The Chicago Cultural Center
Preston Bradley Hall and the Tiffany Dome on Michigan Avenue
The Chicago Cultural Center opened in 1897 as Chicago's first central public library and a memorial hall for the Grand Army of the Republic. Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge designed it, and it fills a block of Michigan Avenue across from Millennium Park, with entrances on Washington and Randolph. The building has two stained-glass domes. Preston Bradley Hall, on the south side, sits under the Tiffany glass dome that the Cultural Center calls the largest in the world, surrounded by marble and glass mosaic. It seats about 330 for dinner. GAR Hall and its rotunda, on the north side, sit under a dome by Healy and Millet and seat about 220.
We planned Cassie and Colby's wedding here in July 2019, and the photos on this page are from their day, by Clary Pfeiffer. They said their vows in Preston Bradley Hall under a 12-foot arch of blush and white flowers by Flowers for Dreams, with gold topiaries and candles lining a blush aisle. Then they had cocktails in the rotunda with a jazz trio before dinner back under the dome. We wrote about their day in Cassie & Colby's Dream Wedding at the Chicago Cultural Center.
We also planned Cynthia and John's August 2024 wedding. Their ceremony was at Bond Chapel in Hyde Park, and their reception was under the Tiffany dome, with the sweetheart table directly below it and blue goblets that picked up the color of the glass.
Planning a Chicago Cultural Center Wedding
The Cultural Center is a public building with free exhibits, so private events run on the city's terms. There's no in-house caterer. Couples choose from caterers who have worked in the building, and others can be approved if they meet the city's licensing and insurance rules. A rental includes six hours of event time.
The domes do most of the decorating, so we design up to meet them: tall arrangements on gold stands, warm uplighting on the marble, and a palette that sits with the glass instead of fighting it. Cynthia and John's day shows the other common plan, with a ceremony somewhere else and a drive downtown for dinner. That means building the timeline around transportation.
For another wedding in one of Chicago's library buildings, see Ashley and James at the Harold Washington Library. Down Michigan Avenue, the Art Institute of Chicago has a Tiffany window of its own. 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.
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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