To have a memorable wedding photo, choosing the photoshoot location plays a crucial role. Illinois, with Chicago as its cultural and architectural heart, offers countless wonderful options for couples. From skyscrapers to green parks, from sprawling beaches to unique architectural works, Illinois promises to be the perfect backdrop for your big day.
Top Wedding Photo Locations in Illinois
1. Cloud Gate – The Giant “Bean”
Located in Millennium Park, “The Bean” (or Cloud Gate) is a famous public sculpture by British artist Anish Kapoor. Built from 2004 to 2006, this structure reflects the Chicago skyline, creating unique and impressive wedding photos.
Cloud Gate Chicago – A unique wedding photo location in Illinois
Couples can take advantage of the mirror effect from the surface of “The Bean” to create creative photos, from close-ups to wide shots with skyscrapers as a backdrop.
2. Lurie Garden – A Green Oasis in the Heart of the City
Also located in Millennium Park, a short walk from “The Bean”, Lurie Garden is a 5-acre garden with a variety of plants and flowers. This garden is designed to conserve nature for Chicagoans and visitors, and is also a habitat for local wildlife.
Lurie Garden – A romantic wedding photo location with flowers in Chicago
With over 350 species of flowers, 16-foot-tall green fences, fountains, and magical evening lighting, Lurie Garden offers countless opportunities for romantic and dreamy wedding photos.
3. Wrigley Building – Architectural Icon
If you love architecture, don’t miss the magnificent Wrigley Building, one of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks. The building was built in the early 1920s to house the headquarters of the Wrigley Chewing Gum Company.
Wrigley Building – A classic architectural wedding photo location in Chicago
Standing at 435 feet tall, the building combines influences from Spanish Colonial Revival and French Renaissance architecture. The two towers are connected by a skybridge, creating a unique backdrop for impressive wedding photos.
4. DuSable Bridge – Connecting History and Modernity
DuSable Bridge is one of the bridges connecting the Near North Side to the downtown area. This trunnion bascule bridge offers unique wedding photo angles, combining classic architecture and the modern Chicago skyline.
DuSable Bridge – A wedding photo location combining architecture and city views
You can take photos from the bridge entrance or right in the middle of the bridge to make the most of the magnificent Chicago skyline.
5. Chicago Theatre – The Magnificent Beauty of Art
The Chicago Theatre was built in 1921 and hailed as the “Wonder Theater of the World”. Seven stories high with 3,880 seats, the interior is fitted with plush red velvet seats, murals, and French-style decorations.
Chicago Theatre – A luxurious and opulent wedding photo location
The theater’s facade attracts passersby with its sparkling neon sign. This is one of the top wedding photo locations in Chicago, bringing magnificent and luxurious beauty to your big day.
6. Chicago Riverwalk – Urban Exploration
Designed to meet the needs of urban explorers, the Chicago Riverwalk is a 2-kilometer path along the Chicago River, hugging the waterfront and offering panoramic city views.
Chicago Riverwalk – An urban exploration wedding photo location
Strolling along this path, you’ll admire green spaces, art installations, sculptures, and restaurants. This is one of the free wedding photo locations in Chicago, offering unique and creative angles.
7. Skydeck Chicago – Panoramic Views from Above
Located on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), Skydeck Chicago is one of the most photogenic locations in Chicago for grand panoramic shots.
Skydeck Chicago – A wedding photo location with sweeping city views
The highlight of this landmark is The Ledge, an observation deck with glass floors that protrude 4.3 feet from the main Skydeck. At 1,353 feet above city streets, it’s the highest observation deck in the country, offering stunning views for memorable wedding photos.
8. Buckingham Fountain – Classic Beauty
Located in the center of the lush Buckingham Fountain Garden in Grant Park, this rococo-style landmark was formed in 1927. Designed as a representation of nearby Lake Michigan, the landmark is surrounded by seahorse sculptures symbolizing the states of Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
Buckingham Fountain – A classic and romantic wedding photo location
Set amidst greenery with city skyscrapers looming in the backdrop, this is one of the wedding photo locations in Chicago to experiment with angles and perspectives.
9. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Chicago – Unique Architecture
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple located in the suburb of Bartlett, Chicago. This is where you can admire intricate details for hours.
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Chicago – A unique and magnificent architectural wedding photo location
This magnificent temple will please all photographers. However, please be respectful of this place as it is a religious site.
10. Baháʼí House of Worship – Serenity and Elegance
The house of worship is open daily for all to admire, for personal prayer, and for meditation. The building’s lace-like white walls and its dome rising 135 feet above the main floor make for a stunning and serene setting.
Baháʼí House of Worship – A serene and elegant wedding photo location
11. Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo – Unique Natural Architecture
The Education Pavilion is often known as The Honeycomb. Visitors can traverse the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo, a prairie-style oasis sprawling around a large pond teeming with native plantings providing habitat for birds, frogs, fish, turtles, insects, and more.
Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo (Honeycomb) – A wedding photo location with unique natural architecture
Constructed from prefabricated timber elements, the domed structure forms a place of shelter during your park explorations. The Honeycomb is a popular event and wedding venue.
12. North Avenue Beach – Natural Beauty
North Avenue Beach is a spacious sandy stretch running along the shore of Lake Michigan, just north of the Near North Side district. The city’s favorite beach is dedicated to recreation and fitness, with various options for volleyball, stand-up paddleboarding and a dip in the lake.
North Avenue Beach – A romantic wedding photo location on the shore of Lake Michigan
You should take a walk along the long pier curving out onto the lake at the beach’s southern end. From here, you can look back at the city and capture some panoramic shots over the water.
Photoshoot at North Avenue Beach – A beach wedding photo location
13. Greetings from Chicago Mural – Street Art
Inspired by vintage postcard designs and painted by Victor Ving, a former graffiti artist from New York, the Greetings from Chicago Mural encapsulates the spirit of the Windy City.
Greetings from Chicago Mural – A street art wedding photo location
The installation is part of a project between Ving and photographer Lisa Beggs. It covers a former plumbing supply building with elements including a cheesy Chicago pizza, The Bean, and the Save Ferris water tower from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Photos with mural art in Chicago – A unique art-inspired wedding photo location
14. Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up – Unique Pumpkin Space (Seasonal)
An option for wedding photo locations in Chicago that sounds a bit touristy but it’s a lot of fun and if you are visiting the city in the fall!
Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up – A unique fall wedding photo location
Transformed into a giant corn maze, Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up is dotted with hundreds of pumpkins and great photo opportunities.
15. Venteux Cafe – Glamorous Space
Venteux is the most glamorous café you have ever seen. Fitted with giant 40-foot windows with sunlight always pouring in. Plus, there’s a towering botanical mural that serves as the focal point of the bright, airy room.
Venteux Cafe – A glamorous space wedding photo location
Instagram foodies will also find plenty here, with stacked sandwiches and a pastry counter filled with the daintiest little desserts.
Conclusion
Illinois, especially Chicago, offers countless beautiful and unique wedding photo locations. From iconic architectural structures to beautiful natural spaces, from artistic neighborhoods to glamorous cafes, you will find the perfect backdrop for your big day. Plan ahead and explore these locations to create unforgettable wedding photos! What do you think about the above locations? Share your opinions!