About this vendor
Escape the ordinary, with your closest family and friends, and celebrate your special day at an all-inclusive wedding venue, for up to 125 people, in Illinois. Imagine an intimate outdoor wedding among organic beauty, rich with greenery and fresh pine aroma. The Homestead 1854’s open-air setting serves as a charming backdrop for your most special day. This historic property combines the classic elegance of the 1850’s and the modern luxuries of today. Situated on 2 acres, this manor and the lush gardens that surround it, are maintained to provide a beautiful backdrop for any wedding. Outdoor ceremonies on the labyrinth or indoor ceremonies in the chapel, cocktail hours that extend from the library to the front lawn, open-air dinners in the timber tent, dancing under the stars, roasting marshmallows over an open flame – experience the effortless elegance of a unique and intimate wedding at The Homestead 1854, a historic venue.
With outdoor event space for up to 125 people, The Homestead 1854’s ambience will have you feel as though you are at your own family estate. Surrounded by those nearest and dearest to you, our inclusive wedding experiences help you relax and enjoy the beauty of simplicity. The Homestead 1854 will far exceed any expectations you have for your special day. For those in search of a truly unique wedding experience, The Homestead 1854 is one-of-a-kind.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Business Attributes
- Veteran-owned Business
- Woman-owned Business
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Settings
- Estate
- Garden
- Historic Venue
- Library
- Tented
- Trees
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Planning
Awards and Affiliations
6-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2023.2022.2021.+3 more.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Hall of Fame
Earned by winning 'Best of Weddings' four or more times.
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Reviews
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5
out of 5.085 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
FANTASTIC VENUE! Dawn and her husband are absolutely phenomenal at what they do. They are hyper organized and pros at weddings. They are there for all your emergencies and question...
s, but will cater to your wish. Cannot thank them enough for being there for us. Everyone in our family and bridal party made comments on them and their staff. Seriously, USE THIS VENUE!!
We couldn't have asked for a better experience with The Homestead 1854. Dawn and Shawn made the planning process feel effortless with their laid-back approach and sharp attention t...
o detail—they knew exactly what we needed before we even asked. The space transformed into everything we envisioned, and their hard work really showed on our wedding day. Beyond just managing the venue, Dawn connected us with trusted vendors that became key parts of our celebration. The value we got was unbeatable, and honestly, working with their team made the entire journey leading up to our wedding enjoyable. We can't recommend them enough.
One year ago today, my now husband and I set foot on the property of The Homestead 1854. At the time we had never heard of the venue, but were impressed with what we had read about...
it online… little did we know at the time, it would be THE most perfect place for our wedding. After meeting with the owner, Mary Kay, we were very impressed by how much of the event could be personalized to literally create the wedding of our dreams. I remember Mary Kay saying that night, “Your day, your way,” and she meant it. Once we secured our date, Mary Kay, her assistant Annah, worked with us attentively over the following 9 months to arrange every detail, offer advice, and make sure everything was just right. They put up graciously with my need for everything to be extremely organized and well planned. They were amazingly helpful with our need for safety precautions and extra care for my father who is immunocompromised and has health and mobility issues.
The venue itself honestly checked every box for us. To have everything onsite but feel like there was variety in where everything was located was impressive, and made for incredible photos. We were able to have wedding eve yoga in the chapel, utilize the lawn space and the fire pit for an amazing rehearsal dinner with s’mores for dessert, and then stay in the beautiful, historic home so we were already on the property and ready to go bright and early on the big day. The local salon was able to do hair and makeup in the room right off the bridal suite, we all enjoyed a grab and go breakfast, and staff at the Homestead worked tirelessly all morning to make the property absolute perfection for the day. They were able to incorporate my depression glass into their cocktail hour display, accommodate food allergies as well as go above and beyond to provide a special safe cutting cake, and ensure all of the decorations we had created were expertly placed so everyone could enjoy them. Mary Kay’s husband Chet was able to help get our canoe to Steward Park to allow us to take some unbelievable photos and the service we received from all of the staff throughout dinner was top notch. Another employee, John, knew I was absolutely over the moon with my love for hummingbirds and actually wore a special hummingbird pin that night during dinner that he gave me at the end of the night to make sure I’d see one on the very busy day! I am a total sucker for details, and each and every one was taken care of seamlessly. Every corner just bursts with charm. Adding to our delight was a fantastic surprise we only found out about a few weeks before our day… a new dance floor was installed amongst the trees that was absolutely magical. We capped our unbelievable day of love in the glow of the fire pit. After another great night’s stay, we enjoyed a fantastic breakfast.
We clearly can’t say enough about The Homestead. Mary Kay, Chet, Annah and the whole crew clearly love what they do and have created a venue that is beyond compare. We are so thankful for all they did to make our wedding weekend absolutely magical. Our wedding guests all raved about everything, and were blown away by the space. Run, don’t walk, to book or attend an event at The Homestead. You will LOVE it!
Mary Kay and the entire team at The Homestead were amazing to work with. The planning process was easy from beginning to end, and everyone involved (Mary Kay, John, Annah, and Chet...
) was kind and communicative. They went above and beyond on the wedding day to ensure we had everything we needed and wanted. I couldn't recommend this venue more, especially for couples looking for a more intimate, relaxed wedding.
I got the opportunity to DJ here on 11/5/2022. Even with the frigid cold weather, Mary Kay and her husband were a pleasure to work with and were some of the best hosts that a DJ c...
ould ask for! I will recommend folks to this location moving forward as a destination for their big day! :)
I got married here October 8th, of 2022 to my lovely husband. From the start, Mary Kay and Amy were amazing people to work with. TH1854 really let's the bride and groom have as lit...
tle stress as possible throughout the planning process and during their wedding day. They worked with us to create the wedding of our dreams within our budget and their all inclusive packages alleviate a lot of the little details you have to worry about with wedding planning. We loved the food, decor, staff, and charm of the property. All of our guests told us they loved the place and it really was a perfect wedding day. Could not have asked for better people to work with for our special day! I have no negative comments :)
Homestead 1854 was an absolute DREAM. I cannot express how unique and personal they made my wedding day. We had a wedding that blended two different cultures and they worked with u...
s on the last minute changes to make sure everything went seamlessly.
After attending several other weddings, there are several things I'd like to point out that many people don't think about when planning a wedding.
1. We didn't have to clean up anything. My brother also rented a small venue to his similar sized wedding, but after the wedding was over we spent an hour collecting all the rented bar glasses, decorations, etc to finish the night. This was all taken care of for us at the Homestead! We also chose to spend the night and were given complete privacy over the house after the guests left!
2. Everything was included!!! It is amazing how so many other venues require you to rent chairs, glasses, silverware, napkins, decorations, etc. With our package, the bar, food, linens, cutlery, staff, getting ready space, was all included! They even worked with us to keep costs low and provided free center pieces, cake cutting utensils, envelope box, table numbers, and more which really helped keep the price down! These are little things that really add up in a wedding.
3. How intimate and personal it was. My cousins wedding was at a golf venue where 2 other weddings were happening at the same time. My friend's wedding locations had weddings scheduled for Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday morning and Sunday evening. At Homestead, we were the only wedding that entire weekend and got undivided attention.
4. Bonfire = HUGE HIT. 100% recommend. It was cool to see so many of my friends and family gathered around the bonfire in between dancing. Also a unique part of this wedding.
There is so much more to say, but I'll end on this note: MaryKay and her team went above and beyond to make me and my husband feel supported and loved during our planning process, even making it easy for us to plan it from out of state! I would absolutely recommend this location to anyone considering a wedding <100 people. Thank you Homestead! This isn't goodbye, we will definitely be back!
Marisa and Momo
As I read the many great reviews below, I find I am in total agreement with every one!! Which leaves me very little to add!! Except maybe this: MaryKay, Annah and Chet absolutely ...
love what they do, and they poured their hearts and souls into making my daughter's wedding the exceptional occasion that it was. Their enthusiasm, their calming expertise, the immaculate landscaping and thoughtful accessory buildings along with their gorgeous Italianate mansion, all that and more have their source in the deep caring I felt throughout the planning process and then especially on the big day itself. MaryKay, Chet and Annah are such loving people who are clearly doing what God calls them to do!!
When we started the process of planning our wedding in 2021, it was entirely overwhelming. There were so many unknowns! Then we met Mary Kay and all our worries went away. We hones...
tly only looked at one venue which is a wild move, but as they say, when you know, you know ;) The Homestead 1854 was truly a magical space and we heard from so many guests that it was the best wedding ever. Special shout out to their preferred DJ (Sounds Abound/ Brian Keck) who was excellent, dancing our hearts out in the fresh air was so fun and way better than a sweaty packed dancefloor.
The team made it all so easy, being flexible when it mattered and firm when we needed backup. All those details that had us pulling out our hair like schedules and seating charts were easily sorted with their guidance.
Thanks to their amazing hard work and creative solutions, we were able to sit back, relax, and have the best day of our lives. The next-day brunch was seriously the best time to recap the day with our loved ones and the food was delicious.
Thank you so much Mary Kay, Chet and Annah <3
We looked at venues and they were all nice but only the Homestead had an indescribable presence almost like it’s a venue from a movie that looks too good to be true. It’s outdoor f...
or those who want an outdoor wedding but the mansion is open to the guests and the dinner tables were under cover so there was still the feeling of intimacy and shelter for those who need to be out of the elements. Mary Kay and Chet worked so hard to exhibit what we had imagined and were so very flexible and understanding the entire way. Initially we had planned for 100 guests but between family drama, our date around graduation season, an over seas family and Covid our number kept going down (~65) even until the final day. The Homestead created a vegetarian menu for us (including gelatin free marshmallows for the overnight fire pit), helped us with many customizations such lighting and a glow stick send off, assisted with an officiant (John was amazing), and even managed to get the father of the bride on video call as he was stuck overseas. We felt we gave Mary Kay and Chet a lot to deal with and The homestead was with us the entire way and accommodated any sudden change with such professionalism and understanding. We cannot express our gratitude enough and will remember our perfect wedding forever.
When you book a wedding at The Homestead 1854, you can be sure that you’re getting a personal, thoughtful experience from the most wonderful people who will go above and beyond. We...
initially scheduled our wedding for May 2020, but it was rescheduled not once, but twice, due to the pandemic and travel restrictions that prevented immediate family living abroad from attending. Each time, Mary Kay was empathetic, understanding and worked with us to find new dates. She even monitored the travel restrictions and offered us the option to reschedule a second time before we even brought it up. My sister’s flight was delayed the day of the wedding, and upon hearing about this, Mary Kay arranged transportation from the airport directly to the venue (on top of the million other things she already had to do on the day of the wedding) so that my sister could make it in time for the reception and I could focus on getting ready for the ceremony.
In the months leading up to our May 2022 wedding, Mary Kay scheduled a few meetings with us to go over the timeline, vendors, logistics, etc., which meant that we didn’t have to do much planning on our end because Mary Kay, Chet and the rest of her excellent team had covered most of the to-dos. Since we booked a package that included the officiant, photographer, florals, décor etc., I was a little nervous that the wedding wouldn’t turn out the way I envisioned, but Mary Kay had me send over a vision board and she executed that vision board to literal perfection. Mary Kay was also always more than happy to accommodate our oddball requests like a mint chocolate wedding cake (which turned out to be a hit!) and letting us ship board games to the venue beforehand. The officiant, John, and the photographer, Chris, were also amazing. John worked with us to personalize our ceremony script and incorporate elements such as a poem reading. Chris also made sure to prioritize the shots we wanted and despite little direction from us, did an incredible job and we could not be happier with the photos. He even fixed a snag on my dress and steamed the groom’s pocket square – yet another example of the team at The Homestead 1854 going above and beyond!
On top of the amazing people, the property is gorgeous to boot. Lots of greenery, even in early spring – which was important to us because we wanted a garden wedding — and the house itself is so charming and unique. The timber tent allowed us to dine “outdoors” without being cold, and we felt secure knowing that the newly built, beautiful chapel is available as a backup in case it rained and we couldn’t have the ceremony in the labyrinth. Our guests enjoyed the fire pit and s’mores (and many wanted to stay past closing time!), and the overnight guests loved the elegant rooms and delicious brunch the next day.
In short, run, don’t walk, to book your wedding here. You won’t regret it!
We just had our wedding at The Homestead 1854. It was absolutely magical! I'm still smiling thinking about how wonderful it was for us as a couple, as well as for all of our guest...
s. From the beginning of the initial planning stages to the completion of our big day, Amy, Mary Kay, and Chet provided top notch, personalized care to us to make our wedding vision a reality. They even surprised us with a few extra special touches! The experience far surpassed even what we initially envisioned. Our guests loved the experience as much as we did. Everyone commented on what a beautiful, charming, an intimate venue it was, how lovely Amy, Mary Kay, and Chet were as hosts, and how much they enjoyed how special the whole day felt. Indeed, the whole day felt like a beautiful dream, and we wish we could go back and relive each moment. We will certainly be back again...perhaps for vow renewal! I can't say enough good things about our time with The Homestead 1854 "family". If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Best. Wedding. Ever.
We recently had our wedding here and it was wonderful. Such a unique space and their attention to detail is amazing. Mary Kay, Chet, and Amy feel like old friends and are so gr...
eat to work with. The house is beautiful and has so much history. All of our guests raved about the venue. So happy we chose to use them for our wedding, would highly recommend.
The Homestead 1854 is the most amazing wedding location (and BnB & retreat) out there. The owners, Mary Kay & Chet are the kindest, most attentive people a bride could ask for. The...
passion and love they put into planning a wedding is evident from the first consultation all the way to the day of and, if you're lucky, the amazing brunch the day after. I was so at peace as a bride knowing our wedding day was in their hands and they gave us the most breathtaking day possible. The location itself has so much history and I am honored to have been married there. ❤️
The Homestead 1854 is an amazing hidden gem that was the missing piece to our wedding plans. Do not let the location in a residential area of Plano fool you, once you are on the gr...
ounds you feel like you're in a different world. The house itself is beautiful, and we love the original flooring, but even more than that we love the grounds. The property is large but cozy at the same time so you can have a wide range of guests without the space feeling too full or too cavernous. We love how the fire pit area is tucked away from where the labyrinth is (where we had our ceremony) and how the front lawn was set up with vintage conversation pits for our cocktail hour.
Apart from a unique venue, the thing that was most important to us when planning our wedding was the food. I can personally make a meal out of cheese alone, so when we saw pictures of their charcuterie spreads I was in love. The grazing station they set up was elegant, but accessible for easy snacking and our guests devoured it. The drink package was also wonderful, and we were able to have my father-in-law's favorite scotch available and some of my mother-in-law's guests stated that the table wine was the best they have ever had at a wedding (a giant win for any bride...).
Perhaps the best thing about The Homestead 1854 is the owners. Mary Kay and Chet are not only wonderful people, but wonderful hosts. They only host one wedding a weekend at The Homestead 1854 so that they can take the time to get to know each couple and what each couple envisions for their wedding. They exceeded our expectations at every turn and the amount of thought and elegance that was put into every detail was impossible to miss. We got married in August and they had a water and cooling towel station at the entrance of our ceremony set-up. It was so classy and we love how they valued our guests' experiences as much as our own.
We genuinely feel like The Homestead 1854 was the best thing that happened to us in 2020 (apart from our marriage, of course!). The team at The Homestead 1854 made our wedding uniquely ours in a beautiful venue space. The planning process was easy and the communication from Mary Kay, Chet, and their team was fantastic. We never expected to feel so relaxed on our wedding day and we were able to enjoy every moment because we didn't have to worry about the details or last minute vendor coordination. The Homestead 1854 staff took care of everything. Our only regret is that we didn't spend the night at their overnight accomodations on the evening of our wedding. It would have been the icing on the wedding cake!
We had an incredible experience at The Homestead 1854 and are so grateful for the attentive and thoughtful service provided by their entire team! The owners, Mary Kay and Chet, are...
great down-to-earth people, and we felt good about supporting their business, especially after rescheduling our 2020 event due to the pandemic. Amy was our primary contact for planning and she seemed as excited about our event as we were! We fell in love with the gorgeous property and chose to stay at the venue with our wedding party for the whole weekend, so it felt like a very special moment in time. It was convenient to have the ceremony and reception in such close proximity. On the day of the wedding I didn’t have to worry about anything—they had it all under control. I was worried that I was going to be very stressed/anxious, and I’m so glad that I was able to trust them to execute our event so I could just enjoy myself! From the labyrinth/hedge maze to the timber tent to the fire pit, every spot on the property felt magical and we couldn’t be happier with our decision to get married at The Homestead 1854. We’re looking forward to going back and spending time there again in the future.
Mary Kay our venue coordinator was amazing to work with! The venue made sure our day went by smooth! Food 10/10! Atmosphere, so romantic! Bonfire and timber tent was a hit even wit...
h fall weather! Inside of manor was spectacular even if you stay overnight! Mary Kay was so personable and very attentive to any questions or changes we wanted! Mary Kay and Chet were wonderful in the process of helping create a memorable day! If you're looking for a romantic and intimate wedding, this is it! Our ceremony was held in the labyrinth and every part of the wedding planning was so special and stress free!! Warm wishes to Mary Kay and anyone who decides to book this wonderful venue!! <3
As mother of the bride, I commend Mary Kay and Amy for making my daughters wishes come true! She wanted an intimate, small event and Homestead came through on all accounts. The gro...
unds are beautiful, the house is unique and charming. This is such a gem in rural illinois! Thank you, Mary Kay, Chet, Amy and staff for making the day so memorable!
I couldn’t have asked for a better day for my wedding. The staff at the Homestead went above and beyond to make sure my husband and I had the most perfect day. Mary Kay and Amy mad...
e sure to take any stress out of the wedding planning process as they could and really helped ease my anxiety toward it. Mary Kay made sure to make me feel special and unique in my ideas even though she deals with brides on a daily basis. The venue was so unique and wonderful!
Mary Kay and all the staff at The Homestead made our wedding a fairy tale! The venue is absolutely stunning and perfect for more intimate weddings with your closest family and frie...
nds. Wedding planning was made so easy by Mary Kay. Every wish she made come true!
I would give 1000 ⭐️ if I could.
Mary Kay and her team were beyond amazing, helpful, and kind! Our wedding (July 2021) was everything we dreamed of when we decided on an intimate affair. Every last detail was exac...
tly what we had discussed and envisioned. We had stumbled upon The Homestead while Googling places and we couldn’t have been happier!
We cannot say enough nice things about our experience with Homestead 1854. From start to finish, the staff was an absolute pleasure to work with and overwhelmingly accommodating. O...
ur special day was made possible by the incredible staff and we would absolutely choose them over and over again. We are so glad to have found this hidden gem and can’t wait to continue visiting for their public events.
The Homestead was an amazing venue that made everything you wanted come true. They are very accommodating and kind. Everyone who works there, did everything and anything they could...
to make our perfect day be stress free. I cannot express how much stress was alleviated by Mary Kay and Amy. Both ladies supported all my dreams and made them come true.
We had the wedding ceremony in Chicago but chose the homestead for the reception. Everything was prepared at the homestead so we didn’t have to drive anything down. (Florals, sweets, food, were all provided by the homestead team and local vendors. They also had little details to borrow and like a card holder.) I loved how everything was part of a package that you choose. It was all efficient, lovely, and above all stress free.
My guests loved the choice and the uniqueness of the venue. We had a bit of rain on our day and it was a wonderful romantic touch to the entire day.
We would definitely recommend Homestead 1854!
I recently got married at the Homestead. As this was my second wedding and I’m a busy working Mom, it was important to me to find a venue that could really provide a turn-key exper...
ience. Mary Kay, Amy and the whole staff are wonderful. I sent inspirational pics of the flowers/colors, cake, etc. and Amy and Mary Kay did the rest. The day was beautiful and every little detail was taken care of by Mary Kay and team. I’ve received so many comments on how lovely the venue was and how unique! If you are looking for a gorgeous garden wedding, this is the place for you!
The Homestead 1854 was the most wonderful venue for our wedding. Throughout the planning process, Mary Kay and her team made everything easy, fun, low-stress, and they thought of e...
very detail - even our kids got excited to come to our planning meetings to see her! The space is unique and intimate in all the best ways, which is exactly what we were looking for. Our day-of set up was essentially finished by the time we arrived, and the whole day was seamless thanks to everyone at the venue. Mary Kay was so helpful in coordinating with vendors for set up and delivery - we were able to relax and get ready peacefully, which was so amazing. We chose to spend the night and hold a brunch under the timber tent the following morning which was so delicious. Overall, I can not recommend this venue more!
MOST ROMANTIC VENUE EVER! Words cannot describe how amazing our experience at Homestead 1854 was. Never once did the staff make us feel like it was just another wedding day. They m...
ade everything easy and completely stress free. Mary Kay and Amy put so much love into our day that they walked away family. The house is beautiful and even though our pictures were amazing, they don't do the venue any justice. I hope to spend anniversaries there as our little get away and have more summer date nights at their Corks and Caps events. I cannot recommend this place enough!!
The most intimate romantic hidden gem ever! The staff runs like a well oiled machine and I couldnt have had a better day! My BF aka my puppy dog was welcomed as my ring bearer and ...
all vendors that worked with The Homestead had rave reviews even able to be more flexible with me because they enjoy working with The Homestead. It rains they have a plan, it's hot they have a plan, Covid happens they have a plan...amazing wonderland!
I had to reschedule my wedding ceremony due to Covid-19 and was a bit stressed out about how things would turn out. Mary Kay and Amy were so helpful throughout the whole process! I...
couldn't have asked for a more accommodating or beautiful venue. I never once had to stress about wedding planning. Choose this venue you won't regret it!
There aren't enough words to describe my wedding at The Homestead 1854 last Friday. We booked with TH 1854 without ever setting foot at the venue since my husband and I are locate...
d on the east coast and we were planning this all remotely in light of the pandemic. My husband and I were looking for a venue that could do it 'ALL' to streamline the process. Honestly, I spent 3 months of countless emails to various venues along the East Coast looking for this perfect venue and often times found that most venues could and only do some things and not all. And we'd have to outsource the remaining aspects. Not something I want to add onto my pile. We ended up selecting TH 1854 because of their reasonable price and all inclusive package. Not only did we have an all inclusive package, but we had the opportunity to also upgrade and customize to our taste. Other previous places that I also reached out too lacked this ability (kinda here's the package and it is what it is). But with TH 1854, it was a completely different experience! Everything was included from the wedding site, reception site, officiant, meals with alcohol beverage package, flowers, cake, and photography. We even booked the add on package for TH 1854 overnight for our guests (for 12 ppl max) after the wedding and the brunch morning after. This is a MUST DO!!! Our wedding was only 14 people including bridge and groom and it was so intimate and cozy. We had the ceremony followed by the reception. The ceremony was perfect and exactly what we visioned and Amy did such a great job officiating and lining to our desires. The reception was also so beautiful and intimate. Our guests had cocktail hour at the house and the dinner was under the Timber Tent. The cocktail hour allowed guests to explore the beautiful historic house. The timber tent had more space for guests to move around a bit, and it was so warm and toasty! The food was delicious with healthy portion sizes! We did filet mignon and salmon with grilled shrimp and mash potatoes + green beans. Our cake was a customized vanilla with fruit filling with added 2nd tier. We had sent a vision and image of our ideal cake and when I saw it in person--I was so overjoyed! It looked exactly what I envisioned, but better in person!! It was delicious too! After dinner was over, our guests were able to retreat back into the house and change into cozy and comfy clothes. We then hung out in the back by the firepitt and toasted smores. Shared stories. It was so beautiful for our families meeting for the first time to be with each other and feel like they've know each other for years! It was such a fitting and intimate way to cap the night off. The next morning, we had brunch scheduled at 9.30am so guests had the chance to sleep in if they wanted to or soak in the quietness and relax for an early morning. Brunch was perfect and the food, again, was so delicious! We had roasted potatoes, bacon, egg type souffle, yogurt parfait, and this caramel french toast with mimosas! My guests LOVED our wedding and they felt so relaxed. They were raving and telling us how much they enjoyed the intimacy, but how it also felt like a retreat and get away too! We can't thank Mary Kay, Amy, and the rest of TH 1854 staff. They really made this process so EASY and took care of ALL the details and more! I personally tell my husband that I wish I could get married again so we can repeat the whole weekend w/ TH 1854! Thank you TH 1854!
The owners and staff of The Homestead 1854 were lifesavers for my husband and I! We had to cancel our original wedding plans because of COVID-19, and the idea of re-planning a wedd...
ing was completely overwhelming. Mary Kay and Amy took care of everything for us and the day turned out better than we ever could have expected! Beautiful, intimate venue, great food, and lots of space to get ready.
When I got engaged I had absolutely no idea what was going on or how to plan a wedding. I felt so clueless with everything. I went to multiple dress shops, had multiple taste testi...
ngs, scrolled through countless amounts of videographers, photographers & DJs, but when it came to a venue.. the homestead 1854 was the one and only. We instantly knew this place was magical & we were right. Mary Kay and Chet made us feel right at home & Amy helped me keep my sanity during the planning of a Covid-19 wedding. I highly recommend the homestead 1854 to anyone planning an intimate wedding, event or a weekend away!
All I can say is that our wedding was like a dream, all thanks to The Homestead 1854's beautiful settings and the magic of the owners Mary Kay and Chet! My fiance and I downsized f...
rom a 150 person to 40 person wedding due to COVID and although I was definitely disappointed at first, I have absolutely zero regrets with my decision to move forward with the intimate celebration that the Homestead gave us. Now reflecting upon the day, I'm even thinking I enjoyed it more than I would have enjoyed our original plans! Mary Kay worked closely with me to painstakingly plan each impeccable detail to ensure we achieved exactly what we wanted, and all done with grace, patience, and smiles (even I get irritated with myself, so Mary Kay is an angel!) Mary Kay, Chet, and their staff made everything seamless, worked with me to customize our day, and then followed through with flawless execution. Even the food and wedding cake that came with the package was absolutely delicious!! If you do h'or dourves, I highly recommend the charcuterie table, which stole the spotlight of the cocktail hour (the presentation was divine!) Being able to have our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, and then hang out after hours by the firepit, and then finish off the weekend with a delectable brunch made our celebration last that much longer and be that much more special! I couldn't speak more highly of a venue, and I would highly recommend The Homestead 1854 to anyone looking for a gorgeous, intimate setting infused with history and a touch of whimsy!
We would give 1000 stars if they would let us! Mary Kay and Chet have such a beautiful home and property, and make the most of every foot! We immediately fell in love with each roo...
m inside, and all of the space outside. We held our ceremony in the hedge maze, our cocktail hour on the front lawn, our dinner in the gorgeous timber tent, and our guests tore up the dance floor and relaxed by the bonfire pit. Between the handcrafted charcuterie boards, open bar, and even our specially requested walking tacos, our guests have been reaching out for days letting us know how great everything tasted. We especially appreciated their list of preferred vendors, which helped us narrow down our choices and easily find services closeby to take care of music, dinner, and even hair/makeup! Even during the current COVID-19 crisis, The Homestead team worked with us to make sure our guests and their staff had a safe and sanitary experience. At every step in the planning process, The Homestead was there with us to help us plan the perfect night, and their promptness/ responsiveness helped keep our nerves intact and our planning on track. After being a part of several other weddings, we feel we can truly say this is the best experience we have ever had, and truly cannot recommend The Homestead 1854 enough!!
I cannot thank Mary Kay and her staff enough for their energy and enthusiasm during these difficult times. We had my daughter’s wedding planned for September and after much discus...
sion we postponed/ cancelled the event due to COVID. About a month later we changed our minds and decided to move forward with a much smaller event. When I contacted Mary Kay to see The Homestead was still an option, she jumped in with both feet and made it happen! In a very short time she redesigned the wedding plan and made it a beautiful day for the happy couple. The grounds are absolutely beautiful, the food was delicious , the atmosphere is warm and inviting and everyone had a wonderful time. The staff is always open to your ideas but they also do a great job of making suggestions if you need anything. We are grateful and appreciative of their dedication and hard work to make the event a success. I can’t wait to see the pictures because the venue is absolutely beautiful!
We just had our ceremony there a week ago. Mary Kay was an angel sent from above. We had our venue canceled and had 72 hours to find another place. Mary Kay went above and beyond t...
o help us have our ceremony there and also put us in contact for a reception area. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. Photos are stunning. We wish we would of known of this place sooner. We highly recommend. Great experience. Thank you for an incredible day.
We couldn't be happier with our choice to hold our wedding at The Homestead 1854. From our first visit, we felt welcomed by Mary Kay's hospitality. It was clear Mary Kay, Amy and...
Chet would carefully execute every detail to make our wedding perfect. Our intimate day was better than we imagined; it was perfect from start to finish. We can't speak highly enough of the team at Homestead 1854.
My husband and I were forced to cancel our big wedding due to Covid-19, but we both still wanted to keep our original wedding date and still get married. With some research I came...
across The Homestead, and from Day 1 Mary Kay was very warm and friendly. She listened and worked with what my husband and I needed. This was all so last minute for us and Mary Kay (along with her husband) were patient with my [many] questions. Our day was not what we had originally imagined but it was still beautiful thanks to them. You will not be disappointed if you decide to host your wedding here!!
The house and owners are absolutely wonderful!!! Mary Kay took care of everything from finding a photographer, and officiant, to the food and drinks! Everything was perfect! Even t...
he weather! We originally were going to get married in Florida but due to COIVD-19, I panicked and thought everything wouldn’t open in time so we changed our plans about a month before the wedding. Mary Kay did a great job in that short amount of time and kept everyone safe as her staff wore masks during dinner service. The food was great, cake was yummy and the photos turned out awesome! We are so glad happy that we had our wedding here! Totally worth the 1.5 hours drive from our home! Thank you again for making our day perfection!
I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect wedding weekend! Chet, Mary Kay, Amy, Erin and the others were magnificent to work with and they took care of it all. Every. Little. Detail....
The entire weekend turned out even better than I could imagine! When we checked in on Saturday the labyrinth ceremony site was set with white garden chairs and the optional birch arbor, the front lawn was set for cocktail hour with vintage furniture, high top tables and the spot for our awesome bubbly bar! The TimberTent, set with ivory linens and mahogany chairs, already looked elegant, but throughout the day as the florals and china was set, the look turned even more magical. As the day rolled into evening The Homestead 1854 was the best place ever for our ultimate 54 person ceremony and dinner party followed with dancing on the patio under the stars. We and some of our guests spent the evening and woke us to amazing mimosa’s and breakfast. My new wife and I were looking for a unique space that could provide our guests with an experience and we definitely found it!
From the very beginning when I contacted The Homestead 1854 they made all the planning easy. I was able to reach Amy and/ or Mary Kay immediately to have my questions answered. T...
his isn't just a venue- they are your personal wedding planners! The venue is gorgeous, cozy, and unique. It feels like you just stepped into a wedding magazine. The food was amazing. The table decor and bouquets/corsages were gorgeous and exactly what I had envisioned. Our guests raved about our wedding being one of the most beautiful and memorable. You could never go wrong choosing The Homestead 1854.
Our wedding was beautiful. The set up was fantastic. The flowers were gorgeous. The food was delicious (shout out to Lakeview Grille in Yorkville, IL with providing the food). Ever...
yone was courteous, and helpful!
One of the best key elements that made our wedding great was our guest were extremely happy. They loved the intimacy of the location and the service was excellent. There was no negative comments at all. You guys are amazing!
The Homestead is absolutely great. Mary Kay and her husband Chet, who own and run the venue are absolutely some of the most wonderful people, and they are fantastic at what they d...
o. We found the venue while looking through Google Maps. Since they are in Plano, IL and we currently live in Boston, MA, we would not be able to see it for ourselves before deciding on the venue. We looked at the pictures and liked it and decided to reach out about pricing and dates. All the packages that they offer are very reasonable in price and include a lot of services that we would have had to contact another vendor for. We went with the Gold package. The price was good and, as I mentioned, so much was included that it made it one of the more affordable and closest to what we wanted. We had my brother walk through with Mary Kay to do a video tour to show us the place. We liked it a lot and decided a day or two later to go with them and make a deposit. From there Mary Kay could not have made the process easier. We opted to go with a few of their ‘Preferred Vendors’, one of which was the caterer, Lakeview Grill in Yorkville, IL. The food and presentation were fantastic from them, but since they were a preferred vendor Mark Kay, she dealt completely with them. We just had to let Mary Kay know and she would work it out with Lakeview Grill, it was so nice not to have to think about the caterer, and since they worked with the venue before so we knew everything would go well, and it did. The Homestead also did our flowers. We were doing simple wildflowers in bud vases. We found the bud vases we wanted and sent them to the venue and The Homestead did a fantastic job and they looked great. They also did the bridal bouquet; the bride had a very old veil that she wanted worked into the bouquet which they were able to do, since it was so brittle and old, and it was a stunning bouquet, as were the bridesmaids bouquets and all of the boutonnieres for the whole bridal party.
The Homestead did a fantastic job with the details. I wanted to have some local craft beer at the reception and wedding and the Homestead was able to get some for me. They had ‘conversation pits’ all over their property with vintage furniture and people loved it. The setup of the reception hall in their timber tent was beautiful and into the night they had a firepit with all the makings for s’mores. So much to mention, the Bubbly bar was such a great idea, and looked beautiful, the bar package and all the people who were serving were great, the whole reception was amazing.
One other thing that made our wedding and reception at The Homestead 1854 so great was that the entire bridal party, their spouses, and our parents were able to stay overnight at the venue, since the venue is also a bed and breakfast. The overnight stay, as well as brunch for everyone the next morning was also included in our package. The rooms were extremely comfortable and the brunch was very delicious, Mary Kay and Chet did such a great job.
Everything went perfectly and most of that credit goes to The Homestead. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day, and everything went off without a hitch. We cannot recommend them enough. If you are considering somewhere for wedding/receptions, or any other celebration give The Homestead 1854 a serious look. A fantastic place that we highly recommend! 10/10, 5 stars, and all of that, fantastic place! Thank you Mary Kay and Chet! You made our day so special!
If I could give more than 5 stars I absolutely would. I could not have been happier on my wedding day and that was in part due to the thoughtfulness and kindness of Mary Kay, Chet,...
Erin, Amy and the staff. They started bright and early setting everything up and did not stop until the night was over. I was relaxed because I trusted they had everything under control. Not to mention my family, friends, and vendors all kept telling me how nice of place it is. So, I HIGHLY recommend this venue if you want a beautiful and relaxing wedding day.
Our daughter's wedding was in late August at The Homestead 1854 which was a beautiful setting! Mary Kay provided essential help to our daughter and her husband as they planned the...
ir wedding from the East Coast. All our guests enjoyed the grounds, ceremony, bubbly bar, charcuterie, dinner, and dancing. Thank you Mary Kay, Chet, and staff for such a memorable weekend!
The Homestead 1854 is the perfect venue for any special event. Our party of 13 stayed there last week and enjoyed a beautifully prepared dinner on the night of my son and daughter-...
in-law's wedding rehearsal dinner. MaryKay and Chet went above and beyond to make our stay memorable, from devising a superb menu to seeing to it that we had everything we needed to make the wedding a tremendous success. Since we could all stay at The Homestead, it meant the two families got to spend some wonderful time together (and enjoy a delicious breakfast both days of our visit). I can't say enough about the venue, service, food and attention to detail. The Homestead 1854 is a treasure and we were fortunate to stay there. Many, many thanks, MaryKay, Chet, Whitney and Russ!
We had our wedding here.
Service was outstanding. The needs of our various vendors, family and friends, no matter how odd or demanding, was met every time. Staff we had an uncharac...
teristically hot day for the wedding and the staff were very flexible and accommodating. Staying the night and having breakfast here was fantastic. The property is beautiful. Our photographer had a blast. It's hard to go on at length. They just handled the whole weekend very well.
Best. Ever. Such a comfortable, formal yet relaxed venue. Everyone was blown away by the venue, the decor and the hosts, Mary Kay, Chet, Amy and Erin. Beautiful event, exceeded our...
expectation by a mile!!
Mary Kay was an absolute pleasure to work with every step of the way. We had a very unique situation where I needed to do our wedding planning while living abroad at the time, and ...
everyone at The Homestead 1854 did an exceptional job accommodating us. They crafted for us a beautiful, intimate wedding we will remember fondly for the rest of our lives.
Everything from the location, to the staff, to the food was exceptional and if we had to do the wedding all over again we would choose the Homestead every time.
Mary Kay and Chet are top notch! Their boutique b&b is beautiful and they opened it up to us for our special day. Offering help and suggesting ideas along the way helped to ease my...
mind. It was everything I hoped it would be! Romantic, elegant and making us feel like part of their family! If you have never been to this venue, I urge you to check it out as they offer many different dinners, retreats and gatherings throughout the year. We will definitely be back! Thank you soooo much for preserving this beautiful piece of history and for being the best hosts!
We recently held a small wedding ceremony and reception for less than 30 people. Mary Kay, Chet and Amy were wonderful throughout the planning process. They came up with creative w...
ays to use the space so we could use the whole house and outdoor areas. They also coordinated with our caterer and served our food family style in their vintage china. We also stayed at the venue overnight. We were able to have breakfast the next morning with our wedding party and immediate family. Our wedding was perfect thanks to The Homestead staff!
Contact
611 East Main Street, Plano, IL
The Homestead 1854: For Intimate Weddings up to 100