Field Museum

The Field Museum sits on Chicago's Museum Campus, at the south end of Grant Park beside Lake Michigan. One of the best known natural history museums in the country, it opens its galleries, grand halls and outdoor terraces for weddings after hours. Gatherings can be as small as ten people or run to well over a thousand, so it works for a quiet ceremony with close family as well as a very large party.

Why it suits LGBTQ+ couples

The museum has a dedicated events team that works with you from your first site visit to the end of the night, so you have one point of contact who knows the building. The range of spaces means you can shape the day around your own plans rather than a fixed format. And a wedding among dinosaurs, gems and ancient cultures gives your guests something to talk about that has nothing to do with tradition.

Ceremonies

Ceremonies can take place outdoors on the museum terrace or elsewhere on Museum Campus, with views across Lake Michigan and back toward the downtown skyline. Indoors, the event spaces include Stanley Field Hall and its balcony, the East Atrium and Pavilion, and the Rice Gallery. Stanley Field Hall is the grand central hall that greets visitors as they enter, and it is the most dramatic setting in the building.

Receptions and food

Cocktails can be served in the Rice Native Plant Gardens, and guests can wander through exhibitions during the reception. Food comes from the museum's list of approved caterers, who also run bar service, including staff, glassware, mixers and ice. The museum supplies all alcohol through its own beverage packages and wine list, which include eco-friendly choices. Outside alcohol and pay-per-drink bars are not permitted.

Getting there and the area

The museum is at 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, next to the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium and a short walk from Soldier Field. The Roosevelt CTA station, served by the Red, Green and Orange lines, is within walking distance, and Metra trains stop at Museum Campus/11th Street. Downtown hotels in the South Loop and along Michigan Avenue are close by for guests staying over.

Good to know

• Events range from about ten guests to more than a thousand.
• All alcohol is supplied by the museum, with service from your approved caterer.
• Separate two-hour photography sessions are available for groups of up to 20.