Ravenswood Event Center a wedding venue that takes your breath away. It’s a former warehouse transformed into an event center. Ravenswood Event Center as a offers a blend of classic and urban photography locations in Chicago. Its industrial style, featuring a signature loft, caters to a wide range of desires for your wedding.
This is their story
Carolyn and Joseph organized their wedding mostly on their own, without the help of a planner, relying on the support of their friends and family. She is a schoolteacher who is passionate about her work. One of the most significant moments of their wedding was when the children from her class attended the ceremony. It was a very emotional moment, and you can feel it when looking at their photos.
We started this particularly beautiful October day with getting ready photos in Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront. This Downtown Chicago hotel features breathtaking views of the city. We captured amazing preparation photos there. Carolyn had a large bridal party, and as she read Joseph’s letter, tears began to fall. With our skills, we managed to capture incredible moments. This is one of the most beautiful weddings we’ve worked on this year. Carolyn and Joseph did not want to see each other prior to the ceremony so we headed to St Joseph Church .
The church is beautiful and wonderfully lit. It is a dream for photographers who often have to work in very dark churches. We made so many beautiful shots, it was really hard to pick photos for this post. An incredible moment during the ceremony was when Carolyn’s grandmother served as the flower girl. It was truly phenomenal. I hope you can see everything we’re talking about through these photos. It was hard to choose the best ones because there are so many great moments.
Choice of locations for photography
We exchanged many emails about the schedule and the choice of photography locations, especially because they had a large bridal party. Logistics around transportation are crucial for weddings in Chicago. Why? You always need your own vehicle to get to the wedding. We also bring a lot of additional equipment that we only use for the reception. That’s why having a precise timeline is essential for weddings.
For their photos, Carolyn and Joseph embraced the charm of Chicago, choosing iconic spots that perfectly reflected the city’s character. The Wrigley Building was their first stop—a classic location we’ve worked at countless times. Despite the inevitable crowds, we managed to capture beautiful shots that highlighted the vibrancy of the spot.
Next, we moved to Fullerton Beach, a location famous for its breathtaking views of Downtown Chicago. The contrast between the serene lakefront and the dynamic city skyline created the perfect backdrop for their portraits. Truly an outstanding choice that made their photos unforgettable.
Adding a unique twist, they decided to incorporate a train ride into their session. This part was just for them—no bridal party. We captured their moments at the station and on the elevated train line leading to their venue. The photos at the station, with its urban vibes, and in the train, with the city unfolding outside, were absolutely incredible. It doesn’t get more authentically Chicago than this!The elevated train lines, an unmistakable icon of the city, added an industrial and urban touch to their story. Balancing the hustle and bustle of the city with their romantic moments made the session one of a kind. It was a lot of work, but the result was well worth it.
Reception at Ravenswood Event Center
Their wedding photos from Ravenswood Event Center turned out fantastic! The venue is an industrial urban loft with high ceilings and large windows. A great open space!
The Ravenswood Event Center underwent a complete renovation and has been in operation since 2006.They have several spaces and we were in the larger one: the Billboard Showroom Event Space. This space can host up to 500 guests for seated events and 650 for cocktails. It’s known for its collection of classic cars, which immediately capture the guests’ attention. The cars are arranged around the windows, and each one is exceptional. We took advantage of this unique setup to create additional couple portraits inside the cars.
For venues like this, we use additional lighting because the space tends to be quite dim. The ceiling is also dark, so we used extra lighting for the dance floor and speeches to ensure everything was well-lit.The second space they have is called the Atrium & Loft, where we’ve already worked on a wedding. We love working here because it’s an exceptional space that is very inspiring for photography. An interesting moment during the grand entrance was when Carolyn carried Joseph on her back. It was quite funny! On the dance floor, the energy was lively, and the main star was Carolyn’s grandmother, who was dancing even though she was in a wheelchair. It was a very joyful group. We had so much fun working with them.. It was a beautiful celebration of love! We enjoyed documenting their special day!
Here are some additional details about Ravenswood Event Center that may help you:
Address: 4021 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: (773) 388-2170
Guest Capacity: Atrium: 200 for ceremonies, 150 for cocktails/dancing | Loft: 180 for dining, 250 for cocktails/dancing | Showroom: up to 500 for ceremonies or dining , 650 for cocktails/dancing
Pricing: avg. base cost starting at $32,000 for 150 people
