Magic & Love is in the Air at Loft on Lake

Whether you are looking for a venue to have your ceremony, reception, or both, this refined and turn-key Loft venue is located in the West Loop, the trendiest area of Chicago. Loft on Lake offers a unique interior that can be transformed to the exact look and style you are dreaming of! Utilize your own resources or take full advantage of the fabulous affiliates that work with Loft on Lake. Below is a detailed Bridal Guide for referencing as you plan the big day.

Included Amenities

Venue rental includes access to the entire first floor venue for a 10 hour period. We provide all tables and chairs, as well as great lighting throughout the space. As an independent event space, we also offer great flexibility - making it easier to plan your event and achieve what you enviionsWe include chandeliers, uplighting, bistro lights, WIFI, a 52" flat-screen TV monitor, and 2 parking spaces. 1-4 Loft on Lake staff members will be present for every event which includes: a Venue Liaison, Loft on Lake owners, and/or an event photographer.

Wedding Guidelines, Policies and Requirements

Catering Requirements

We provide a large list of full-service catering partners for you to select from for all your food & beverage service. This provides the convenience of an all-inclusive while giving you plenty of options!

The Loft on Lake team is always available to help with any and all vendor selections and to provide tips and guidance to help achieve a flawless event. We’ve create partnerships with some of Chicago’s best caterers that will deliver premium services and products making it easy to facilitate your ceremony and reception.

All of our Catering Partners are familiar with the space and can help guide you through room placement, rentals, and customized menus. They’re also pre-approved for you and they have all the proper licensing and insurance requirements on file with us already.

Tables & Chairs Provided

Loft on Lake provides all the table types you’ll need for your event, including 66” round guest tables, 6ft and 8ft banquet tables and cocktail tables!

We also have 150 Natural Wooden Folding Chairs included with your rental, or you may opt to rent Chiavari chairs in 6 different colors for just $6/each.

You’ll work with your caterer to choose whatever color/texture linens best fit your style. Your caterer will help guide you through your rental options and provide you with a customized quote!

We will coordinate rental delivery/pickup with your caterer so you won’t have to.

Venue Representatives

When you book your wedding at Loft on Lake, we’ll be available throughout your planning process leading up to and on the wedding day itself.

We can accept/coordinate all deliveries and pickups at the venue. We will always monitor the space itself - temperature, lighting, and restroom upkeep.

If you feel you want some extra hands on help, check out our Day-of Coordination package with Jill, our Venue Director. This will guarantee she is on site on your wedding day, ensuring everything is moving along smoothly and working with your vendors for transitions through your timeline.

"OMG. Where to begin…JILL!! She was the absolute best day of coordinator. The amount of ease and knowledge she provided to help our day go as smoothly as possible was beyond amazing." -Tommy T.

Deposit Policy

50% of the venue rental fee is due at contract signing to reserve your date. The final balance is due 4 months out from your wedding date. We will hold your Credit Card information on file as your security deposit, it is not transacted in advance.

"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.

Flexibility

We strive to be as flexible as possible to help you create your dream wedding! We’re always on hand to offer vendor recommendations, schedule site tours, final walk throughs and help coordinate details and deliveries on the big day.

"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." - Ajay

Deliveries & Pickups

We understand how crucial to your time and budget deliveries and pickups can be, so we are flexible! We can work with you and your vendors ahead of time to ensure scheduling for your deliveries and pickups are on the calendar. Clients, event planners, and vendors must coordinate with the venue as to when they can enter the space prior to their event. 

Depending on our availability, sometimes we allow for deliveries to arrive a day early and even allow for pick-ups days later - providing event scheduling permits. These details can always be coordinated with us ahead of your event date.

Lighting

Loft on Lake provides sufficient and romantic lighting included in your rental! ALL lighting included is on dimmer switches. We have numerous chic chandeliers of various sizes hanging in the cocktail room and transition hallway.

Strands of cafe lights hang from the timber rafters in the Main Space. with up-lighting surrounding the perimeter of the room. Candles are acceptable (no tapers) as long as candles are encased in glass cylinders/vases. Our preferred event production vendors can provide additional lighting in different focal areas throughout the venue for elegant illumination. 

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.

Décor

Decor professionals are exceptional in bringing your vision to life and will work to create a beautiful space for your wedding day - one less thing for you to worry about! Whether you’re hiring a professional event production team, an event planner, florist, or creating some DIY elements, having extra hands dedicated to this is highly recommended! We’re very DIY-friendly and will do our best to accommodate special requests for decor setup scheduling. Please check with us first on your DIY decor plans.

"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.

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. 

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.

Capacity

We recommend up to 150 guests for a seated dinner reception, with our sweet spot coming around 125 guests for ceremony and reception on site. For a cocktail-style reception, we recommend up to 200 guests.

Your caterer will setup all of your tables and chairs according to the floor plan, fully execute a room flip from ceremony to reception (if needed), and will cleanup and put all the furniture away at the end of the night.

Since we’ll square away all of these details ahead of the big day, your job will simply be to show up and have a great time!

Wedding Suite

Loft on Lake has a Private Suite ready for the wedding party to relax or freshen up before walking down the aisle. Perfect place to store your personal items throughout the night, and gifts your guests may bring.

Equipped with a full-length mirror, sink, storage cubbies, lounge furniture, a natural light window, and soft lamp lighting - a nice place for when you need a moment to yourselves throughout the night.

Rental Rates

Weddings are full 10-hour rentals, so whether it’s ceremony + reception, or reception only, you’re welcome to use your 10 hours however you like!

We have Ceremony Only pricing available, too. Contact us for current rental rate information.

"We had our wedding here and it was perfect and reasonably priced."-Trey C.

Coat Check

Your guests can do a self-service coat check, or you can coordinate with your caterer or planner to provide coat check services and attendants.

"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

Event Scheduling

Here’s a sample timeline for ceremony & reception:

• 12p - Loft on Lake opens

• 12-2p - Vendor delivery window

• 2-3 p - Caterer arrives and begins setup

• 4-5 p - Wedding party arrives at venue; familly portraits before ceremony

• 4:30 pm- “Doors Open” / Guests begin to arrive (1/2 hour before ceremony)

• 5 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)

• 8:30-11:45p - Desserts, dancing, & photo booth fun

• 11:30 p - ‘Soft’ Last call

• 11:45 p - Bars Closed

• 12 a - Last Song / Event concludes

• 12-1 a - Catering cleans space while guests exit / Vendor Load out

• 1:15 a - Venue Closed

Continuing the party? Award winning Bars & Restaurants on Randolph St. and Fulton Market are great late-night options right in the neighborhood!

Parking & Valet Service

There is paybox parking surrounding the venue, and for any guests not using Uber/Lyft, we recommend parking in a Public Garage located at 328 N. Ada, just a 3-minute walk to our front door. You’ll get the best prices by using Spothero.

Another garage is located at 1341 W. Randolph in the Plumber’s Union Building. Rates are listed at $4/hr.

We also have valet recommendations if you want to cover parking for your guests.

Valet must be arranged additionally. The venue does not coordinate these services. See our list of valet vendors.

Transportation

Typically guests will Uber/Lyft to the venue, or perhaps you’d like to offer a shuttle to and from the venue.

Public transportation is also just blocks away from Loft on Lake. The Green/Pink line station at Lake & Ashland is less than 2 blocks West.

We have vendor recommendations for every category, including transportation companies.

Rehearsals

We allow a complimentary one-hour rehearsal with your wedding party the night before your wedding or any day during the week prior to your wedding day (provided the date and time are available). 

We recommend scheduling your rehearsal well ahead the week of your wedding so we can reserve this time for you.

"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

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. 

Additional Services & Rentals

The below items are not included in your rental, but are available at Loft on Lake for additional costs.