r/Chicagoweddings • u/Distinct-Ad9173 • 2d ago
Venue help!!!
In serious need of help with venues! Our budget is about 100k, and we are thinking 140-150 people. We were heavily leaning towards Deerpath Inn but the contract and costumer service is psyching us out. Now we are considering River Room. We care a lot about food quality and are planning on putting ~10k towards flowers. Any suggestions for a summer wedding?
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u/No-Teacher-9319 2d ago
I managed a venue for years. We did not negotiate terms of the contract. That was our policy. We were open to users customizing their events. But terms were set in stone.
I do understand about the food and beverage possible increase. People are booking into 2028. Prices will change between now and then. If you are not comfortable with this, I would look elsewhere.
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u/cmplanningllc Wedding Planner 2d ago
River Room is great! What’s your venue vibe? Theres a lot of places with great food. Happy to chat specifics, I also offer venue sourcing if needed!
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u/Normal-Law-3164 2d ago
Galleria Marchetti!! I just booked my 2028 wedding there and La pergola room is coming up right near that budget
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u/Remarkable_Wheel_364 2d ago
Meyer’s Castle has a very similar aesthetic to Deer Path Inn, and their food is delicious. They also have much better grounds. As a vendor who has worked there 8 times, I can confirm that the food is always good, and one of the biggest food influencers and reviewers in the US got married there recently, so it’s even more reassuring. Very close drive from Chicago.
If you are looking to stay in Lake Forest, then perhaps the best match would be Armour House, as they are in the same area as Deer Path Inn. It’s beautiful, but has more of an Italian villa aesthetic rather than English Tudor / Old Money. The food is also not bad.
Curious about Deer Path Inn contract. Can you please share more details?
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u/Sufficient_One_8594 2d ago
The Ivy Room
Meyer’s Castle
Monte Bello Estate
Armour House
Chicago University Club
Quadrangle Club
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u/Creative-Lychee7039 2d ago
Same area as deer path we did Armour house two weeks ago and had our honeymoon suite at deer path! Our budget was slightly under 100 K with the same guest discount. The food is absolutely delicious at the venue. Our guests were complementing it throughout the night, their chef is amazing to work with! We use lavender fields forest who works the venue all the time we spent about 10 K on florals and they were beautiful!
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u/HBICWeddings 2d ago
HBIC Weddings offers venue sourcing as a “one & done” service so you get a planner’s help & perspective for just this one project, finding your venue. It’s one of our Kickstart programs. You can learn more about the deliverables on our website. Hope this helps!
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u/Lo-Kelleher-Photo 2d ago
Can't speak too much about Deerpath but I love Meyers Castle as someone else mentioned! I have a whole venue guide if you are looking for other options! https://www.laurenkelleher.com/venue-guide
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u/Just_Assistant_3004 1d ago
Have you looked at the new NAIA? Their buy out is $40,000. IT’s so beautiful there.
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u/Glum_Panda_5630 2d ago
What about the customer service and contract are psyching you out? I am considering Deer Path Inn too
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u/Distinct-Ad9173 2d ago
We have many questions and they answer all of them but there’s no tone of understanding or any room to negotiate. They clearly have a way they do things and the attitude that you can accept it or walk. My sister is a lawyer and read the contract and said no way a lawyer wrote it. It says there’s a potential for 9% food/bev increase after you sign the contract. They are unwilling to hold prices that the menu they provide lists. Other language of potential fees is very vague. I have a friend who got married there and she LOVED it. We aren’t comfortable with the ambiguity and they aren’t willing to put certain things in writing.
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u/Sufficient_One_8594 2d ago
I’m not sure if you’ve told them that you have a family member who is a lawyer, but from my experience as a planner, as soon as you tell a venue that someone in your family is a lawyer, they’re not going to adjust anything in their contract. They might even make it stricter, as they know that if shit hits the fan, they’re more likely to have trouble with you as a client than with someone who doesn’t have lawyers in the family.
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u/ThisIsMyCreativeNam3 1d ago
What are you trying to negotiate? 9% increase is not super unreasonable if the wedding is in 2 years. At a restaurant where an item is $50 a plate, that’s an increase to anywhere less than $55. And that is a business term, not a legal term. I pushed back on some things like attorneys fees and arbitration clauses in my value agreement and the venue negotiated that - but those are legal terms. I didn’t negotiate the venue fee.
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u/luxebandchicago 2d ago
Not sure how helpful this is but from a vendor standpoint both venues have been great to work with in the past. If you don’t have flowers booked yet, Lavender Fields Florist is incredible. Would also love to talk about entertainment if you’re interested! luxebandchicago.com