For any bride that finds themselves thinking how stressful and tedious it is to plan a wedding in Chicago, believe me when I say that I see you. There are so many choices to make, details to decide on, and preparation that needs to happen that it can be so simple for decision fatigue to set in. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed and stressed out when planning your wedding, and that stress can even spill over into the wedding day itself. What makes it even worse though is that with proper planning in place this stress is COMPLETELY avoidable! Knowing this, and having been a part of the planning and photography of over 100 weddings, I’ve decided to put a guide together on how to plan your own wedding in Chicago. Let’s not waste any more time and get right into that process!

Create Your Vision

The first step in the planning process is something you should do immediately after getting engaged, start dreaming of your wedding together! Something I like to direct my couples towards is creating a “Wedding Mission Statement”. Talk openly with one another about what you both want from your wedding day. Who do you picture being there? What is the atmosphere like? Does a distinct style come to mind when you think of your venue? What do you want to remember most, and what do you want your guests to take away from your wedding day? 

While you think through these questions, don’t be afraid to look to outside sources for further inspiration. Scroll through Pinterest and Instagram a few times throughout these first few weeks. Look for anything that jumps out to you, whether it’s wedding related or not, and make note of what catches your eye. Something as simple as color palette can be enough to bring inspiration into your wedding day. As you begin to realize the vision of your wedding day you’ll be able to start making some of the most important decisions of planning your wedding in Chicago! One such decision being…

Decide on Your Guest List

There are many decisions that will greatly impact the look, feel, and flow of your wedding day, and one of those is deciding on your guest list. Early on in your planning process, you and your boo should start discussing who you want to be at your wedding. Are you looking for a more intimate celebration, or do you want a larger gathering with ALL of your friends and family there to commemorate your love? You don’t need to finalize your guest list at this point, that can be done closer to 10 months out from your wedding date. It is crucial that you know the rough size of your celebration though, as it will guide some of your other key aspects of your planning, most notably choosing your venue.

Find a Venue

This could be one of the most challenging parts of planning a wedding in Chicago, and it’s not for the lack of options! Chicago is filled to the brim with fantastic wedding venues in fact, each with their own unique style, flair, and offerings that set them apart from one another. With this in mind you’ll want to keep your wedding mission statement and your guest list draft in mind when looking for your venue.

Think through what you want the layout of your day to feel like. Do you want to travel around the city, exploring, taking photos, and celebrating your love at multiple locations, or do you want to spend the majority of your day at a single location? Do you want to get ready at your venue, or at a separate location? Are you looking to have portraits done at some of the iconic locations in Chicago, or would you rather be able to have them all done at your venue?

These questions will help guide you towards the ideal wedding venue that doesn’t just satisfy your needs, but also elevates your wedding experience to the one of a kind celebration you deserve. As a final note, make sure that as you begin looking into wedding venues you take note of their guest limits. You’ll want to make sure that any potential venue can actually host your full guest count before you inquire about touring the space!

Decide Where to Take Wedding Portraits in Chicago

An experience unique to Chicago weddings is being able to take your newlywed, wedding party, and/or family portraits at some of the most iconic locations in the city. From epic views of the Chicago skyline at North Avenue Beach, to the magnificent gardens of the Art Institute, there are so many fantastic spots to choose from throughout the Windy City! If you do intend on having your portrait photos taken at some of these locations, know that it will greatly affect your timeline. Chicago’s traffic can be less than ideal to put it lightly, so be sure to give yourselves plenty of wiggle room when it comes to getting from your venue to your chosen location. Speaking of which, some of my favorite spots for wedding portraits in Chicago include:

  • North Avenue Beach
  • The Art Institute of Chicago
  • Milton Lee Olive Park
  • Museum Campus
  • Board of Trade Building
  • The Wrigley Building
  • The Chicago Cultural Center
  • Your Favorite Neighborhood

Create the Timeline of Your Wedding

Once you have your venue(s) locked in, and ideally after booking your photographer, it’s time to iron out the timeline of your wedding.  I mention to do this after you book your photographer so that they’re then able to assist you through this process. If you intend on booking a wedding planner they will also be able to help with this.

As I mentioned earlier in this article, I’ve had the honor of being a part of over 100 weddings at this point, so I’ve seen it all! The experience I’ve gained through these weddings allows me to inform and guide couples in creating a wedding timeline where they can fit in their most desired moments. Think of your wedding day timeline as the map to the journey of your wedding. Without it we’ll be making decisions on the fly, which is the exact opposite of avoiding stress on your wedding day!

Hire Your Vendors

Another HUGE piece of the puzzle that is planning your wedding in Chicago is finding and hiring the vendors that will bring your vision to life. Below you’ll find a list of all the vendors that will be a part of your day, as well as roughly when you should book them. Keep in mind, if you have any particular vendors that you absolutely MUST have for your wedding there’s no harm in reaching out to them earlier than the recommended dates below!

Vendor Booking Timeline with Some of My Favorites of Chicago

  • Wedding Planner: If you intend on having a wedding planner you’ll want to book them ASAP. They’ll be able to help you find a venue, book other vendors, and assist through the planning process.
  • Venue: Book your venue ASAP so that you’re able to give other vendors a concrete date for your wedding.
  • Officiant: Book your officiant as soon as you book your venue.
  • Photographer: Book your photographer as soon as you book your venue as well so that they can take your engagement photos, and assist in the planning process.  For more information on my packages and to learn more about my process head to this page!
  • Videographer: If you intend on booking a videographer you’ll want to do so 12 months out from your wedding.
  • Dresses: Begin dress shopping 9 months out from your wedding.
  • Day of Coordinator: If you don’t book a wedding planner, you may want to book a day of coordinator. If that is the case you’ll book them 8 months out from your wedding.
  • Caterer: If your venue doesn’t handle the food for your wedding you’ll book a caterer 8 months out.
  • Florist: Book your florist 7 months out from your wedding.
  • DJ/Live Band: Book your DJ or live band 7 months out from your wedding.
  • Desserts: If desserts aren’t catered by your venue or caterer book them 6 months out from your wedding.
  • Suits: Begin suit shopping 6 months out from your wedding.
  • Transportation: If you’re booking a trolley, limo, or other means of transport for your Chicago wedding do so 6 months out.
  • Hair: Book your hairstylist 5 months out from your wedding.
  • Makeup: Book your makeup artist 5 months out from your wedding.
  • Décor Rentals: If you need additional décor for your wedding book your rental company 4 months out.

Book Your Appointments

In addition to booking your vendors, you’ll also need to book follow up appointments for dress fittings, suit fittings, and finally hair and makeup trials. The timeframe for these is as follows:

  • Wedding Dress and Suit Appointments: Initial alterations are made three months out from your wedding. Any follow up appointments for further alterations will be made as needed, and you’ll have your final fitting one month out from your wedding to ensure that your wedding dress and suit are both ready for the big day!
  • Hair and Makeup Trials: Around 6 weeks to 2 months before your wedding day you’ll make your first hair and makeup trial appointment. If all goes well you’ll be set for the wedding day, but if you’d like to make a follow up appointment to iron out anything you’re not sold on you’ll now have time to do so!

That covers many of the largest decisions you’ll have to make when planning your wedding day in Chicago! I hope that having this information all laid out for you gives you the perspective to realize that you CAN do this. Not only do you have the power to make your dream wedding day a reality, but you also have the ability to enjoy yourselves while doing it. Don’t take this time for granted, enjoy the process as it leads you to what is sure to be THE best day ever, and the beginning of the rest of your journey together! Happy wedding planning, and if you’d like me to document your day and assist you further with the planning process be sure to send me an inquiry today!

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Hi, I'm Carissa. My deepest desire is to care for you and take care of every background detail so that when you step in front of my lens, you can be your full, raw, honest self--undistracted by flyaways or timelines or what to do with your hands.

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