Custom Weddings. Unforgettable Memories.
Holds ceremonies and receptions
AWARD WINNER
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Situated on a 129-acre lakefront property in Libertyville, IL, Relish Catering at Independence Grove is a wedding venue where exceptional experiences abound. Everywhere you look at this venue, there is a new vista to behold, from the stunning botanical garden to the exquisite lakefront beach. The team at Relish Catering is proud to share this picture-perfect location with those celebrating their most precious moments, bringing their outstanding service and attention to detail to every event that unfolds there.
On your first venue visit, you and your beloved will be encouraged to explore all of Independence Grove's indoor and outdoor event spaces so you can find the ideal setting for your celebration. From intimate family gatherings to lavish seated banquets, every occasion is welcomed at Independence Grove. The Audubon Hall at the heart of the property, with its magnificent views and spacious banquet center, offers a lovely setting for events of up to 300 seated guests. When you host here, you will also have access to a cozy dressing suite on your wedding morning to prepare, pamper, and relax. If an outdoor wedding is more your style, you'll love the North Bay Pavilion and Native Garden. Nature's beauty is on full display in both of these areas, setting the scene for an extraordinary event with between 250 and 500 guests.
Making every moment of your special day at Independence Grove magical is the only focus of the Relish Catering and Events team. As you plan and perfect your event, a dedicated coordinator will be on hand to offer assistance and ensure everything runs smoothly. The expert chefs at Relish Catering will design a dinner menu that celebrates the art of fine dining and showcases locally sourced ingredients. All you will have to focus on is spending time with family and friends and enjoying the one-of-a-kind ambiance at Relish Catering at Independence Grove.
25+ years in business
Speaks English, Spanish
Large team (21+ members)
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Ballroom
Beach
Waterfront
Country Club
Garden
Park
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Bar Rental
Cakes & Desserts
Cupcakes
Other Desserts
Food & Catering
Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Tents
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.018 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Relish Events at Independence Grove delivered a seamless, stress-free wedding experience with attentive, organized coordinators and detail-oriented staff. Guests raved about outstanding, accommodating food and signature cocktails. The grounds and indoor spaces are beautiful for photos and ceremonies, and the team handled last-minute changes smoothly.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Gianna F
5.0
5/13/2026
Relish Events at Independence Grove made my husband and my wedding day a dream come true! Colleen, Leo, and Chef Juan made sure that the entire day went without a hitch. The attent...
ion to detail from the tasting, dropping off our decor, and then the wedding itself made the entire day seamless. Colleen worked tirelessly to ensure that I felt zero stress as the bride and answered my many late night emails with no hesitation! Being able to communicate my vision with Colleen and the team allowed for the entire day to be what I’ve dreamed of for years. The day of the wedding she was locked in with the plan and executed even the most minor detail to perfection. So much so, I didn’t need to think about anything other than getting married!
Leo was our bartender for our tasting and helped add so much to our day that we begged him to come back to bartending for one night on our wedding day, which he did happily! All of our guests loved his personality and he added to making our day perfect!
Finally, Chef Juan is a phenomenal chef! All the food that he made and served was beyond compare. Being a bride with celiacs comes with a lot of anxiety around food but after sharing my fears and concerns, Leo, Colleen, and Chef Juan explained the process on how they ensure that the food is safe, even when preparing gluten in the same kitchen. Chef Juan checked in with both my husband and I throughout our dinner hour to ensure that we were happy with our food.
Additionally, the grounds were beautifully kept which allowed for magical and timeless photos we get to reminisce on for the rest of our lives! All of the staff were amazing and genuinely happy for my husband and I on our happy day! Relish Events gave us the wedding of our dreams and I can’t recommend them enough to anyone getting married!
Jenny G
5.0
12/03/2025
Working with Madison and her entire team was a dream. They were so kind and accommodating with my husband and I planning our wedding from out of state. The entire process was stres...
s free and I felt I could reach out at any time with any questions throughout the entire process. They were able to help guide our decisions and accommodate our wants and wishes for the day. The food is absolutely delicious ( we are still getting rave reviews from our guests) and being able to work with the chef to craft our menu made the experience that much more special and custom. I cannot recommend Relish enough for any celebratory events.
Any questions?
Greg M
5.0
11/11/2025
We had our October 2025 wedding at Independence Grove and had a wonderful experience. The venue is stunning plus the food is delicious, our guests raved about the food and drinks. ...
Colleen is the most energetic and positive person and made wedding planning a breeze. She was so quick to reply to every question and willing to support every step of the way. We had planned for an outside ceremony, but due to weather decided the day of the wedding to move it inside. Colleen was on top of the switch and worked will all of our vendors to pivot to an indoor ceremony. She elevated our happiness and satisfaction during every experience and would strongly recommend!
Tiffiny M
5.0
11/11/2025
We had a wonderful wedding reception at a beautiful venue in October 2025. Working with Colleen was a pleasure - she was knowledgeable and helpful at every step, including on-site...
support the day of the event to ensure everything ran smoothly. And it did! The food was delicious, the tables were elegant, and the ambiance with lit fireplaces and hundreds of candles made it unforgettable. Highly recommended!
Brittany O
5.0
10/25/2025
We had an amazing experience working with Madison from Relish Events at Independence Grove. From the beginning, she was so flexible and really allowed me to bring my vision to life...
. She was always responsive to my emails and made the planning process smooth and enjoyable. Madison also went out of her way to include our daughters at the tasting, which meant a lot to us. On the day of the event, she and Leo, the lead on-site, were both incredibly helpful and attentive, making sure everything ran perfectly. Our guests could not stop raving about the food, and I completely agree that it was delicious. Everything came together beautifully, and we are so grateful for the wonderful experience.
Brandon C
5.0
10/22/2025
Couldn't have asked for a better wedding venue. Incredibly attentive and thoughtful staff. Extremely caring throughout the entire process!
Chelsie L
5.0
10/16/2025
Colleen from Relish was absolutely incredible! She was incredibly helpful whenever I needed her assistance, and she made my wedding day go very smoothly. She has a wonderful person...
ality and truly loves what she does.
Cyndi R
5.0
10/02/2025
Our wedding at Independence Grove was absolutely magical, and we couldn’t have done it without Colleen and the Relish Events team. Colleen was an incredible wedding coordinator: pa...
tient, attentive, and always one step ahead. She ensured we felt supported from start to finish, and we never had to worry about a thing.
The staff was professional, kind, and so detail-oriented. The reception hall looked stunning, and the outdoor cocktail hour space was just as beautiful. We appreciated how the team handled everything seamlessly, even politely guiding non-wedding guests away from our reserved areas. Little touches, such as the golf cart driver being both funny and thoughtful (and the cart’s adorable decorations), added a great deal of charm to the day.
The food was outstanding, and our guests are still talking about it! Every detail, from the flow of the ceremony to the breathtaking photos taken in the native garden, was thoughtfully executed.
If you’re considering hosting your ceremony and reception at Independence Grove with Relish Events, don’t hesitate. You and your guests will be in excellent hands and will walk away with unforgettable memories.
Katherine A
5.0
9/07/2025
The best thing we did for our wedding experience was to hire Colleen as our Wedding Day coordinator. She was absolutely fantastic - I truly don't have enough good words. She worked...
with us to update the plan as we made adjustments and reacted to changes in headcount. She stayed organized with all of our feedback around food choices and layout and timeline. She organized setup and takedown on the day of our wedding. We had a phenomenal experience because of her. Additionally, the food and general staff from Relish were absolutely fantastic. So many of our guests have come up to us to tell us, unprompted, how amazing the food and service was. I am so grateful we had our wedding with this group at Independence Grove - it was a magical experience that was made so much less stressful to plan for because of them. I very, very strongly recommend them!!!
Lindsay A
5.0
9/06/2025
Our wedding at Independence Grove was everything we could have asked for and more!
I don't even know where to begin. Madison and her dream team were incredible to work with from ...
initial viewing of the venue, all of the planning, and were the reason our wedding day was flawless. Almost a year later and we are still told that our wedding has been one of the best wedding's that our guests have attended!
I initially knew of the venue because my cousin got married there a few years prior, and we loved how beautiful it was. It was the perfect place for photos on the same grounds as the venue and a beautiful indoor ceremony (we got married in November so it was too chilly for outdoors).
The whole process of planning was made easy by working with Madison. She was incredibly communicative and hands on, happy to talk through any questions, and worked with us to customize every bit of our wedding to fit US. She was a major reason that wedding planning was smooth, fun, and not stressful! Even during the day of the event, they were quick to pivot when we realized that our cocktail hour would be too cold outside and moved everything we needed inside quickly. If anything had gone wrong on our wedding day, I can guarantee I did not notice it, because Madison was on top of it.
Chef and his team were amazing. Every piece of food came out flawless and beautifully presented. Everyone raved about our food, and when we told people how amazing the Brown Buttered Gnocchi vegetarian option was, we saw a lot of people opt for it instead of one of our meat options. Not a single person went hungry with the hors d'oeuvres, salads, entree, dessert bar, AND late night bites (The Chicago Dogs, Sliders & Fries saved many peoples lives that night from what I hear!)
I cannot emphasize the professionalism of the staff enough. They run a tight ship and everything is so seamless when you have an event at Independence Grove.
I can truly say it was a dream wedding because we just had so much fun.
Michelle S
5.0
8/15/2025
Where do I even begin?! At the beginning of our wedding journey, finding a venue seemed so stressful. However, when we went to tour Independence Grove & met Colleen that stress imm...
ediately felt lifted. She made us feel like family right away and we felt at ease and left knowing this was the venue for us. Colleen made the wedding planning process FUN, smooth, and stress free. I can look back and say I full heartedly ENJOYED every moment of wedding planning and it was all because of Colleen's expertise, excellent communication, organization, & positivity. We had our dream wedding with the guidance of Colleen and our guests are STILL talking about how beautiful and perfect our wedding was - we are forever grateful.
Not only are our guests still talking about the overall beauty and enjoyment of the wedding, but also the FOOD! Chef Juan is SO talented - not only is the food INCREDIBLE, but his artistic eye for the presentation is something that blew our guests away. One of our guests texted me the very next day saying "that was the best wedding food I have ever had and I have been to a lot of weddings". My uncle, who is VERY picky, told my mom "you know the chef and team are really good when I am wanting more vegetables". When I say you are in the BEST hands with this team with one of the most important and memorable days of your lives, I truly mean it. I feel like we became family in this process and there is not one thing I would have changed from our day. It was PERFECT. The views of the venue are incredible as well. You have EVERYTHING you need all in one spot with a team you can trust and most importantly a team that truly CARES about you & your guests. We are still on Cloud 9 from our experience with Relish Events & plan to return for any other life events that come our way :).
Tracy S
4.0
8/07/2025
If you are looking to have an outdoor ceremony and save money on the decor, I couldn’t think of anywhere else more beautiful and breathtaking than the native garden at Independence...
Grove! From start to finish everything flowed beautifully! Food, amazing, staff professional, suggested vendors, spit on! Madison was right by our side every step of the way from the first meeting until days after the wedding! All communication was followed up immediately! Her outgoing bubbly personality along with all her knowledge and expertise made for a near perfect day and overall experience!
Michelle B
5.0
7/29/2025
My husband and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding venue! From start to finish, every detail was executed flawlessly by the venue's coordinator, Madison, and her team....
The outdoor happy hour was absolutely magical. Our guests are still raving about the stunning setting and the delicious signature cocktails that kicked off the celebration in style.
The evening transitioned seamlessly into a beautiful indoor seated dinner. The food was restaurant-quality, plated and served with elegance and warmth. The service provided by the staff was impeccable throughout the night.
A special shoutout to Madison, our coordinator, who went above and beyond in every possible way. She made sure every element of our vision came to life and was always one step ahead, ensuring the day ran smoothly and stress-free. Her attention to detail and calm, positive energy made all the difference. I truly felt like we were family of Madison's; that's how much she cared that we were pleased with every aspect of our wedding day.
We are beyond grateful for the entire experience! It was everything we hoped for and more. Highly, highly recommend!
Danny C
5.0
7/01/2025
We hosted our wedding reception at Independence Grove, and it was the best decision ever! From the delicious food to the beautiful views, it is the perfect venue for a wedding. I h...
ad the pleasure of working with Colleen, who is a true gem of a person!!! I am so thankful to have worked with her through this process. I thought planning a wedding would be extremely stressful, but she made it so easy! From the start, Colleen was super organized, friendly, and really listened to what we wanted. She took care of all the details so we didn’t have to stress about a thing.
Colleen helped everything run smoothly, making sure the night flowed just right. Our guests kept saying how beautiful everything was and how much fun they had. Everyone also LOVED the food!
We also rented their golf cart to drive around and take pictures. Special shout out to our driver, Reilly! We finished our pictures right as cocktail hour was starting. The team surprised us with a platter of appetizers and took our drink order in the bridal suite! This was just one of the many things they did to spoil us and make our day stress free.
Colleen went above and beyond, she set up our decorations, took them down, and checked on us throughout the whole evening. She even let me drop off all my decorations the day before. I cannot thank Colleen (and the whole Independence Grove team) enough! We couldn’t have asked for a better experience! I would recommend everyone to book their wedding at independence grove.
Teresa J
5.0
6/13/2025
Finding a venue that fits your vision can be a very daunting task. Finding a venue with exceptional staff and food is beyond a bride’s dream! Relish Events at Independence Grove in...
Libertyville was everything we could have wanted. Water views – Check, exceptional grounds – Check, AMAZING event coordinator – Check Check, remarkable food (still being talked about) – Check, outstanding staff during the event – Check. Literally working with Collen was more than just a pleasure. She made the entire process seamless and easy. Even when I said Hey there is this tick tock video of cheese pulling… any chance we can get that? Why of course, she said, happily! Easy-going, joyful, organized, helpful and most importantly calming. The food – ohh the food…Chef Juan and his team created such delectable food from the cocktail hour through dinner, desserts into late night bites that people are still talking about how amazing all the food was! Not that we had a single doubt. Every point of the experience from booking to our tasting, to changing details last minute – seamless and easy! I cannot recommend this venu and staff enough. If I could give 10 stars instead of 5 I would in a heartbeat.
Nicole T
5.0
6/12/2025
We were married this past weekend in the Native Garden, so magical! If you are looking for beautiful nature during your ceremony, this is the place. We are so lucky to have had suc...
h a spectacular day, everything was perfect!
Independence Grove as a venue all around is top notch! All areas were just so well thought out, even the bridal suite!It was perfectly set up and so spacious even for a large bridal party & family!
All our guests were raving how the cocktail hour was the best they had ever been to. Perfect location out on the veranda of the Audubon Hall.
Now the reception- large space to fit comfortably at least 250 guest, wonderful service from dinner to drinks! The execution of the entire night was just perfect. Madison & Riley, you 2 are amazing & we are so grateful. You truly made the day/night magical and met all my expectations and more.
Xoxo
A&N
Heidi K
5.0
4/14/2025
Madison and the team at Relish Catering at Independence Grove were wonderful to work with and helped us create a beautiful wedding. They were attentive and communicative. I was abl...
e to have all of my questions answered and Madison made sure that I didn’t have to worry about anything. I did not hire a wedding planner but the team made everything so easy that I really didn’t need to! Everything went perfectly and even when our timeline became delayed because of our videographer, they were able to make it work. All of my guests had a great time at the wedding and they raved about the decorations, ceremony, food, and presentation of everything. Thank you so much Relish Catering! I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an event space and catering.
Amira J
5.0
9/11/2024
Relish Catering was an absolute dream to work with! We had the pleasure of working closely with Colleen, and she made the entire experience feel seamless. From the moment we connec...
ted, I felt truly valued and treated like royalty. After visiting six different venues where we were often met with indifference, Relish Catering stood out by offering exceptional customer service and enthusiasm. Here’s a breakdown of the different aspects of our wedding experience:
Food:
The food was nothing short of amazing! When we inquired about menu options, Relish Catering’s response was simple: "Anything!" Chef Juan went above and beyond, using high-quality ingredients that truly elevated the flavors. He showcased our ethnic cuisine beautifully, and multiple guests mentioned it was the best wedding food they’d ever had—which is no small compliment! The quality and taste were impeccable, and I would choose them again in a heartbeat, just for the food.
Service:
The service and staff were equally incredible. They were so professional and attentive that we hardly noticed them—yet when we needed something, they were polite and quick to assist. Having two beverage stations at the wedding was a hit with our guests, who thought it was such a nice touch. The security guard at the front was warm and welcoming, making us feel safe and secure. Ivan, our personal server, was especially kind and considerate. The level of professionalism across the board was among the best I’ve ever experienced.
Venue:
We had our wedding at the end of August, and the venue could not have been more perfect. The park is pristine and well-maintained, with stunning foliage and breathtaking views of the lake. The variety of photo opportunities, from the fountain to the beach area, was fantastic. If you’re looking for a venue that offers both indoor and outdoor spaces, this is ideal. The patio was spotless, the fireplace cozy, and the view overlooking the lake was magical. If you're aiming for a serene, forest-like atmosphere, Independence Grove is the place to be!
Weddings can feel chaotic, but having our special day at this venue gave us so much peace of mind. I would highly recommend Relish Catering at Independence Grove to anyone planning their wedding!
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Relish Events at Independence Grove
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