Central Illinois Wedding Venue Feature | Wildlife Prairie Park + Taylor and Tyler’s Elopement

Not too long ago I wrote my first wedding venue feature about the fantastic Destihl Brewery, and everything that sets it apart as a wedding venue. As I mentioned in that article though, there are a LOT of incredible wedding venues in Central Illinois that I feel deserve a similar treatment. That brings us to today’s topic, which is a wedding venue feature on the lovely Wildlife Prairie Park near Peoria, Illinois! This rustic and unique wedding venue has SO much to love about it that I cannot wait to share with all of you here today. Not only that though, but I’m going to walk you through one of my favorite elopements at this venue so you can see the space in action!

What Makes Wildlife Prairie Park Special

Much like the Destihl Brewery, Wildlife Prairie Park is actually a wedding venue that I’ve featured on the blog before! This special venue made my list going over 10 of my favorite nature centered wedding venues in Illinois. This feeling of being fully immersed in nature is a HUGE factor in what makes Wildlife Prairie Park the one of a kind wedding venue that it is, but there’s more to it than that. Let’s take a dive into some of the specifics of the venue so you can see what I mean!

The Spaces Available

First and foremost I want to mention the different spaces available for your wedding or elopement. There are a total of 7 separate spaces available to choose from, each with their own unique style and feel to them. Having this many spaces may seem a bit excessive at first, but when you consider just how different each and every wedding day can be it starts to make sense! From intimate elopements to huge gatherings of 200+ people, Wildlife Prairie Park has something for everyone, which I am ALL for!

Outdoor Spaces

First are the 4 outdoor locations. Hespell Bricks is up first with its stunning wide open views of the prairies where the elk and bison of the park call home. The Vista Patio is next and this beautiful ceremony space looks out over one of the many lakes that can be found inside Wildlife Prairie Park. This space is also right next to one of the indoor reception spaces, Prairie Hall, making the two an ideal pairing. Hazel’s Hill Overlook is next. The stunning outdoor space is known for its wildflowers, though given its secluded location a shuttle is required for weddings with more than 25 guests. Finally the French Overlook, where Taylor and Tyler’s ceremony took place, is a beautiful and scenic space nestled in between a forest and a lake, really driving home that secluded natural feel for any wedding.

Indoor Spaces

The three other spaces are a mix of indoor and semi indoor reception areas. First up we have the Hespell Deck which has one of the best views in the park and can seat up to 200 Guests. The deck space can be used as a ceremony space, and the reception area that is attached is open air meaning you still get that natural feel for your day without being completely out in the open. 

Prairie Hall is next, and is Wildlife Prairie Park’s largest reception space. Prairie Hall can fit up to 250 guests, but while it does feel large, it also feels very intimate thanks to the rustic setting and décor of the space. The warm and inviting natural wood combined with the massive fireplace of the venue make it easy to imagine a cozy night of dancing and celebrating with your guests!

Last up we have the Log Room! This space is very similar to the Prairie Hall in feel, though it is a much smaller setting. With space for up to 90 guests, this space is ideal for smaller wedding celebrations that are still looking to enjoy that warm rustic feel the venue is known for!

Their Preferred Caterers List

When a venue doesn’t have their own catering available it is usually an area of stress for the couple as it’s yet another decision that they have to make. Wildlife Prairie Park doesn’t have this issue though as they have a huge list of preferred caterers for their couples to choose from! Having a list of preferred caterers to choose from is a massive benefit as it takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation when trying to find the right caterer for your wedding. You can trust that any vendor that makes the preferred caterers list will provide a top notch experience, otherwise they wouldn’t have made the list in the first place!

The Location and Logistics

Being just over 20 minutes outside of Peoria, Illinois means that Wildlife Prairie Park is a dream come true when it comes to planning out the logistics of your wedding day. First I do want to mention the 6 different cabin options available at the venue that you can rent for you and your guests to stay at. Each of these has their own unique charm to them, my favorite being the literal train cars that you can stay at! For your guests that won’t be staying on site though, there are plenty of Airbnb, Vrbo, and hotel options to choose from in Peoria.

The Experiences Available

A big part of Wildlife Prairie Park’s wedding day experience comes down to the fantastic outdoor setting the venue is found in. That experience is something you can take to the next level though through some of their add-on packages! First is a $150 package that lets you have a meet and greet with an animal ambassador at either your ceremony or reception. You can meet your favorite furry friend, and even get pictures with them for your wedding album! The next option is a $300 add on where you and your wedding party hop on the adventure bus. The bus takes you into the heart of the bison herd which makes for some stellar photo opportunities and a wedding experience you won’t find anywhere else!

A Look at Taylor and Tyler’s Elopement at Wildlife Prairie Park

Now that was a LOT of info, but you can only really learn so much by reading about a wedding venue. That’s why we’re going to take a quick dive into Taylor and Tyler’s elopement at Wildlife Prairie Park so you can get a real look at what a day at this wedding venue can look like!

Portraits Around the Park

Their day started on location, with Taylor getting ready inside of the Ranger Station at Wildlife Prairie Park. This kept things SO simple as there wasn’t a need to travel much for their day. Once ready we met up with Tyler for a first look amongst the trees which had just started their spring bloom. It was the perfect setting for this magical moment. Afterwards we had time for portraits, which really show just how much there is to work with here at the park! Between the photos with some friendly goats (Taylor’s favorite animal), photos with the old train cars, and others around the beautiful grounds of the park, we experienced so much and still only scratched the surface of what the park has to offer!

Their Intimate Ceremony

As I mentioned earlier, their ceremony took place at the French Overlook. It was a sweet and intimate moment surrounded by the beauty of the park. Family means a lot to these two, so having their loved ones in attendance was extra special for their elopement ceremony. They also had their twin boys Theo and Tate escort Taylor down the aisle and be Tyler’s best man, which was just THE sweetest touch. After the ceremony we had a bit of time for some family portraits to end their elopement day. With how beautiful the French Overlook is we didn’t even have to travel anywhere for these portraits, and they still have a completely different feel to them than their ceremony photos!

Taylor and Tyler’s day is the perfect example of how Wildlife Prairie Park is not only a stellar wedding venue, but also an elopement venue. There’s so much to love about their day, and this venue in general, which makes me SO excited to experience more love stories here! If you’re looking to book me as your photographer for your own wedding or elopement be sure to send an inquiry through my contact page. I’d love to hear from you so we can start planning your day ASAP!