A Chicago Wedding: What the Windy City Offers LGBT Couples

Chicago’s stunning cityscape — with its expansive view of Lake Michigan — is a location for a wedding to remember. Activities leading up to the main event can include fun in Millennium Park, taking in a variety of masterpieces at the Art Institute of Chicago, exploring Navy Pier, shopping the Magnificent Mile, taking selfies in the picturesque Cloud Gate, or taking an Architectural Boat Tour of Chicago with the Chicago Architectural Foundation.

There are over 7,300 restaurants in the greater Chicago area, so there’s no shortage of options for the right rehearsal dinner. The Dawson, (the-dawson.com) is a more casual option, situated in the heart of West Town. The Boarding House (boardinghousechicago.com) offers swank options including their intimate Cellar and expansive Dining Room. Head north and you’’ll find The Montgomery Club (themontgomeryclub.com) is a luxurious private event venue; their Chicago Room offers a lush nod to vintage glamor.

For the main event there is no venue quite like the historic Palmer House Hilton (palmerhousehiltonhotel.com), America’s longest continually operating hotel. In 1870, Potter Palmer gave his bride the Palmer House as an incredible wedding gift. Conveniently situated in downtown Chicago, the Palmer House has hosted 9,000 weddings. Their wedding concierge works closely with couples to curate occasions in the Grand Ballroom, the legendary Empire Room (where Harry Belafonte, Louis Armstrong and Liberace have all performed) and the incredible Red Lacquer Room (pictured). Guests are greeted in opulence in the Grand Lobby, which features a ceiling of 21 Greek mythological panels.

Get the guests shaking after the ceremony with tunes from David Rothstein Music (drsmusic.com), Toast & Jam (@toastandjamdjs), EastCoast Entertainment (eastcoastentertainment.com) or Style Matters DJs (stylemattersdjs.com). And send them off right the next morning with Bertha’s Brownie Pancakes and Barrel Aged Maple Syrups at Lockwood Restaurant (lockwoodrestaurant.com).