The "Windy City" stands out in many ways, starting with the reversal of the Chicago River. The innovative metropolis reversed the river's flow; instead of emptying into Lake Michigan, it now flows into the Mississippi River. The city skyline adds to the breathtaking views, creating an attraction in its own right. The beach locations around town also make Chicago a beautiful place to plan a special occasion.
This Illinois gem has a gorgeous lakefront that stretches along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Visitors always flock to Navy Pier, which is one of the city's showstoppers, alongside its famous Ferris Wheel. And when it's summer, the 26 miles of public beaches around town beckon. The sandy shores are the perfect backdrop for weddings and other celebrations.
At Giggster, we focus on helping renters find beautiful settings for their special day. If you have a wedding reception, birthday, or corporate occasion inked on your calendar, explore our 6 marvelous Chicago beach venues.
The stunning views of waves crashing on the sandy shores and the meeting of skyscrapers and river make Chicago's beach locations top event settings. Giggster can help you book an idyllic wedding venue or any other outdoor celebration space.
Do you want the perfect wedding venue? A waterfront home is a terrific choice. Plan an elegant ceremony on the grounds and follow through with a reception beside any water feature on the property.
Book a riverfront event space for your special day. Choose a secluded, garden-like setting overlooking a pond or creek and offering skyline views.
Rent a farm with fruit and vegetable gardens, a fountain, topiary, and beach access. A sprawling location can accommodate large groups celebrating grand occasions. It's a plus if the venue has stables or a greenhouse with a ceiling decorated with string lights.
Are you planning a photo or video shoot? Produce content in a multipurpose memorial park featuring walking trails, sports fields, and a beachfront area.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Chicago, IL, offers many lakefront properties, similar to the River Roast, perfect for your beach party. Giggster can connect you with an ideal backdrop for as low as $25/hour.
Hassle-Free Booking: We make finding your favorite beach venue easy. Are you searching for a beachfront restaurant or bar? Use our amenities, price, and location filters to find the ideal venue with a few clicks.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Have you changed your mind about where you want to host your party or product launch? Giggster has a 24-hour cancellation policy, giving a grace period to adjust your booking after confirmation. You can cancel as long as your booking is made at least 48 hours before the scheduled gathering.
Platform Protections: Get Giggster's optional protection packages and liability coverage at checkout to celebrate with peace of mind. Planning a lakefront get-together, whether work-related or social, is better when all eventualities are under wraps.
Chicago's beach locations make all gatherings exceptionally memorable. Giggster can help you book a magical setting like , offering Lake Michigan views and all your required features. If you need a spark of inspiration to pick the perfect beach-type space, these suggestions can help:
Lakefront Properties – Receptions. Chicago's lakefront properties offer stunning views and are absolutely ideal for receptions. They become the ultimate wedding venues with various backdrops for end-of-day events.
Event Spaces – Private Parties. Book a riverfront setting for your birthday, reunion, or fundraiser. Reserve a garden-like setting offering waterfront views, a spacious deck, and a cozy fire pit. It's also a plus if the location has a pond, a creek, or other waterfront features.
Farms – Weddings. A farm with beach access is a wonderful backdrop for your big day. You can book a location with a greenhouse, barn, and gardens for different activities. Best still, you can find a farm with a petting zoo and dining setup overlooking the water.
Parks – Content Creation. Schedule your photo or video shoot in a memorial park. Giggster can help you locate a venue with sports fields, a gazebo, a patio, and a waterfront area you can reserve for your project.
Restaurants – Dining Events. Restaurants with in-house bars are popular options for all dinners, including receptions. A lakefront location can make the night more memorable, especially if the establishment can personalize its menu for your gathering.
Renting the right space is integral to the event experience. You can browse many listings on our easy-to-navigate app, discover venues you wouldn't have considered before, and book the perfect setting. If you need help identifying an ideal space, our beach venue must-have list should help.
Can the venue host an evening event? Not all venues are designed to accommodate guests at night, let alone festive gatherings. Find out for sure by messaging the host using our chat option.
Does the venue offer kitchen facilities? Handling food in a lakefront setting requires careful thought. It's helpful if the venue provides kitchen services for potluck or catering. You may want to select a location with professionals who can expertly handle the heavy lifting.
Is the seating layout optimal? Planning a beach party often means hosting an outdoor celebration. Ensure your retreat location, pop up space, or wedding venue has comfortable seating and a flexible layout.
Beautiful Lake Michigan and the scenic Chicago River are some of the star attractions in the "Windy City." They offer breathtaking views and idyllic backdrops for all occasions. Giggster can help you book a lovely setting for your special day, and learning more about the pros and cons of hosting your event in town can help.
Advantages
The Navy Pier, Lake Michigan, and the Chicago River add to the city's beauty. They are also popular event backdrops, and Giggster can help you book a scenic space offering striking skyline views.
Summer is a pleasant season in Chicago, with warm weather that encourages outdoor activities. The beaches along the shores of Lake Michigan offer multiple event backdrops.
The diverse neighborhoods offer a distinct vibe, with varied beachfront attractions and venues to explore for your grand occasion. Consider Lincoln Park or the Chicago Loop as picturesque possibilities.
Disadvantages
If guests use public transport to get around during rush hour, they will experience delays. Our location filter can help you explore venues in less congested areas.
The "Windy City" is expensive, and so is planning an event in town. However, our search filters will help you locate venues within your budget.
Chicago winters are not ideal for outdoor events—a beach event in the cold season will mean indoors, with a view.
A beach venue is a gem, but planning an event at such a location can become a hair-raising experience. Determine how to transform an already beautiful setting into an elegant wedding venue, after-work party, or reunion venue, and create your to-do list from the location through to the food plan. Here are tips to assist with the process.
Book the Right Space – Can the venue accommodate your event and group? Is it designed for evening gatherings? These are a few of the questions that will help you determine whether or not to book one location over another.
Create a Guest List – Your guests are the lifeline of your party. They contribute to the decision of which venue to book and what menu items to serve. The age bracket also determines drink menu options.
Get Catering Services – Serving food in outdoor conditions requires expertise to keep everything fresh and palatable. A catering company can handle the task, and it's even better if the venue offers these services. Many locations serve food and drink menus.
Organize Fun Activities – Guests will naturally have more fun in a beach setting, but you want them to enjoy every minute of the occasion. Book a venue with a quality sound system or hire a live band for dancing. You can also let the ambiance speak for itself and see what fun the guests come up with. Props and a photo booth provide hours of entertainment.
Your budget dictates most planning aspects, starting with the ultimate space you pick. Planning any party costs money, but you can lower your spending by making a few choices. Here are strategies to save money and organize an outstanding occasion, nonetheless.
Streamline the invites.
The guest count directly affects the venue you book, your menu, and transport logistics. Keep your guest list to a minimum, and you'll naturally spend less. An intimate affair allows for great conversation and mingling—and you can spend more on items like marketing for a product launch or favors for a birthday party.
Plan a beach-themed event through and through.
Book a pool property and host a beach-themed soiree. Depending on your guest count and planning decisions, it will be more affordable. Decor will be simpler (take advantage of the outdoor beauty), and the menu can be minimal. Keep the choices to a few items (finger foods, fruit, and salads are winning choices), but make sure you have plenty of food and drink.
How many "extras" do you need?
An event at a beach location will nine times out of ten be a hit. Do you really need extras like table centerpieces, floral arrangements, and top-notch entertainment? Create a playlist, set up a photo booth, and make sure the lighting is fabulous—you'll be all set. Whether it's a corporate event, pop up, or social gathering, a beach venue lends itself to casual, if that's what you prefer.
Your dream wedding venue or desired after-work party locale is a beach, and that's terrific. Browse sensational venues on the Giggster app—whatever type of space you envision, we can help.
