Chicago Venues

It's been a busy week! I've had my wonderful sister visiting me and my shoes are worn out from seeing Chicago through her eyes. It's fun being a tourist in my quasi hometown. After seeing the best Chicago has to offer it made me think how close we were to having our ceremony here. If we were to get married in Chicago, these unique venues would be at the top of my list for a small to medium sized wedding.

The first is the Ivy Room at Tree Studios. Honest to goodness, if I knew about this place prior to putting down our deposits for our vendors in New Orleans I would have jumped at the opportunity to get married here. The courtyard is nestled between State Street and the Medinah Temple and the allure of having outdoor and indoor space in the heart of the city is hard to pass up:

North Pond Restaurant was another contender. In the summer Jack and I ride our bikes to the lake to goof off for the occasional picnic and to do a little sunbathing. We usually ride our bikes past North Pond Restaurant and it is a beautiful place in a picturesque setting. The food is phenomenal (James Beard Award calibre) with beautiful Arts and Crafts decor and views over the water. It's essentially a smaller version of Cafe Brauer but with better food!

Finally for a little something more formal I came across Club International at the Drake Hotel. It's a member's only place but they accept applications. The restaurant is a replicate of Haddon Hall, one of England's most famous medieval residences, with beautiful wood paneling overlooking Michigan Avenue. It's breathtaking.