Nine venues. Endless vibes. Which one’s your match?

Whether you’re coming back to your hometown in Illinois to host your wedding, or your new to the area, there are a LOT of wedding venues in the Central Illinois area to pick from. As a native Illinoisan turned wedding photographer, I LOVE the various venues filled with character & charm. That’s why I’m dishing out some of my favorite wedding venues in Central Illinois.

It may seem daunting when you first start looking for a wedding venue, so here in this blog are some tips on how to pick the best fit for you + boo + your guests. Let’s take a look at nine of my favorite Central Illinois wedding venues.

How to Even Begin Picking A Venue?

What Vision Do You Have for Your Wedding Day?

First off you are going to want to nail down your vision of what you both want your wedding day to look like. Picture yourself and your loved ones on your wedding day.

• What does the space look like, and what’s the overall vibe?
• How many people will be there, and can you imagine everyone enjoying the space together?
• Do you want an indoor or outdoor ceremony (or both)?
• Should the venue feel historic, modern, rustic, industrial, or garden-like?
• Do you want everything (ceremony, cocktail hour, reception) in one place, or to move between locations?
• Are you imagining a big dance party or a more intimate dinner?
• Do you want to fully customize the décor, or prefer a styled space?
• Do you want the option to bar hop or celebrate somewhere after?

Talk it all through with your boo so you both have a clear picture of the experience you want—both while planning and on the big day. There’s no right or wrong answer, but clarifying your vision will help you narrow down your Central Illinois venue options.

What’s Your Budget?

A big part of planning is your budget. Be open with each other so you can choose a Central Illinois venue that fits within it—while still saving for vendors and other wedding costs. With so many venues out there, you’ll find more than one that matches both your vision and your budget.

How Many Guests Do You Plan to Have?

One of the biggest factors that will determine what venue options you’ll be able to work with are the number of guests you plan on having. Each venue has a guest limit depending on the space provided, so be realistic with both your guest count and venue style you plan to go with.

If you’re planning on having all of your friends and family on both sides attend as well as their kids, you’re not going to be able or want to reserve an intimate wedding space. The same goes the other way too  If you’re planning more intimate wedding day, it’s important to know that some venues have a guest minimum.

Find a wedding venue in Central Illinois that can host the guests you plan on having in it comfortably, and also serve create the atmosphere you’re hoping for on your wedding day.

What’s Included at your Central Illinois Wedding Venue?

The last thing to consider when deciding on your wedding venue in Central Illinois are the amenities it provides and what they allow for you to bring in.

• Does the venue offer food and beverages or will you need to bring in vendors?
• Do they have a preferred vendor team or can you bring in anyone you want?
• Is the venue beautiful on its own or will you need to bring in a florist and other decorations to really make the space your own, and are you allowed to bring your own decorations in the first place?

EVERY venue is different and some are more flexible than others, so do your research when deciding to make sure your venue allows you to do everything you want for your day!

If these following venues don’t speak to you- there are 7 other venue blog posts linked below to help you find your perfect fit!

My 9 Favorite Wedding Venues in Central Illinois

Now that you have an idea on what to look for when deciding on your wedding venue in Central Illinois, I thought I’d show you 9 of my all time favorites. This is by no means an all inclusive list as there are so many venues out there and we’d be here ALL day if we went over each and every venue possibility. This is more to give you some potential options and get your brain flowing in terms of what is all out there!

1. The Barrel Room at DESTIHL in Normal

First on our list we have The Barrel Room at DESTIHL which is located in Normal. This brewery in Central Illinois can be reserved for your wedding day. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate their wedding in a gorgeous brewery like this?!

The venue seats 175 but has a cocktail capacity of 275 meaning larger weddings are more than possible here. The venue has  a full service bar of beer, wine and catered spirits, in house food catering, service staff, and numerous other amenities to make your wedding day an unforgettable experience. You can have your ceremony outside OR inside!

Lastly the brewery itself is gorgeous so you really don’t need to go all out on decorations if that’s not your thing!

Check out this in depth blog feature on the Barrel Room at DESTIHL!

2. Trailside Event Center in Peoria

For a wedding venue focused on a dreamy and rustic feel to it, look no further than the Trailside Event Center in Peoria. This venue has a large variety of amenities including an in house salon, bridal room, an espresso bar as well as full service bar, and even a bakery on the bottom floor you can use for catering!

They have an outdoor ceremony space as well to use if the weather is right giving you options for your wedding day.

They do have a preferred list of vendors when it comes to catering, but you can bring in your own outside of this list for a $500 fee. This beautiful and spacious ballroom is the perfect venue for a large wedding celebration in Central Illinois!

Check out Madison + Wes’s wedding day at Trailside here!

3. Venue Chisca in Peoria

If you’re looking for a wedding venue in Central Illinois with the option for a HUGE celebration look no further than Venue Chisca in Peoria!

This venue can host up to 500 guests, and not only is it insanely gorgeous, but the venue also includes decorations for you to keep things simple. The venue also offers smaller spaces for more intimate gatherings if you love the space but don’t want to invite hundreds of guests for your wedding day.

Some of the amenities they include are complimentary setup and teardown, X-back chairs for you to use, and no restriction on vendors which is huge! The venue is also in a great location with downtown Peoria nearby making it easy for your guests to get back to their hotels after your wedding celebrations.

4. Chapter II Events in Jacksonville

A hidden gem new to the wedding scene! Just 30 minutes from Springfield, Chapter II is a storybook wedding venue inside the beautifully restored Henry Pfeiffer Library in downtown Jacksonville.

With soaring ceilings, detailed archways, and chandeliers imported from Europe (that even appeared in Disney’s Cruella!), this space blends vintage character with modern touches. From the glam room and brick dressing room to a cozy café lounge, nursing space for moms, and the grand ballroom, every corner is designed with your celebration in mind.

Get married outside on the lawn, them move inside for your reception!! Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a grand reception, Chapter II offers versatile layouts, a built-in bar, and endless photo-worthy backdrops — making it a venue that becomes part of your love story.

Check out their Instagram for details about the different spaces in the venue!

5. Venue 1929 in Springfield

Talk about a beautiful intimate wedding venue! Venue 1929 in Springfield has been one of my favorite spaces for a while now. The beautiful and historic space is located only a few blocks from downtown Springfield making it incredibly easy for your guests to get to the venue from the hotel. Springfield is also home to plenty of bars, restaurants, breweries, and so many other fun downtown activities for your guests to make a weekend out of your wedding celebrations.

The venue itself has a max capacity of 150 guests and a formal seating capacity of 110. With beautiful tiled floors, an awesome fireplace, in house bar service and a preferred caterers list you really can’t overlook Venue 1929 when searching for a wedding venue in Central Illinois!

Read more about Venue 1929 in this venue feature!

6. Artisans Building at the IL State Fairgrounds in Springfield

The Artisans Building found at the Illinois State Fairgrounds is the perfect wedding venue for couples looking for a blank slate wedding venue in Central Illinois. The event space itself offers up plenty of parking and can host over 200 guests comfortably.

This venue is built with larger wedding venues in mind and with it being a blank slate the sky really is the limit in terms of what you want to do with your venue. Whether you want to go all out with decorations or keep things nice and simple the Artisans Building will have you covered.

Check out Manny + Carrie’s wedding day at the Artisan Building here!

7. Hotel Royer in Urbana

Have your ceremony at Allerton Park & Retreat Center or the University of Illinois Arboretum, then head to Hotel Royer for a stunning reception!

New to the wedding scene, this is a beautifully restored hotel (formerly the Urbana-Lincoln Hotel). It features 6,762 sq ft of event space (including a 3,813 sq ft ballroom) and 131 guest rooms, making it ideal for hosting receptions of all sizes.

Y’all, the restored 1923 Tudor-style grand ballroom STUNNING! It can host up to 430 guests. There are perfect spots for photos around the hotel. Party it up with your guests and stay on sight at the hotel that same night.

8. Senica’s Oak Ridge Golf Club in La Salle

A liiiittle closer to the Chicago area but still Central Illinois, this venue is perfect for indoor AND outdoor weddings.

Set against rolling fairways and lush greens, Senica’s Oak Ridge offers both indoor elegance and outdoor charm for weddings. Their 9,500 sq ft banquet hall seats up to 400 guests, while the outdoor patio overlooks the course and accommodates up to 300 for ceremonies.

With custom floor plans, a moveable dance floor, on-site catering, and elegant event spaces, it’s a seamless option for couples wanting a picturesque yet practical wedding day.

And the food… honestly the best food I’ve EVER had at a wedding!!! The flexibility to be inside & outside is a huge draw to Senica’s Oak Ridge.

9. Three Pines Petersburg Airbnb in Petersburg

Wanting something a little smaller? 30 minutes from Springfield is Three Pines Petersburg Airbnb. It is an alternative wedding venue that is the perfect fit for anyone looking for an intimate wedding celebration.

The venue specializes with weddings of 50 or less guests, but can accommodate up to 100 guests thanks to an additional outdoor tent as well as portable toilet rentals. In order to have your wedding at the Three Pines there is a minimum of a 2 night rental of the mansion which can sleep 20.

You can also rent the grounds for an additional fee to have the entire property to yourselves for your wedding day which makes for an incredible experience!

Check out Kelly + Seth’s intimate October wedding day here!

And there you have it, 10 of my favorite wedding venues you can find throughout Central Illinois!

Check out these blogs for venues in various Central Illinois cities: 

• 5 Intimate Wedding Venues in Springfield
• 10 Wedding Venues in Bloomington
• 8 Wedding Venues in Peoria

And check out these wedding venues based on vibes:

• 9 Forest Wedding Venues
• 10 Nature Centered Wedding Venues
• 9 Mansion and Estate Wedding Venues
• 11 Large, Historic Wedding Venues

If you’re ready to get your wedding planning started and are looking for a photographer head to send me an inquiry on my contact page. I’d love to hear from you so we can start planning your dream wedding day together!

✨Hire Ya Girl✨