Top notch event and wedding venue! A little gem hidden in the city! Indoor and outdoor spaces and plenty of room for various activities to.make your event special! read more

If you're having a party here please invite me because I LOVE this venue. It's modern, it's sleek, and perfect for so many different occasions such as: Wedding venue for the modern bride Corporate bash Bar/bat-mitzvahs Large bday party (hint hint to my husband...perfect spot for my 30th!) And more! It's a rather large space so you can do a cocktail party for up to 600 peeps and a sit-down dinner for up to 250. I've looked into doing a party there in the past and they have a preferred list of caterers, which they are unable to stray from. A bit annoying if you have your own preferred caterer that is NOT on their list, but they do have some good caterers including the muy overpriced Blue Plate catering and Entertaining Company, which did a very nice job at the Anti Defamation League event I attended at CIC this past weekend. So yeah..I'm happy to throw on my party dress and stilettos anytime for a party at CIC so put me on your invite list. Oh, and if my presence isn't enough...I buy nice gifts too. read more

I am giving 3 stars only because the venue worked out perfectly for my daughter's wedding this past Friday the 20th I would leave negative stars if I could for Marta. While great venue, if you don't want to have your pocket picked for odds and ends don't go to Marta. After paying the fee for the venue, on the day of the wedding, suddenly she needed a check for over $600.00 to pay for "security". Now my question was, didn't she know about the security when we were first quoted the cost. Then at the end of the evening she tried to scam us again for "special permits" for the florist and caterer to park on the street to deliver items. Again, didn't she know that before the day of the wedding, like when we booked a year and a half ago???? Those fees we refused to pay. Besides these last minute fees, we had the choice of 3 caterers that we had to use. We could not bring in our own. That had me question whether she received some kind of "kick back" from these companies. My daughter's best friend is getting married in December and had a meeting with Marta and found her rude and manipulative and thank goodness she didn't go with her. Save your money and find someone who's not trying to take your money. Donna K read more

We're so happy that we chose Chicago Illuminating Company for our wedding venue. It was absolutely perfect for our multicultural wedding! Here are a few aspects of the space that warrant a 5-star rating in my book: - GORGEOUS outdoor courtyard: It initially attracted us to the space! The ivy walls give it a natural beauty by day, and the canopy looks absolutely gorgeous when it is lit up at night. - It also rained during the reception (I know, cue the Alanis Morissette), but the canopy totally saved the party! Everyone (and the decorations) seemed minimally affected by the rain, thanks to that cover! - Beautiful iron gate with big split door; allows for grand opening into the courtyard. - Large and spacious bar to give guests more room to spread out - the only bottlenecks should be from the guests' drinks and not the guests themselves! - Indoor and outdoor space with seamless transition to accommodate various needs. - In an area of the city with less traffic so there is less congestion. - Large, roomy changing/prep/staging room. - Venue contract requires security (they have their own company so you don't need to hunt around for someone), but this stipulation is a plus in my book, as it helped us feel safer. - In some regions of India, a baraat (parade) is customary for weddings, so the alleyway behind the venue and the street around CIC worked perfectly! There was a lot of space for a 200-person parade, complete with horse, and since the venue is a bit out of the way from more of the high traffic areas of Chicago, we did not have to worry as much about pedestrian safety and/or causing a traffic jam. I was sad to read some of the other reviews about the venue owner, Marta, because my husband and I had a really positive experience working with her. I can see how she may rub some people the wrong way because she is not shy to voice her opinion regarding her choices for other vendors. However, I saw it as being a passionate, strong-willed small business owner, and I personally appreciated the transparency that often comes with this more forward approach. At the end of the day, Marta was really FLEXIBLE - for which we are super grateful. To elaborate on the flexibility, we had a very tough time finding a venue in Chicago proper that would allow us to have an open flame, which is an integral part of a traditional Hindu ceremony. Marta totally understood, and we were able to light the flame in the open courtyard. While this stipulation may not seem like a huge deal, I can't describe how much performing this part of the ceremony "properly" meant to my husband's family, especially his parents and sister; it was a make or break point, and luckily, it made the ceremony! Except for having to use a particular lighting company if we wanted extra lights (we didn't end up needing them anyway), Marta gave us great leeway with our vendors, which proved to be key for hiring our ideal caterer (who she also suggested), when a majority of the other venues we considered had big catering restrictions and very limited food options. Finally, Marta allowed us to start setting up and bringing some supplies to the venue the night before (unless it was booked, and even then, she would have given plenty of notice), so that was really helpful in allowing us extra time to get organized. Overall, the natural beauty of this unique, seamless indoor/outdoor space and Marta's awesome flexibility helped make our dream wedding a reality. We could not have picked a better venue for our special day! read more

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I went here last night for an event (Lexus) and what a beautiful spot! This place was pretty spacious and I loved the outdoor patio. The trees and beautiful lighting gave the patio a feel of sophistication and elegance. The wine was flowing, the severs were attentive, and the guests were beautiful. What more can you ask for at an event/event space. I can definitely see why people would choose to have a wedding or any other event here. You have a good foundation to work with, but still able to use your creative abilities to change the space into your own vision. I also like this area has ample parking and complimentary valet (at least for this event). read more

Chicago Illuminating Company - Lexus event - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Do yourself a favor, and believe the previous negative reviews on Marta! I read them, but I unfortunately ignored them. I booked this venue back in December 2016 for my wedding in October 2017. I fell in love with the space, as it's modern, clean, and fresh. After signing the contract with Marta and putting my deposit down, I received the transaction for $140 MORE than what was agreed upon. I then emailed Marta asking why this happened and requested to have the charge reversed because it was never mentioned or listed in our contract anywhere! Of course, Marta never responded to my email, so I texted her about a week later. She then explained to me that it was because of a "small credit card processing fee". I'm sorry, but $140 is NOT small, and was clearly going to come up again once the second half of the venue charge goes through! I did not sign up for an extra $280 charge. I then called her to discuss this in a calm and collected manner even though it was confusing and disappointing. To my amazement, Marta began yelling at ME! Wait a second...wasn't I giving HER the money?? Verbatim, she said, "If you're really that worried $140, I wonder how the rest of your wedding is going to go." At that point, I was livid. She went on to say that I wouldn't be able to afford the expensive caterers she recommended because clearly I didn't have enough of a budget. Let me also preface that I work in the wedding industry! I thought this was going to be a breeze considering I work in the same industry as her. However, she continued to insult me AND my career. She said because I don't work at a store on Oak Street, I'm really not worthy of her services because she works with bigger and better clients! This was by far the rudest and most inconsiderate response I have ever gotten from a business person! Working in the industry, I would NEVER speak to a bride like that! I felt hurt, insulted, and absolutely livid with her response! It would have been easy enough to simply apologize for not being transparent about the charge upfront and refund it back to me. However, 7 months later, and I have yet to get the money back. About a week later, I cancelled my wedding at Chicago Illuminating Company because of Marta's absolute lack of professionalism. When calling to cancel, Marta stated then and many times after that she would refund me my full deposit. With months and months of back and forth with her--phone calls, texts, emails--she has yet to refund my money. My mom got involved, and Marta continued to insult my mom and verbally attack her. She has basically fallen off the face of the earth and has ignored all of my calls and texts. We once called her from a different phone number and she picked up immediately, but as soon as she found out it was us, she hung up the phone. Marta is not true to her word and incredibly rude and unprofessional. Save yourself the money, the headache, and the stress! No body needs a terrible woman like that around on your wedding day or during their planning. read more

My husband and I knew we wanted to get married at Chicago Illuminating Company several years before we were even engaged after seeing a picture of the venue on Instagram. It truly is one of the most beautiful venues in the entire Chicago area (and beyond) and is such a lush hidden gem in the middle of busy South Loop. Marta, the owner, is amazing. It was so helpful to be able to lean on her expertise and recommendations because she knows what works well in the space better than anyone. Both the indoor and (covered!) outdoor spaces are stunning in their own right so it was super easy and fun to add our personal touches. We really couldn't be happier with the experience and space. Highly recommend!!! read more

I have been planning my wedding @ Chicago Illuminating Company for about 6 months now and I love the space. It features a beautiful open air, tented courtyard with a clean indoor space appointed with dark hardwood floors, ivory walls, and a large bar. I can't wait, it's going to be gorgeous! Beyond the beauty of the space I am super, completely grateful for Marta. Marta really knows the industry and has amazing vendor connections. She has been beyond generous with her time and experience. Working with her over this past 6+ months I have found her incredibly responsive and flexible. I've read through the reviews for the space and I saw people complaining about Marta's attitude. I'm not surprised exactly, but I think they are dead wrong. That's really what prompted me to write this review, even before my wedding day. Marta is frank in an Eastern European way. She isn't rude at all, but doesn't add words or soften her tone. I find her style of communication to be incredibly helpful. I can tell that she genuinely wants the best outcome for my event and she is trying guide me toward great options. She has opinions about vendors because she has seen it all and can tell you what works and what doesn't. If you appreciate depth of experience, sincere caring, and honesty you couldn't find a better person to work with than Marta. I am beyond excited for my wedding at Chicago Illuminating Company and couldn't have pulled this off without Marta guiding me through. Picture to come! read more

It always amazes me how I can be in an area for other places and never realize I have walked or drove passed the place several times; this time was no different! I went too Chicago Illuminating Company for the Brugal Rum Tasting Event. Now, before I speak about the Rum let me talk about the set up. This has nothing to do with the CIC. Before you go to the event you have to register and you are asked a few questions which I have no problem with answering, I just didn't like that you couldn't just check in and keep it moving because they had a few more questions to ask you...which IMO held up the line. After you check in you get a drink token and then you stepped right over into the area where they had a few tables set up as well as the bar so you can turn in your drink token.. There was a spot over to the side where they were taking photos and texting or emailing you right away. That was cool! They also passed out hors d'oeuvre but not that many...lol people start standing by the steps just to get a taste. I know we were in the back and by the time the young lady got too our table there was no more food. I know this isn't a food tasting event but there should be a better flow of food to coat your stomach. The bathrooms were like Individual rooms which was cool because they had there own mirrors and sinks. I was pleasantly surprised by my Brugal Rum with Tonic, cucumber slice, basil leaf and lime. It was so smooth and refreshing! I wish I had another one but I digress. I believe this space is meant to be transformed and transform it did, because when we stepped into the other room for the history of the Rum they had a beautiful arch that you stepped through then it had makeshift wooden drums on the wall. The tables had the 3 sample drinks already on them along with water, almonds, raisins and ice. The master of ceremony was funny and kept the tasting interesting. I didn't know I was sitting at the table with a 5th generation owner of the company. She was so sweet and funny. When they were telling us about one of the Rums they asked what you smelled and I heard coconuts...I immediately said I can not taste this and with her beautiful accent she said "No coconuts in Rum, drink, drink, drink!" lol I didn't drink it right away because I didn't want too take any chances so she turned around and said "Did you drink yet?" so I picked up my glass and a warm tingling and smooth rum coated my throat. Since, I had no one sitting next too me I asked her if I could drink the extra and she smiled and said "Sure!" I wish I would have taken a picture of her but I didn't want to be rude. I already had an extra drink...smile After our history lesson they took us to another room where we could make our own drinks talk about happy campers. Everyone was so excited well at least I know I was for sure. This room was more sleek and modern. My drink was so good I thought I could be a bartender for about 6.5 seconds...lol Yeah, I will stick to cooking. This rum is very mixable and very smooth...I was with a great group of people and it was indeed a fun event. I would love to go to another event at Chicago Illuminating Company to see how they transform the space. Enjoy! read more

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Stay away! We worked with Marta, the owner, and it was a disaster. When we first visited the venue, she made a lot of promises and we were excited to work with her. However, when it came down to actually booking the venue and signing a contract, she went back on almost everything she promised. But that wasn't the issue - I can understand things change. The worst part was that she was spoke very rudely over the phone - it was ]completely unprofessional. If you want to work with someone who has no class and has a rough and tumble approach with customers, go with Illuminating Company. Otherwise, do not make the mistake of trying to book an event here! Save yourself the headache! Also, if you want to read more about Marta's behavior, feel free to peruse some of the reviews below. I was shocked to see others had similar experiences... read more

This place is very special and the service is impeccable every time I have been here for an event. When looking at this venue for my wedding, I loved it, I really did. Here is the problem...it is HELLA EXPENSIVE!! $8,000!! Yes, I know that they cater to a high end clientel and I went to view the space on a day where four hours later Oprah was going to grace it with her presence, but for $8000 I was only getting space. [it is a beautiful, raw, lounge style space and for would work extremely well for having both the ceremony AND reception in the space] No chairs, no tables, no staff, no valet attendants. Just space and awesomeness. Marta was extremely helpful and has a quick answer to any event related question. But every answer came bracketed by dollar signs. She has seen every type of event from a lowly [yeah right] $30,000 wedding budget to $250,000 plus bar mitzvahs. They partner with specific caterers [about 5] and plugged an event specialist called Kehoe Designs throughout the meeting. In the end we could have handled the additional fees incurred for this space, and had a healthy debate over it, but two minimalist architects getting married in a minimalist space seemed a bit cliche. read more

Marta is rude and I would go as far as saying the racism is unchecked. Before, I can go on about my inquiry she began to disparage people had rented the space before though she had sent an email after the event talking about how great the event was. Marta could use better soft skills especially when someone is proposing to spend money with her group. Her racist overtones may be acceptable in Eastern Europe but have no place in Chicago. Repeatedly telling me that her space is elegant, talking over me, disparaging my colleagues that have used the space before and telling me the rules of her space before addressing my inquiry is a sign that we should do not do business. She was so disrespectful that I simply disconnected the call and called my colleague and told him my feedback. He admitted that he had heard similar feedback from another person he had recommended but did not pay much attention to it. Beware of Marta. Save yourself a headache. read more

I attended a wedding here and this is hands down the most beautiful event space I have EVER seen. And not only is it beautiful but it's run with precision by the staff, everything is done with extreme class and grace. I don't think words can describe the difference in a wedding here compared to anywhere else I've been a part of. But let me try... This space is pricey but completely worth it in my book... There's a patio space which is tucked into a gorgeous courtyard just off the main building with it's own bar, music, and romantic lighting. In the main building that has any kind of floor plan you could want. It's more or less multiple lofty spaces to choose from with high ceilings, wood floors, enormous windows (and doors), gigantic mirrors, and lighting to drool over. The best part about this place was that when I was there they combined 2 large rooms - one for just tables, eating, toasting, etc. and another for partying which was set up for dancing with lounge seating, a LARGE bar. It was great, if you wanted to just sit and relax you weren't overwhelmed with DJ speakers and if you just wanted to boogie down you could dance the night away, grabbing drinks only a few feet from you and then catching your breath on a sofa overlooking the dance floor. This place is a well oiled machine and deserves huge honors in the event community. Well, at least you've got them from me. Great job, keep up the good work. I will be recommending this place to anyone who can afford to pay a little more for "not another banquet hall." read more

The moment my husband and I stepped foot in Chicago Illuminating Company we new it was the perfect venue for us, and we didn't end up looking at any others! The outdoor tent area is beautiful and allows for a ton of flexibility for decor, and the indoor space is just lovely. Marta was amazing to work with. She served as more than the venue owner and was super helpful in planning our event. She recommended talented vendors based on photos I sent her of what I was going for and our budget and they were fantastic! read more

Just went to a wedding banquet here. Food was awesome. Beautiful indoor ballroom. (dance floor for younger crowd' under?) great table presentation. Private venue but you should book it! read more

My husband and I recently had our July 2016 wedding at the Chicago Illuminating Company and I can't tell you how amazing it was. First and foremost I will address the previous reviews because I'll be honest before going to see the venue and meeting with the venue owner, Marta, I was a little nervous. I'm not sure what happened to the previous reviewers to warrant some of these reviews because our experience with Marta was literally none other than amazing. When I tell you Marta saved our wedding, I wholeheartedly mean it. Marta has been in the wedding business for years. She knows all the ins and outs of vendors, who works with who, who to recommend and is more than willing to open her book of contacts to you as well as help sort out any issues you may be experiencing with vendors. We had an issue with the communication between our caterer and décor company and without Marta's intervention I'm still not sure how it would have come together. Marta was nothing but honest, reliable and comforting throughout the whole process. She was forthcoming about everything related to the contract, upholding her promises and not pushy about anything such as a tent as mentioned in the past reviews. (To expand on the tent issue in the past review. We were iffy on the tent as well, especially with a summer wedding with rain being a strong possibility and while there was a wedding the night before that used the tent and it would've been easier for us to just use it, Marta was willing to have someone come and take it down the morning of our wedding if we chose to not use it literally at the last second. We decided to use the tent and have chandeliers hanging from it and it was beautiful. The tent that she has at the venue is stunning and added such a nice element to the overall décor for our wedding.) Marta is the type of venue owner that you want in this process. She was great at helping us make decisions on vendors and how to develop a timeline and general flow for our wedding day. Marta has done so many weddings, especially at this venue that she knows what works and what doesn't. We ran some ideas by Marta for the sequence of our wedding and she quickly informed us what would be the best option for the space and why. She was more than open to suggestions and was very flexible at accommodating our wants and needs. The only thing that I can think of that could potentially be the cause for the past reviews was that these people had wayyyy to much time on their hands to make these decisions and to dwell on them that they amounted to a way bigger thing than they needed to be; they had no wedding insight from either a planner or just experience on their own to appreciate Marta's expertise and precision in executing a flawless event or these people just don't want to realize that maybe someone is giving you their input because they know what works best and want your event to perfect. That's it. Marta's professionalism is unmatched. She literally called me multiple times in the weeks leading up to the wedding to update me on the progress with our décor and caterer since that was an issue. Now for the venue-- Literally. To. Die. For. It is beyond perfect and for sure a diamond in the rough in the city. There is nothing quite like it. Its beautiful, big, modern and basically a blank pallet you can do a lot with. All of the fixtures are gorgeous. The bar inside is stunning. Trust me once you go see it, your jaw will drop. When my husband and I were looking at various venues in the city, we wanted one that really spoke to us and that was special, different and not super popular. The second we got to the Chicago Illuminating Company we knew it was the venue we wanted to have our wedding at. We had our ceremony outside. The trains didn't affect us at all the whole night. We had our cocktail reception in the back of the courtyard, which worked well with the flow to carry on from ceremony. We had the dinner inside which was also a good transition from the courtyard to the dinner as a change of pace. After our cake cutting and dinner our guests joined us in the courtyard for more drinks and dancing for the rest of the evening. All in all it was a lovely, picturesque night. The venue is so fabulous on its own that it doesn't require a ton of extra décor. I would strongly, strongly encourage you to get in contact with Marta and meet her in person and go see the venue. You will be so glad you did. We got countless compliments from guests about how amazing our wedding venue was and how they never have been to something quite like it. If you are looking for a venue that will impress your guests this is the one. All in all our wedding was amazing. Literally something out of a magazine. All of which would not have been possible without the exquisite venue as the setting and the professional assistance of Marta. read more

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A lovely friend and co-worker of mine asked me to be his date for a wedding here. Actually he e-mailed me, luring me with free booze and steak, which apparently he knew would win me over, and I e-mailed him back in literally two minutes with an emphatic "Hell Yes". Apparently I'm as addicted to Gmail as I am to free food and drinks. He'd already been for an art exhibit, and I was really excited to check it out. The space was gorgeous, much more raw than our event crazy workplace River East Art Center, and perfect for the young quirky couple who were getting married. From the food, to the atmosphere, to the tiny plastic dogs(!) in the floral arrangements, to the friendly bartenders who remembered our drink orders (I'm not sure if that's something good about them or bad about us), I had a great time, and would consider having my own event here someday. read more

Chicago Illuminating Company - Dogs! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Jerry Kleiner strikes again. I can't believe I've not reviewed this place yet as I even did a walk through before it actually opened. I attended a wonderful event here for O Magazine with Art Smith and was blown away. Beautiful space, crisp clean lines. A blank slate that can be reinvented on a daily basis. Really, it is gorgeous and classic Jerry. The visionary. Infinite possibilities for transformation. Professional staff that knows their stuff and a hidden gem for hire! In the interest of full disclosure, I was fortunate enough to work for Jerry Kleiner at the iconic Shelter before he began his restaurant empire and I adored him then and I adore him now. He is a truly gifted designer and has a brilliant creative mind and an uncanny ability to see beauty in old delapidated and unloved buildings. This venue is the benefactor of his keen eye and infinite vision. Highly recommend this venue for any special event. read more

Came here for an event last week. I had never heard of it, so checked out the website online. Apparently, it was literally the Chicago Illuminating Company (a electric company), but then the company shut down and the building was abandoned. The owner of the building planned on converting it into a restaurant, which would have been cool and a more logical idea, but instead turned it into a special events venue. This whole building is like a blank canvas that you can design you event however you wish. The night I came it was for a Chicago Magazine event for Bushmills Whiskey's 400th Birthday. Right around St. Patrick's Day season, the food was irish themed - fish and chips and mini shephard's pie among other things. The space itself was not at impressive as the other events I had seen on the website, but I did like what they had set up. Floor to ceiling mirror and pieces of art around the space. It was a very sharp looking spot, and a great potential place for a private party or reception, but I hate its location. 21 Street. Way out of the way, but it guess it's being so out of way is part of its intrigue. read more

Went here for couple friends (Tim Sepulveda & Jessie Black) wedding over the weekend. The space was a amazing and perfect for a wedding or any sort of party. You get a raw space when you book the place so it allows for any just about anything you want. Tim Sepulveda & Jessie Black put together an amazing wedding with great music and guitar hero! They had some of the best wedding food I have at any wedding. read more

Very cool place for a private party. I was there on Saturday for a wedding reception. Based on the photos I see in the profile I imagine it's up to the party planner to create the look, because the night I was there was very different. Whoever did this reception did a great job. read more

Chicago Illuminating Company - bar at chicago illuminating company - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We and our guests really loved the intimacy and feel of this venue for our wedding. We initially wanted a small backyard wedding - that would've been a headache so this was the next best thing. Unfortunately, the venue owner Marta can be a little overbearing. I, too, was hesitant but liked the venue so we went with it. From the beginning, I didn't get the best feeling from her - always name dropping and talking about how expensive her events were. Throughout the process she was very wishy washy and it was hard to get a straight answer from her without her asking about every detail of our wedding as if she were our planner. I really do believe she is experienced and has some good ideas but at the same time, I can't say I trusted her. A few months after we booked the venue she said she was getting a new tent for the courtyard. She showed me some sample photos of what it might look like but the final tent came out differently than photos as well as different than what we saw when we first booked. The tent panels on the roof wouldn't be removed as she previously alluded to either. Then came the mirror ball. She agreed to let us have Luxe hang the mirror ball as she didn't trust our DJ to do it. Then later, after we got a quote from Luxe, which was more expensive than what our DJ could do, she said we had to use Frost (which is even more $$$). In the end, she said our DJ could do it but, day of the wedding, turns out the power on the ceiling didn't work. She also wasn't sure what outlets in the garden worked - we had to plug into each outlet ourselves to check. All of this I could deal with, but the day of she was raging all over our wedding. Multiple family members and guests of mine came up to me later asking who she was and telling me how rude she was to them. - she wouldn't let my cousin into the venue during family photos because she was late so my cousin ended up not being in a family photo, all of whom haven't seen each other in decades. - she yelled at my nieces and nephews for running through her curtains (which were already broken before we got there) - she scolded my guests and told them to be quiet - when we turned off the lights in the bridal suite so that everyone in the courtyard couldn't see us, she came in demanding who turned them off - basically turning on/off ANY lights during the event had to go through her - she made our DJ turn the music down because it was too loud... I understand it's her venue and she has to ensure certain things happen or don't happen but I would prefer she NOT yell at or even TALK to my family and friends. Our wedding planner said she never had such a difficult time working with a venue before. If you have a simple wedding or are less particular about the details, it's a good venue. Otherwise, if you put a lot of thought into the little things, just be prepared that it may not all go as planned. read more

All of the negative reviews below speak volumes. My fiance and I are getting married in November of this year and the Chicago Illuminating Company was number one on our list of venues. We reached out to the owner 5-6 times asking for a brochure, pricing, or any information about beginning the process of reserving a date. She always responded to the first email and asked what weekends we were interested in. She would then say that she was going to send information about the venue shortly. This exchange happened more than 5 times! She never followed up and never sent any information. The website has also been under construction for a year so there is no information out there about this venue other than a few pretty pictures. The venue looks beautiful but we decided that working with someone like this during such an important time in our lives is not worth it. We are now getting married at the Ritz Carlton and I couldn't be happier! read more

Beautiful wedding venue! Friendly and very professional staff. The outdoor and indoor turned out beautifully for a gorgeous wedding and reception location! read more

I attended a rum tasting here, and I was shocked when I realized exactly where it was because I have passed this very place so many times and never noticed it. And the outside of this building does not do the inside any justice. This is a beautiful place, lively and clean with so many options for decorating to suit your needs. The tasting was great and they did an excellent decorating job. One room gave it a feel as if you were in a cellar while the other room gave you the feel of being in a kick ass bar. If given the opportunity I would definitely return here with much excitement. read more

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Attended a friend's wedding here last weekend and the space couldn't have been nicer. Really beautiful layout and most of the servers were really nice, had a great server that totally hooked my table up. I would definitely consider having an event here in the future!! read more

We Had our wedding on a Friday. And it was perfect at this location. Marta was fantastic setting up our rehearsal and making sure everything ran smoothly. She also worked with the caterer and DJ to make sure everything went the way we wanted it. Literally after choosing this space we saw no need for a wedding planner. Though we were a little scared that things would go wrong, it didn't and it was a fantastic night. The space is fantastic. The indoor outdoor setting is exactly what we were looking for. The tented outside was perfect. We choose this place because we were worried about it raining and having to move the ceremony from an outside location to a bland unprepared inside location. The clear lighted tent allowed us to be outside while still protected. And wouldn't you know it, It rained. No one panic'd and the ceremony went beautifully. having the bar space inside gave a nice spacious place for the cocktail hour so that they can flip outside for dinner. Dinner under the tent with the lights and the night sky was great. Then dancing inside with the music and sitting outside to talk was perfect and allowed every one to be able to enjoy the space. The Big Iconic green doors opened to let our donut food truck come in for desert and it was delightful. I can't say enough good things about the space and would recommend it to anyone. One thing to consider is to look if there is a Soldier Field event going on. There was for ours and some people got tickets parking on the street. read more

My sister's wedding took place at the Chicago Illuminating Company. Overall it was a success! The day was beautiful and the final vision was as my sister had planned it. Although, there was a major issue that happened that is worth mentioning if you are considering planning an event here. It resulted in a lot of unnecessary stress, additional trips to the site, more time and phone calls than needed and an unnecessary anger and defensiveness on what should have been a stress-free and totally enjoyable day. Martha, the owner, is a strong business person with a clear vision of running a great company in a fantastic location but, sometimes a person's greatest strength can also be their greatest weakness. There were many parts of my sister's wedding planning that went well in part because of Martha. She is intelligent and I wish her nothing but great success. But, her interpersonal skills as well as accommodating the vision of the planner does need some work. Another client of Martha's had a tent erected in the courtyard for an event that was following ours. She mentioned this to my sister 2 days prior to the wedding like this "I have a wonderful and beautiful tent for you". My sister didn't understand because a tent was never in her vision. However, my sister, being accommodating, gave it some thought, but ultimately decided against it. It was going to be a perfect day and not one rain cloud predicted for that day. Martha continued to insist that she use it. "It was a wonderful opportunity." We understood, but there was no reason for it and we loved the outdoor space as is. The courtyard was part of the reason that the venue was selected. We realized that she was hard selling her on the tent because Martha didn't want to take it down and put it back up. I'm sure this was inconvenient and costly for her, but certainly a central part of doing this business. I believe Martha was hoping that it would rain so waited until the last minute to tell her. She knew my sister didn't want it otherwise she would have mentioned it earlier in the week, because come to find out, that's when the tent was installed. I don't blame her for trying to sell us on the idea of the tent because, why not? But after we graciously declined, she wouldn't take no for an answer. We continued to respond to her numerous emails and calls and repeated that the tent was never part of the plan, we never were considering it and that no matter how much decorating she would do to it, we simply didn't want the tent. This did not stop her. We even went to the venue the day of the rehearsal dinner to see it because she was so insistent, and thought let's give it a chance because maybe we're not understanding something. It was a nice tent, but obstructed the beautiful sky and lovely courtyard greenery. I, then, called my sister's planner from the venue and said we are still not interested, please let Martha know. I thought that would finally end it. To my surprise, Martha called me after I left the venue and tried one last time to push us into using it. I had to keep repeating over and over, in a professional manner, that we didn't want the tent. She started getting defensive. I felt like she even yelled at me at one point and mysteriously said she couldn't hear me on a phone call that was "breaking up" when I had to become very insistent that this is the end of it. I don't want anymore calls or emails because the wedding is tomorrow. This discussion is over. So it was finally settled. The tent would be taken down for my sister's wedding meeting the original vision. It really was the MOST beautiful day of the entire year with gorgeous weather, everyone was relaxing and enjoying our perfect day - I thought this issue was resolved. Unfortunately, Martha still felt a need to mention the tent to me one last time as the wedding party arrived one hour prior to the ceremony. She came to me and said "see I took it down and I will have to put it right back up". She is forgetting that this really has nothing to do with my sister's event. It's the cost of doing business. Luckily, I was able to bear the brunt of this and my sister, the beautiful bride, was not distracted with this nonsense. Do I recommend this venue? Yes, many things about it are terrific. Do I caution you about working with this business? Absolutely. We had a great team of people working on our event and in spite of this tent situation, it all came together perfectly. Stay strong with your convictions and your vision will also be realized. read more

I came here for the Shinjo Ito exhibit. Perfect space for this art, but really a pretty good place for a lot of events. Wide open, tall ceilings, a few different levels, sophisticated, but not pretentious. Friendly and inviting, with some understated class. Plenty of ideas of what you could do to this place, though the way they laid it out for the event was great with plenty of room and space. for people to mingle and view the art. Including the 16' long statue. Sweet..... read more

A beautiful space! We held our wedding here last weekend and had a great time. We received so many compliments from our guests on how awesome and unique the space was. It was important to us when searching for a wedding venue that we had a unique, non-ballroom style space with a huge dance floor and that is exactly what we got. The reason why I am giving the venue 4 stars, and not 5, is because of Marta. Yes, Marta knows what she is doing but she is very pushy. With her its "her way or the highway" and if you make a suggestion otherwise she always comes back with "well, I have never had any wedding do it that way" or some other snotty remark. She is constantly pushing specific vendors, most who are very high-end and would also make me feel guilty for being a bride on a budget. Like I said, a beautiful space, just beware of Marta. My advice? Hire a planner so you don't have to deal with her. read more

I got married here in early 2006, when it was still relatively new. My husband and I loved the space and the convenience of holding the ceremony and reception in one place. Back in 2006, the store was still in the front space, so we held our cocktail reception there while the catering staff turned the ceremony setup into the dinner reception. I planned my wedding and didn't use a designer, so it's very possible to have a beautiful wedding without paying a ton of money. We used simple white tulips for the ceremony and then used them again as centerpieces. Having a DJ is definitely cheaper than a band, and the middle space is perfect for dancing. If anyone is thinking about getting married here and doesn't have $250K to spend, contact me and I can give you ideas about doing it for one-tenth of that price. That's what we did! read more

This place is the perfect place for a grand party. I've been here for a company party and it was stunning. Think of it as a completely blank slate that can be made into anything you want. It's a huge space pretty much all white. You can change the lighting and you have to rent all the furniture and get your own caterer, but the outcome can be gorgeous. The possibilities are endless. Our version seemed a bit like Lumen. We had a lavish party with a decadent buffet spread, chocolate fountain, sushi bar, and great drinks. If you're looking for a place to throw a swanky party, strongly consider this place. read more

My fiance and I got engaged in early 2017 and went to look at CIC as a possible venue for our wedding. I made an appointment with the owner via email for a Saturday afternoon. We got there right on time. When we knocked on the door, the owner Marta comes to answer it and the first thing she asks us is if we have an appointment. I told her yes, at 12:30 (and I had an email to prove it). She kind of looked at me like she didn't believe me, but she let us in. She was with another couple, so I'm not sure if she double booked or just completely forgot about our appointment. It wasn't a big deal, it gave us some time to look around and come up with our questions. When Marta was done with the other couple, she came over and gave us a quick tour and began answering my questions. After a few minutes she basically ended up telling me that I would never be able to have my dream wedding for my budget, and that I would either need to up my budget or go have my wedding in the suburbs. It was extremely rude and disheartening, and this was on top of her already accusing me of showing up without an appointment (for which no apology was ever given). I left feeling discouraged and upset. I don't care what background you come from, common courtesy and respect should be standard, especially when you're running a business. The venue is pretty, but honestly there is nothing special about it. It was built to be a venue, there is no history or charm to it. To me, it's definitely not worth having to deal with the owner throughout the entire wedding planning process and the day of. Some of the reviews on here about how the owner has acted to her past brides is horrifying. My fiance and I are getting married this fall at the beautiful Firehouse on the north side and we couldn't be happier with our lovely venue and venue director. read more

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT GET MARRIED HERE!!!! Although the venue is very beautiful, it is NOT WORTH IT!!! My fiancé and I were scheduled to get married here in October of 2020. We booked the venue in December of 2019 shortly after we got engaged. We were beyond excited to have our dream wedding here but then due to COVID we had to postpone our wedding in August to March of 2021. Marta (the owner) did not communicate with us at all throughout the pandemic as we tried to navigate wedding planning. We had to constantly reach out to her via email and phone call to determine what the city of Chicago restrictions were and whether or not we would even be allowed to have our wedding. She was very misleading the entire time and was vague when we asked questions. In December of 2020 we realized we would be unable to move forward with our wedding. The restrictions were still 25 people at an event and no dance floor. Marta refused to give us back our $4,000 deposit and tried to make us reschedule for a second time. She screamed at both my fiancé and mother on the phone and was completely unprofessional and not understanding. Many other venues in the city including Cafe Brauer have given couples back their deposits. During such a trying time, Marta really showed her true colors. We were unable to have the wedding we planned for and she was not accommodating at all. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY AND SAVE YOURSELF THE DRAMA!!!! read more

Gorgeous venue with it's simple decor and modern feel. Awesome place for our formal function of dancing, finger foods, and 2 large open bars. Wish I was having a cocktails only wedding - I would've booked this space in a second! Cab was probably the best way to get there but there was parking if you looked for 5-10 minute on State - it would get you walking distance to the building. read more

I LOVE this space, perhaps one of my favorite in Chicago. So much can be done in this space for any type of event. When planning for an event earlier this year, the manager, Marta came off as curt and tries to intimidate but one thing I've grown in this business is tough skin and just ignored it. Perhaps she's different with clients versus industry folk. I love the space regardless and would recommend to anyone. Don't care about Ms. Marta's attitude, money talks. NEXT! read more

CIC is a raw, contemporary open space fit for any event or occasion. My fiance and I visited CIC as a possible wedding location. I liked how there were 3 separate areas: ceremony space, cocktail reception with doors that open to an outside area, sit-down dinner space with a 2nd floor that overlooks the dinner area. CIC is perfect for a small scale wedding where the bride and groom want more privacy...I believe it comfortably fits 200 max on the first floor and smaller number for a seated ceremony. You know for a fact your wedding will be only one taking place in the space. Marta was a pleasure to work with and showed us some breathtaking pictures from previous weddings. You can do almost anything you want to the space if you hire the right designer. read more

I live in the neighborhood and had no idea about this hidden gem. This is a great venue for events, with a nice outdoor enclosed patio with room for a stage and a couple bars. There is a long bar near the entrance. I have not idea if this location is a restaurant or a club or a bar, but I attended for a special event and think it would make an excellent wedding and reception venue. The food and drinks were from a private chef and winery, so I'm sure it was an outside service company, but the bartenders and service staff were excellent. Overall, a great event and a beautiful venue. read more

The Chicago Illuminating Company is an incredible venue to host a first class event! There is an abundance of space that can be customized however you see fit. The general manager of the CIC is incredibly professional, knowledgeable and easy to plan your event with. I hosted my company's annual event there and it was amazing to see how the different rooms at the CIC were transformed. You can't go wrong with hosting an event here!! read more

I love this modern space: its open with high ceilings and great for events. Came here for an Epicurious dinner and was very impressed. The wait staff was attentive and quick. Someone should have another party here soon and invite me! read more