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Pricing information

Ceremony
$350 starting price
Ceremony
$350 starting price

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About

Make it a whimsical and romantic event to remember at Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool! Surrounded by the natural beauty and privacy of a unique National Historic Landmark in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, you’ll fall in love all over again with the Lily Pool’s architecturally significant pavilion, cascading waterfall, and native plantings.

Perfect for intimate gatherings, the Lily Pool can accommodate up to16 guests and is seasonally open from May to October. As you step through the Prairie-style Fullerton gate and stroll through a hidden garden that’s both dreamy and tranquil, you’ll feel yourself transported away from the hustle and bustle of Chicago to a relaxing, serene Midwestern prairie.

The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool in Chicago's Lincoln Park is a unique outdoor location for an intimate wedding ceremony surrounded by nature. Designed by Alfred Caldwell in 1936, the Lily Pool and surrounding gardens includes a pavilion, serene paths, and native plantings.

After decades of erosion and damage, the Lily Pool was completely restored in 2002 to Caldwell's original design by the Lincoln Park Conservancy which now co-manages the site with the Chicago Park District.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$350

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$350

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

2

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

2

Describe your venue:

Garden
Historic Building
Park
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Elopements

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October
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4.5 out of 5 rating
4 Reviews
  • Quality of service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.1 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.5 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.3 out of 5 rating
75% Recommended by couples
N
Nicole Sent on 04/24/2017
5 out of 5 rating
We had a small ceremony at the Conservatory, and it worked out perfectly! We had about 25 guests, and had a short ceremony (about 25 minutes total). We were able to rent the Conservatory for 2 hours, which was the perfect amount of time as we weee able to walk through the Conservatory before and after the ceremony while visiting with our guests.
Our ceremony was held in the show house, which is beautiful and worked so well for us - there were a few benches available for our grandparents to rest on, and the space worked perfectly for us. While the rest of the Conservatory was pretty humid (it is a greenhouse!), they turned in a few fans, which kept it cool during our ceremony.
The park district was easy to work with, and so responsive to our questions as we planned. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and definitely recommend!
K
Kathrine Sent on 12/15/2017
4.4 out of 5 rating
This is a park district-managed venue, so there are quite a few hoops you need to jump through. Once you've done that, though, you're set! It was every bit as magical as I hoped it would be for our cocktail reception. We had around 75 people and the dance floor could accommodate all guests interested in dancing. In addition, there were lots of other spaces for people to gather throughout the conservatory. The lighting was a little strange, but my photographer made it work–phone candids weren't as great as they could have been. All in all, so happy with this magical venue!
H
Hayden Sent on 07/14/2014
4.4 out of 5 rating
The Conservatory is beautiful and makes a wonderful setting for a small ceremony. We had our ceremony in the Show House, and they had moved some large plants out of the way to make more room for our ceremony. One thing to remember is that it's a greenhouse, so it can be pretty warm and humid in there by the end of the day. My groom was a hot mess when I got up there to him, and both of us had sweat dripping down our legs. But it was beautiful. There aren't many venues that will bother with a wedding of our size (we had 11 guests), so it's especially wonderful for that.
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Awards

4

Real Weddings

Brad & Michelle
325 photos · 06/29/2019

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Lincoln Park Conservancy frequently asked questions

The space offered by Lincoln Park Conservancy for wedding events is known for:
  • Garden
  • Historic Building
  • Park
  • Waterfront
Lincoln Park Conservancy offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Lincoln Park Conservancy offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Elopements
Lincoln Park Conservancy is recommended by 90% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.8 in value, 4.5 in professionalism, 4.3 in flexibility and 4.1 in average response time.

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