How to Elope in Chicago
with Mei Lin Barral Photography
Are you planning your elopement in Chicago and wondering where to start? I created this guide with you in mind! This guide will walk you through all the steps to planning your perfect elopement in the Windy City.
If a Chicago City Hall elopement is more your style, learn How to Plan a Chicago City Hall Wedding here.
Dream About Your Day
The first step to planning your elopement is sitting down with your partner to think about what you want your special day to look like. Your elopement will be as unique a day as you are a couple so spending time to determine your priorities together will help you plan the right elopement for you.
I recommend you each take a piece of paper and come up with your top three elopement day priorities – other than marrying each other, of course. Do you want your loved ones with you? Do you care the most about your attire? Is getting great photos important to you? Once you’ve both thought about your priorities, share them to see what your top priorities are as a couple as you start to plan your day. These will be what you want to keep top of mind as you complete the next steps in planning your elopement.
Make a Guest List – Or Don’t
If your perfect elopement is just the two of you, your officiant, & photographer then feel free to skip this step entirely! If you envision having your loved ones with you, then this is the time to think about that list.
The number of guests will have a direct impact on your budget, location options, and timeline for your day so making this decision early on will help as you make other decisions in the planning process. If you’re planning on including your four-legged family, read this blogpost to learn how to calm your dog.
Pick the Perfect Day & Location
We all know Chicago weather can be finicky, to put it lightly, so considering the time of year when planning your elopement is important. This is especially essential if you’re planning an outdoor elopement. It may be wise to pick a day during the week to avoid crowds at popular locations to have a more private ceremony. There are certain locations in Chicago that require a photography permit. To view some of my favorites, click here.
There are nearly endless options for locations for your elopement in Chicago. From gorgeous rooftops to beaches to a boat on Lake Michigan, you are certain to find a spot perfect for your day. If you’re looking for a day that feels particularly you, you may want to consider getting married at your favorite restaurant or bar that is meaningful to your relationship. If you’re thinking about eloping at City Hall, I’ve got a full guide to planning your Chicago City Hall wedding for you here.
Get Your Marriage License
For a Chicago elopement, you will get your marriage license from the Cook County Clerk’s office. You can start the process of applying for your license online or choose to complete the application in person. Either way, you and your partner must appear in person, with valid identification, and pay a $60 marriage license fee to sign your marriage license. Once signed, your marriage license will be effective 1 day after issuance (so don’t wait until the last second!) and is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. It’ll be valid the following day (1 day after), so you do not have to wait a full 24 hours after getting your license.
I recommend getting your license 1-2 weeks before your wedding date so that you know everything is settled well in advance. After your ceremony, you will complete the bottom portion of your marriage license and mail or deliver it to the Clerk’s office. I recommend double-checking to confirm all details on the Cook County clerk’s website here.
If an outdoor ceremony in a park or with a view of the Chicago skyline is your ideal way to exchange vows, officiants Forever Incredible, Mercy the Officiant or Chosen with Bonnie would all be great choices!
Prioritize your Pup
If you’re anything like me, your dog is a top priority in your daily life & they should also be a priority during your special day! Learn all about how to Calm Your Hyper and Energetic Dog at Your Wedding here.
Wags of Love is a great option if you want your pup to be a part of your day. They can be a pet attendant for a short time if your dog is just going to be in photos or the ceremony or can stay with your dog all day so they can be a part of all the festivities.
Luxe Dog Nanny certainly lives up to its name in providing a luxury experience for you and your dog during your special day. They will participate in the full planning process to ensure your dog is prioritized throughout the experience and will shoot content from your dog’s perspective throughout the entire day – how fun!
Ozzy’s Crew and Paw Wedding Services would both love to take care of your four-legged friends during your day so that you know they are in good hands while you’re celebrating.
Perhaps your dog isn’t up for playing a role at your wedding but will be supporting you from home where they’re most comfortable. Wags-A-Lot Dog Walking & Paws for Walks Chicago provides dog-walking services and pet sitting so that you know someone trustworthy is focused on your dog whilst you’re focused on getting married.
Pick your Venue
Inviting fewer guests than a traditional wedding means that you can explore wedding venues outside of the traditional venue since there are fewer people to find a place for. It’s the perfect time to get creative and think outside the box of what you’ve considered as a possible venue.
You could rent out your favorite restaurant or bar for an experience as unique as you. Outdoor weddings on a beach or at a local park are often easier to plan with a smaller group of guests. A backyard wedding is much more feasible with a short guest list.
The Lytle House is a beautiful venue that specializes in intimate weddings – their max capacity is 80 guests. It is a stunning industrial space that also features an outdoor courtyard offering you the best of both worlds.
🌎 Looking to fully embrace the outdoors in a garden, Big Delicious Planet is the perfect venue for you. You’ll wed and celebrate right in the middle of their beautiful urban farm.
The Publishing House Bed & Breakfast is a beautiful urban bed and breakfast that is expertly designed and detailed. There is an abundance of natural light, greenery, and reclaimed and vintage decoration. Feel at home in this urban cozy BnB!
🌎 LouLou by Lula is a cozy and sweet new venue that is a sister company of Lula Cafe who are known for their excellent catering!
Homestead on the Roof is a great blend of an urban rooftop and garden for a private affair.
🌎 The Colvin House is a historic mansion with views of Lake Michigan featuring a stunning oak staircase & crystal chandelier for your processional. As a bonus, you’ll be able to use their 1920s-inspired basement speakeasy as an extra seating area and bar.
🌎 The Joinery is a warm & light-filled venue that features several different spaces including an outdoor patio offering you a stunning blank canvas to plan the intimate wedding of your dreams.
Pilsen Secret Garden is another great option for a hidden gem of an outdoor space.
Villanelle is a great queer-led and queer-focused French-inspired venue that has an attached 70s bar lounge called Dorothy’s that can be included in your wedding celebration.
Nomad Chicago is a hip and brightly colored choice for those travelers at heart.
🌎 The Atria is a beautiful former horseshoe factory with a 75-foot skylight that highlights the stunning combination of textures throughout the space including white brick walls, granite bar, custom wood finishing, and a woven backdrop of reclaimed textiles.
🌎 Loft on Lake is a quintessential loft venue that is customizable with a backdrop of warm oak timber ceilings, peachy brick walls, and a unique 65-foot skylight that floods the space with natural light.
The Arbory is a romantic industrial space with 7 skylights, 5 hand-painted murals, and a custom video booth that can be used for personalized video messages from your guests.
Looking to wed in a beautiful rooftop garden and then celebrate together surrounded by stunning artwork? Halim Time and Glass Museum is the place for you with 5 different event spaces all including stunning artwork.
The Bridgeport Art Center’s Sculpture Garden and Skyline Loft are two gorgeous spaces if you’re looking for the perfect combination of romantic architecture and urban construction.
Ignite Glass Studio has multiple beautiful spaces accentuated with their stunning glasswork plus you can incorporate their glass work into your special day as favors, within your ceremony, or even a live glass-blowing demonstration.
Firehouse Chicago is a smaller venue with loads of unique features including a firepole that you and your guests could slide down – how fun!
If you’re looking for outdoor space combined with beautiful contemporary artwork, Secret Garden Chicago is for you.
Gibson’s Italia is the perfect venue if you want a classic view of the Chicago river from a nice vantage point with great natural light.
River Roast is a great option for those celebrants wanting to have a front-row seat to the Chicago riverwalk.
Plan for Capturing the Moments
Your special day deserves to be captured in beautiful authentic photos that you can use to relive the day for years to come. I’d argue they are the most important part of a wedding day, but as a photographer I may be just a bit biased. Take time to think about where you want to take your couple portraits or family portraits during your special day. Is there a spot on site at your venue? Do you want to go to a neighboring park? I highly recommend consulting with your photographer in advance of your day so that you have the perfect backdrop for your photos.
Want me to take your photos? I’d be honored. Click here to inquire.
Beautiful photos aren’t the only way to document your special day. If you’re looking for a stunning wedding video that puts together all the beautiful moments from your day that you can watch for years to come, then finding the perfect videographer is up next.
Replogle Studios specializes in creating wedding films that perfectly combine silly and sentimental to create a video that is all about YOU and YOUR joy.
Kyrie Copeland Films has a dreamy style that captures your love in an authentic and romanticized way.
Katie Doyle Films focuses on crisp, cinematic, & timeless imagery of your wedding day.
Choose an Officiant
You want your wedding ceremony to highlight the best parts of your relationship, feel genuine to who you are, and bring a smile to your faces. Here are some amazing Chicago officiants to help you do just that.
Carla from Forever Incredible Ceremonies brings your personality and history to your ceremony and no two weddings she officiates are the same.
Rebecca from Something Profound Weddings is not only an officiant, but a planner as well! She is a queer herself and a lot of her couples are from the queer community.
Mercy The Officiant has been officiating weddings since 2019. Mercy is bilingual and is happy to officiate in English, Spanish, or a combination of the two.
Chosen with Bonnie is an officiant who writes and officiates ceremonies for couples looking for more than the traditional “I do.”
Find your Look
Deciding what you’re going to wear is a fun and important step in planning your elopement. Take time to think about how you want to look and feel on your special day. Do you want to go traditional, quirky, eclectic, or maybe pick a favorite outfit that you already own?
House of Bretón crafts beautiful custom attire that fits everyone whether you’re going for a more traditional gown/suit or you prefer something out of the box like wedding overalls to name one.
Mignonette Bridal offers timeless wedding gowns for the modern muse. Their wedding attire is handcrafted and designed with the wearer in mind. They are made in Chicago but with a French twist.
Uncommon Closet is a Chicago-based tailor that specializes in tailoring & making clothes for all bodies by providing a gender inclusive and body positive space where you can feel comfortable. They also partner with Sharpe Suiting for custom suits & can make other custom clothing for your day.
Looking for a wedding gown made with sustainable and ethical production practices, Honey Bridal is the perfect bridal shop to check out.
If you’ve found the perfect outfit, but need alterations, Sophos Co does fantastic work!
Prep for the Beauty Chair
You should feel like the most beautiful version of yourself on your day. Some celebrants want to go full glam whereas some choose to go with a slightly enhanced version of their everyday look. Whatever you choose, there is a perfect hair or makeup artist out there to make your vision come to life.
Jason V Beauty has been creating beautiful makeup looks for 7+ years and focuses on being competent in working with a variety of skin tones/types and cultural styles. He specializes in minimal makeup visions for those who want an elevated everyday look versus full glam
Bridget Canela has been a makeup artist since 2009 who focuses on polishing the beauty that is already there.
Blush and Braids Beauty Bar is a one-stop shop for all your beauty needs on your special day. They prioritize delivering a personalized experience for each wedding they work.
Dani Lou Beauty specializes in natural, neutral, soft glam & follows her mantra of “beauty that lets YOU shine through.”
This Barber Jackie believes that hair has no gender and that all deserve to have a stunning head of hair on their special day. They will ensure that you feel comfortable, confident, and relaxed on your big day!
Blowout Junkie is a great spot for a full bridal party blow out party the morning of your special day. They can also travel to your venue to ensure you have the hair of your dreams for your day.
Branded Grooming specializes in gender-neutral barbering with a focus on trendy, short haircuts for you to be ready for your day.
The Glam Guy creates a personalized beauty experience tailored just for you and those celebrating with you.
Wax Man Spa is a premier day spa offering a range of waxing services, skincare treatments, and beauty enhancements.
The Public Barber focuses on providing a great client experience and promoting human connection. Their barbers provide precision haircuts, beard trims, and hot lather shaves.
Choose the Food + the Dessert
It’s no doubt that food is an essential part of any day and it is often a top priority for many couples planning their special day. With an elopement, the options are endless since there is an exclusive guest list. You could do a traditional seated dinner at a wedding venue or go out to eat at your favorite restaurant.
Caterers
🌎 Big Delicious Planet is a full-service luxury wedding caterer that serves delicious & vibrant food while focusing on sustainability throughout the entire catering process.
🌎 Lula Cafe offers custom seasonal menus, Lula chefs cooking on site, wine pairings & custom cocktail menus, and arranging any rentals that you need at your venue to ensure you have the perfect food experience on your day.
Looking for a caterer that specializes in vegan meals and can create a partial or total gluten-free menu, check out Kitchen 17.
BITES is the perfect caterer if you’re looking for beautiful Asian dishes including options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free meals.
PLANTA Queen is a great vegan option for any wedding but definitely check them out if you’re having a brunch wedding as they have waffle & french toast platters!
BLOOM Plant Based Kitchen offers vegan catering services from 4 to 7 courses featuring a variety of delicious plant-based dishes.
Your favorite restaurant is a great option for those who are looking for a dinner option that is beautiful and requires less planning.
Desserts
For beautiful and delicious plant-based cakes, Groovy Gateau is a wonderful choice.
Radical Joy Bakery creates stunning works of art that just so happen to be made of cake. They aim to bring creative flavors, artistry, and passion into each cake they bake.
Defloured is the perfect option if you and your guests are gluten-free.
Pie, Pie My Darling is a great option for a dessert bar featuring their unique vegan cakes or cupcakes. If you’re planning an intimate wedding with a quicker turnaround, they’re a great option as they only take orders 1 month out.
Jennivee’s Bakery bakes beautiful custom cakes that you can use to showcase your personality in cake form on your special day. They also create a variety of cookies, bars, and cupcakes if a dessert bar is more you speed.
Chicago Sugar Daddy bakes lovely cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts to satiate your sweet tooth on your day. They have dozens of flavor combinations that are sure to wow your taste buds.
If you’re looking for a unique reception option that is different from a traditional dinner, Vaca’s Creamery is the spot for you. They can accommodate up to 50 guests for all-you-can-eat dessert & drinks! Their vegan ice cream is delicious and you can even customize your own soft-serve flavor and signature drink for your special day!
Flourish with the Florals
Hire a florist if you’re wanting a bouquet to carry with you on your special day. Florals are one way to really brighten your day by bringing in gorgeous designs to accompany and elevate your overall wedding day design.
Mertle & Dot create lush, beautiful, and queer-inclusive designs.
🌎 EcoWilde Flower Co. offers full-service lush, sustainable floral design for your special day or a-la-carte services for micro weddings like yours.
🌎 The Roof Crop offers custom arrangements and event design with a keen eye for sustainability.
Dusk Lily Floral specializes in creating unique bouquets.
🌎 Flowers by Stem creates hand-crafted, sustainable, and luxury floral design.
🌎 Anemone has floral services varying from a package of two bouquets
Flora Chicago has a loose, organic, garden style for their wedding floral designs.
Plan an After Party
What do you want to be the first thing you do together once married?
You could plan a dinner at your favorite restaurant or the one you’ve always been meaning to try. If an urban farm alfresco sustainably farmed dinner sounds like a dream, Big Delicious Planet would be a perfect fit.
You could head right off to the honeymoon of your dreams. Vermont makes for a beautiful semi-destination honeymoon location no matter what season. I grew up in Vermont and would love to offer you recommendations for local gems!
You could plan a celebration with your loved ones in a reception-style event for those who couldn’t be a part of the ceremony. If you’re looking for an intimate urban oasis The Lytle House would be an excellent choice. You could even host a bowling + laser tag reception like this one.
Even without a full-day wedding and large reception to plan, you can still hire vendors to play an important role on your special day. Follow this guide and you’ll be well on your way to having the elopement day of your dreams!
If you’re looking specifically to hire other LGBTQ+ vendors, view the LGBTQ+ Chicago Wedding Vendors guide here.
Want to work together? Inquire here!
Photos from various weddings + elopements photographed by
Mei Lin Barral Photography
Mei Lin (first name, she/her) is a Chicago & France intimate wedding, elopement, & dog photographer for couples who lead with love, inclusivity, and a passion for the planet. LGBTQ+ & BIPOC owned + operated. Trans rights are human rights. Love is love. Stop AAPI Hate. Black Lives Matter.
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