Your Complete Wedding Guide
Let’s get Into the details
Whether you’re planning your ceremony, reception, or both, Loft on Lake offers a distinctive Chicago event space with the flexibility to create a celebration that feels entirely your own. Our character-filled space can be transformed to suit your vision—from intimate ceremonies and elegant seated dinners to cocktail-style celebrations and lively dance floors.
Bring your own vendors and creative team, or take advantage of our trusted network of catering, photography, floral, event design, and other professional partners who know the space well.
This guide includes the details, guidelines, and policies you’ll need as you plan your wedding at Loft on Lake. Take a look through it as you build your plans, coordinate with your vendors, and bring your vision to life.
Included Amenities
Your venue rental includes 10 hours of access to the entire first-floor event space, giving you plenty of time for setup, your celebration, and breakdown. As an independent event space, Loft on Lake offers the flexibility to make the space your own. Bring in your own décor, florals, furniture, vendors, and creative ideas to create an event that feels uniquely yours.
We provide the essentials to get your event started, including: tables and chairs, chandeliers, perimeter uplighting, café-bistro lighting, Wi-Fi, 52" flat-screen TV monitor, two parking spaces, and more.
Every event also includes 1–4 Loft on Lake staff members, depending on the needs of your event. Your onsite team may include a Venue Liaison, Loft on Lake owners, and/or an event photographer.
““We got nothing but compliments on the wedding and how beautiful it was - if I had to do it all over again I would pick
Loft on Lake again without even thinking about it.””
Room Amenities
4,800 sqft. - entire first floor access
40 X 60 ft. Main Space
18 X 24 ft. Cocktail Lounge
9 X 11 ft. Wedding Suite
Coat Closet with hangers
Wet bar with granite counter
Chef's Kitchen with large granite buffet island + Catering Prep Area
Included Furniture
(15) 66" in. Round Guest tables
(150) Natural Wooden Folding Chairs
(10) Highboys (8 convertible into cabaret tables)
(4) 8 ft. Banquet tables
(4) 6 ft. Banquet tables
(1) 4 ft. Banquet table
(1) 60” Half Moon table (sweetheart table)
(1) 4 ft. Wooden Table (Perfect for Gifts/Guestbook/Cardbox and favors at the end of the night or perhaps your sweetheart table)
(3) Black leather lounge Sectional Sofas
(2) Portable Bars with Lighting features
Lighting & Electrical
Chandeliers in Cocktail & Hallway
Cafe lights throughout Main Space
Entry way Cafe Lights on Ceiling
Blue LED (150 ft.) around Skylight
Colored Uplights around Main Space
All lighting on dimmers to create the perfect ambiance
65” TV at entrance for photo slideshow, or digital welcome sign or seating chart
Hi-speed wireless network (500 mbps down/35up)
A/C and Heat Controlled
Accessibility
Ground level, accessible entrances both front and back
(2) 7.5 X 7.5 ft. private accessible restrooms
(4) Reserved parking spaces in our private lot
Included Draping
Dramatic draping at Main Space entryway
White sheer transitions drapes for cocktail hour
Retractable drapes across kitchen/catering prep area
Everything you need to know ahead of the big day
Tables & Chairs Provided
Loft on Lake provides a selection of tables to accommodate your event, including 66" round guest tables, 6' and 8' banquet tables, and cocktail tables.
Your rental also includes 150 natural wood folding chairs. Prefer a more formal look? Chiavari chairs are available to rent in six different colors for $6 per chair.
Your caterer will help you select linens, textures, and other tabletop rentals that complement your event design, then provide a customized rental quote based on your selections.
We’ll coordinate rental delivery and pickup directly with your caterer, so one more logistical detail is taken care of for you.
Capacity
Loft on Lake accommodates up to 150 guests for a seated dinner reception, with our sweet spot around 125 guests for a ceremony and reception in the same space. For cocktail-style receptions, we recommend up to 200 guests.
Your caterer will handle the furniture logistics, including setting tables and chairs according to your floor plan, executing a room flip from ceremony to reception when needed, and clearing and storing the furniture at the end of the night.
We’ll work through the details with you and your vendors ahead of time so everything is ready when the big day arrives.
Venue Representatives
When you book your wedding at Loft on Lake, we’ll be available throughout the planning process and on your wedding day.
We can coordinate venue deliveries and pickups, and our team will monitor the space throughout your event—including temperature, lighting, and restroom upkeep—so you can stay focused on celebrating.
Looking for more hands-on support? Our Day-of Coordination package with Jill, our Venue Director, provides dedicated onsite coordination on your wedding day. Jill will help keep your timeline moving, coordinate with vendors, and oversee transitions throughout the day so everything stays on track.
private Wedding Suite
A private place to get ready, take a breath, or step away from the celebration for a moment. Our Wedding Suite gives the wedding party a comfortable space to relax and freshen up before the ceremony and throughout the evening.
The suite includes a full-length mirror, sink, storage cubbies, lounge furniture, natural light, and soft lamp lighting, with plenty of room to keep personal belongings and wedding gifts safely tucked away.
Whether you need a quiet moment before walking down the aisle, a place to touch up throughout the night, or simply a few minutes away from the dance floor, the Wedding Suite is yours to enjoy.
Deposit Policy
A 50% deposit of the venue rental fee is due when you sign your contract to reserve your wedding date.
The remaining venue rental balance is due four months before your wedding date.
We also keep a credit card on file as a security authorization for the event. Your card is not charged in advance; it is held on file in accordance with the terms of your contract.
"From Los Angeles, I had to plan our 150 person wedding in just 2 months. I didn't even have a chance to see the space before choosing it. I went by pictures, reviews, price and gut. Loft on Lake = Jackpot!" - Julie M.
Rental Rates
Wedding rentals include 10 hours of venue access, whether you’re hosting your ceremony and reception together or a reception only. Use those hours in the way that works best for your celebration—from setup and getting ready to the ceremony, reception, and breakdown.
Ceremony-only rentals are also available.
Rental rates vary by date and event details. Contact us for current pricing and availability.
"We had our wedding here and it was perfect and reasonably priced."-Trey C.
Flexibility
As an independent event space, we have the flexibility to work with you and help make your wedding plans come together smoothly.
Our team is available to offer trusted vendor recommendations, schedule site tours and final walkthroughs, and help coordinate venue details, deliveries, and logistics leading up to and on your wedding day.
Coat Check
A dedicated coat check area is available for your guests. Choose a self-service setup, or work with your caterer or planner to provide an attendant for a more hands-off experience.
"I truly cannot imagine my big day having been anywhere else in the city (or the world) after having it at Loft on Lake" - Yelp user
““They were flexible with the times our vendors could come in to set up for our Friday night Sangeet. We loved the space and it was perfect for our event. We could not have been happier with the staff and the space at Loft on Lake.” ”
Deliveries & Pickups
We know deliveries and pickups can be a significant part of your event logistics, so we work with you and your vendors to make the process as smooth as possible.
All deliveries and pickups must be scheduled and coordinated with Loft on Lake in advance. Clients, planners, and vendors should confirm access times with our team before arriving at the venue.
Depending on our event schedule and availability, we may be able to accommodate early deliveries or pickups on a later date. These arrangements are handled on a case-by-case basis and must be confirmed with our team ahead of time.
Coordinate with us in advance, and we’ll help keep the logistics on track.
"The staff and owners were great to work with, from allowing us to leave items there the night before to letting us drop by and show people the space throughout our engagement to even noticing that I was really hot during the reception and offering to turn down the heat." -Sarah
Event Scheduling
Every wedding timeline is a little different, but the example below shows how a typical ceremony and reception might flow at Loft on Lake:
12:00 pm Loft on Lake opens
12:00-2:00 pm Vendor delivery window
2:00-3:00 pm Caterer arrives and begins setup
4:00-5:00 pm Wedding party arrives at venue; familly portraits before ceremony
4:30 pm “Doors Open” / Guests begin to arrive (1/2 hour before ceremony)
5:00 pm Ceremony begins (15-30 minutes)
5:30-6:30 pm Cocktail hour
6:45 pm Wedding party announced, welcome speech
7:00-8:30 pm Dinner reception, Speeches, Special Dances (1.5 to 2 hours long)
8:30-11:45 pm Desserts, dancing, & photo booth fun
11:30 pm ‘Soft’ Last call
11:45 pm Bars Closed
12:00 am Last Song / Event concludes
12:00-1:00 am Catering cleans space while guests exit / Vendor Load out
1:15 am Venue Closed
This is a sample timeline only. Your final schedule will be customized based on your ceremony, reception, vendors, and event plans.
Not ready to call it a night? Randolph Street and Fulton Market are just steps away, with plenty of late-night bars, restaurants, and spots to continue the celebration.
Lighting
Lighting is included with your venue rental and is designed to create a warm, inviting atmosphere from day through evening. All venue lighting is on dimmer switches, giving you flexibility to adjust the mood as your celebration unfolds.
The cocktail lounge and transition hallway feature chic chandeliers in a variety of sizes, while café lights stretch across the timber rafters in the Main Space and perimeter uplighting adds a soft glow around the room.
Candles are welcome, with a few simple guidelines: no taper candles, and all candles must be fully enclosed in glass cylinders or vases.
Want to create more dramatic focal points? Our preferred event production partners can provide additional lighting throughout the venue, including specialty illumination and custom lighting installations.
Parking & Valet Service
Paid street parking is available throughout the area surrounding Loft on Lake. For guests who prefer a garage, we recommend the Public Garage at 328 N. Ada Street, approximately a three-minute walk from our front door.
For the best available garage rates, we recommend checking SpotHero for current pricing and availability.
An additional parking garage is located at 1341 W. Randolph Street in the Plumbers Union Building. Rates and availability may vary.
Want to make parking easier for your guests? We can also provide recommendations for valet parking services.
Please note: Valet parking must be arranged separately and is not coordinated by Loft on Lake. See our list of valet vendors.
Draping
Decorative draping as a beautiful backdrop for your ceremony or for other purposes is carried out by an event production company specializing in draping services. Loft on Lake does not provide ceremony backdrops. We have white satin draping at the entryway of the Grand Loft space; a sheer polyester white drape that can be used as a room separator or backdrop, and grey draping covering and surrounding the kitchen area towards the back of the space where the caterers work. We recommend taking a look at our preferred event producers page for event draping.
"The main area truly provided a blank slate for us to create our ceremony and reception visions. The exposed brick and skylight helped to create a very soft and romantic evening." -Sarah M.
Transportation
Getting to Loft on Lake is easy, whether your guests arrive by rideshare, public transportation, or a private shuttle.
Uber and Lyft are convenient options for guests traveling to and from the venue, and you can also arrange private transportation or a shuttle service for your wedding party and guests.
Public transportation is nearby, with the CTA Green and Pink Line station at Lake & Ashland just a short walk from Loft on Lake.
Need help arranging transportation? We’re happy to share recommendations for trusted transportation companies and other wedding vendors familiar with the venue.
Décor
The right décor team can bring your vision to life while taking one more thing off your plate. Whether you’re working with a professional event production team, event planner, florist, or incorporating DIY elements, we highly recommend having dedicated help for setup and styling on your wedding day.
Loft on Lake is DIY-friendly, and we’re happy to work with you on décor setup scheduling whenever our event calendar allows. Because every installation is different, please check with our team in advance to discuss your DIY décor plans and any special setup needs.
Bring the vision. We’ll help you figure out how to make it work in the space.
"Chicago weddings can be expensive, but Loft on Lake provides a nice option where you can do a lot or just add some flowers and additional lights like we did - the space itself is gorgeous and really doesn't need a lot of extra work." -Zach T.
Rehearsals
We offer a complimentary one-hour wedding rehearsal for your wedding party, available the evening before your wedding or on another day during the week leading up to your celebration, based on venue availability.
We recommend scheduling your rehearsal as early as possible so we can reserve your preferred date and time.
One hour. Your wedding party. One less thing to worry about.
Catering Prep Kitchen
Your caterer will be utilizing the prep kitchen and additional catering prep room throughout your event. Having the kitchen is a great perk for you and the caterers. Caterers love it because having a kitchen on-site makes their jobs so much easier. It saves you a bit of money too since caterers might need to charge you to bring portable kitchen equipment and food prep appliances.
Expose the draped-off kitchen to use the large granite island for food display, buffet station, late-night snacks, or desserts.
Live Music or DJs
We welcome all wedding entertainment and music styles of your choice. Wedding Bands, DJs, quartets, duets, soloists, guitarists, harpists, pianists.
We do have a list of recommended music talent in the vendor section you can refer to if you'd like, or feel free to utilize the musical talent of your choice!
The music vendor you choose will provide their own sound equipment, including microphones.
BYOB
You have the option of choosing a bar package directly with your caterer, or you can provide your own alcohol. BYOB process works by placing an order for your favorites beers, wine and spirits with a beverage depot like Garfield’s, Prestige or Binny’s. They’ll delivery your order directly to the venue, and return afterward and buy back the unopened leftovers.
Most groups prefer the BYOB option, but of course most all caterers provide their own bar packages that you can select from.
““The space was beyond perfect! The aesthetic of the room -
exposed brick walls, barrel-vaulted skylight, timber beams -
perfectly enhanced our vision for the ceremony and the
dramatic transformation for the reception.” ”
Additional Services & Rentals
The below items are not included in your rental, but are available at Loft on Lake for additional costs.
““The main area truly provided a blank slate for us to create our ceremony and reception visions. The exposed brick and skylight helped to create a very soft and romantic evening.””
Catering Requirements
flexibility of choice and convenience of trusted partners
We work with a curated network of 25+ full-service catering partners for food and beverage service, giving you the convenience of an all-inclusive experience with the flexibility to choose the caterer that best fits your event, menu, and budget.
Every Catering Partner is fully licensed, insured, pre-approved, and familiar with Loft on Lake. They know the space and can help guide you through room layouts, rentals, staffing, bar service, and customized menus.
Our team is also here to help. Whether you’re looking for recommendations, comparing options, or figuring out the details, we’re happy to share our experience and help you build the right team for your event.