need a cheap but nice place to hold a wedding reception Cook county Illinois?

there are tons of venues in cook county but it is very hard to find something where you can do your own catering. the fact that it is in january further limits your choices because it must be indoors....a nice park or garden will not work.

so, here is a place you can check out. the libertyville civic center rents for 500 dollars for 4 hours, that is room c which is large enough for a seated reception for up to about 175 people. then you would need another room for the ceremony, but it would have to be standing unless you invite fewer guests to the ceremony than to the reception because the other room is not as large. it rents for about 35 dollars for one hour. click on this link and scroll down to room c to see the reception area and room e for the ceremony. you would need to do some decorating for the ceremony. http://www.libciviccenter.org/photos.html

i am also going to include a couple of places which offer all inclusive package deals because i know from a number of years working as a wedding planner that to execute a reception for 150 people is a great deal of work. not only would you need to feed them, you also have to provide linens, dinnerware and cutlery, condiments, and so much more. it is really a huge undertaking, even for a small wedding....but 150 guests is not that small a number so you would really be pressed to do all of that. besides, doing everything yourself does not always end up to be cheaper unless you know how to buy and prepare food in bulk.

so with all of that in mind, consider letting someone else do all that work for you. the astoria banquet hall has packages starting at 19.99 per person for luncheon but this includes the use of their facilities for the wedding so all you pay is the per person price. for 150 people that would turn out to be about 3000 dollars but it would include the ceremony, a nice reception and everything. http://astoriabanquets.com/

the gorgeous jacob henry mansion has luncheons starting at only around 17 dollars per person and they will do it all for you too. http://www.jacobhenrymansion.com/index.html

as for the wedding minister, if you go with astoria, they provide the minister in their package deal. if not, then you can simply google "wedding officiants in (name of town you are having the ceremony)" and you wil find plenty who will be happy to come to wherever you are....it is not true that ministers do not do weddings outside of their churches. only catholic priests and one or two other denominations are like that.

I am getting married this saturday in berks county pa. We are having the whole thing in our backyard. The weather should be around 80 degrees and sunny. I am so excited. I think everyone is going to be much more relaxed in the backyard and have a great time. We rented a tent, tables and chairs. We are decorating with white lights around the tent. All the tables will have centerpieces and each one will have a camera for all our guest to take pictures. We hired someone to do a pig roast for us. We are also having baked ziti and meatballs. All different party trays and of course the wedding cake. I am putting a little glass votive candle at all the seats with our names and wedding date on it for all the guests. Our whole wedding is costing about 3000.00 for about 70 people including dress rings and his outfit. Hope this helps you. If you dont want to do outside you might try a local fire house or vfw.

Cook County is huge - I think you'll have to narrow it down, just a bit. But I think your biggest problem will be getting the official to come to your location. Judges only like to do weddings in their court rooms. Ministers in their churches. Perhaps you should find him/her first and go from there. They may have some ideas.