Restaurants in Chicago or Surrounding Suburbs That Do Affordable Receptions?

Knottie08653394 · August 2014

Hello Everyone,

I have been engaged 4 months as of tomorrow (YAY!!!) and me and my fiance have spent the last 3 weeks looking at venue options for our wedding ceremony and reception. We have set a date of 10/11/15 and we are not wanting to spend alot of money. We are trying to keep our wedding budget under $10K for approx. 100 guests. I believe it is definitely doable but some of the venue prices are excessive. We found a place but it would eat at 70% of a 10K budget.....geeezzz!!! Which would mean upping our budget past the $10K to do the remaining necessities like dress, rings, photographer, DJ. However, before we make any final decisions, we are looking into options of doing the wedding ceremony somewhere that would cost us under $1000 and do a reception at a restaurant. I have read online that doing the reception at a restaurant has worked for many on a budget.

We live in the city of Chicago and I am wondering if any of you lovely brides know of any restaurants in the city, or even in the surrounding suburbs, that do receptions at reasonable prices. Also, the number of guests could go down under 100. Most of my family live out of state and may not be able to make the wedding.

I appreciate all your help.

Thanks!!

Knottie08653394 · August 2014

Hi All, This was my first post and I believe I should have posted this question on a different board. Sorry ladies for this. Thanks!

indianaalum · August 2014

Wrong board, but I will answer anyway as I am from Chicago

1) They say abouy 40-50 percent of your cost should be on your reception, so 1000 to feed 100 people seems low based on that 10,000 number you listed. You might want to re-distribute priorities as GOOD FOOD is what people remember from a wedding. Maybe find a cheaper dress, cut flowers, cut other non-essential expenses and increase your food budget

2) Finding a restaurant that feeds 100 people for 1000 means finding a restaurant where the cost is less than 10.00 a person. That seems unlikely to happen for dinner in chicago. I would say your best bet then would find a cheap italian or mexican restaurant. Even then, I think it is probably unlikely to find

3) If you are stuck on your budget, either a) do a lunch or breakfast to save money OR cut your guest list

4) if you are wanting to keep budget, maybe try to find a VFW hall or some "hall" to rent and have food catered in buffet style. That might be even cheaper and you "might" be able to feed 100 people that budget.

QueerFemme · August 2014

indianaalum said:

Wrong board, but I will answer anyway as I am from Chicago

1) They say abouy 40-50 percent of your cost should be on your reception, so 1000 to feed 100 people seems low based on that 10,000 number you listed. You might want to re-distribute priorities as GOOD FOOD is what people remember from a wedding. Maybe find a cheaper dress, cut flowers, cut other non-essential expenses and increase your food budget

2) Finding a restaurant that feeds 100 people for 1000 means finding a restaurant where the cost is less than 10.00 a person. That seems unlikely to happen for dinner in chicago. I would say your best bet then would find a cheap italian or mexican restaurant. Even then, I think it is probably unlikely to find

3) If you are stuck on your budget, either a) do a lunch or breakfast to save money OR cut your guest list

4) if you are wanting to keep budget, maybe try to find a VFW hall or some "hall" to rent and have food catered in buffet style. That might be even cheaper and you "might" be able to feed 100 people that budget.

I am pretty sure OP said $1000.00 for the ceremony venue, and then have a restaurant reception.

With that said, I lived in Chicago for a while, I think $10k is pushing it for 100 people, if that is supposed to include dress, rings, photographer, DJ, etc. You could try the burbs and you might be able to find a community center or VFW Hall, as PP mentioned.

If you have your reception at a restaurant, you probably won't be able to have a dance floor, so you likely wouldn't need a DJ. Usually restaurant receptions are scaled back events. Dinner, cake cutting and maybe a cocktail hour mingle, but they don't typically have a lot of the typical "reception" things ("first dances, bouquet toss, etc.). That's something to consider if you really want those things.

MobKaz · August 2014

QueerFemme said:

indianaalum said:

Wrong board, but I will answer anyway as I am from Chicago

1) They say abouy 40-50 percent of your cost should be on your reception, so 1000 to feed 100 people seems low based on that 10,000 number you listed. You might want to re-distribute priorities as GOOD FOOD is what people remember from a wedding. Maybe find a cheaper dress, cut flowers, cut other non-essential expenses and increase your food budget

2) Finding a restaurant that feeds 100 people for 1000 means finding a restaurant where the cost is less than 10.00 a person. That seems unlikely to happen for dinner in chicago. I would say your best bet then would find a cheap italian or mexican restaurant. Even then, I think it is probably unlikely to find

3) If you are stuck on your budget, either a) do a lunch or breakfast to save money OR cut your guest list

4) if you are wanting to keep budget, maybe try to find a VFW hall or some "hall" to rent and have food catered in buffet style. That might be even cheaper and you "might" be able to feed 100 people that budget.

I am pretty sure OP said $1000.00 for the ceremony venue, and then have a restaurant reception.
With that said, I lived in Chicago for a while, I think $10k is pushing it for 100 people, if that is supposed to include dress, rings, photographer, DJ, etc. You could try the burbs and you might be able to find a community center or VFW Hall, as PP mentioned.
If you have your reception at a restaurant, you probably won't be able to have a dance floor, so you likely wouldn't need a DJ. Usually restaurant receptions are scaled back events. Dinner, cake cutting and maybe a cocktail hour mingle, but they don't typically have a lot of the typical "reception" things ("first dances, bouquet toss, etc.). That's something to consider if you really want those things.

This may be true in general, but it is not the case with all restaurants. It just may take a little more searching to find one that has the space. My son had his reception at a restaurant downtown on State Street, and it included every element of a typical reception, including a dance floor. The point regarding a DJ is accurate in his case, however. Because the restaurant space was a bit cozier than a huge banquet hall, streaming music from a laptop was more than adequate. At this particular restaurant, the set up of a DJ would have been too loud for regular dinner patrons on the lower level of the restaurant.

thisismynickname2 · August 2014

I'll also answer as a Chicagoan. There's an Irish restaurant in Lincoln Square that has nice private events areas on the second floor. I attended a nice wedding there and think it's budget friendly. I'm sorry I can't recall the name right now but Google is your friend.
Best tip is search in Google "private dining- Chicago". I think Open Table also may have a private dining option.

QueerFemme · August 2014

MobKaz said:

QueerFemme said:

indianaalum said:

Wrong board, but I will answer anyway as I am from Chicago

1) They say abouy 40-50 percent of your cost should be on your reception, so 1000 to feed 100 people seems low based on that 10,000 number you listed. You might want to re-distribute priorities as GOOD FOOD is what people remember from a wedding. Maybe find a cheaper dress, cut flowers, cut other non-essential expenses and increase your food budget

2) Finding a restaurant that feeds 100 people for 1000 means finding a restaurant where the cost is less than 10.00 a person. That seems unlikely to happen for dinner in chicago. I would say your best bet then would find a cheap italian or mexican restaurant. Even then, I think it is probably unlikely to find

3) If you are stuck on your budget, either a) do a lunch or breakfast to save money OR cut your guest list

4) if you are wanting to keep budget, maybe try to find a VFW hall or some "hall" to rent and have food catered in buffet style. That might be even cheaper and you "might" be able to feed 100 people that budget.

I am pretty sure OP said $1000.00 for the ceremony venue, and then have a restaurant reception.
With that said, I lived in Chicago for a while, I think $10k is pushing it for 100 people, if that is supposed to include dress, rings, photographer, DJ, etc. You could try the burbs and you might be able to find a community center or VFW Hall, as PP mentioned.
If you have your reception at a restaurant, you probably won't be able to have a dance floor, so you likely wouldn't need a DJ. Usually restaurant receptions are scaled back events. Dinner, cake cutting and maybe a cocktail hour mingle, but they don't typically have a lot of the typical "reception" things ("first dances, bouquet toss, etc.). That's something to consider if you really want those things.

This may be true in general, but it is not the case with all restaurants. It just may take a little more searching to find one that has the space. My son had his reception at a restaurant downtown on State Street, and it included every element of a typical reception, including a dance floor. The point regarding a DJ is accurate in his case, however. Because the restaurant space was a bit cozier than a huge banquet hall, streaming music from a laptop was more than adequate. At this particular restaurant, the set up of a DJ would have been too loud for regular dinner patrons on the lower level of the restaurant.

I agree, which is why I used the word "probably" and "usually" in my comment. There absolutely are restaurants that have dance floors and private event space where OP could have a full blown wedding reception. But, more often than not, restaurant receptions are scaled back without those items. In my experience though, finding a full service restaurant with that budget, for that many people, is unlikely.

sofakingmad · August 2014

Check out Michelle's Ballroom in Avondale. It might not be exactly the decor you want, but you can jazz it up with your own decor. It also allows for BYOB (as in the b&g bring it in...not the guests), but you just have to hire a bartender. And you can bring in any caterer....which is pretty huge in Chicago. Depending on when you are having your reception, the prices vary, but it's MUCH MUCH LOWER in rental costs than most venues. We used it for our Chicago Celebration and it worked out really well.

sofakingmad · August 2014

And I realize that it's not a restaurant like you asked, but it might be what you are looking for. Oh and it has free parking for your guests, which is pretty huge in the city.

MobKaz · August 2014

thisismynickname said:

I'll also answer as a Chicagoan. There's an Irish restaurant in Lincoln Square that has nice private events areas on the second floor. I attended a nice wedding there and think it's budget friendly. I'm sorry I can't recall the name right now but Google is your friend. Best tip is search in Google "private dining- Chicago". I think Open Table also may have a private dining option.

Is that Mrs. Murphy's and Son? When Chicago brides used to post vendor reviews, that restaurant got a lot of good reviews in terms of affordability and quality. I think I mentioned it on OP's cross post on the Chicago board.

thisismynickname2 · August 2014

Yes, it was Mrs. Murphy's and Son! Looks like you can do something nice starting at $25 a person.

mschristie123 · August 2014

I also live in Chicago. I would maybe look into Salvatore's in Lincoln Park.

wrigleyville · August 2014

I've been to a few weddings here: http://www.dankhaus.com/hall-rentals The rental prices are reasonable, and you can use your own caterer. Also, if you can snag the terrace, you get a great view of the skyline at night.

Restaurants in Chicago or Surrounding Suburbs That Do Affordable Receptions?

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