Your romantic dates with your beau have always kept your besties and neighbors on the edge of their seats. And finally, you have some… ahem a lot to tell them! He popped the question, and how, where, and what he did to woo you to spend your forever with him! You can talk non-stop about him and the beginning of your love story...no doubt and no biggie as well! Then what the big deal is, you ask! Well having them talk about your love story for the rest of their lives is something that is SOMETHING, if you take our meaning! And what better way to make your memorable day unforgettable for your loved ones than hosting it at a spectacular place!

Picking out Illinois, one of the most diverse and interesting states in the country to tie the knot is a decision that’s going to pay you off well! And if your heart is already set on Chicago, we, Chicago wedding photographers welcome you to the charming city which is affectionately called “The Second City” and “Windy City”! The biggest town in Illinois, Chicago is a metropolitan hub of life and excitement. With a bucket full of things to see and do, Chicago is a lit place to celebrate the most important day of your life. Home to myriad gorgeous traditional and unconventional wedding venues and photo ops, Chicago is a muse for wedding photographers and couples-to-be-married alike, not to mention. Not only Chicago can play a magnificent backdrop to your remarkable engagement photo session, but also it can give you an unforgettable wedding experience sans burning a hole in your pocket with its affordable wedding venues. Whether you are hankering after a quiet waterfront union, a rustic barn party, or a sophisticated celebration in a top-notch luxury hotel, the Windy City does perfect justice to your Illinois wedding visions. Famous for countless things including deep-dish pizza, jazz, Al Capone, the Sears Tower, and mega-low temps, the “City of Big Shoulders” makes sure you go home with a piece of it in your love story. You might think, we are biased… but we think Chicago is one of the most incredible cities in America! There’s so much to do, so much to see, and it’s all so gorgeous! We mean, what other city has a magical skyline, enchanting beaches, majestic water, splendid architecture, and all four seasons!? No wonder couples not only desire to jet off to Chicago for their engagement photoshoot but also to exchange nuptials!

When it comes to getting married in Chicago, there are endless options to choose from. One of them which has our hearts is Greenbelt Cultural Center, a two-mile, moderately trafficked loop trail located between the suburbs of Waukegan and North Chicago. It also boasts a lake and a community/cultural center building. Open year-round, the trail is one of our favorite locations for engagement sessions in the Chicago suburbs as well for its stunning walking trails and secluded, shady glens. Spanning 18,500 sq. ft. of area, Greenbelt Forest Preserve in Chicago is filled with one-of-a-kind settings for wow-worthy weddings. Holed up within the native landscape of Greenbelt Forest Preserve, the gorgeous Chicago wedding venue is the perfect setting for your special occasion, whether it’s an indoor event or an outdoor soirée. The unique event venues at Greenbelt Cultural Center are not only perfect for throwing an unforgettable event, but also provide some pretty awesome photo ops.

A perfect blend of culture and the natural world, this community gathering place can play a perfect backdrop to any style of wedding. Couples usually love to host their reception in their new banquet room that has recently been added to the Cultural Center and cocktail hour out on the patio which is absolutely wonderful. However, if it had been raining the venue has plenty of versatile space to be used inside. The banquet room has massive windows and a striking 'living wall'. These details along with many others made this facility an exceptional wedding venue. 

Host your dream wedding or reception with 150 seated - 310 standing guests in Grand Woodland Hall, their private main event space featuring 4,460 sq. ft. decked up with sky-lit ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows bringing outdoors in. Imagine the natural-lit magical wedding photographs of you and your spouse and of course your wedding party! And the joy of joys is that it has the ability to be divided into three sections to create a more intimate setting for your intimate micro weddings. This divisible multi-purpose event space has a built-in sound system, free WiFi, and multiple projectors and screens, making it perfect to take your loved ones on a ride to your cute childhood. The Greenbelt Cultural Center wedding venue also provides great outdoor spaces including an Outdoor Amphitheater, Foyer, and two scenic patios to choose from for your alfresco Chicago wedding in the lap of nature surrounded by striking views. Our Chicago wedding photographers love to capture swoon-worthy wedding photos with the natural prairies, rolling hills, oak forest, and lake in the backdrop. When the sweeping beauty of the surroundings meets the skills of our professional wedding photographers in Chicago, the wedding and wedding photos both turn magical! The trails around the Center lead to an interpretive nature pond and link to additional preserve trails. Ah, pond in the woods! It sure adds much-needed whimsy to the couple photos when taken into the frame!

Let’s know a little history about the place. The long-held dream of a community gathering place was first given life by a voter-approved referendum. An advisory committee of residents, government officials, and local leaders oversaw the development of the Cultural Center to meet such goals as bringing people and nature together, offering a venue where everyone can enjoy and learn about the arts and the environment, and offering a place where the community and businesses can host meetings and special celebrations. The Greenbelt Cultural Center opened in June 2000 through the support of the community and assistance from corporate partners Abbott Laboratories and Grainger. A building expansion was completed in October 2011.

This spectacular sun-kissed wedding at Greenbelt Cultural Center will give you a day to cherish forever and a day! Not only will your event space look beautiful in person, but your ceremony pictures are bound to come out spectacularly. Natural lighting and panoramic views will add an extra touch of authenticity and love to your wedding album with our professional and affordable wedding photographers in and around Chicago. Seeing as the area itself will serve the purposes of setting and adornments, there are very few alterations needed for both the ceremony and reception. Conversely, you can also get much more creative in the alfresco space of the venue– you have ample room to create the concept you desire. If you are amongst those traditional couples who prefer church weddings followed by an alfresco reception consider exchanging your “I do’s” at Christ Church of Lake Forest nearby and add a spiritual dimension to your marriage.

The Greenbelt Forest near Chicago is the breathtaking location that an outdoorsy couple would want to get away from the city! It has trails that curve through waterways, stunning swaying trees, and it’s just a short drive from the city, which means you can plan your Chicago engagement session here as well.

If you are a Chicago couple, chances are you have visited Greenbelt Forest Preserve in North Chicago for a relaxing picnic with your friends or family at this peaceful island of green. As the Cultural Center is located within Greenbelt Forest Preserve and offers year-round outdoor recreation you can enjoy evening strolls, afternoon barbecues, cross-country skiing, and other activities. Shelter B is the closest shelter to the preserve's nature trail, which features interpretive signs that teach about the landscape. This parking lot also provides the closest access to Pulaski Lake's fishing area. The shelter area features an adjacent playfield and horseshoe pit. A playground is nestled between shelters A and B and is shared with all preserve visitors. Picnickers also have access to the preserve's fishing ponds and trails, including the nearby nature trail. To access this shelter, take the first right from the entrance road and bear left when the road divides. The parking lot is at the end of the road.

There is something so tranquil and awe-inspiring about making a promise of forever together while having a full view of the setting sun! Imagine you and your guests are surrounded by natural elements, rooting your ‘I do’s’ in the very basis of the earth! Dreamy enough!? And we all know what golden hour can do to the couple portraits! Let us enlighten you with one more fact that will make your venue decision a little easier- this enchanting venue is as lovely as it is affordable, and you get more bang for your buck with their state-of-the-art amenities at your disposal. From the bridal suite to get ready for the day-of and have all your essential photography captured with the skilled pair of hands. From wedding dress photo sessions, bridal portraits flaunting your wedding dress, mother-daughter wedding photos, and getting-ready session with bridesmaids to detailed shots of your dazzling bridal accessories including ring shots, our creative and professional wedding photographers make sure you have all the must-have wedding shots in your wedding photo gallery! All their rooms come with private restrooms to make your stay during the day an easy breeze. They also have their own catering and beverage kitchens plus you can also BYOB. Your wedding package includes tables and indoor/outdoor chairs, custom floor plans and on-site event producer, climate control and adjustable lighting, free parking, dance floor, stage, bar and podiums, three projectors and three built-in screens, free Wi-Fi, built-in sound system with wireless microphones, and of course a team of professionals who knows no bounds when it comes to make your day an unforgettable experience.

Anyone looking to have their wedding in a wonderful, one-of-a-kind venue, this is your place! We are not here just to help you find the perfect place that squarely fits into your visions but also a team of professional wedding photographers and/or wedding videographers that fits your budget as well. Regardless of the event space/s you choose for your once-in-a-lifetime celebration out of the wide range of venues that the Greenbelt Cultural Center has to offer you, we along with our wedding photo experts make sure every precious moment of your most important day is captured and in beautiful frames, and you with your soulmate head out to your happily-ever-after without any bumps in the road.