The Exchange

ctor of Sales and Venue Coordinator, is A+ at what she does. Her hospitality mindset means that she is always striving to get to a 'yes' for the client. She has a keen eye and attention to detail. You know you're in good hands while she oversees your big day. It's also a huge plus that she's kind and just a joy to work with. Chris is a Director on the restaurant side of the business and is phenomenal as well. He went above and beyond to ensure our guests felt welcomed and comfortable, and that philosophy carries over throughout the entire service and staff team. The two are part of memories from the day that our families will cherish forever. As for the venue itself: - It's GORGEOUS. Upon entry, you're greeted at the Listening Room. This is a quaint bar and restaurant that serves as a gathering space for early ceremony arrivals and as a cocktail hour spot for guests during the room flip. This is where our couple featured Mariachi entertainment during cocktail hour, and was perfect for this use too. The main atrium will simply take your breath away. The soaring glass ceiling allows in soft, natural light that makes for perfect photos on your big day. The marble clad venue offers a neutral palette that is suitable for any decor and design of your liking. While the overall decor aesthetic is modern and minimal, they have tastefully preserved historic features such as ornate lighting fixtures that adorn either side of the signature grand staircase. Theo's is a bar on the other side of the venue that offered an area for guests to order their drinks with ample space and enjoy conversations on the thoughtfully arranged furniture when they weren't on the dance floor. - Not only is it a beautiful venue, it's rich in Chicago history. Originally built in 1904 and previously the Chicago Railway Exchange, this building was designed by Daniel Burnham, one of the most prominent names in Chicago architecture. - The food was great. Chicken vesuvio and mushroom rigatoni were on the menu and both were equally excellent. The caesar salad was a great starter, and don't miss out on the bread and extra fluffy butter spread. - The drinks were also excellent! I would highly recommend the strawberry gimlet served as a signature drink. The team was great at preparing some in advance of cocktail hour to minimize the initial wait at the bar. - You can't beat the location. Odds are that you will have out of town guests visiting for your Chicago wedding. What better location to show them than this prime spot on Michigan Avenue, directly across from the Art Institute. The location also serves a perfect opportunity to take advantage of garden photos at the Art Institute while minimizing travel and logistics. Overall, I would gladly recommend The Exchange, Alyssa, Chris and team to any bride in search of their perfect venue. Thank you for a wonderful experience from start to finish.

for our wedding of 140. We loved the variety of the rooms starting with the Listening Room for cocktail hour, the Atrium for dinner and dancing, and Theo's Room for the bar. Our pictures inside are so beautiful, and one of the best parts was descending down the grand staircase. The food was excellent- even months later people are still raving about the perfectly cooked steak and even the bread and butter! Alyssa was so accommodating and really made our dream wedding come to life. Hands down this was the best experience that we could have asked for and would recommend the Exchange to anyone looking for a beautiful venue in Chicago that really has it all.