Anyone that’s planning a wedding can attest to just how BIG of a decision it is to choose a venue for your wedding day! To help guide couples through this decision I’ve written articles in the past covering some of my favorite wedding venues in Central Illinois as well as Bloomington, Illinois. There are venues out there that hold a special place in my heart though. Those that I feel deserve a deeper look so that couples can get more information up front and see if a venue is the right fit for them. That’s the case for today’s article as we’re going to be taking a deep dive into one of my all time favorite wedding venues, The Destihl Brewery!

What Makes The Destihl Brewery Special

If you’re an avid reader of mine then you probably will recognize The Barrel Room of the Destihl Brewery, as it made both of my favorite wedding venue lists I mentioned earlier and was also the venue for Megan and Ethan’s wedding! There is a LOT that I love about the Destihl Brewery, and a variety of aspects that set it apart as a wedding venue. Let’s go through all the different areas where the Destihl Brewery excels, and see why it remains as one of my go to recommendations for a wedding venue!

The Spaces Available

First I want to talk about the different spaces available for couples to use for their wedding day at the Destihl Brewery. For starters there’s The Barrel Room, the iconic indoor space lined with the barrels the brewery uses to age their beer in. The space is huge, yet has a very personal feel to it, and the warm tones of the wood barrels combine perfectly with the industrial feel of the building itself to provide a totally unique setting for your wedding day. The fun doesn’t stop  there though!

For those looking to enjoy the outdoors for their wedding day, the Destihl Brewery will still be the perfect fit as your wedding venue! Just outside of the Barrel Room is their outdoor Courtyard. This space is incredibly versatile, as you can use it as an outdoor ceremony, cocktail hour, an additional bar area, or just additional space in general for your day. Finally there is their Greenroom Space, which is perfect as a bridal suite. I always love when a venue has a getting ready space on site as it makes for such a seamless and stress free experience for a wedding day!

When it comes to the size of your wedding, the Destihl Brewery can host both large and intimate events. For seated weddings the venue can host up to 175 guests, or up to 275 if you opt for a cocktail style wedding. The venue is JUST as suited for small weddings and feels perfect even for celebrations of 50 or fewer guests!

Food and Beverages

The next area we’ll take a look at are the Destihl Brewery’s options for both food and beverages. Starting off with the food, they offer in-house catering and WOW is it fantastic. I am still TO THIS DAY dreaming of the stuffed poblano pepper on their vegan menu! Oh and also the mashed potatoes with a roasted red pepper sauce! They of course have non vegan options as well that are all equally delicious.

As for how they serve their food, that all depends on your guest count. Weddings of 50 or fewer guests are served individually plated meals, weddings of up to 125 guests are served family-style plated meals, and weddings of up to 175 guests are served buffet style. You can also  have a cocktail style wedding of up to 275 guests. Finally, they do allow off-site catering as well if you are set on a specific caterer for your wedding day, but I wholeheartedly recommend going with their in-house options!

That leaves the beverages! By choosing the Destihl Brewery as your wedding venue you’ll of course be able to enjoy their incredible beer options! Their full service bar doesn’t stop there though as they also stock wine and catered spirits for you and your guests to enjoy as well. There is an indoor bar and an option for an outdoor bar to be set up in the Courtyard space should you choose to do so! 

The Service

Another fabulous draw of the Destihl Brewery as a wedding venue is their wonderful service staff that is there on the day of your wedding. The staff is professional and helpful, but also incredibly personable. They work hard to ensure that you and your guests are having the best time possible while at the brewery. They’ll work with you prior to the day to make sure they understand your vision clearly and do everything in their power to make that vision a reality. Another thing I love about them is that they work well with and respect the other vendors that their couples bring in which is a HUGE relief as a wedding vendor!

Tableware and Other Amenities

The Destihl Brewery tries to keep things simple for their couples in a number of ways, and one of those is the setup and tear down of the wedding itself. The venue provides everything you’d need for your day including all of the tableware, tables, chairs, audio and visual equipment, and other rentals. The staff also takes care of the setup and tear down like I mentioned, making this a stress free experience for you, the couple. All you have to do is tell them how you’d like things set up and they take it from there! That’s it!!

Logistics

In terms of logistics, the Destihl Brewery has a lot going for it! For starters, they can host large weddings thanks to their massive parking lot. They have to be considering the 275 guest limit for cocktail style weddings! The venue is also handicap accessible meaning everyone is able to enjoy your celebration at the brewery! Being located on the northwest edge of Normal, Illinois means that there are a ton of options for you and your guests to stay at as well if they’re traveling from out of town. Whether it’s one of the multitudes of hotels in the area, or a fun Airbnb in town, the options are practically limitless!

Other Things to Know

We’ve covered pretty much everything that makes the Destihl Brewery the one of a kind wedding venue that it is, but there is one final touch that sets the venue apart. As a treat to the couple, the brewery also offers private tastings and tours of the space if they choose to add that in as part of your day! This is a dream come true for any beer lovers out there as the facilities at Destihl are top of the line, and it makes for some wonderful portrait photos. Even if beer isn’t your main jam, and you’re more choosing the venue for its style, setting, and experience, I still recommend the tour as it is fascinating no matter your interest level!

It’s no secret, especially after this article, that I absolutely LOVE the Destihl Brewery as a wedding venue! This is such a special place, and if you are planning on having your wedding venue in Central Illinois you’d be doing yourself a serious disservice not considering the Destihl Brewery as your wedding venue! Be sure to keep an eye out on my blog for wedding planning tips as well as future venue features like this. And if you’re ready to book me to document your day then head on over to my contact page. I’d love to hear from you so we can start to get to know one another and plan your dream wedding day!