Harold Washington Library
A Winter Garden Wedding at the Harold Washington Library
The Harold Washington Library Center is the Chicago Public Library's main branch, at State Street and Van Buren in the South Loop. It opened in 1991, and its top floor holds one of the most striking rooms in the city: the Winter Garden, a ninth-floor hall under a 52-foot glass-paneled dome, with terrazzo and marble floors that catch every bit of light.
The Winter Garden seats 400 for dinner, or 350 with a dance floor, so a large wedding can stay in one room all night. South Hall, also on the ninth floor, seats 200 for a ceremony or cocktail hour, though booking it alongside the Winter Garden caps the total at 200. The Grand Lobby on the first floor holds 400 standing after library hours.
We planned Ashley and James's wedding here. They married at St. Vincent de Paul in Lincoln Park, and by evening the Winter Garden was dressed in white and ivory, with tall hydrangea and rose arrangements by Life in Bloom, gold chairs and candlelight across the marble. The photos on this page are from that night, by Megan Kay Photography, and the wedding was featured by Inspired by This. We tell the whole story in Ashley & James: A Timeless Chicago Wedding at the Harold Washington Library.
Planning a Harold Washington Library Wedding
Designing for the Winter Garden is mostly about restraint. The dome, the columns and the floor already carry the room, so we keep the palette tight and build height with florals and draping instead of color. Candles matter more here than almost anywhere: on a marble floor, every flame reflects.
The library is a public building, so rentals go through the Chicago Public Library's events office, and some spaces can only be used outside library hours. It's a short walk or ride from the Loop's hotels, which keeps guest travel simple. Our Chicago wedding coordination page explains how we plan city weddings like this one.
For more real weddings at Chicago landmarks, see Cynthia and John at the Chicago Cultural Center and Maribeth and Andrew at the Art Institute of Chicago, both a few blocks north. Browse all of our Chicago wedding venues, and when you're ready, start a conversation with us.
Ready?! Let's Plan Together
Next Steps
Inquire
Complete our inquiry form, and we'll get back to you promptly to schedule a 30-minute consultation discovery call — where we can connect and learn about your wedding dreams.
Consultation Discovery Call
During your discovery session, we’ll get to know you and your fiancé, discuss what’s most important to you, the level of planning and design you’re seeking, and start envisioning your dream wedding weekend. You'll also learn about our approach, and if we’re a good fit, we’ll schedule a proposal review to move forward.
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
The Wedicity Planning Experience officially begins! We’ll get you onboarded into our planning platform and schedule an initial Kick-Off Call. Prior to the call, you'll complete our Wedding Party Questionnaire and Wedding Foundation Guide — helping us get to know you, your priorities, and vision for your day.
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.
Hate has no place here. Love is Love!
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!
Looking to get away for an intimate wedding celebration or bring the entire family to a destination wedding abroad? Pack your bags and we'll take care of the rest! Serving the US and beyond.
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