Art Institute of Chicago
Wedding Spaces at the Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago sits at 111 S. Michigan Avenue, with its bronze lions out front and Grant Park across the street. The museum rents several spaces for weddings, and most couples pair two. The Woman's Board Grand Staircase, built in 1910 just off the Michigan Avenue lobby, holds a ceremony of up to 200 under the Hartwell Memorial Window, a 26-foot Tiffany Studios landscape in stained glass. Griffin Court, the long, light-filled hall in the Modern Wing, seats 400 for dinner. Other options include the Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room (250 seated), McKinlock Court and the Pritzker Garden.
We planned Maribeth and Andrew's fall wedding here, and the photos on this page are from their day, by Sarah Sunstrom Photography. They said their vows on the Grand Staircase under a white arch of roses, hydrangeas and greenery by Ashland Addison, with the stained glass behind them and guests watching from the balcony rail. Cocktail hour moved through the galleries, and dinner was in Griffin Court, with velvet green linens, white flowers and sculptural candlelight. Their wedding was featured on Loverly, and we wrote about it in Maribeth & Andrew's Fall Wedding at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Planning an Art Institute of Chicago Wedding
The museum is open to the public during the day, so weddings here happen in the evening. On an open museum day, guests can't arrive before 6 p.m. Vendors can set up earlier, and events end by 11:30 p.m. Catering comes from the museum's approved list (Maribeth and Andrew used Blue Plate), and the museum requires every wedding to have a planner. Booking includes a two-hour holding suite and a 60-minute photo escort through the museum, so we plan portraits around that window.
Design here is about restraint. The architecture is the show, so we keep the palette tight and let the staircase and the window carry the ceremony. Outside, the lions on Michigan Avenue are the classic portrait spot. See our engagement photo locations post for more near the museum, and 9 Divine Reasons to Host a Chicago Winter Wedding if you're weighing a winter date.
For more of our weddings in Chicago landmarks, see Ashley and James at the Harold Washington Library and Cynthia and John at the Chicago Cultural Center. Read about our Chicago wedding coordination, browse all of our Chicago wedding venues, or start a conversation with us.
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Next Steps
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Proposal Review
In the Proposal Review, we’ll outline what you can expect working with us, go over our full planning and design process, and answer all your questions. You’ll leave this meeting feeling excited, confident, and ready to move forward with a trusted partner by your side!
On-Boarding & Kick-Off Call
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At Wedicity, diversity, inclusion, and love in all forms are at the heart of what we do.
We are proud to be a LGBTQ+ Friendly, Denomination-Wide, and Racially/Culturally Inclusive wedding planning team — leading with a service-first mentality and a passion for creating joyful, meaningful celebrations.
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Our Locations
At Wedicity, as a destination Wedding planning service, we offer our services across the country and in various worldwide destinations from coast to coast, including New York, Southern California, Aspen, Italy, Amalfi Coast, and Paris. Our team of expert wedding planners and event designers are ready to create unforgettable experiences for you and your guests.
To learn more about our planning and design services and how we can help you plan your dream wedding, please contact us using the form above. Our team is based out of Chicago and services weddings from City to Coast!
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