important to us, along with making quality food our first priority. We love to go out to eat in Chicago and wanted to give that experience to our guests. As I said before, amazing food is a given at Sepia so we knew we'd be able to treat everyone (and ourselves!) to an impressive meal. It should also be noted that everything I've had tried from the pastry chef is just perfect. I really can't recommend Sepia enough based on the fantastic experience we had. I wish we could do it again every weekend! :)

Service area & Contact info

135 N Jefferson St, Chicago, IL

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(312) 210-9016

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