Setting the Stage—Top Wedding Venues In The Naperville Area

By Rachelle Stoller
April 2015 View more Featured

When it comes to wedding planning, choosing the perfect venue has become just as important as choosing the perfect dress. Not only is the average Illinois wedding price tag about $48,000—making Illinois the fourth most expensive state in the nation—the venue usually accounts for 45 percent of that cost. And then there’s the growing trend toward creating a wedding experience.

“Classic elegance is still in, but today’s bride and groom are looking to set the stage for a memorable event while reflecting their personalities,” says Cheryl Cady, Fox Valley area event planner. “They want their wedding day to be unique, and the location has everything to do with that.”

You don’t have to travel into the city to create a one-of-a-kind wedding experience. The Western suburbs offer multiple venues that are just as unique and will save couples (and their parents) money due to lower sales taxes and significantly reduced service and parking fees.

Here are a few favorites

Feeling Nostalgic?

Historic landmarks are fantastic venues and can transport you and your guests back in time. The Naperville area is rich with historic locations.

Naper Settlement: Century Memorial Chapel
www.napersettlement.org
Naper Settlement’s Century Memorial Chapel dates back to 1864 and features Gothic Revival architecture, original stained glass windows, and one of the most recognized landmarks in the area. Just steps away from downtown Naperville, this venue is a perfect setting for a more traditional ceremony and beautiful photos.

The Carleton Hotel
www.carletonhotel.com/weddings-en.html
Oak Park’s historic district is host to The Carleton, a boutique hotel with a rich history. Just blocks from Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio, Hemingway’s birth house, as well as downtown Oak Park and transportation to Chicago, The Carleton allows couples to give out-of-town guests a cultural experience with a nod to art history.

Hotel Baker
www.hotelbaker.com/weddings-at-hotel-baker
Originally built in 1928 and recently restored, Hotel Baker is a living landmark in downtown St. Charles. Perfect for mid-sized or smaller weddings, this venue features a waterfront ballroom and patio, a rose garden and the legendary Rainbow Room, which has hosted numerous entertainers and VIPs, including Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, and President John F. Kennedy.

Photo courtesy of TWA Photographic Artists

Danada House
www.danadahouse.com/wedding-receptions.html
Built in 1939, Danada House is a 19-room country estate located in Wheaton’s scenic Danada Forest Reserve. Charming grounds, brick walkways, and fountains make for idyllic surroundings, and an all-season room with window walls is a wonderful locale for a ceremony or reception. Despite its age, Danada House is outfitted with a dance floor, lighting system, and central air, so you and your guests can dance the night away.

Photo courtesy of Mayslake Peabody Estate

Tres Magnifique

Destination weddings are wonderful, but how do you create one in your own backyard? Try one of these unique venues.

Mayslake Peabody Estate
www.mayslakepeabody.com/rental
Located in Oak Brook, Mayslake Peabody Estate creates the feel of an Italian countryside wedding, complete with the historic Portiuncula Chapel and two expansive halls. Mayslake Hall features four rooms, an oversized fireplace and central air for warmer weather wedding receptions. While the Event Hall is not air conditioned and is better suited for more temperate months, it features gorgeous stained-glass windows and vaulted ceilings.

Photo by Hilda Burke/Angel Eyes Photography

Meson Sabika
www.mesonsabika.com/weddings
Marry in a Spanish villa setting at Naperville’s Meson Sabika, which offers the versatility of hosting an intimate wedding on the venue’s beautiful grounds or a larger wedding and reception in the mansion or covered pavilion. The mansion features eight dining rooms with Spanish accents, including oak beams, lace curtains, and hand-painted murals. The pavilion is a fully enclosed room with window walls, allowing breathtaking views of the grounds.

Photo courtesy of Modern Image Studios

A Breath of Fresh Air

If an outdoor wedding is your passion, look to one of these venues that feature nature as its backdrop

Cantigny Park
www.cantigny.org/private-events/weddings
Wheaton’s own natural gem, Cantigny Park offers acres of picturesque gardens, multi-colored botanicals and soothing waters to set the stage for a magical day. Choose from three gardens (Rose, Rock, or South Grove) or the East Lawn for a lovely outdoor ceremony. Le Jardin at Cantigny Park and the Red Oak Room at Cantigny Golf both feature panoramic views for the most romantic reception.

Photo courtesy of Rob Krueger Photography

Arranmore Farm & Polo Club
www.arranmoreevents.com
Nestled in Oswego, this formerly private club is now open and available for private events, including intimate weddings. Set on 300 acres of pristinely manicured lawns, Arranmore Farm & Polo Club features stunning views, a serene pond and historic boarded horse barns for touring.

Photo courtesy of Tuan H. Bui

Emerson Creek Pottery & Tea Room
www.ecreekpotteryandtearoom.com
Also in Oswego, Emerson Creek Pottery & Tea Room offers a unique venue in its rustic barn with antique chandeliers, a stone patio, and a view of the countryside. Perfect for a more intimate wedding off the beaten path, Emerson Creek is as close to a country wedding venue as you can get in the area.

Morton Arboretum
www.mortonarb.org/plananevent.html
Located in Lisle, the Morton Arboretum is a wonderful setting for nature loving nuptials. Guests can tour the breathtaking grounds, including a 250-year-old oak tree, the one-acre Maze Garden labyrinth, and a variety of plants and flowers.

Photo courtesy of Timothy Whaley & Associates

Say ‘I do’ in the Founder’s Room, the former Morton Mansion Library, which features gorgeous stained glass windows and warm wood paneling.

Contemporary Cool

You can still get that city feel in the suburbs with one of these contemporary venues.

Hotel Arista
https://www.hotelarista.com/weddings/naperville-wedding.aspx
One of the premier boutique hotels in the area, Hotel Arista is located just off of I-88 in Naperville. Choose the Grand Ballroom for a larger event, or the Cyprus Room with a rooftop view, for a more intimate wedding. Transportation to and from the ceremony and/or reception is as easy as using the elevator. Guests will feel like they’re in the heart of the city in this sophisticated, urban location.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Arista

Pipers Banquets
www.pipersbanquets.com
Pipers Banquets in Aurora offers a more traditional location with expansive window views, state-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities, and an outdoor patio. The art-deco styled Grande Ballroom can accommodate large weddings and will dazzle guests with sparkling chandeliers, a hardwood dance floor, a private bridal room and cocktail area.