The Drake, a Hilton Hotel

ey did to make our wedding picture perfect. Ariella was always willing to help and responded to my many many questions with professionalism and care. Ariella additionally went above and beyond making notes of our parents favorite drinks and surprised them with a welcome basket in their room upon arrival for the wedding. The little touches are what puts The Drake on top. For an already iconic Chicago location, they really provide exceptional service and live up to the name. We cannot wait for many more stays at The Drake soaking in the memories we will forever cherish.

ere attentive and wonderful. As an LGBTQ+ couple, the Drake ensured it was inclusive and addressed our needs.

and our guests are still raving about the wedding. Ali, the Sales Catering Manager, was an absolute pleasure to work with from the moment we booked two years ago. She stayed on top of every detail and provided excellent customer service throughout the process. As a wedding planner myself, I’ve had the privilege of working with Ali in the past, and she consistently goes above and beyond. This time, as the mother of the groom, I experienced firsthand the heart and care she puts into making families feel special, and I am deeply grateful. About a year ago, Ali passed the baton to her assistant, Ariella, who has also been amazing. Ariella stepped in seamlessly, handling everything with professionalism, warmth, and great attention to detail. She made the planning process so smooth and stress-free, and I truly hope to work with her again in the future. Thanks to both Ali and Ariella, our son’s wedding was everything we dreamed it would be—and more. The Drake is such a beautiful venue, and with a team like this behind it, it truly sets the standard for excellence.

nmatched when it comes to professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for making your day perfect. The moment we arrived at the hotel, we were treated like royalty. Every interaction felt personalized and thoughtful, and we were blown away by the level of service. A huge thank you to Ariella, our incredible coordinator, who made the entire planning experience not only seamless but enjoyable. Her communication, creativity, and calm demeanor were everything we needed to feel confident going into our big day. On the day of, Rafael, the Head Banquet Captain, was an absolute rockstar. He ensured every detail ran perfectly—timing, service, setup—everything was flawless. He was so kind, patient, and always had a smile on his face. It truly felt like he cared as much about our wedding as we did. And the staff… wow. Every single server and bartender was outstanding—attentive, friendly, and professional. Our guests are still raving about how well they were taken care of. If you’re considering The Drake for your wedding, stop thinking and just book it. You will not regret it. It was, hands down, the best decision we made for our wedding

e’s event coordinator) answered all our questions with patience, arranged multiple walk-throughs, and truly went out of her way to make us feel special throughout the entire wedding weekend. The Gold Coast Ballroom itself was absolutely stunning—the majestic colonnades paired with the rich history of The Drake made the venue truly iconic and the perfect backdrop for our celebration. The service across the board was outstanding. The serving team was kind, professional, and attentive. The food was absolutely delicious, the cocktails at the open bar were fantastic (and got everyone grooving on the dance floor), and the champagne parade was such a fun highlight—we received countless compliments from our guests about it. Another huge advantage was being able to host all of our events in one place: the rehearsal dinner, welcome event, and wedding reception (which all counted toward our food & beverage minimum). Each event was executed flawlessly by The Drake’s team, making the whole weekend so convenient for us and our guests. We are so grateful to Ariella and the entire staff at The Drake for making our wedding weekend beyond perfect. We cannot recommend them highly enough!

class, they listened to us, were always responsive, and helped make sure our wedding night was the best night of our lives. The food was incredible, the service was first class and the venue is unparalleled. I thank the entire staff: the chefs, the servers, the bartenders and especially Ali and Ariella - our wedding liaisons - for assisting us in making our dream wedding night come true!

—from their incredible communication and positive attitude to the peace of mind they gave us, allowing us to sleep soundly knowing everything would be handled perfectly. The weekend could not have gone better, and there is nowhere else that could have compared to The Drake. We are so grateful to the entire Drake staff and feel truly blessed to have celebrated our wedding there!

mpagne parade was an unforgettable experience we will never forget, and the photos on the rooftop were a once in a lifetime experience.

annot thank her enough! The whole staff were professional, warm, organized and detailed. We had 229 guests and the food was absolutely delicious! We had so many complements on the food, the Palm Court room and the beautiful Gold Coast room. It was the perfect venue to make the dreams come true for our daughter and son in law. I cannot recommend The Drake enough!

g in January 2024, Ali and Ariella were incredible — thoughtful, organized, responsive, and genuinely kind. Now that our wedding has come and gone, I honestly miss talking with them! We kicked off our wedding weekend with a super fun Welcome Party the night before, and then celebrated with 260 guests in the stunning Gold Coast Room for our reception. So many of our friends and family — of all ages and backgrounds — told us it was the best wedding they had ever been to. They were blown away by the beauty of the space, the impeccable service, the delicious multi-course dinner, and the quality of drinks. I wholeheartedly recommend The Drake for anyone planning a wedding or even just a stay in Chicago. Compared to other Downtown venues, the pricing was fair — and in return, we got so much more value, beauty, and care than we ever expected. This day will stay with us forever. Thank you, Ali and Ariella, and the entire Drake team — you helped make it unforgettable! A+++ and 10/10!

ss our time talking with Ali, Ariella, and the rest of The Drake team. The day before our wedding, we had an incredibly fun Welcome Party. We had 260 guests attend our wedding reception in the Gold Coast room. Our guests of all ages and backgrounds could not say enough amazing things. Many of them even said it was the best reception they ever attended largely due to the beauty of the room, the pristine service, the plentiful and very tasty courses, and the quality of beverages. I cannot recommend the Drake enough, both for a wedding and a stay in Chicago. The price is comparable to other Downtown Chicago venues, and I know you get so much more than you realize you are paying for. My wife and I will never forget our special day. Thank you so much Drake Team and thank you so much Ali and Ariella! A+++ and 10 Stars!

hing from the set up to the menu to the servers were amazing. The food was so delicious and perfectly served. There was a champagne parade which was so fun and just made The Drake experience one of a kind!

the beginning, they made every meeting, tour, and event on site feel very special. The planning process was as much an experience as the day of the wedding. There were many wonderful surprises on the weekend of the wedding from drink deliveries to the suites and personal cards from our team. Many of our guests have expressed how amazing the venue and staff were and how the wedding meal was “the best wedding meal I have ever had”. As a same-sex couple, my wife and I were always comfortable when working with Sydney, Sonya, and all of staff at The Drake. They took the time to get to know us individually and personalize surprises in our suites. The night of the wedding everyone (staff included) gave us hugs because thats just the level of relationships we formed through the planning process. I will genuinely miss the interactions I had and only hope I can one day host another event at The Drake. Thank you so much to The Drake team for making our day so wonderful and streamlined.

We had many questions, phone calls and emails to ensure we had everything we needed for that day. I can't say enough good things about the execution of the food and service by the waitstaff at The Drake. Our guests were impressed by the way the Champagne was delivered! The Grand Ballroom was the perfect venue for the ceremony and reception, so beautiful.

needs. It’s been almost a week since the wedding and guests are still raving about the food, how stunning the place looked, and how friendly the staff was. Thank you to the entire Drake team for making my wedding weekend the best weekend of my life!

n contact, Sydney Waclawik, we knew we were in the best hands. From the first planning meeting to the final moments of the wedding day, Sydney was a steady, knowledgeable, and reassuring presence. Her professionalism, organization, and attention to detail were unmatched. Her fabulous support team of Sonya Ward and Shalinee Abraham assisted in seeing that all of our needs were met and executed flawlessly. Sydney and her team truly listened to my daughter’s vision and brought it to life with care and precision. They worked seamlessly with our vendors, ensuring everything went smoothly. Sharon Johnson, the Director of Reservations, made the guest room block process effortless, with prompt responses, clear communication, and kindness. The historic French Room set a stunning stage for the cocktail hour, and the timeless beauty of The Gold Coast Room wowed our guests as the reception venue. Unique traditions like The Drake’s renowned Bookbinders soup and the celebratory champagne parade added memorable wow factors that our guests are still talking about. The cuisine was extraordinary—every dish was delicious, artfully presented, and served with impeccable care. Under the direction of Georges, the Director of Banquets who oversaw the setup, the Banquet Captains Jorge and Lino delivered a dining experience that exceeded all expectations, making every guest feel celebrated. The guest rooms were spacious, immaculate, and luxurious. Floyd, the bellhop, was always on hand with a friendly smile and efficient service, further enhancing our experience. From start to finish, the entire team at The Drake Hotel was impeccable. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect venue or team to host this special occasion. Thank you for making our daughter’s wedding a dream come true!

n to a T and were so calm, cool, and collected throughout the process. They were even able to secure me the second ballroom (when we had only originally booked one) and were genuinely excited for me that I got to use both. They know EVERYTHING that there is to know about wedding planning and answered all questions easily and with confidence. I had no doubt in my mind that they would make sure my day went perfectly. I wish every bride got to experience the magic of the Drake as all of my guests were blown away by its beauty. The Drake staff and servers are all first class and do an incredible job. Also, the team threw in a lot of deals for us. Plus they made us feel like royalty (truly.. I got the Princess Diana suite for the weekend and my husband had the Presidential suite at no charge). Again, cannot recommend highly enough having your wedding at the Drake.

riella Ensinger as my contacts for all the wedding details. Both ladies and the entire staff went above and beyond through the entire process and most importantly, the day of the wedding could not have been more perfect!! Any requests, including last minute details, were acknowledged and done with pleasure. I am truly blessed that I had the honor of working with such an incredible team to make my daughter's day one for the books. THANK YOU just does not seem to be enough!! I will highly recommend them to all our family and friends.

and style that was timeless overlooking the shores of Lake Michigan. Our guests were "wowed" by the setting, floral design, extraordinary service provided by THE DRAKE, and fabulous food. Mangel Florist located in THE DRAKE provided the floral arrangements which were truly works of floral art.

e Team was with us every step of the way and even joined us on our wedding night and at our after party. The Princess Diana Suite & The Gold Coast room was such a classy and chic experience to be apart of. We cannot thank The Drake enough for how special and important they made us feel on our wedding weekend. We wish we could do it all over again! You cannot go wrong with anything at the Drake, the team is a well oiled machine that is beyond experienced! Thank you again to such an INCREDIBLE staff and team for bringing our dream wedding to life!! We are forever thankful! <3

lla is fantastic to work with and she really cared about making our wedding as special as possible. It was so fun having her and the rest of the team by our side throughout the entire process and we could not be happier with how everything went!

uly special not only for us but for our 250+ guests! The food was absolutely delicious and our guests commented about how wonderful and accommodating the service was throughout the entire night. I could not recommend this team more to help plan your special event at The Drake!

ectations for our wedding day. The Drake Hotel, Alexandra, and Ariella exceeded those expectations in every possible way. Having worked behind the scenes at numerous weddings hosted by The Drake, we knew firsthand the professionalism and attention to detail they bring to every event. However, experiencing it as a bride and groom was an entirely different and incredibly rewarding experience. Alexandra and Ariella seamlessly coordinated with us, understanding our unique perspective as industry professionals. They ensured that every aspect of our wedding was flawless, from accommodating our specific requests to anticipating our needs before we knew them. They truly went above and beyond to make our day unforgettable. The staff at The Drake Hotel treated us as valued clients, colleagues, and friends, ensuring that every moment was captured beautifully and that the music set the perfect tone for the celebration. As wedding professionals, we know the importance of choosing the right venue and team to bring your vision to life. Undoubtedly, The Drake Hotel and its team are top-notch in every regard, and we are grateful for their exceptional service, attention to detail, and genuine care in making our wedding day perfect. Thank you for everything!

to questions and was great with coordinating all of the details. Besides the reception, we hosted all of our wedding related events at the hotel, including the Rehearsal Dinner, Welcome Party and Brunch. It all went so smoothly! The dinner itself was an amazing event. The food was out of this world and the staff made you feel like royalty. They offered a really good room rate and went above and beyond with offering complementary rooms for the bride, groom as well as their parents. I cannot say how happy we were everything at the Drake! I would highly recommend it and will hopefully be hosting another wedding there in the future!

and away the best wedding they had ever attended, We ourselves had been to many high end weddings and we were blown away. The vendor recommendations (florist, band etc) also helped to ensure this wedding was a huge success. Antoinette, Karina, Raphael were all extremely personable and very much invested in making our wedding be exactly what we were hoping for. I don’t believe we heard the word “no” at any point during the process. You do need to trust the process and that these folks know how to pull off a wedding in their professional timeline. They do have weddings every weekend but when your turn rolls around it is “all you” and they make the magic happen. I can honestly say we wouldn’t have changed a thing and if any small thing happened it was all part of the process and everyone made it right in the end. Very happy we chose The Drake!

was a huge success with friends and family, and this wouldn't have been possible without the Drake team. The rooms, common spaces, and the Coq d'Or are also very nice, clean, and comfortable. 10/10.

ng ready. Our breakfast was late but a quick phone call remedied that with a bottle of champagne as an apology. When you add in all the included features, the Drake was actually very affordable compared to event spaces where you pay for each and every small thing. The quality of the food and service made this an amazing experience for my now husband I! Room block was a great deal, we did our welcome party and Sunday brunch here too and it was so fabulous and convenient. The event coordinator changed a few months before our wedding but the transition was seamless and Ali took great care of us get married at the drake!!

venue and we felt so lucky to have hosted our wedding there! Incredible service and team over at the Drake !!

the Gold Coast room and Antoinette and her team made that come true! Not only was the venue itself absolutely stunning, but the staff made the wedding process easy and day of they were truly a well-oiled machine. They were there for everything we needed, whether it be room deliveries, vendors, security, etc. they were phenomenal. I want to get a personal shoutout specifically to Antoinette - with all of the covid weddings getting pushed into 2022 I don’t think I’ve ever seen a business person and she somehow managed to stay on top of everything for us. She was readily available by text/call whenever I had questions over the course of the last year. She was able to get us everything we needed and handled our wedding craziness with ease. She even was able to set up some time to allow us to take some pics on the roof in front of the famous Drake sign! Thank you Antoinette you truly are amazing at what you do! And also shoutout to our captains - Jorge, Lino, and Andy! You guys were top notch! All in all, if you’re debating booking the drake for your wedding venue I would highly recommend you do so ASAP! Could not have asked for a better day! Thank you Drake team!!

delicious. Not to mention Antoinette was able to accommodate everything I wanted. The presidential suite is HUGE and felt like we had so much space for the bridal party to get ready at.

enue to everyone I know. We were suppose to get married in 2020 and had to postpone. Antoinette and The Drake Hotel hotel went above and beyond in helping us and I felt I could always reach out for advice or a shoulder to lean on during that stressful year. This was the best event venue I have ever worked with. And the wedding turned out even more perfect then I could ever dream of. Trust me- if you are on the fence, just move forward and book this hotel for your wedding!!

ing. Antoinette and her team made me feel so special on the big day and everything went perfectly. Every last detail was taken care of and I didn’t have to worry about anything. To this day people still talk about the wedding and how amazing it was. So happy we made the right choice! My only negative: Antoinette is extremely busy so sometimes she was hard to reach However, this is a crazy year for weddings so it’s understandable and everything worked out.

hat nots to our room to flagging a cab, Uber or helping with directions, I could always count on them. The caterering was second to none. I got a glimpse at our wonderful tasting with Antionette Cahill and the wait staff and chef but the wedding itself was perfection. The service was excellent. The food and beverages coordinated by Antionette had every detail covered. I’d strongly recommend The Drake for any occasion.

t, I knew we had to have our wedding at the Drake because of Shaun. Choosing where to have your wedding is extremely stressful, and in addition to the overwhelming beauty of the hotel itself, Shaun was the deciding factor that ultimately led us to choosing the Drake. I was nervous because I didn’t have a wedding planner but Shaun put my mind at ease and said he’d be there with me every step of the way- and he really was! There was no email that wasn’t answered the same day (and there were so many from me!), there was no question that he didn’t have an answer to, there was no request that we had that was too big or too small, he was an absolute dream to work with and took almost all of the stress out of the planning process entirely!!! MOST IMPORTANTLY, the weekend of the wedding, Shaun and the entire staff at the Drake including Holly in catering, Jose who helped me so much with the rooms, Chris our personal concierge who ran around like crazy between our gigantic bridal party’s and family members’s rooms fulfilling various requests, and every other person who assisted us from the Drake that weekend were all so beyond kind and accommodating-it truly made it possible to have the most perfect weekend of all time!! I would recommend this venue to every single bride who wants a beautiful, exquisite looking space and amazing workers who will go above and beyond to ensure that everything you dream comes true! Thank you so much Shaun and everyone else :) I can’t say it enough, you created the most perfect day and weekend for us!

ed our decision to book our wedding reception here – we cannot thank or recommend them enough! Our coordinator, Antoinette Cahill, is truly the best of the best. From the very beginning of the planning process, she helped to ensure that our entire wedding weekend was as special and flawless as possible. From the food, to the décor, hotel accommodations, logistics, and everything in between, her attention to detail and expertise made our planning process easy and enjoyable. Not to mention the actual wedding reception was perfect – we could not have been happier with how the night turned out, and are still receiving compliments from our friends and family on how beautiful the ballroom was; how incredible the staff was; how delicious the food was; how well run the event was; how fun the party was…all thanks to Antoinette and her team! I also want to mention that Antoinette is very connected to other reliable and talented wedding vendors in the Chicago area, and was instrumental in helping us put together an amazing vendor team (super helpful to us since we did not have an outside wedding planner)! Antoinette and her team (Bryce, Jose, Mark, and the banquet captains) are kind, patient, and easy to work with. They were also incredibly accommodating – they provided complimentary suites to my husband and I, as well as our parents; helped us stay within our wedding budget; and customized an incredible wedding menu for the cocktail hour, reception, and farewell brunch that fit all of our (many) detailed requests. One of the things that was most important to us was the food, and The Drake did not disappoint! Mark, the head chef, did an amazing job creating a menu that was primarily gluten free since myself and 20 other of our guests have severe food allergies. We were completely blown away with what he prepared at the food tasting, and were of course thrilled with what was served the night of our wedding. Everything was perfect! Gluten free (and even some dairy free options) were created for almost all of the hors d'oeuvres, soup, salad, main courses, dessert, and late night snacks. It sounds cheesy, but our entire wedding weekend was a dream thanks to The Drake. From the minute we checked into the hotel until the end of our post-wedding brunch, we felt so special and cared for. We didn’t have to stress or worry about a thing! We would recommend Antoinette and The Drake without hesitation to any newly engaged couple looking at Chicago wedding venues :)

d I believe my husband and I owe much of that to Antoinette, our wedding coordinator. Throughout the entire planning process, Antoinette was always available, whether it was to meet with us at the hotel, or for one of my many questions via email. Antoinette was always patient, insightful, and knowledgeable. I never felt frustrated over the planning process and I certainly never felt like my questions were not adequately answered. Antoinette was on top of everything! She was a pleasure to work with and represented the Drake Hotel with class, confidence and professionalism. Overall, we were thrilled with the Drake. As soon as I saw an ad for the Drake in The Knot I had a great feeling about the venue. When I received an email from Antoinette detailing the package, I was blown away with all the Drake had to offer. Everything we were promised in the package was provided to us, and everything always exceeded expectations. At the food tasting we were able to customize the menu to fit our needs, and never once did we feel that it was going to be difficult or complicated. I heard from many guests that the cocktail hour was amazing, and the food was plentiful and delicious. Throughout the night, the staff was courteous, accommodating and attentive. The Banquet Captain was incredibly helpful and always made sure that everything was going smoothly. The food was delicious, the space was beautiful and everyone had a great time. Having the opportunity to have a cake as part of the package only added to the benefits of holding a wedding at the Drake Hotel. The Drake Hotel always made sure we were well cared for. Whether it was the FANTASTIC Bridal Suite, the Suites for our parents or the Wine, strawberries, cookies and beer in the room we felt truly special. All in all, I can’t say enough about the Drake. It’s a first-class venue and I highly recommend it for any type of event. You won’t be disappointed!