So, you want the elegance of a city wedding, but not with all the hustle and bustle Chicago brings. Well, there’s no better place to look then the ‘burbs. As a wedding photographer living in Chicago, I’ve been to my fair share of wedding venues in the suburbs, so allow me to help guide you in the right direction. Here are some of my favorite, elegant wedding venues in the Chicago suburbs!

The Armour House at Lake Forest Academy

A stunning 170-acre property built in 1908, The Armour House is a historical site, and one of the most elegant wedding venues in the Chicago suburbs. From pagodas, fountains, lush gardens, to the great hall, the library and garden room, there are plenty of outdoor and indoor spaces that take little transforming in order to perfect for your wedding day. They also offer their in-house catering sourcing sustainable, and local ingredients and only host one event at a time ensuring privacy and space to spend with your guests without interruption. The Armour House is definitely the spot for the sophisticated and classy couple.

The Drake in Oak Brook

Now, everybody knows The Drake in the city, but thankfully they felt the suburbs deserved one too! Just a short drive from the city, you get the glamorous and luxurious amenities of The Drake, but with the tranquility of the great outdoors. Not only do they have a plethora of banquet halls and dining options, but also luxury private suites and many spa and wellness options for an intimate wedding weekend, making The Drake in Oak Brook a fan favorite wedding venue in the Chicago Suburbs. 

Company 251 in Aurora

Company 251 screams 1950’s Italian interior design but in a sophisticated, modern warehouse bringing it fully into the 21st century, and making it one of the most elegant wedding venues in the Chicago suburbs. From marble floors, to exposed brick walls and brass elements, they pride themselves on being a transformable space to cater to any of your wedding inspirations. They even have private bridal/groom suites available with mirrors and lights for getting ready, and a stocked whiskey bar and vintage games for the guys.

Standard on State in Rockford

The Standard on State boasts they are the premier rooftop wedding venue in the state, and we honestly have to agree. With gorgeous crystal chandeliers, industrial architecture, and nothing but sky above you as you say your vows, this spot is definitely one of my favorite elegant wedding venues in the Chicago suburbs. The whole space acts as a one-stop shop for your wedding day. The lobby is perfect for cocktail hour, moving up a floor to the huge dining hall for dinner and then moving up one more floor to the rooftop and rooftop conservatory for dancing and celebration! They also have a bridal suite, and man cave for pre-ceremony fun with your friends.

Mesón Sabika

Last but not least we have Mesón Sabika, a beautiful Spanish hideaway. Tucked away in Naperville, this estate boasts oak beams, lace curtains and Georgian architecture accompanied by lushly landscaped grounds perfect for an outdoor ceremony. The mansion can accommodate 150 guests but if that isn’t big enough for your day, right next door is the Pavillion – a separate building fully enclosed in large glass windows overlooking the manicured lawns that can host up to 300 guests. If you want to feel like you’ve been whisked away to a Mediterranean villa, Mesón Sabika is the perfect, elegant wedding venue in the Chicago suburbs for you.

I may be biased, but wedding photos are one of the most important parts of your wedding day, and the best way to get elegant and gorgeous photos is to have a spot-on backdrop. Any of these wedding venues in the Chicago suburbs would be a BEYOND perfect fit for your special day, trust me! 😉 

Wedding planning can be so stressful and I know you just want to make sure you have everything in place. So if you want more ideas and tips on how to make your wedding day extra special, I have plenty of blogs about creating a perfect playlist, sending out the best invitations and so much more. Dive in here! And if you want your photos looking like these, click here to chat with me about how we can make your wedding day look as elegant as possible.