Looking for an Illinois Wedding Venue? Here’s What Getting Married at Blumen Gardens Wedding Feels Like

Spending hours going down a Google rabbit hole looking for the Illinois wedding venue that fits your rad spirit and feels kinda like a Fleetwood Mac song? Yeah, you can stop scrolling. Blumen Gardens fits the bill. It’s one of those spaces that feels as good as it looks (which is, like, really good), easily making it one of my favorite Illinois wedding venues. As a Chicago wedding photographer, I know that anytime I get to shoot here, it’s gonna be a good day. 

An Overview of One of My Favorite Illinois Wedding Venues: Blumen Gardens

Blumen Gardens is forever one of my favorite places for a wedding. You can see my whole planning guide and the venue in all its goodness here, but just know that it’s one of those luxury wedding venues near Chicago that you definitely won’t want to miss. 

My favorite parts are, of course, the exposed brick and the gardens that feel like you’re walking back in time (I never said I don’t love the aesthetics!), but also seeing how my couples who are planning weddings here are able to sit back, relax, and breathe. And if you’re planning a wedding yourself… You know that’s a luxury all on its own. 

Already on board? Thought so. Here’s a quick overview of the Illinois wedding venue:

• Max capacity is 200, which is that perfect sweet spot between a full, lively dance floor and actually getting to look every guest in their eyes. 
• You’re able to get ready on-site, so transportation stress? We don’t know her. 
• They also have indoor and outdoor options here, so if it rains, you’re covered. Literally. 
• A Blumen Gardens wedding package includes a ton of really helpful things, like a day-of coordinator, necessities like tables and chairs, and even a little bit of built-in decor (and trust me, it’s decor that you’ll actually like). 

What a Wedding at Blumen Gardens Feels Like

Okay, now the fun part: let’s get into what a Blumen Garden wedding feels like. Because this Illinois wedding venue is so much more than just the logistics. 

Getting Ready

I’m not gonna lie, as a Chicago wedding photographer, I think getting ready is a totally underrated part of your wedding day. Being surrounded by your best gals, having a mimosa or two, dancing around to some of your favorite music? That’s quite literally the recipe for a damn good time. And somehow, Blumen Gardens makes it even better. They created the perfect space where you’re totally secluded and have everything you need, right there in that room. And from a photography perspective… The lighting is killer. 

First Look, Vows, + Portraits

Now, this part always gets me crying behind the camera. It’s a part of the day that feels slow and oh-so romantic, and the outdoor industrial spot at Blumen Garden holds it SO well. There’s something about that rustic charm that makes me scream inside a little, and it has that perfect level of quiet stillness that you need for these big moments. 

Portraits, though? Yeah, don’t even get me started. This Illinois wedding venue is like a playground for me. There’s an editorial spot literally everywhere you look, so make sure to build in time for portraits. 

Ceremony

Ceremonies in the courtyard under the string lights have my heart. Saying “I do” in front of the exposed brick, living out an actual whimsical bohemian fairytale?? It’s literally iconic.

Seriously, though, this open space makes the perfect spot for a ceremony that’s equal parts hella sweet and effortlessly cool. And if that’s the sweet spot you’re trying to hit (which, if you’re here… Probably), this is right up your alley. 

Cocktail Hour

Here’s where the layout of the Illinois wedding venue really comes into play, because the flow is next-level. Like, whoever created this is a wedding mastermind. The courtyard flows straight into the garden center where your guests grab a drink and chat (surrounded by the most gorgeous florals you’ll ever see, BTW), while you’re taking a breather to say, “We just got married!!!” 

Reception

Again, snaps to the flow here, because right after cocktail hour, the guests melt right into the garden room for a reception, which is the coziest, most charming little rustic indoor space you’ll ever see. The ambiance goes crazy with string lights and candlelight, and the dance floor energy is always ridiculous. I always see my couples have the absolute time of their lives out there, and you already know that as soon as a Cardi B song comes on, I’m out there with you. 

Who a Blumen Gardens Wedding is Perfect for

If your brain is already thinking this is the one, follow that. Because if I had to guess, that means you’re someone who… 

• Is a modern romantic with a nostalgic streak
• Wants your wedding to feel different
• Loves fashion and style
• Wants an Illinois wedding venue that sets a good pace for the day
• Cares about feeling just as much as they care about aesthetics 
• Has a ton of super vibey, vintage-inspired wedding photos saved on Pinterest

… And that’s so the energy of this Illinois wedding venue. 

Haley and Jake’s Unique Wedding at the Illinois Wedding Venue

Haley and Jake did a Blumen Gardens wedding alllll right. It was equal parts fun and classy, which made a gallery that’s gorg and super editorial, but with some messy, real moments (like these groovy AF direct flash dance floor photos) that made it human. It was cool, it was stylish, it was emotional, it was nostalgic… And that’s honestly what this Illinois wedding venue is all about. 

I couldn’t have hand-created a more perfect setting for the first day of Haley and Jake’s forever. It was so them, and somehow fits any other style of wedding too. And we love a spot that’s a little versatile! 

Wren and Rose | Chicago Wedding Photographer

Listen, Illinois is one of those places that’s just jam-packed with good wedding venues. When you find the one that fits your whole soul, though, you’ve gotta follow that. And if that’s Blumen Gardens, I’d love to be there to capture your day. You can inquire about booking me right here, and we’ll plan the perfect day that makes you feel equal parts super aesthetic and also fully present in the moment. I can’t wait to meet you, babes.