Affordable Wedding Venue Ideas? HELP!

Re: Affordable Wedding Venue Ideas? HELP!

• indianaalum member

  

  October 2014

  First of all, 20,000 is decent based on 110 number. I think you will be pleasantly suprised with what is available.

  
  

  I think we need more details to help you. Chicago is large. Where about do you want to get married? what time of facility are you looking for? hotel? country club? hall?, etc...

  
  

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• Knottie24225547 member

  

  October 2014

  Thank you for your reply!  I would ideally like to do a restaurant or a venue that will also provide food so we don't have to use a separate vendor for catering.  Sunday brunch is what we are thinking, with the ceremony and reception in the same location.  

  
  

   I am flexible on location.  Either somewhere in the city, in the suburbs closer to my parents house (they live in Northbrook) or we would even look by O'hare.  I really want simple, stress free and hoping to stay under 20,000.  That number would be the absolute max, including dress, food, alcohol, music, photog, decor, beauty, etc.  It just seems impossible!  

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• jsquared62009 member

  

  October 2014

  We had ours at the Fountain Blue in Des Plaines and LOVED the experience. For a Saturday evening we paid about $75pp which included alcohol, linens, and cake. For a Sunday brunch most places do discounts below their normal package price so you could easily get it for less. Like pp said, 20K is actually really good budget for the size and the fact that you want it on a Sunday when there are even more discounts. You'll have plenty of options. You could check into country clubs too if you want an outdoor ceremony site option.
  

  

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• MobKaz Chicago suburbs member

  

  October 2014

  You also did not mention a date.  Having your wedding in the off season will also help to offset costs.  Friday night and Sunday night weddings also often offer discounted rates.  The Cotillion in Palatine, Chevy Chase in Wheeling, The Seville or Stonegate in the Schaumburg area may surprise you with their evening prices.  For an evening reception or Sunday brunch I would highly recommend The Arboretum Club in Buffalo Grove.  Their staff is incredibly helpful and are willing to work with many budgets.  You can have your ceremony there as well.
  
  For restaurants, consider Allgauer's or Pinstripes in Northbrook, or Wildfire Restaurant in Lincolnshire.  Saranello's in the Westin Hotel in Wheeling may have something, as might The Lincolnshire Marriott Resort.  Lovell's in Lake Forest also offers brunch, but I'm not sure how large a group their private room can hold.
  

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• Knottie24225547 member

  

  October 2014

  So the date is set... and we were talked into hiring a wedding planner who a friend recommended and is giving us a great deal.  She won't discuss her cost with me, and spoke with my mom about that privately but if mom was happy I am happy.  Our date is set.  Sunday August 9, 2015.  I also think we found a venue that is going to be perfect.  

  
  

  our wedding planner has a photographer she loves for budget weddings and I am not sure I am loving what I am seeing on his website.  Thank you all for the suggestions.  Any more suggestions on a reasonable photographer?  

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• bellaluna290 member

  

  October 2014

  Knottie24225547 said:

  So the date is set... and we were talked into hiring a wedding planner who a friend recommended and is giving us a great deal.  She won't discuss her cost with me, and spoke with my mom about that privately but if mom was happy I am happy.  Our date is set.  Sunday August 9, 2015.  I also think we found a venue that is going to be perfect.  

  
  

  our wedding planner has a photographer she loves for budget weddings and I am not sure I am loving what I am seeing on his website.  Thank you all for the suggestions.  Any more suggestions on a reasonable photographer?  

  What is a reasonable price range to you? What are you looking to be included in the prices?
  

  
  
  

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• Knottie24225547 member

  

  October 2014

  This is so new to me.  Within our budget I would say maximum 2500.  I would like to find someone who will throw in engagement photos, especially so I can see how they turn out prior to the wedding. 

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• indianaalum member

  

  October 2014

  Knottie24225547 said:

  Thank you for your reply!  I would ideally like to do a restaurant or a venue that will also provide food so we don't have to use a separate vendor for catering.  Sunday brunch is what we are thinking, with the ceremony and reception in the same location.  

  
  

   I am flexible on location.  Either somewhere in the city, in the suburbs closer to my parents house (they live in Northbrook) or we would even look by O'hare.  I really want simple, stress free and hoping to stay under 20,000.  That number would be the absolute max, including dress, food, alcohol, music, photog, decor, beauty, etc.  It just seems impossible!  

  There are alot of option near northbrook that meet that category. I looked at many venues near there and was definitely within that price range.

  
  

  Chevy Chase Country Club

  Algauers in Northbrook (off Milwaukee)

  White Deer Run Country Club in Vernon Hills

  Old Orchard Country Club

  
  

  Really just google or look on the Knot. There are a TON of affordable places within your price range near Northbrook

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• bellaluna290 member

  

  October 2014

  
  

  Knottie24225547 said:

  This is so new to me.  Within our budget I would say maximum 2500.  I would like to find someone who will throw in engagement photos, especially so I can see how they turn out prior to the wedding. 

  http://www.teresadphotography.com/index.html ?
  

  
  
  

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• KayDeee member

  

  October 2014 edited October 2014

  We had a brunch reception May of this year at Zed451 in River North and it was amazing. We had 84 invited, 65 attended.

  
  

  110 people would be a tight fit in their Fireside and Mezzanine rooms, but for $34 pp the food is absolutely amazing. Menu here. They also have a very nice mimosa and bloody mary brunch pricing that makes alcohol affordable as well.

  
  

  The space is very nice, and you don't have to worry about table settings, linens or anything like that--all included. And their coordinator is easy to work with, she is like a day-of planner bonus.

  
  

  Lots of reviews here including my own.

  
  

  
  

  For photographery we used Kristi at Markit Photography and she was excellent to work with and would be in your budget range. You can check out her work on that link.

  
  

  Congratulations and good luck!

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• missummer member

  

  October 2014

  We just had ours at the Cotillion in Palatine. Our budget was less and we had 150 people. They were awesome! Would definitely recommend them!

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• wandajune6 Chicago-ish member

  

  November 2014

  Are you flexible on food or does it need to be kosher? We looked at kosher places for our wedding but, due to cost, found it easier to bring in kosher meals for our handful of guests who required it. Lots of places can't handle kosher so it might be a good starting point if it's a requirement.
  

  

  

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• MobKaz Chicago suburbs member

  

  November 2014

  fbergin said:

  The Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro provides complete packages for $99 / person they also have a current promotion going on where you receive a Visa gift card for $250 for every $5,000 booked to help you save even more.

  @fbergin, please stop spamming the boards with your posts. @Knot Riley

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• Knottie24225547 member

  

  November 2014

  Thank you everyone for all of the suggestions.  I am excited to say I officially have a venue, photographer and a dj all within budget!

  
  Now its time to say yes to the dress.  I have already been to Nordstroms, David's bridal, BHLDN, and Macys.  I have two top contenders but I still don't feel like I have found THE ONE.  My planner suggested we check out a store in Barrington that sells samples.  Any other suggestions on where I could look within the 1000 or under range?  Under preferably because alterations literally are the killer!

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