I could write a long review about every amazing attention to detail The Venue helped provide to us,…read morebut my fingers would get tired and I would probably just ramble. The crew at The Venue are absolutely outstanding, extremely thoughtful, very organized, and truly care about making your day memorable and seamless. They provided the experience we wanted - choice to hire local caterers, setting up and taking down without feeling rushed, hair/makeup done on site easily, day of coordinating/point of contact, etc - without the hassles other venues in the area put you through. Not to mention, it is in the perfect location downtown Champaign. The whole place is stunning and spacious; we couldn't have asked for a better experience. (Photos by Sara Gardner photography)

It's hard to put into words how amazing our wedding day was and it's because of the employees at…read morethe Venue CU! It was better than I could have ever envisioned. My husband and I had our hearts set on another venue for years... until we walked into an unfinished Venue CU back in August of 2020. Dan who toured us around telling us to put our creative caps on and his wife Miranda in the lounge space scraping paint off the walls! They truly put so much time and love into this place. We loved the venue under full construction but loved it so much more on our big day. A few things that helped make our decision easy 1. The time Miranda and Dan took answering questions, from multiple zoom meetings and hundreds of emails. Your time did not go unnoticed and we felt so confident about our wedding day because of this. 2. They really thought of everything, from the spacious closet in the bridal suite for all your stuff to having three bars so no one has to wait in line. The details matter people and this team knows how to throw an event flawlessly. 3. I never felt penny pinched for every little "extra" thing. We looked at a handful of venues and this was really the only one that didn't even need all the extras because it's such a beautiful space all on its own. 4. Another positive was not having to clean up after the wedding. The Venue CU team packs everything up for you and it is a game changer. You can truly enjoy your day from start to finish and feel relaxed. 5. Miranda! Everyone needs a Miranda on their wedding day! I've been in plenty of weddings to learn what a good day of coordinator does and what an excellent day of coordinator does. Our day was unbelievably perfect because of her! Brides, don't stress because Miranda has your back and will make your day perfect in every way! From the bottom of our hearts thank you Venue CU! Our day was unforgettable and so so special. We are very happy that we chose you. Thank you again

The staff was amazing! There was a snow storm and they were very understanding and helpful! Would…read moredefinitely recommend

We used Palace Events for our wedding and were very happy with how everything turned out! Our…read morewedding reception was held in a machine shed, so we needed some elegant decor to dress it up. Palace Events provided drapery, lighting and a chandelier, which created the perfect setting! Courtney was the coordinator we worked with and she was polite and very organized. She also was proactive in seeing an issue with the lighting and fixed it before I had to mention anything. In addition, we used their Standard Photo Booth and were so glad we did! Sam was easy to work with and created the perfect photo design for our wedding! There were many options, including videos and GIFs--our guests had a blast with it! Overall, we're very pleased with Palace Events and are happy we used them for our wedding! *Professional photography by Miranda Malliet Photography

They claim that their warm therapy pool is 86 degrees or warmer. It is not. It has never been even…read more'nearly warm' since I joined. I have heard other members complaining as well. The owner/operator does not seem to care or makes excuses. He told me I could bring my own thermometer to test the temp if I wanted too. Too bad, because it is a very convenient location, but between the dirty facilities and the cold pool, It is a solid one-star place. They also do not ever have a lifeguard on duty. I was told if I needed help and I was alone to get out of the pool and push a call button. Hard to do when you are drowning... Two weeks later: rates are doubling this month.

I was in the area for a weekend of roller derby. This a new venue for the Twin City Roller Girls…read more The exterior looks like a really old house. The interior is kept up pretty well. The roller derby game was held in an empty pool and was pretty small. There was seating on the floor and a second floor of seating on two sides. This seems like a neat building that probably gets overlooked as it blends in with the rest of the neighborhood buildings.

This place is gross. We were there for the 2016 Jurassic Quest. There were dumpsters overflowing,…read morepaint splattered all over the out buildings, pallets and scrap wood piled everywhere - even an old hot tub right in the middle of all the action. If I were planning an event here, I'd be pretty upset.

Blues Blast was best music event held in CU and there was a good lineup of events and great…read morebeverage choices CU was not forward thinking enough for this venue but will miss it for the next several decades. DW.

I ordered my box and received it so quickly! It's been so helpful while I plan my daughter-in-laws…read morebaby shower and helped me think outside the box!! Amanda is truly an expert in her field!

I am also an event planner in central Illinois and I purchased Inspire Your's full Knowledge Box -…read moreHead Over Heels. It has been a lifesaver when working with clients and other vendors. It helps to know what I'm talking about and even all the available options. The cards are very easy to use and the graphics/words are clear and easy to read. I will admit, I had a hard time understanding the product until I met with Amanda and she walked me through the cards. As an event planner, I highly recommend the Knowledge Box!