My 10 Favorite Wedding Venues in Bloomington, Illinois

As some of you may know, and others may not, there are a TON of spectacular wedding venues throughout Bloomington, Illinois! From historic buildings with their original feel and style intact, to new and modern spaces with their own unique vibe to them, there’s something for everyone around Bloomington-Normal. Don’t believe me? Well sit down and grab a snack as we’re going to go over 10 of my favorite wedding venues in the Bloomington area and what makes each of them so special!

1.  Vrooman Mansion

Our first stop on the list is the gorgeous and historic Vrooman Mansion! You may recognize this venue as my couple Ashley and Jake had their first look and couples portraits here. This wedding venue is in the center of Bloomington, Illinois and has a LOT of appeal for anyone looking for an intimate wedding space! The vintage styled mansion can host up to 80 guests indoors or 100 guests outdoors, but where the venue really excels are the smaller weddings.

The venue comes with a getting ready space for the bride, and has other amenities such as an on site coordinator, extra décor, chairs and tables, and more. Add-ons such as a mimosa bar are available as well and there’s even an on site carriage house that you can rent as a honeymoon cottage! You can also rent rooms of the Vrooman Mansion for you and your guests to stay in before, during, and after your wedding festivities. 

2. One Twenty Six Normal

This newly renovated loft space is remarkably elegant while keeping its historic feel completely intact! The building is over 100 years old and has seating for up to 50 guests, so it’s another ideal location for a more intimate wedding ceremony. This wedding venue is in Uptown Normal, or the northside of Bloomington, Illinois. One Twenty Six Normal is a venue that specializes in providing an entire wedding weekend experience to its couples. With its main space being perfect for your ceremony and reception, your wedding day is set to be stunning! The draw doesn’t stop there though, as there is a living space included in your rental with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and enough space for 10+ people to sleep here comfortably. With a full kitchen and entertainment for you and your guests as well this space has it all! 

3. Anju Above

Part of the Epiphany Farms chain of restaurants, Anju Above is an Asian fusion restaurant in the heart of Bloomington, Illinois that can serve as a one of a kind intimate wedding space! The fun and lively restaurant can be either a semi private space for up to 50 guests, or you can buy out the entire restaurant for up to 95 guests to attend! The food here is delicious and the setting is truly unique with its warm brick walls, fun atmosphere, and moody lighting!

4. Reality on Monroe

While Ashley and Jake had their portraits taken at the Vrooman Mansion, their actual wedding day took place at Reality on Monroe! This wedding venue is also in the heart of Bloomington, Illinois, and is perfect for intimate weddings or weddings of up to 120 guests. The space is the location where the historic fire of 1900 that burned down half of Bloomington began. The space honors this history with its exposed brick walls and wooden floors, while also showing the cities’ resilience in rebuilding through its modern amenities. As a wedding venue, Reality on Monroe has many options for add-ons to your wedding day including day of coordination, full service wedding coordination, and an officiant. There’s a fee to have your ceremony on location, and they also offer a TON of options in terms of décor rentals!

5. Destihl Brewery Barrel Room

Destihl Brewery has been a favorite wedding venue of mine for a while now, and those who’ve been following me for a bit may recognize it from Ethan and  Megan’s wedding! Found on the northeast side of Bloomington, Illinois, this brewery doubles as an epic wedding venue and is a great choice for anyone looking for a larger wedding celebration! The brewery has seating for up to 175 guests, though if you opt for a cocktail style reception it can fit up to 275 guests.

The venue offers its indoor Barrel Room as its main event space, their outdoor courtyard for your ceremony, and a greenroom getting ready space for you to use as well. Other amenities include service staff, tables, chairs, tableware, and other rentals and add-ons. There is in house catering, but you can bring in outside catering if you would rather do so! Last but certainly not least is their full service bar including their delicious beer!

6. Miller Park Pavilion

Just south of the heart of Bloomington, Illinois is our next wedding venue, Miller Park Pavilion! This pavilion is the perfect option for couples looking to have a large wedding and offers a stunning view of Miller Park Lake for you and your guests to enjoy. The venue has seating for up to 250 guests as you have to rent the entire main level for your wedding day. The pavilion also has its Adult Space that can be added on to your wedding day and used as a hangout or getting ready space for you and your wedding parties. One thing to note is that weddings with alcohol are only permitted here from November 1st through March 31st. Non alcoholic weddings can take place here year round though!

7. Ewing Manor

Our next stop is Ewing Manor of the Ewing Cultural Center! This wedding venue can be found just east of downtown Bloomington, Illinois, and is the ideal location for anyone looking to enjoy an outdoor wedding day! The venue offers two separate spaces to choose from for your ceremony, with seating for up to 200 guests. You may also have your reception in these spaces, or at one of the 2 separate locations suitable for outdoor tents as well. This means that rain or shine you can enjoy a beautiful wedding at the Ewing Manor!

The venue has vendor recommendations should you need to consult them, but allows in any vendors you choose for your wedding day. There’s no on site liquor provided so that will need to be one of your vendors should you choose to have alcohol. It’s important to note that no one outside of the couple and their wedding party are allowed inside of the manor itself, aside from guests using the bathrooms which can be found on the first floor.

8. Brown Ballroom

The Brown Ballroom is part of ISU’s campus and is ideal for couples that either want a HUGE wedding day, or who want a blank slate space to work with for their day! ISU’s campus is on the north side of Bloomington, Illinois, and you can rent out parts of the student center as your wedding venue.

ISU’s student center has 3 different levels to it, each with its own venue space(s) of varying size. The first floor includes Brown Ballroom 1 through 3 which can host up to 550 guests if you rent all 3 rooms! By contrast, the Atrium on the 3rd floor has a max capacity of 80 guests, and is more suited for smaller celebrations. ISU offers in house catering and alcohol as well as additional lighting and tables for a fee. Other vendors are up to you to source, though their staff has recommendations if needed!

9. The Legacy Building

Just 25 minutes north of Bloomington, Illinois is wedding venue number 9, The Legacy Building! This opera house from the 1800’s has been converted into one of the most beautiful and unique wedding venues around! With its exposed brick walls, and vintage styled rooms, the venue exudes a classic style that is truly special. The venue consists of its main space, a greenroom with STUNNING natural lighting, and a private outdoor courtyard. The greenroom can be used for practically anything you want including an extra getting ready space, an intimate ceremony, portraits, or even extra seating for your reception.

The venue can host up to 200 guests and offers a variety of packages to choose from, each with their own different perks and amenities. Some of the amenities include getting ready spaces for the bride and groom, on site staff, bar service, and even a sleeping space for up to 18 guests! Finally, as for vendors they have an open list for catering, photography and other vendors as well!

10. Mackinaw Valley Vineyard

Our final wedding venue on our list is the lovely Mackinaw Valley Vineyard, which can be found just 24 minutes west of Bloomington, Illinois! The venue has two designated larger outdoor ceremony spaces, though they do allow smaller ceremonies to take place at different locations on their grounds as the space is just SO beautiful! They also have a pavilion for your reception with seating for up to 310 guests. This pavilion can be closed off or exposed to the outdoors depending on weather and your preference. Either way you still get to enjoy the wonderful view of the lake and vineyard from the pavilion! The venue also has on site getting ready spaces for the bride and bridal party. They do only allow you to work with their one catering partner, though you’re free to choose all other vendors!

And there we have it, 10 of my FAVORITE wedding venues throughout Bloomington, Illinois! As you can see, each of these venues has its own style, feel, and charm that makes it special. Just like how every couple and every love story is different, so is the wedding venue that best fits your wedding day! If you’re ready to book me for your wedding, either at one of these stunning venues in Bloomington, Illinois or elsewhere, be sure to send me an inquiry through my contact page so we can start planning it together!