Wooded and Whimsical: 10 Illinois Forest Wedding Venues
Nothing says fairy-tale romance quite like a whimsical wedding celebration in a forested setting. With sprawling estates, lush gardens, and remote resorts spanning across the state, Illinois has enchanting escapes around every corner. Take your pick from our list below and bring your storybook dreams to life!
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Camp Wokanda
Chillicothe, IL
Venue Superpowers:
Picturesque Setting
Late Night Celebrations
Charming Cabins
Fab Features: a serene escape set on Davis Lake and surrounded by 300 acres of woodland • hold your romantic outdoor ceremony in the lush and natural setting • make this beautiful campground yours for the weekend as your entire guest list can be accommodated in the sleeping cabins and campgrounds
Catering: BYOPrice: $
Oak Hill Farm
Apple River, Illinois
Venue Superpowers:
Secluded Setting
Charming Details
All-Inclusive
Fab Features: private estate set on 172 verdant acres • outdoor ceremonies on the sweeping lawn or in St. John’s Chapel with its graceful steeple • unique event enhancements range from cocktails in the 1950s one-room schoolhouse to a DIY sundae and penny candy buffet served at the Country Store
Catering: BYOPrice: $ • $$
Storybook Gardens
Rochelle, IL
Venue Superpowers:
Enchanting Setting
Flexible Packages
Exclusive Use
Fab Features: serene 8-acre estate with a sparkling pond, winding creek, draping willows, and antique bridges • start-to-finish planning assistance and complete event design • secluded country vibes less than an hour from Chicago
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$ • $$$
CENTRAL ILLINOIS
CENTRAL ILLINOIS
Marlene's Event Barn
Metamora, IL
Venue Superpowers:
Panoramic Views
Waterside Ceremonies
Late Night Celebrations
Fab Features: a rustic venue sitting on 11 acres of beautiful woods and grassland • have fun prepping for your big day in the Bridal Suite, with wall to wall mirrors and a stocked coffee cubby • hold your ceremony under their waterside pavilion and dance the night away in the 5300 square foot barn
Catering: Preferred list, BYOPrice: $ • $$ • $$$
Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock
North Utica, IL
Venue Superpowers:
All-Inclusive
Secluded Setting
On-Site Accommodations
Fab Features: relaxing resort surrounded by nature • variety of event spaces from the Grand Ballroom to the outdoor pavilion to the canyon deck • endless amenities like an indoor waterpark, cave arcade, and mini golf!
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$
Vrooman Mansion
Bloomington, IL
Venue Superpowers:
All-Inclusive
Late Night Celebrations
Luxe Overnight Accommodations
Fab Features: historic 1860s mansion with dramatic, Romanesque design and lovingly resorted interiors • intimate ceremonies in the lush gardens followed by dreamy dinners in the Main House or on the pretty grounds • luxe overnight B&B accommodations in the rooms, suites, and charming Carriage House (perfect for a honeymoon!)
Catering: Preferred list, BYOPrice: $ • $$
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
A Pocket Full of Sunshine
Mount Vernon, IL
Venue Superpowers:
Family-Owned
All-Inclusive
Private Estate
Fab Features: sweet, family-owned venue surrounded by lush meadows, a sparkling pond, and mature shade trees • the pretty whitewashed barn boasts features an attached covered patio that opens to a courtyard • choose from their wide collection of décor to make your unique vision come to life
Catering: Preferred listPrice: $ • $$
Dragonfly
Herrin, IL
Venue Superpowers:
Picturesque Setting
Private Estate
On-Site Accommodations
Fab Features: whimsical property set on 36 gorgeous acres • endless photo ops next to the 1-acre pond, a cascading waterfall, the flower swing, a boho tiny house, and the wonderland woods • forested ceremonies followed by fun receptions in the rustic barn or in the covered pavilion with is large stone fireplace
Catering: BYOPrice: $ • $$
Historic Bell Hill
Cobden, IL
Venue Superpowers:
Picturesque Panoramas
Rustic
Weekend Weddings
Fab Features: breathtaking panoramic views of the Shawnee National Forest • say “I do” on the manicured lawn or with a pre-Civil War barn backdrop • multiple event spaces can accommodate intimate to large-scale celebrations
Catering: Preferred list, BYOPrice: $ • $$
Starlight Lake
Marion, IL
Venue Superpowers:
Waterfront Ceremonies
Late Night Celebrations
On-Site Accommodations
Fab Features: a family-owned Southern Illinois venue situated on 144 private acres • hold your romantic outdoor ceremony with the glittering lake as your backdrop • celebrate al fresco style and dance beneath the stars in their unique reception space
Catering: BYOPrice: $ • $$
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