outdoor wedding ceremony and reception locations

ltlemermaid

I'm helping out a friend and need some recommendations.  She is looking for an outdoor area to hold her wedding ceremony and reception-possibly tented.  she would prefer a woodsy area-maybe a forest preserve...if you know of any locations that you can recommend please do so.  The area would need to hold 200+ guests for the reception.

Thanks

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_outdoor-wedding-ceremony-reception-locations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:c96a85c4-ea80-486c-a5fe-321f5ad6cab6Post:a1e1cff9-fb05-452e-8826-ea8443fd9e01">outdoor wedding ceremony and reception locations</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm helping out a friend and need some recommendations.  She is looking for an outdoor area to hold her wedding ceremony and reception-possibly tented.  she would prefer a woodsy area-maybe a forest preserve...if you know of any locations that you can recommend please do so.  The area would need to hold 200+ guests for the reception. Thanks :)
Posted by ltlemermaid[/QUOTE]
What part of Chicagoland? Budget? How far would she be willing to travel? 

ltlemermaid

She is willing to travel if she can so the ceremony and reception in one location.  Budget wise probably under $50 a person. 

CASK85

I have these ideas from when I was on the outdoor wedding track (since changed our minds):

http://www.mortonarb.org/

http://www.shopcattails.com/index.cfm?pageID=11&criteria=wedding

http://www.ilresorts.com/wedding-testimonials.cfm

http://www.whitepinesinn.com/weddings/weddings.html

my favorite was the second one which is a link to Starved Rock State Park. It is about 2 hours from Chicago. Hope this helps! I don't remember the prices per person for each of these places, but we have a smallish budget as well, so I'm sure I wouldn't have saved them if they weren't reasonable. 

thealphabride

We married at Mayslake Peabody in Oak Brook, it was GORGEOUS. We married in front of the Chapel and had our recpeption in the Evnt Hall. However, you can have your reception outside in a tent.... hth.