Weddings at the Chicago Cultural Center
The dome. The mosaics. The location. When it comes to a downtown Chicago wedding venue, you’d be hard-pressed to find somewhere more iconic than a wedding at the Chicago Cultural Center.
The “People’s Palace” was built in 1897 as the city’s first central public library and is today still a public space. In fact—here’s an insider tip—the rental fees contribute to free community programming!!
The CCC is a wonder of gorgeous details and historic opulence, from the Tiffany stained-glass dome to the inlays, mosaics, and graceful curves. You could truly do every single portrait inside this iconic space and not run out of options (you can see by my 20 Best Chicago Wedding Venues that I’m a sucker for great architecture). Yet, the Chicago Cultural Center is also in a fantastic location, directly across from Millennium Park and close to so much of what Chicago offers. It’s a great option to give your guests easy access to a variety of hotels and attractions close by if they’re making a vacation out of it.
Beyond that, one thing I really love about weddings and receptions at the Chicago Cultural Center is the space, literally. There’s plenty of additional space for guests to move to for cocktails, so you don’t have to worry about them seeing the room “flipped” from ceremony to reception.
Ceremony & Reception Spaces
Preston Bradley Hall: There’s iconic. Then there’s Tiffany iconic. The soaring Tiffany glass dome caps a spectacular space of intricate inlays and curving arches. But, personally, I love that it’s all done in a fairly neutral color palette, so you can add your unique aesthetic, yet holds its own character and style. The hall holds 320 for a seated dinner and 700 for a cocktail reception.
GAR Hall & Rotunda: With massive windows and intricate detailing in the coffered ceiling, not to mention another glass dome, the hall and rotunda combine to create another gorgeous space within the CCC. The hall and rotunda can be separated or combined into one larger space, giving great options for your wedding. Combined, it holds 220 seated and 520 for a reception.
Yates Gallery: The intricate detailing and historic grandeur continues in this large gallery, which runs to nearly half a city block in size. Giant windows, a tall, coffered ceiling, and Renaissance-style details make this another fantastic option. This palatial gallery is the largest space in the CCC, holding 420 seated and 800 for a reception.
Millennium Park Room: Much on offer at the Chicago Cultural Center is very large, but this intimate room is a great example of how much variety you can find within the building. The space has fantastic views of Millennium Park, specifically the Bean (formally known as “Cloud Gate”). The Millennium Park Room holds 80 seated and 100 for a cocktail reception.
My Favorite Nearby Photo Locations
Union Station
South Gardens at the Art Institute
The Riverwalk
Inside The CCC
Olive Park
Chicago BOARD OF TRADE
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A Real Wedding at the Chicago Cultural Center
Elegant Fall Wedding Day at the Chicago Cultural Center
Given how much intention Hal & Christine put behind all their life choices, their Chicago Cultural Center wedding day was naturally no different. Together with the help of Soirée Wedding & Events, these two kept the focus on exactly the type of day they wanted—and they had just that.
Geographical details for the Chicago Cultural Center
What’s Nearby?
The Chicago Cultural Center is in the heart of downtown Chicago, so it’s close to everything. Pick almost any downtown hotel, and it will be about a 15 minute cab ride. Same for downtown churches.
Here are a few of our favorites:
Holy Name Cathedral
LondonHouse
The Langham
Looking for More Downtown Chicago Wedding Venues?
THERE’S SOMETHING SO ELECTRIC ABOUT DOWNTOWN CHICAGO, AN ENERGY THAT CAN MAKE YOUR WEDDING TOTALLY UNFORGETTABLE.
FOR MANY OF OUR COUPLES, IF THEY ARE GOING TO GET MARRIED IN CHICAGO, THEN THEY ARE GOING TO TREAT THEIR GUESTS TO A DOWNTOWN CHICAGO EXPERIENCE. IF THAT’S YOU, THESE ARE THE WEDDING VENUES YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER.
Click Here for my favorite Downtown wedding venues in Chicago.
Let’s Chat.
I make it my priority to help you relax, because when you’re at ease and comfortable, gorgeous photos come naturally. Let’s set a time to chat and see if I’m the right fit for you.