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Inexpensive wedding venue?

jesusita2002jesusita2002 member
First Comment
in Illinois-Chicago

Hey Ladies-

I'm popping over from theBump on behalf of a friend of mine who is getting married June 16th this year in Lakeview around 2pm.

Unfortunately, she's having a bit of a problem locating a reception venue that can cater to her limited wedding budget (around $5,000 total- or $20/person in terms of food/meal) and around 150 guest list. The church they are getting married in doesn't have a good set up for a reception and they are hoping for something in the Lakeview area or at least close by on the northside (neither family is from Chicago, let alone IL so the less they have to navigate the city, the better)

Any ideas from weddings you've been to, places you know of or looked into, or even showers you have had? Thanks so much!

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Re: Inexpensive wedding venue?

  • akrysl22akrysl22
    100 Comments
    Check Marcello's - they might be able to do a package in that range!  Good luck!
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  • shawnandlaurenshawnandlauren member
    10 Comments
    Hate to be a Debbie Downer, but your friend may need to start setting her sights on venues that are a significant distance outside of the city.

    Booking a venue that size 3-months out within city may not be possible.  And on top of that, she's already very restricted by her budget (as I'm sure you already realize).

    Just to give you a frame of reference, we booked our venue in September of last year, and even then, we had significant difficulties finding a budget-friendly venue that still had an open Saturday for 2012.  Some venues didn't even have a Saturday available until late 2013, so needless to say, we definitely experienced some "venue availability shock" here.

    My suggestion would be to either push the whole thing back if not being close to the city is a deal-breaker for her, or start looking in the western suburbs (maybe out past O'Hare?).  The northern suburbs surrounding Lakeview are very affluent, and will be just as pricey (if not more) than venues within the city.

    Best of luck!  I really hope that it works out for your friend!
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  • runschicagorunschicago member
    10 Comments
    Try Mrs Murphy and Sons.
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  • KatWAGKatWAG member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    I completely agree with Shawn. Since I live in Lakeview, I know the area pretty well. Most places are booked a year+ in advance. When I booked our venue the next available Saturday other than ours was 17 months away. Lakeview is also very expensive and doesn't have very many 'venues.' Short of having her reception in a bar I don't think she will be able to find much on such a short time frame and limited budget. Does the $20 per person include drinks?

    That is also right in the middle of baseball season. Have you checked to see if the cubs are in town? That will make Lakeview even more crazy and crowded, thus limiting options.
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  • KatWAGKatWAG member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    FYI, the cubs are playing the Red Sox at home that day. HUGE GAME. keep that in mind when planning.
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  • Fina487Fina487
    10 Comments
    edited March 2012
    I once went to a Sunday afternoon wedding in the party loft at Fizz Bar & Grill (at Lincoln/Belmont/Ashland). No idea of the cost, but it might be worth a phone call.
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  • fofoocha62fofoocha62 member
    First Comment


    Rezal Center
    1332 W. Irving Park Rd
    (between Clark St & Lakewood Ave)
    Chicago, IL 60613
    Neighborhoods: Uptown, Lakeview
    (773) 281-1210
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  • thealphabridethealphabride
    1000 Comments
    She might try to locate some kind of a space and hire a caterer.
    We used www.mariosevents.com Mario's Events, although we had the higher end plated dinner,  they have buffet dinners that come in at a very very low price.
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  • bstenglerbstengler
    100 Comments
    Is there any way to have the reception outdoors and cater in? Does that church have a back yard area? Or anywhere around there have something like that? I have a friend who had a outdoor wedding and reception at the brides parents house and cost them about 4000.
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  • bethbrunchbethbrunch member
    First Comment
    Try Brunch in River North.
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  • jesusita2002jesusita2002 member
    First Comment
    Thanks so much ladies! I will share your suggestions with her and perhaps pick her brain/figure out who she has contacted so far. She knows it's going to be hard hence her reaching out to whomever she can. Thanks again
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