Chicago is a vast and beautiful city filled with unlimited spaces to give you your dream wedding. While some people prefer the glitz and the glamor of downtown, others prefer to keep things a little quieter with plenty of space to spread out. If you fall into the latter category, a North Shore wedding might be right for you. As a Chicago wedding photographer, I get the chance to spend the day getting a backstage look at all these spaces. If you are on the search for ideal North Shore Chicago wedding venues, I would love to give you my list of favorites so you can decide if there is the perfect one for you.
Plan Your Dream Wedding With These 5 North Shore Chicago Wedding Venues
Exmoor Country Club
700 Vine Avenue, Highland Park, Illinois 60035
The Exmoor Country Club wedding venue provides a stately North Shore Chicago manor for your wedding and reception. The grounds are exceptionally well-kept, providing you with a picture-perfect view everywhere you turn. There are lush gardens and colorful landscaping, and you will have plenty of spots for pictures. The venue has spaces for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies. If you prefer some climate control, you can rent the ballroom inside the club. This space offers high ceilings with white walls outfitted with wainscotting.
There are also brass features and an elegant royal blue-patterned carpet. The outside offers a paved patio that looks over the golf course and the nearby woods. You can place a dance floor where you’d like. If you’d prefer a covered outdoor area, they can provide you with a tent. The venue has multiple rooms where you can get ready before your ceremony.
Onwentsia Club
300 North Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
Onwentsia Club has been a beloved wedding venue for many North Shore Chicago residents for over a century. The property as we now know it started out on the lawn for Senator Charles B. Farwell’s estate shortly after he built a humble seven-hole golf course. Before long, it was so popular that they knew they had to expand. Today, you will find a sprawling brick manor with green land stretching on for acres.
The estate’s flat land gives you plenty of space for your wedding and reception. Many choose to have an outdoor ceremony on the patio next to the manor. The club has a covered outdoor space with a glazed glass cathedral ceiling that will let in light without raising the temperatures. There is a stage right next to the spacious dance floor. The venue will help you with every aspect of your planning. They also offer catering and will work with you to plan the best meal for your event.
Knollwood Club
1890 Knollwood Rd, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
Knollwood Club is one of the newer wedding venues available in the North Shore Chicago area. While the club was first developed in the 1920s, it quickly became clear it would need significant repairs. In 2000, it was torn down and completely rebuilt, keeping all the original elegance while bringing in endless modern touches. The result is a large, beautiful space that knows how to throw an unforgettable event! The venue regularly hosts events of all sizes, though its official capacity is 300 guests.
While they do host indoor weddings, most couples prefer hosting their ceremony outside, overlooking the expansive lawn. The venue can provide you with a covered outdoor area in case you want extra protection from the elements. The club offers bar services, rentals and equipment, event staffing, and catering. While there is so much to love about this venue, the service is undoubtedly one of the best aspects. The Knollwood Club event planners will take care of every detail of your wedding to ensure your day is everything you’ve dreamed of.
Shoreacres
1601 Shore Acres Rd, Lake Bluff, Illinois 60044
Shoreacres is another golf course that rests just near Lake Michigan. The wedding venue’s proximity to the North Shore Chicago water will give you the chance to take some stunning beach pictures without ever leaving the suburbs of Chicago. The house itself is a ranch-style manor with white siding and deep teal shutters. The lands are meticulously kept, giving your relatives an accessible way to move around between the ceremony and the reception. The venue has both indoor and outdoor spaces you can use for your event. The exterior gives you plenty of green space, as well as a brick patio and views of the lake. The inside is quaint, with white ceilings, white walls, and black pendant lighting. If you would like, you can use a tent for a covered outdoor event. In addition to providing you with full-service planning, the venue can provide catering and a cake.
Armour House
1500 West Kennedy Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60054
Located on the grounds of the Lake Forest Academy, Armour House gives you a refined space for your wedding. This venue is one-of-a-kind, with sweeping staircases, sprawling gardens, and romantic balconies. Trust me, your wedding portraits are going to be stunning! The venue gives you both indoor and outdoor locations. If you choose to get married inside, you will have your selection of several spaces. The mansion has been built in the federal style and provides you with features such as marble floors and fireplaces, ornate crown molding, and columns.
There is also an additional parlor room outfitted with sophisticated oak paneling. The exterior of the home provides you with colorful gardens and open green spaces where you can have your ceremony. There is a meditation pond nearby, adding to the ambiance. Armour House will provide you with catering. You will be able to work with them to customize your menu so you can have the perfect dinner for your upscale party.
Don’t Skip Over These Beautiful North Shore Chicago Wedding Venues
With these stunning North Shore Chicago wedding venues, you can have a quiet Chicago your guests will never forget. As far as capturing all those magical little details, that’s why I’m here. I’m a Chicago photographer, and I adore working with couples to make sure their day is everything they dreamed it to be. I love getting to know my clients so I can provide them with portraits that perfectly represent them. I would love to have a conversation and tell you more about my style so you can decide if I’m your wedding photographer. Contact me today so we can chat!
