Links:
Vendors I recommend:
Venues:
Glenview Park District - The Grove
The Grove is a lovely location with a historic house and five acres of grounds. The
rental rates are reasonable due to its inclusion in the Glenview Park District. They have
a long list of recommended caterers and no longer permit you to use an outside caterer. The space is flexible and the Park District is easy to work with, making this one of my all-time favorite venues. Best for smaller parties indoors or larger ones using the outdoor grounds.
The Adler Planetarium
Sure, you went there with your elementary school class, but the Adler has grown up, too. There are two lovely
spaces available for rent, one with actual skyline views and the other with virtual skyline views. There is
only one approved caterer, but the events and catering staff are extremely helpful, and they really know
how to throw a party.
Atrium Events/Architectural Artifacts
Atrium Events is an unusual space--in a good way. It is large enough to accommodate a lot of guests and has for decor substantially all of
the treasures of the architecture store. There is also an outdoor courtyard available. The staff there is also terrific, making it a
great place to throw a party. There is only one drawback: The space is not air conditioned. But you can get a discount on the space if
you rent it during the hottest months of the year. Just remember to rent lots and lots of fans.
Pazzo's Restaurant
Pazzo's is an elegant downtown venue at a reasonable downtown price. The atrium is a gorgeous location for a wedding or party; Pazzo's food is high quality; and their personal service is outstanding. For a modern, stylish location and good Italian/Mediterranean food, I recommend this place.
Restaurants:
Davis St. Fishmarket
Even if you don't care for seafood, this is a superb restaurant for a small private event.
Although there is no longer a party room separate from the rest of the restaurant, the managers
will work with you to come up with a menu to satisfy all your guests—and your budget.
The food and service are top-notch.
Prairie Moon
For a casual event in an unusual space, Prairie Moon is a great choice.
Sopranos
A nice party room and a very helpful events staff (along with fine food) make this a good choice for a family party.
Caterers:
Dave's Specialty Foods
Dave is my favorite caterer. His food belongs to a higher class than your average
caterer. A year after an event he catered, the guests were still raving about the food.
He is also great to work with: easy-going, flexible, and fun.
Food Evolution
I have been very impressed with Food Evolution. Their food is better than average and their service is all you could ask.
Bakeries:
Sweet Mandy B's, 1208 W. Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614-3109, 773-244-1174. No
website, as far as I can tell. Rich cakes and buttery cookies. Also a treat to work with.
Rolf's Patisserie
Rolf's makes fine cakes. They will also make cakes in custom specialty
shapes for special occasions. Their sweet tables and small pastries are outstanding.
North Shore Bakery, 2921 W. Touhy, Chicago, IL 60645, 773-262-0600. No website
that I can find. This is the place to go for kosher pastry.
Bittersweet Pastry Shop
While I haven't worked directly in contact with Bittersweet, I can say that they are a reliable, high-quality bakery. Particularly if you like wedding cake with some flavor and texture, you can get one here.
Oak Mill Bakery
I haven't tried the wedding cakes from this bakery, but their sweet tables are original, beautiful, and very tasty.
Florists:
Anna Held Flower Shop
For flowers a cut above your neighborhood FTD florist, try Anna Held Flower Shop.
The prices are higher than your local shop, but you get quality and service for your
money.
Entertainment:
Modal Music, Inc.
Here is a band which does world music--the whole world. I am particularly fond of their Klezmer,
Eastern European, and Balkan music and dance instruction. They also do Scandinavian, Flamenco,
Dixieland, and many other styles you wouldn't expect to come from one group of musicians. Versatile
is the least of it. And they are fun to work with.
Deal's Gone Bad
If you want a very danceable band with a great beat, these guys can do the job. They can get
everyone up and onto the dance floor.
BS Brass Band
The New Orleans Brass Band sound may not suit every occasion, but if you're looking for old school and funky and original NOLA-style brass music, these musicians are the ones you are looking for. Be careful, though: It's a large sound and more than fills a small room!
Wellington String Ensembles
You can hire the lush sounds of a string quartet (which can also be augmented with other instruments) at a reasonable price by hiring the strings of the Wellington String Ensembles. These young musicians are professional, reliable, hard-working, and talented. Nothing says "classy" like a string ensemble.
Dancetrax DJ
There are a lot of people out there calling themselves DJs, but Todd Arcari is the real thing. He has professional quality equipment, a wide selection of music, and a great attitude. He's not one of those DJs who commands the center of attention. Instead, he puts the attention on the bride and groom at a wedding (or other guests of honor, as appropriate) and makes sure that everyone has a good time on the dance floor.
Photographers:
Carasco Photo
Carasco offers artsy, individual, beautiful photographs with tons of style. They do portraits and photojournalistic-style pictures. And they couldn't be nicer to work with.
Magical Moments Photography
Howard at Magical Moments can give you various styles with excellent results. He also puts together a mean photo album.
MWD Photography
For traditional wedding photography (portraits, photos of guests, etc.) with a very pleasant, easy-going attitude, try MWD Photography.
Agnes Malorny Photography
Agnes takes both portraits and photojournalistic photos with an unassuming style and beautiful results.
Artisan Events
If you want to spend top dollar for high-quality, artistic photos, including photojournalistic-style pictures, consider Artisan Events.
Happy Buddy PhotoArt
This is a very nice husband-and-wife team whose best work is seen in their portraits.
Transportation:
My Chauffeur
My Chauffeur delivers standard limo service at reasonable prices. Their customer
service is outstanding.
Rentals:
AAA Rental System
A very reliable rental house with top-quality goods and services. They don't rent dishes, but
are terrific for large events.
Obligatory links:
WedAlert.com, "Your Wedding Planning Just Got Easier."
Criterion Productions, Geoff Miller, Special Event Management.
Leading Chicago, Illinois Wedding Event Planners listed in Decidio.com
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