Your ultimate source of Illinois wedding inspiration is here. Browse our library of 400+ Illinois weddings, from hotel venues to museum weddings and every style in between. Then go beyond inspiration and hire the vendor dream teams behind the Illinois weddings you love.
Whether you’re planning a posh Chicago wedding or prefer rustic barn weddings in Illinois, get inspired by our complete guide to Illinois weddings. Nearly 40,000 couples apply for an Illinois wedding license each year, establishing this midwestern state as a popular place to say “I do.”
While planning your Illinois wedding, there are probably a bunch of questions that have come up, particularly related to the average cost of a wedding in Illinois, what are the options for Illinois wedding venues, as well as some popular Illinois wedding locations. Consider this your Illinois wedding guide that will answer all of those questions and beyond. In addition, when you’re sourcing your dream Illinois wedding venue and curating your vendor team, you can check out our library of wedding galleries for endless ideas. Peruse images from other couples who got married in Illinois, and use their photos as inspiration for your big day. The best part? All of their wedding vendors are listed, so that you can get in touch with the teams who created your favorites.
In 2020, the average cost of a wedding in Illinois was $20,617. The national average for weddings in 2020 was $20,300, which means that the average Illinois wedding cost is well within the typical range.
The average cost of a wedding in Illinois in 2020 may have been lower than it was the previous four years due to the pandemic. Couples who didn’t postpone their Illinois weddings in 2020 scaled them down considerably, so the average Illinois wedding cost was lower. Some married intimately in the same courthouse that issued their Illinois wedding license. However, couples getting married in the state in 2017 spent an average of $26,700 on their nuptials.
There are a variety of different types of Illinois wedding venues for you to choose from for your big day. While outdoor Illinois wedding venues offer couples the opportunity to be surrounded by nature, there’s always the chance of inclement weather. Therefore, if you don’t want to deal with the threat of getting rained out, you can opt for an indoor Illinois wedding venue. Many traditional indoor wedding venues in Illinois include places of worship, hotel wedding venues, and country clubs. Art galleries, historic mansions, grand estates, and quaint wedding chapels are other popular indoor Illinois wedding venues.
Gardens, wineries, parks, and farms are among the most sought-after Illinois wedding venues. Outdoor weddings in Illinois can be especially beautiful if the weather cooperates. Depending on what's in bloom, your site may need only a few tasteful touches from your Illinois wedding florists. Some popular options for Illinois outdoor wedding venues include:
Refurbished barns are a great match for rustic weddings in Illinois. These Illinois wedding venues typically welcome larger numbers of guests and have both outdoor and indoor options.
Gardens make a chic backdrop for weddings in Illinois. From urban Japanese gardens to botanical gardens, there is a wide variety of natural settings for Illinois outdoor weddings.
Wineries throughout the state offer Illinois outdoor wedding venues. Whether you’re having a chic fall wedding or a summer vineyard wedding with picturesque Tuscany-style buildings, a winery is ideal for a romantic Illinois wedding.
Many hotels, both large and boutique, have curated breathtaking outdoor wedding settings. Ask about their full-service wedding packages for Illinois weddings.
Illinois is home to plenty of beautiful towns and cities. However, when planning your Illinois wedding, you’ll have to narrow it down to one location. Here are some popular locations for weddings in Illinois:
Sophistication and style are the hallmarks of a Chicago wedding. With urban charm and a myriad of different Illinois wedding venues, Chicago is an excellent choice—not to mention it’s convenient for out-of-town visitors to reach. Your Chicago wedding is convenient for plenty of the state’s greatest wedding vendors.
A Chicago suburb with major hotels, Naperville, Illinois wedding venues include country clubs and event centers. If you’re looking for a ballroom wedding, this might be the place to find your Illinois wedding venues.
City event centers and outlying farms offer great options for unique weddings in Illinois. In addition, Aurora is home to ornate gardens that would serve as the perfect background for your outdoor Illinois wedding.
This northern city on the Rock River features gardens, breweries, wineries, and estates for your Illinois wedding.
Just south of Chicago on the Des Plaines River, as the third-largest city in the state, Joliet has barns, estates and country club settings for a wonderful Illinois wedding.
This centrally located city is home to Luthy Botanical Gardens, Scottish Rite Cathedral, event centers, country clubs, and major hotels known for lovely weddings in Illinois.
A city on the Sangamon River, Decatur is home to farms, hotels, event centers, and estates for your Illinois wedding. It also offers several parks which could work for an intimate wedding ceremony.
Situated on the Mississippi River, Great Rivers' country clubs, event centers, hotels, and farms offer romantic Illinois wedding settings.
This mid-state region boasts some lovely farms, wineries, riverfront venues, and event centers that could help you create the Illinois wedding you’ve always dreamed you’d have.
Are you unsure how to find Illinois wedding photographers? Or, are you struggling to find the perfect wedding cake baker for your big day? Don’t worry: help is available. Our wedding vendor directory is a great way to find the pros you need for your big day. Or browse our library of Illinois weddings here, and view a list of the vendors involved in each particular event. Then get in touch with the Illinois wedding photographers and Illinois wedding florists who created the celebrations you love. Then, click through to their website to reach out directly about setting up a consultation to discuss the details.
Most of Illinois enjoys hot summers and cold, snowy winters. If you’re planning to marry outdoors, spring and fall offer the most pleasant weather. You might also want to consider transportation. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and other public airports are spread throughout the state. Your out-of-town guests can easily reach most Illinois wedding locations, so feel free to explore the state to find the perfect venue for your day of days.
Ready to make your move and book the best Illinois wedding vendors? Check out our library of Illinois weddings for wedding venue and wedding vendor inspiration. Prepare to make your Illinois wedding dreams come true!
