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Walden
2145 W. Walnut St.,
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 248-3818
View their website
Average Base Cost: $32,000
Average base cost for a Walden wedding is calculated by figuring a 125-person guest list on a Saturday night. Transportation to venue, entertainment, decorations, additional rentals, valet, DJ, and photography are not included. Average price includes gratuity and state sales tax. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand.
*Prices subject to change
How it Breaks Down
Facility Rental Fee:
Note: This wedding venue is scheduled to open in 2020.
May 2020 – February 2021
- Friday – $10,000
- Saturday – $11,000
- Sunday – $7,000
*Plus $165 per guest inclusive of full-service planning, food, bar, rentals, staffing and Walden amenities.
What’s Included:
- Unlimited venue access day-of-event
- 500-square-foot green room suite with bathroom and private roof deck
- Dedicated client storage room throughout week of the event
- In-house tables, chairs, table settings, glassware, lounge furniture, AV system, and more
- Curated floral, paper goods, transportation, hotel, entertainment, and design firm relationships for optimized planning experience
- ADA-compliant elevator access to second-floor ceremony and cocktail space
- Comprehensive fine-dining kitchen
- Built-in bars
- Coat check
- On-site gated parking
- Childcare available
- WiFi
Food/Beverage: Walden provides in-house catering and bar programs. The culinary program at Walden is operated by Real Kitchen out of the fine-dining-grade kitchen located on-site and includes fixed, comprehensive pricing, in-house rentals, and dedicated wait staff.
The beverage program is curated by Half Acre’s Maurizio Fiori. With a variety of custom options and upgrades available, the bar is staffed with extensively trained bartenders. The main event space has a 32-foot bar with 20 draft lines for beer, wine and cocktails; and the second floor has a 12-foot built-in bar for usage during cocktail hour. The per-guest pricing is for full open-bar service for 5 hours and includes curated cocktails of your choosing, table wine service, and the choice between a table champagne toast or a welcome cocktail. A full selection of garnishes and mixers is also included.
Both services with rentals are $165 per person, with kids attending free of charge (up to 10% of guest count). See sample food menus here, and a list of bar package selections here.
More Stats
Space Type: Indoors. A typical set up at Walden includes a seated ceremony on the second floor with a cocktail hour, seated dinner and dancing on the main floor.
Size:
Main Event Space
- 300 guests with cocktail hour at the bar followed by a seated meal and dance floor with band or DJ
- 500 guests with a cocktail-style standing event with limited seating and dance floor with band or DJ
Second Floor
- 250 guests with seated ceremony or cocktail hour
Bridal Suite: Yes, there’s a 500-square-foot green room suite with a bathroom and private roof deck.
Parking: Yes, there’s a gated parking lot and ample free street parking available.
Food Service Type: Your choice
How Will Grandma Get There? Walden is located in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood, and is approximately a 30-minute drive from both of the city’s airports. For lodging, Walden’s event planners have relationships with local hotels and transportation companies and are available to look into pricing and options for hotel blocks on behalf of couples. Nearby hotels include the Ace Hotel, which is a 10 minute drive from the venue.
Party On! Events can last until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 12 a.m. Sunday-Thursday.
Important Note: Catering and beverages are provided by Walden, but other outside vendors are allowed.
The Report
With some 60 years of event industry experience between them, the partners behind Walden wanted to create a wedding venue that brought all the major components of an event under one roof for one pre-set price with no “last-minute financial surprises.” The two-floor venue features 19,000 sq. feet of event space, with a 32-foot bar on the first floor and a 12-foot bar on the second floor. With a name that is a nod to Henry David Thoreau’s Walden—a reflection on simple living in natural surroundings—the venue is scheduled to debut Spring 2020.
Woman Getting Married Says
There are some amazing industrial Chicago wedding venues to choose from, and Walden might prove to be one one of them. I love that the venue is a one-stop shop, giving you easy access to amazing wedding vendors as well as a no-fuss price per person that won’t leave you wondering how much your final wedding bill will be (though I do think the rental price is definitely on the higher side, even with the inclusions.). The location of the wedding venue is still fairly industrial, but the non-residential location does mean there are fewer noise ordinances. While we’ll plan on updating this review after they officially open, if you are looking for a unique Chicago wedding venue I think Walden is definitely worth checking out.
Click here to learn more about my wedding venue review process
Hi, Woman Getting Married. It should be noted that The Walden is not offering postponement of weddings within a reasonable period of time during COVID. Helpful information for brides looking to book a venue during these difficult times.