Colvin House 5940 N Sheridan Road • Chicago • IL 60660


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Why You'll Love This Place

A Here Comes The Guide Wedding Venue Review
  • This 1909 treasure has been lovingly restored to its turn-of-the-century glory, and is one of only a handful that remain of the stately mansions that once lined Sheridan Road. Built by renowned architect George Maher in the unique "Prairie" style, it includes beautiful geometric and nature-inspired motifs throughout its interior.
  • Host a ceremony and cocktail hour in the dreamy herringbone brick courtyard, followed by a reception in the home's breathtaking main room, which features wood floors, a fireplace, dazzling Art Nouveau chandeliers, and an opulently embellished ceiling.
  • Its waterfront location means you'll have a unique photo opportunity—whether you catch Lake Michigan when her waters are calm or turbulent, you're guaranteed sweeping, memorable shots.

PRICES: What's this going to cost?

Rental Fee
  • $4,000–9,000/event
  • Rental fee varies depending on:
    • Day of week
    • Time of year
  • The rental fee includes:

    • Exclusive use of the venue for the contracted time, plus 3 hours for getting ready and 1 hour for cleanup
    • Use of the entire 1st floor of the historic mansion, the outdoor Coach House, 1920s-inspired basement speakeasy, and the lighted courtyard and gardens (no tent required!)
    • Three dressing rooms including a 3rd-floor suite overlooking Lake Michigan and the 2nd-floor "Something Blue" room
    • On-site venue manager, coatroom, and attendant
    • Dimmable lighting, outdoor patio and lounge furniture, and a collection of vintage in-house furniture
    • Ample parking, restroom options (including gender-neutral)

    Friday | 5-hour event | $4,000–77000
    Saturday | 7-hour event | $6,000–9,000
    Sunday | 6-hour rental | $5,000–8,000

    Monday–Thursday rentals are available December 1–March 31 only, with a $4,000 rental fee.

COUPLES ARE ASKING: We've got answers

What's included when we book Colvin House, and what will we still need to pay for separately?

Your rental at Colvin House in Chicago gives you every event space on the property, an on-site venue manager, vintage brass folding chairs for your whole guest count, the house's collection of vintage furniture, and its full set of tables, from 60-inch rounds to high boys. You also get three getting-ready rooms, multiple restrooms, and an ADA lift to the first floor. Catering, bar packages, a DJ, parking and a coordinator are separate, and the venue recommends at least a day-of coordinator, which its in-house team offers for $1,500.

Can we have both our ceremony and reception at Colvin House, or will guests need to travel between them?

Yes, everything happens at Colvin House. Ceremonies happen out in the fenced herringbone brick courtyard behind the house, which also works for cocktail hour or dinner. Inside, the parlor, foyer, dining room and sunrooms seat 85 for dinner or hold 120 cocktail style, and the open-air coach house opens into a second lounge and bar for cocktail hour.

If we already have vendors we love, can we bring them to Colvin House or do we have to use yours?

Mostly, yes. Colvin House asks you to hire a full-service licensed caterer that brings its own staff. Pick from the preferred list, use the venue's in-house catering team, or bring a caterer you love through the venue's onboarding process for an added fee. The bar is run by Colvin House's own mixologists, with packages at $20–52 per person. The rest of the preferred vendor list, from florists to photographers, is optional, and the venue recommends hiring a DJ since it has no in-house sound system for events.

What should we realistically expect to spend on a wedding at Colvin House, and is there a minimum?

At Colvin House in Chicago, the venue rental runs $4,000–9,000, depending on the day and season. From April through November, it's $7,000 on Fridays, $9,000 on Saturdays and $8,000 on Sundays. From December through March, those drop to $4,000, $6,000 and $5,000. Saturdays include the longest event, 7 hours, while Fridays get 5 and Sundays 6. Holiday weekends add $1,000, and staying past midnight adds $700. Bar packages run $20–52 per person depending on the tier and hours, a day-of coordinator from the in-house team is $1,500, and catering and parking are separate.

How long do we get at Colvin House, and when does the music have to stop?

Your rental at Colvin House includes a 5-hour event on Fridays, 7 hours on Saturdays or 6 hours on Sundays, plus 3 hours for getting ready with your vendors and 1 hour of cleanup for your caterer. There's no set schedule, so you and the team decide where those hours fall in the day. Want to keep going past midnight? That's an extra $700, and the music has to end and guests have to leave by 1am.

What makes Colvin House different from the other venues near it?

Colvin House is a 1909 Prairie Style mansion by architect George Maher, designated a Chicago landmark, sitting across the street from Lake Michigan. You get access to the whole house for your ceremony and reception, from the parlor with its plaster angels and crown moldings to the herringbone brick courtyard. Three getting-ready rooms are included, and the first floor is accessible with a wheelchair lift and a gender-neutral, accessible restroom. When you want help, the in-house team handles catering, a custom cocktail bar and wedding planning.

Can we tour Colvin House, and what should we ask while we're there?

Yes, Colvin House highly recommends touring with a member of its events team before you book. While you're there, walk both the 6,000-square-foot house and the herringbone brick courtyard, since seated dinners top out at 85 guests. Ask where your parking options are, since they come with a fee and some need a dashboard permit, and which preferred caterers the team works with most.

GUEST COUNT: How many people can we have here? What’s the max capacity?

Indoors Outdoors
Ceremony Seated 100 100
Cocktails, etc. Standing 150 150
Reception Seated 100 100
Meetings Total meeting capacity for this venue is 50.

Venue Info & FAQs

OPTIONS: What kinds of events can we have here?

  • All-Inclusive
  • Outdoor Ceremony
  • Ceremony
  • Wedding Receptions
  • Outdoor Reception
  • LGBTQ+ Friendly
  • Small Wedding
  • Rehearsal Dinner
  • Special Events / Parties
  • Business Functions / Meetings
  • Late Night

POLICIES: What are the food, alcohol, music, and other rules here?

Price

$ • $$

Catering

In-house
Preferred list

Alcohol

In-house
Preferred List

Amplified Music

Indoors
Outdoors

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair accessible

Availability

Year-round, daily.

STYLE: What’s the style and overall vibe of this venue?

Buildings & other settings available:

  • Historic / Landmark Building
  • Mansion
  • Patio / Deck / Terrace
  • Banquet Hall / Events Facility
  • Beach / Ocean
  • Lake
  • Unique

VIEWS: What kind of views does this place have?

Peep the views you’ll enjoy from this venue!

  • Cityscape
  • Garden
  • Lake
  • Landscaped Grounds

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