The Arbory Wedding | Ally + Raven

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April 17, 2026

Raven + Ally’s Wedding at The Arbory Chicago | Industrial Garden Wedding Venue

Raven and Ally’s wedding at The Arbory in Chicago was a perfect example of how this West Town venue blends industrial architecture with natural, modern design. Located in a former warehouse space, The Arbory offers couples a flexible layout, abundant natural light, and built-in greenery that works beautifully for both ceremony and reception. Their day highlighted how the venue can be transformed into a warm, intimate celebration while still keeping its modern, urban character.

Want to see another gorgeous industrial wedding space in Chicago? Check out Mitch + AJ’s Artifact Events wedding.

About The Arbory in Chicago

The Arbory is located at 2219 W Grand Ave in Chicago’s growing West Town neighborhood. The venue sits inside a renovated industrial building and features exposed brick, high ceilings, custom wood finishes, and multiple oversized skylights that bring in natural light throughout the day. The space is designed to be flexible, allowing couples to host both their ceremony and reception in one location without needing to flip or relocate guests more than a few steps away. Further, it features two getting ready suites, so you can truly host your entire wedding day without leaving the building.

The venue can accommodate roughly 200-300 guests, depending on the layout, making it a strong option for all sizes of weddings. One of its most appealing features is that it already includes a lot of core design elements, such as wood tables, chairs, lounge furniture, and lighting. This allows couples to keep things simple with fewer vendors to manage and focus more on personalization, rather than building everything from scratch.

Ally + Raven’s Love Story

Raven + Ally met their freshman year of college at Northern Michigan University in the dorms and have been together for 10 years! In many ways, they grew up together. A few years ago, they moved to Chicago together with their two french bulldogs.

Their engagement was non-traditional, but something I see happening more often. Two people who are in love decide to get married and do a ring exchange, instead of a surprise proposal. Raven’s ring got done being sized earlier than expected, so they ran out of the house on a random Sunday, picked it up, and during a private walk by the Chicago river exchanged rings and promised forever together.

Ceremony Space at The Arbory

Raven and Ally held their ceremony inside the main event space, which is often styled as an open, airy room framed by industrial architecture and softened with greenery. The ceremony setup worked especially well with the venue’s skylights and exposed structural beams, which added natural light and texture without overpowering the space.

At The Arbory, couples typically choose between different layout options for their ceremony. Most opt for a central aisle with seating arranged on either side. The built-in greenery walls and architectural details naturally frame the couple, which minimizes the need for heavy ceremony decor.

For Raven and Ally, the ceremony space felt intentional but not overdone. The focus stayed on the couple while the venue provided a strong visual backdrop. The combination of natural light, wood tones, and clean structural lines made the ceremony feel both modern and warm. I loved the simple but powerful calla lily installation they included. It anchored the ceremony space and matched the industrial feel of The Arbory.

One of the biggest advantages of hosting a ceremony at The Arbory is that guests do not need to transition to a second location. Once the ceremony ends, the same space can be reset for the reception without major disruption. This keeps the flow of the day simple and seamless. Guests simply walk to the other side of the venue to enjoy a cocktail hour while the ceremony space is being flipped into the reception space.

Reception Space and Guest Experience

After the ceremony, the space transitioned into a reception setup that took full advantage of The Arbory’s open floor plan. The venue includes multiple zones that can be used for dining, dancing, and lounging. This allows couples to create a natural flow throughout the evening.

Raven and Ally’s reception setup focused on long, family-style dining tables, soft lighting, and a layout that encouraged conversation and connection. The venue’s café-style string lights and industrial skylights created a balanced atmosphere.

The reception space also includes built-in bars and lounge furniture, which reduces the need for outside rentals. This is especially helpful for couples trying to keep design and logistics streamlined. Guests were able to move easily between dinner, dancing, and lounge areas without feeling disconnected from the main celebration.

The Arbory’s industrial features, such as exposed brick, wood beams, and skylights, give the reception space a distinct identity. In Raven and Ally’s wedding, floral elements and table styling were used intentionally and beautiful. However, the venue itself also did a lot of the visual work.

Why The Arbory Works for Weddings Like This

The Arbory is especially well-suited for couples who want a modern Chicago venue that has built-in character. Instead of starting with a blank ballroom, couples get a space that feels designed from the beginning. Architectural detail and greenery are already integrated into the environment.

Key benefits include:

A single space for the ceremony and reception
Built-in tables, chairs, and lounge furniture
Industrial design with natural greenery accents
Large skylights for natural light
Flexible layout options for different guest counts

For Raven and Ally, this meant they could focus more on guest experience and personal details rather than an extensive venue transformation.

The Arbory in the Context of Chicago Wedding Venues

Chicago has no shortage of industrial-style wedding venues, but The Arbory stands out because it balances structure with warmth. The Arbory is clean and modern, but softened with greenery, lighting design, and thoughtful architectural details. Its proximity to downtown is also a huge bonus. While you don’t have to go off-site for photos, we chose to take some at Union Station. Getting to Union Station was a breeze via party bus.

Its West Town location also makes it convenient for guests, with nearby hotels, restaurants, and transportation options. This makes it a practical choice for both local and out-of-town weddings.

FAQ: Getting Married at The Arbory Chicago

1. Can you host both the ceremony and reception at The Arbory?

Yes. One of the biggest advantages of The Arbory is that it is designed for full wedding-day use. Couples commonly host both their ceremony and reception in the same space, with simple room flips or layout transitions between events.

2. How many guests can The Arbory accommodate?

The venue typically accommodates around 200 seated guests comfortably, with flexibility depending on layout. Larger standing receptions can hold more, but seated dinner capacity is usually the main planning guideline.

3. What is included with the venue rental?

The Arbory includes essential furnishings such as wood tables, chairs, lounge furniture, built-in bars, lighting elements, and access to prep spaces. It also includes access to two getting ready suites. This reduces the need for extensive rentals and helps streamline planning.

4. What type of wedding style works best at The Arbory?

The space works well for modern, industrial, and minimal design styles. Couples who want a venue with built-in character – without needing heavy draping or transformation – tend to find it a perfect fit.

Raven and Ally’s wedding at The Arbory showed how the venue naturally supports a cohesive, elevated experience from ceremony to reception. With its combination of industrial design, natural light, and flexible layout, it continues to be one of Chicago’s most versatile wedding spaces. I would highly recommend the Arbory for couples looking for a place to celebrate their union.