Ready for a good time? These 15 Chicago-area businesses will help you celebrate it all — from intimate weddings to A-list galas.
Best Band
Arlen Music Productions
A perennial winner, Arlen Music Productions knows how to get your guests out on the dance floor with bands like Ken Arlen Evolution Orchestra and Indigo.
Best Bridal Shop (Suburbs)
Bella Bleu Bridal
912 Green Bay Rd, Winnetka
A repeat winner, Bella Bleu Bridal offers exclusive collections modern brides will love—by appointment only for an intimate experience.
Best Bridal Shop (City)
Mira Couture
70 East Walton Street, 2nd Floor
This Gold Coast bridal boutique has provided designer gowns and custom pieces for brides, mothers-of-the-bride and global clientele for over 50 years.
Best Evening Wear (Suburbs)
The Lake Forest Shop
265 Market Square, Lake Forest
Founded in 1922, The Shop will help you find a dreamy dress for your next big gala or a ready-to-wear piece for a spontaneous soiree.
Best Evening Wear (City)
Nordstrom
Various locations
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The luxury department store offers formal wear from designers such as Valentino, Badgley Mischka and Givenchy so you can dazzle at your next event.
Best Event Planner (Suburbs)
North Shore Weddings & Events
This seven-time Best Of winner plans chic weddings and events that will entertain and inspire you and your guests.
Best Event Planner (City)
The Flower Firm
This event production company creates extraordinary environments for events and galas of every size—providing everything from stunning floral design to lighting and decor.
Best Event Venue (Suburbs)
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe
Let Mother Nature take care of your decor, and Chicago Botanic Garden’s event staff will take care of the rest.
Best Event Venue (City)
Theater on the Lake
2401 N Lake Shore Dr
Theater on the Lake gives you four venue options, or you can use the entire building, with stunning views of Lake Michigan and the skyline.
Best Caterer (Suburbs)
Food for Thought
Women-led and founded, Food For Thought offers full-service and drop-off catering, combining the talents and culinary vision of an award-winning kitchen scaled to serve 1.5 million guests annually.
Best Caterer (City)
Blue Plate
Blue Plate caters at more than 80 unique Chicago area venues and boasts a culinary team that is unmatched in the industry.
Best Photographer (Suburbs)
Julie Kaplan Photography
A winner since 2014, Julie Kaplan is a portrait photographer with a studio in Highland Park. She also shoots on location throughout the North Shore and Chicago capturing all stages of life.
Best Photographer (City)
Iron + Honey
Melissa Ferrara, the vision-driven photographer behind Iron + Honey, specializes in intimate wedding, portrait, engagement, lifestyle and travel photography.
Best Stationer (Suburbs)
Calligraphy by Katherine
It’s a repeat win—four years in a row— for Katherine Glattard, who has mastered more than 20 different scripts for everything from wedding invitations and chalkboard signage to diplomas and family trees.
Best Stationer (City)
Lively House & Home
Lively House & Home tells your wedding story through timeless design—custom wedding invitations, calligraphy and day of details will make your experience one of a kind.
