15 Chicago Event Venues That Can Hold 400+ Guests

Finding spacious event venues in Chicago that combine style, flexibility, and capacity can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack—but that’s where Fierce Productions comes in. As a leading Chicago-based wedding and event planning company known for upscale, nontraditional experiences, we specialize in curating unforgettable events in venues that make a statement. Here are 15 Chicago event venues we’ve worked with that can comfortably host 400+ guests—and deliver the kind of experience your guests will rave about.

Sam and Zach's Music Filled Wedding Reception at The Fairlie

Sam and Zach reached out to us hoping for a nontraditional wedding filled with “rustic, warehouse, concert vibes with just good food and music and even better people.” (Our favorite kind of wedding).

Through our Coordination and Management Services, we gladly supported their wedding 3 Months Out to finalize those last few details, and support any logistical changes. The wedding was classy, rustic, minimalistic, fun, and all-around a beautiful representation of both Sam and Zach.

Your Faithful Guide to Wedding Stationary and Signage

At Fierce Productions, we believe the little details are what make your celebration unforgettable—and wedding stationery is one of those small-but-mighty elements that sometimes gets pushed aside, but leaves a lasting impression.

From dreamy save-the-dates to polished place cards, wedding stationery tells your story while keeping your guests informed and engaged. The Fierce team guides couples through all the steps — we even have in house designers and printing partners who can help create everything for you. If you need some assistance, here’s your complete guide to the what, when, and wow-factor of wedding stationery:

Jeff and Priya's Colorful Fusion Wedding

A throwback wedding we are still in love with! Jeff and Priya got married in the summer of 2022 (postponed from 2020). Though they lived in New York at the time, they wanted to get married in Chicago because it was the city they both met in. (Not to mention they also got engaged in Lincoln Park.) In regards to the style of wedding they desired, they reached out to Fierce Productions because they wanted a wedding ceremony that blended Indian Hindu ceremonies, and western traditions. It was to be a relaxed, colorful, and intimate celebration with loved ones.

How to Include Pets in Your Wedding

We love pets!! We understand they are your fur baby (or scale baby, or feather baby, etc.), so we understand wanting them involved in your wedding. We LOVE THAT! As Chicago based wedding planners, we have seen and planned some unique ways of incorporating pets into your special day, so here are a few ways you TOO can incorporate your pets into your wedding:

Questions to Ask A Wedding Planner Before Booking

As Chicago based Wedding Planners, you might call us biased when we say we are VERY pro Wedding Planner. As much as we would love to work on everyone’s wedding, we understand that it’s important to find a wedding planner that matches with your energy. We know we aren’t for everyone, and we know not everyone is for us.

We recommend chatting with potential wedding planners before booking to find the best match, so here are some important questions we recommend asking your “potential” wedding planner before booking.

What to Expect During the Wedding Rehearsal

As Chicago-based wedding planners, the Fierce Productions team will support you every step of the way. A major perk of booking us, whether for full planning or just coordination, is that we guide you through your wedding rehearsal.

So, what exactly is a wedding rehearsal? Well, it’s when you practice the wedding ceremony a day early! The purpose is to make sure everyone is on the same page, so the actual ceremony goes as smoothly as possible.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about wedding rehearsals:

Allegra and Hanchen’s Intimate Wedding

Allegra and Hanchen wanted a wedding that felt fun, cozy, romantic, and welcoming. Their main priorities were for guests to feel relaxed, for everything to feel organized, and for everyone to feel present during the important wedding moments. They had the most gorgeous ceremony outside on Loft Lucia’s terrace followed by an elongated cocktail hour, where they got to enjoy plenty of time mingling with all their friends and family. The weather was perfect and everyone loved getting to spend time outside. Guests then headed inside to enjoy dinner, speeches and lots of dancing! Check out some of their cute, colorful, intimate photos below!

5 Questions to Ask Your Caterer Before Booking

Catering for a wedding is the biggest investment, so you want to make sure it meets your standards! Booking your caterer is an important part after you solidified your guest count, and booked your venue. Before booking, you want to make sure you are clear about everything included from the beginning. As beloved wedding planners in Chicago, we help guide our clients through every process, and we always recommend our favorite vendors. That being said, here are a few questions you should ask your caterer before booking.

Creative Ideas to Enhance Your Cocktail Hour

As Non-traditional Chicago Wedding Planners, we have designed many unique weddings. Many of our clients have desired out-of-the-box ways to make their wedding different, and memorable. A simple way to elevate your event, is by having some sort of “fierce” moment during your cocktail hour. Cocktail hours are the perfect time to get a bit creative, as guests wait between ceremony and reception. You truly can be as tame or wild as you please, but below are a few ways you can enhance your cocktail hour.

5 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer Before Booking

When booking your wedding photographer, you may think “oh it’s just photos, it doesn’t matter who we book it will all be the same”. Well…there’s actually quite an art to photography, and you want to make sure you find the perfect match to your vision. Some photographers excel with the dark and dramatic, some excel with the bright and colorful. Especially if you do first looks, you will be with your photographer for most of the day, so you want to make sure it’s someone you’ll get along with. As skilled wedding planners based in Chicago, we are match makers with photographers and clients. That being said, here are a few questions you should ask your photographer before booking them:

How Do I Build a Wedding Timeline?

As expert Wedding Planners in Chicago, we know how to structure out a wedding day. Truthfully, there are a lot of nitty-gritty details you need to think about when constructing your timeline. Sometimes, it can feel a little bit like piecing a puzzle together. When you book our event planning services, we make sure to create an ideal wedding timeline together; we make sure it’s something you approve of, so we can handle all the logistics. That being said, you might be wondering why we time things out a specific way, or you’re attempting to structure your own. Which ever option, here are a few important things to think about when forming a solid Wedding Timeline:

Christine and Mike's Colorful Karaoke Reception

Christine and Mike eloped in March of 2023, but decided to finally celebrate with loved ones by hosting a joint anniversary, and wedding reception party at Bridge410. The overall atmosphere was a laid back family styled event, but with loads of color, moments of play, and karaoke! The couple wanted the celebration to be more about the experience, so they wanted to make sure there were many unique elements to keep guests entertained.

5 Chicago Venues with City Skyline Views

We get it, the Chicago Skyline is gorgeous! As Chicago Wedding Planners, we always love those sunny clear blue sky days. It’s truly the most iconic way to say “Chicago Wedding.” We have designed, and coordinated tons of weddings in the city, and we never get tired of it. From our experience, here are personal 5 favorite venues with views of the skyline.

Alex and Cameron's Parisian School House Wedding

Fierce Productions had the privilege of creating a unique and memorable wedding wedding for Alex and Cameron at The School House Chicago. The wedding’s theme, “Romantic Parisian School Drop Out,” set the stage for an extraordinary affair. Guests were whisked away into a chic, scholarly realm, complete with actors, personal flags, and captivating digital presentations.

The ambiance of a Parisian soirée was brought to life with a candlelit dinner amidst a library of dreams, adorned with astrology motifs and shimmering tinsel, creating a “magical starlight dinner” atmosphere. This wedding was not just an event; it was a journey into a world of romance and whimsy, meticulously designed by to be a cherished memory for all.

Would you incorporate any of these non-traditional elements into your wedding?

How do Wedding Room Blocks Work?

You've likely encountered the term "room block" before, but you may be wondering, "What exactly is that?" Or you may be feeling apprehensive about the process. Fear not! Hotel room blocks are more straightforward than they seem. Drawing from our expertise as wedding planners in Chicago, the Fierce Productions team has navigated countless couples through the process of securing room blocks. Here's a glimpse into what you need to know:

Connar and Mike's Modern Whimsical Wedding

When Connar got hired us for her wedding, we were ecstatic! Connar met Mike back in college when they were in a theatre show together. As theatrical artists, we knew their wedding was going to be unique. When they reached out to us, they had a limited vision, but knew they wanted it to be a perfect combination of the two of them.

Olivia and Austin's Colorful Carnival Wedding

Olivia and Austin met in college, where Olivia’s roommate set them up on a date. We were thrilled when they reached out to us to help design their wedding. They knew they wanted a non-traditional wedding. In their inquiry, they shared how they wanted to have an elevated, and interactive experience during their wedding. To achieve their vision, we elevated the design to create a "tasteful way” of being “over the top". Through our various meetings, we came up with the idea of basing the reception on a romantic, and playful carnival.

6 Unique and Unforgettable Wedding Venues in Chicago

At Fierce Productions, we thrive on crafting distinctive experiences. We celebrate the unconventional and unique, passionately curating events that transcend traditional boundaries. Your chosen venue isn't just a backdrop; it's a canvas to enhance and elevate the essence of your special day. Explore our curated selection of unique Chicago wedding venues that epitomize our commitment to extraordinary celebrations.

Jamie and Jared's Luscious, “Fecund”, Disco Wedding

Jamie and Jared had a lovely destination wedding in Chicago, filled with subtle, yet romantic nods to their relationship. Living in LA, they chose to host their wedding in Chicago because not only was it where Jamie was born, but it was also a perfect middle ground for families coming from both the east and west coast. They knew they needed to hire an event planner to assist from afar.

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