Central Illinois has a large variety of gorgeous wedding ceremony and reception venues, but it can quite intimidating seeing the massive list. The area of Central Illinois is a broad wide area, including Springfield, Sherman, Williamsville, Chatham, Bloomington, Normal, Lincoln, Clinton, Peoria, Decatur, and so on. The questions of where to begin and how to narrow your search creep in.
Don't worry, I'm here to help!
Soul Focus has been photographing weddings in Central Illinois for many years. I have compiled a list of our favorite venues to shoot at so far. This list includes some of the most beautiful venues Central Illinois has to offer. From industrial chic to traditional churches and everything in between, these are our favorites places in Central Illinois to date.
This is definitely not an exhaustive list as there are many other wedding venues here in Illinois, but these are just our favorites Soul Focus has had the opportunity to shoot at. Please, enjoy reading our favorite spots, and feel free to leave a comment below.
WASHINGTON PARK GAZEBO - Springfield, IL
Looking for that perfect venue for a small, intimate, COVID wedding? The Gazebo at Washington Park in Springfield, Illinois is the best spot! The gazebo itself is breathtaking with it's classic and elegant architecture.
You can set up chairs for a beautiful outdoor wedding. And, it only costs $70 to reserve this spot for a wedding ceremony!
The Gazebo is right by the lake with a fountain, which is perfect for photos! Having your wedding at Washington Park allows for SO MANY spots for photos! See below for examples!
PIPER GLEN GOLF CLUB - Springfield, IL
The Piper Glen Golf Club is an award-winning golf course. This golf club is located in the state capital of Springfield, Illinois. The club is just minutes from downtown Springfield, next to the town of Chatham.
There are so many reasons to consider using Piper Glen for your wedding venue. First off, it is very convenient because you can have both your ceremony and reception here! They can set up a beautiful outdoor wedding for the ceremony, and the reception can be held in a tent. Guests don't need to worry about traveling from one place to the other. Piper Glen also offers very flexible, affordable wedding prices. They also have expert consultants that will help you in your journey with Piper Glen.
TRAILSIDE EVENT CENTER - Peoria Heights, IL
Trailside Event Center is an absolutely gorgeous converted warehouse building. It is located in Peoria Heights, IL, along the Rock Island Trail. The venue includes exposed brick and wooden beams throughout the room. The pine floors are original and create a great space for dancing. The Trailside Event Centers sits just above an in-house delicious bakery, Trefzger's Bakery. They also have an in-house salon called Identity Salon.
The Trailside Event Center allows you to have both your ceremony and reception in one location so that your guests won't have to worry about driving. There are so many reasons to consider this venue in Peoria, Illinois.
NEW SALEM ROOTS - Petersburg, IL
New Salem Roots is a hidden gem for sure. This wedding venue is located in the small town of Petersburg, IL, just northwest of Springfield, Illinois. You can have both your wedding ceremony and reception at this location. They even offer outdoor seating if you want an outdoor wedding. To make it even better, they have absolutely gorgeous property right behind the building. It includes a lake, trees, and tall grass.
The great thing about New Salem Roots is that you can choose your own catering, alcohol, and decorations at no extra charge! Now, this is honestly hard to come by anymore. Their prices are affordable and their space can hold up to 250 guests. The space includes a full kitchen, bar area, stage, sound system, and it is handicap accessible.
ERIN'S PAVILION - Springfield, IL
Erin's Pavilion is located in Springfield, IL, and has quickly become Springfield's top rental facility for weddings, banquets, and other events. it is an indoor building that has 15,000 square feet to its name. "It has been built with environmentally conscious features with sustainability at the forefront and has achieved the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Platinum status!"
"This is a facility is named after Erin Elzea. She passed away in 2000 at the age of 17 due to an enzyme deficiency. Her father Butch helped donate money and had the vision for what the park is today." Erin's Pavilion is a breathtaking building, with amazing outdoor scenery. It is a must-see.
LINCOLN BANQUET CENTER - Lincoln, IL
The Lincoln Banquet Center is located in Lincoln, IL, near I-55, and next to a few different hotels. This venue is a full-service banquet facility that provides a full bar and catering service. This venue can also hold up to 600 people.
A cool thing about the Lincoln Banquet Center is that they have a small stage for the dance floor and bridal party table. The stage has lights that go around the base, making it definitely stand out. Also, their parking lot is big and everything is handicap accessible.
THE HOMESTEAD RECEPTION CENTER - Tallula, IL
The Homestead Reception Center is located in between Springfield, IL, and Petersberg, IL. This wedding venue allows you to have both your ceremony and reception all in one place. They offer a variety of wedding packages, including both indoor and outdoor wedding options. This venue can hold up to 300 people. You can choose your own caterer with an in-house kitchen and bar for your convenience. They also give you up to 5 days in advance to set up and decorate for your wedding. What other venue does that?!
This venue has everything you need for a rustic, barn wedding: barn, old cars outside, beautiful field, wood and lights everywhere, horse shed, tractors, and so on. If you're looking for a rustic barn venue, look no farther.
WATER TOWER - Gridley, IL
The Water Tower is located just outside of Peoria, IL in the small town of Gridley, IL. This venue space is trendy and modern, with the feel of a spacious loft. This venue is decorated with wood, brass, and beautiful lights throughout. It is such a simply beautiful venue!
Honestly, the photos speak for themselves, so I'll end it there :)
.... And that's a wrap!
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