We had our wedding at FWG this past weekend and it was unbelievable. When we found the place we were immediately smitten with the beautiful exposed bricks, the elegance and simplicity of the gallery, and the classy fun environment of the glass brick room (plus the hanging lanterns!). We loved it from the start, but it was ten times better once we had it decked out for our event. They let us hang our own decorations the day before, which worked out well because we had 1,000 paper cranes and it took a while. Allen (more about him later!) recommended Milennium Decorations for lighting and they were amazing to work with as well, the lighting was fun and the whole process was easy peasy. The glass brick room was perfect for dancing, and it was really nice to have a separate room for our guests that wanted to sit and talk without shouting over music. The event space is just magnificent, and conveniently located too! Ok, now to say a few words about Allen, who was an absolute delight to work with. He's down to earth and real, and he provided us some great suggestions and recommendations for style as well as vendors. We didn't want a lavish and expensive affair and I felt like Allen really understood and supported our vision, not just because it's his job to but also because he was on the same page. He was easy to get in contact with and was so accommodating in terms of making sure that we had everything we needed, that we had access to the venue whenever we wanted to brainstorm some ideas, and as previously mentioned he let us set up early/tear down late because there were no other events scheduled that weekend. Plus he was a little quippy and sassy, which I always appreciate in a person. Absolutely a great guy, and a big selling point to this overall awesome venue. I should also mention that we had some interactions with the owner as well, who seemed pretty laid back and really sweet. They definitely took care of us at Floating World. If I ever throw another large-scale event, I would totally use FWG again, no questions. I can't sing their praises highly enough! read more

This is one of those reviews that I post hesitantly because I feel like this might be a little bit of a hidden gem and I want to make sure we can get in there easily for our next event...but I can't hold in in. Floating World Gallery and staff are amazing. The small non-profit on whose board I sit held our annual silent auction/cocktail party at Floating World and it was far and away the best event we have ever done...thanks in large part to the setting. The space captures the intersection of elegant and minimal with the loft aesthetic that Chicago does so well in so many of its buildings and it was the perfect mix to elevate our event to something that felt very chic and sophisticated...which translated for us into a very successful fundraising venture. The staff at FWG was a joy. Allen is the man: a great mix of professional, laid back, and willing to help out in whatever way possible. It was truly a joy to work with him on securing the space, talking through possibilities for our event, and making it happen. Ross and Emily, the event coordinators there during the event, were incredibly helpful and seemed to take a real interest in helping us make our event the best it could be: Ross was up on ladders adjusting track lighting to feature our silent auction items just so while Emily really helped us figure out what lighting could work best to capture the right ambiance for the party. I felt very supported throughout the evening. I was also very pleased and impressed with some of the "process" related factors: like the fact that the Wi-Fi was lightening fast and reliable (a surprisingly hard thing to find in venues), Allen gave us earlier access than we expected so we had more time to set-up our event, and the accessibility of the gallery for patrons. An easy quick walk from the parking structure next door. I already told Allen to look out for us next year...give them a try...you won't be disappointed. read more

We had our New Year's Eve wedding at Floating World Gallery, and from the moment we met Allen, we knew we had found the right place. The space was under construction when we first visited, so it was pretty hard to imagine how it might look at first -- but Allen showed us some pictures of previous events and gave us some great insights into how we could make the space our own. Some of the best features are: 1) The Size -- it was perfect for our 130-guest wedding, intimate without feeling crowded; 2) The Layout -- having separate rooms for the dinner and dancing meant that almost none of our guests wandered back to the tables after dinner, instead staying up and dancing and mingling the whole night; 3) The Ambience -- it is a blank canvas, and the brick walls and hardwood floors give it an elegant warm feeling that still remains open to your design vision. So many of our guests came up to us just to say how much the space contributed to making the wedding so special and fun. Allen provided some options for vendors but didn't mandate any in particular, so we were able to shop around and find the best options for each aspect of the evening. He knew exactly how to advise us without putting any pressure on our decisions, and whatever we chose he affirmed with enthusiasm. Each potential vendor we met with spoke highly of Allen and was excited to work with him. He is extremely knowledgeable and truly loves his work. Thank you for helping us put together such a wonderful night. read more

If I could give 10 stars, I would: 5 stars for the venue, and 5 stars for Allen himself. FWG is exactly what we were looking for for our August 2015 wedding. The venue: We wanted to get away from the banquet hall and into something with a lot more character. The brick, wood, and exposed ceilings were perfect for our look, and we were able to hang our own artwork on the walls for the event, but we did not need to do much to enhance the space: it is beautiful on its own. Our guests loved the cooler vibe, and we were able to utilize the two rooms for both the ceremony and the reception; the flow in between was seamless. The Lincoln Park location is great for Chicagoans like ourselves, and it was easy to get to for our in and out of town guests. A plus - there is parking right next door.. You could say all of our boxes were checked. Allen: To be honest, Allen was one of the main reasons we chose the space. From the moment we met, we got the feeling he was going to be someone we could trust with questions, opinions, and true honesty, and he was. I never had any doubts about how FWG was managed, and Allen was there for us every step of the way. We had true confidence in his knowledge and opinions, and couldn't have asked for a better person to work with. If you're looking for a cool space in Chicago for any event, I urge you to check out FWG. I promise you'll be glad you did. To Allen and everyone else at FWG: Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You guys are amazing! read more

Originally written by Michael Hi Allen - A sincere note of thanks for everything you did in taking care of not only Fred & I, personally, but also our wedding ceremony & reception at Floating World Gallery on Sunday 9/28. With me as the "planner of the duo", I appreciate all of your correspondence and assurances throughout the entire process. On the day of the big event, I wanted to thank you for your help in putting up the photos for the gallery wall, and for allowing us to use the upstairs break room for getting ready, the outdoor garden area for photos, and the alley/breezeway for our guest entrance. I also wanted to thank you for allowing Binny's to drop off our alcohol for the reception ahead of time, and for letting us pick up the left over food/beverages, flowers & supplies on Monday. As you indicated, both the glass block room & front gallery spaces worked out perfect for our needs, overall - everything was great! We received a number of compliments from our guests re: choice of venue... not only having everything take place in one venue, but in your overall location in Lincoln Park, & overall "lofty"/art gallery style. Many of these were factors Fred & I used in selecting FWG over other venues including Loft on Lake, New Leaf, or other "museum/gallery/loft" spaces. You were a joy to work with, and Fred & I would recommend you and Floating World Gallery, for future events. Thank you. Michael Gromek & Fred Mone .. read more

Choosing this venue was easily the best decision we made in planning our wedding! It set the tone perfectly with the chic Chicago wedding I was going for, and Allen was a treat! We ended up choosing a caterer (TwoMayToz) and draping specialist (Millenium) that Allen recommended, with great results. He is very aware that budget is important, and in the wedding industry that is always a challenge. He was so flexible, allowing us to drop off items ahead of time (even with a wedding the night before ours), and to pop over a few times as I was finalizing how I wanted the décor to look. Allen and his team also hung up concert posters for us in the front room, which looked beautiful for the ceremony and dinner. Our guests definitely noticed the personal touches, and they loved the vibe of the venue. We had around 110 for our final guest count, and the size was so perfect. Before ours, I actually hadn't been to a wedding with a room flip. I was nervous if guests would stay in the dancing room or if it would be deserted. Because of the size, all the guests were able to mingle and dance the night away in the back room! I would definitely add some seating in the back cocktail/dancing room to keep older guests comfortable. We had four highboys with a few stools at each. Having a parking garage right next door, and two restrooms was so convenient as well. The whole night was a dream thanks to Allen and Floating World Gallery!! read more

My husband and I recently had our wedding ceremony and reception at Floating World Gallery. We decided to move forward with the venue in late February for a wedding in early May. Only about two months to turn this around. Allen was an absolute pleasure to work with. Not having done something like this before, he guided us at every point where we needed help. He has clearly been doing this a long time, and knows his stuff. He was open, honest, and direct about what we needed to do and things to keep in mind when planning a wedding. The vendors he recommended were fantastic. No issues with them. He was flexible with what we were looking to do, and entrusted his colleague Michael with helping us on the day of the wedding. Michael did such an outstanding job of being present on the wedding day and helped us and our guests with any questions that came up. The venue itself if exactly what we were looking for. Nice, clean, and takes on the spirit of the event while not stealing the show. Our event had 50 people, and it was just the best place we could have chosen. Easy for our DJ and caterers to setup and do their thing. We have nothing but the best to say about Allen and Michael. Our only disappointment is that we don't get to keep working with them now that it's over! Thanks again, Allen! You helped make our wedding better than we could have expected. Nick & Tim read more

Floating World Gallery made my wedding venue dreams come true! After touring the venue and meeting with the manager Allen, it solidified my decision to host my June 4, 2021 wedding at FWG. From the very first day, Allen provided excellent suggestions as far as vendors and layout for the day. He was attentive to our needs and requests. Allen answered all of my questions quickly and made this process stress free! The gallery is BEAUTIFUL and stands alone without any additional decorations needed. From the moment you step through the front door, you are immediately impressed with the exquisiteness of the space. The venue provides tables and chairs which eliminated this stressor. We were also able to add our own creative elements to the space by selecting personal photos to put up in the gallery. We opted for an intimate wedding and reception, which created an incredibly comfortable experience for our guests. The ceremony room was transitioned into our reception room for dinner. We used the glass brick room for cocktail hour and entertainment. My wedding day was perfect. Floating World Gallery executed my vision beautifully and my guests loved their experience and the venue space. They cannot stop raving about the wonderful time they had at our wedding. If you are looking for a wedding venue to fit all your needs Floating World Gallery is it! read more

I held my event here October 24 2012, Enamor fashion show 2012, and it was by far the greatest experience. I had been searching for a remarkable event space that catered to upscale networks, and came across many unprofessional venues and special event directors. Before finding this space, I had a venue completely stop communication with me & my team, this even being after giving them the security deposit and less than 3 months away from the show. Promotional material had been released, tickets were pre-sold, cancelling was not an option. When I found floating world gallery, I instantly fell in love with the beauty of the venue. Little did I know the business owners were exceptional with thier client/customer service. We worked with Allen, who helped lift the weight off our teams shoulders and made the process very simple. Allen is so kind and very knowledgeable of his business. With all of the changes being constructed for our event, I must say it was truly a blessing to have been assisted, so professional, flexible, and kind. I will refer this venue to anyone looking for a great experience, great rates, and real professional kind people to help. I plan to have many events here as our previous was a huge success. Thank you Allen, and the Floating World Gallery! read more

My husband and I just had our wedding reception at Floating World Gallery last weekend. It was the most beautiful and elegant evening I could have imagined. The front gallery worked perfectly for our cocktail reception as guests enjoyed cocktails and food catered by Wolfgang Puck while a French singer and accordion player performed towards the center of the gallery space. The back glass brick room was the ideal space for the DJ to set up with a dance floor and lounge area. Allen Nichols was a delight to work with as we planned our reception from afar as we had just moved out of state. He is knowledgeable, experienced, beyond friendly and has many wonderful suggestions and contacts to help make any event a success. From the location, to the interior design and layout, Floating World Gallery was the perfect venue for us and our 100 guests. We were even able to hang our wedding photos from Paris on display for our family and friends to view during the reception. Oh, and I have to mention that Allen was always quick to reply to calls and emails and was incredibly helpful with coordinating deliveries prior to the event as well as scheduling times to pick things up after the reception. Thank you Allen! read more

My husband and I got married here this past Valentine's Day weekend and it was absolutely amazing. Not only is this place a hidden gem in Lincoln Park but Allen is honestly THE BEST person to work with. He was nothing but helpful and sweet from Day 1. He guided us to use some of his favorite vendors and raved about our other outside vendors that he hadn't used before at the venue. The gallery truly came alive with the decor and exceeded what we had hoped for in a wedding venue. Allen and his team made sure our ceremony ran smoothly and his team made sure we had everything needed throughout the night. Having a public indoor parking garage right next door to the building was a big benefit and cheap prices. We did run into a little issue right before the ceremony started that held us back a few minutes with the garage filling up due to the holiday weekend and other possible events going on around the area, but with the restaurants right across the street the remaining guests that couldn't fit in the garage were able to use the valets. I feel like I can't say enough great things about Allen and FWG without repeating myself, it was truly a night I will never forget. read more

We cannot say enough great things about Floating World Gallery. Allen, the events manager is wonderful to work with and really understand his space, he know how many guests are too many, where things look best, how not to decorate the space etc, and is so full of advice and guidance on the big day. Allen was responsive throughout the entire process, suggested great vendors for the day, and was a big part of the day, and made sure the bride got down the aisle. The price for FWG is very fair compared to other venues of similar size/capacity out there. You are not restricted to a list of caterers, you can bring your own. You can bring in your own alcohol, big plus, when on a budget. The team is flexible about getting in and out of the space before the wedding (within reason) There is a separate room for dancing/cocktails, major plus if you have a lot of older people that loud music be an issue for. We had our ceremony and reception there and the team at Millennium Decorations helped execute all of the changes needed to convert the room to a ceremony spot room You won't be sorry if you have your wedding at FWG Gallery, it was the perfect location for our big day. read more

This was a beyond phenomenal event space for our wedding.My partner and I were blown away from the beginning with the simple elegance of the Floating World Gallery, and our wedding was no less amazing. Allen told us that the space would be "hot" and he was absolutely right that the place would look fantastic. It was better than either my partner or I could have imagined. Allen was an absolute dream from the beginning, guiding us through the process and introducing us to some of our favorite vendors. He made getting married a simple, easy, fun and rewarding process - was quick to respond to our e-mails, was inviting when we needed to see the space and worked with us to make everything as stress-free as possible. I cannot thank FWG enough for making everything so easy. Allen was wonderfully supportive the night of and Karen, whom he had us working with, was a delight. Thank you for making this such a wonderful night. read more

FWG was an amazing venue, with great value for money. The venue is the perfect balance between DIY/Pinterest ready and beautiful on its own. Everyone complimented us on our choice, and it was the perfect size for our guest count. It stayed cool throughout the evening, even when folks were tearing up the dance floor. Allen is the best! Seriously, when we were interviewing other vendors in Chicago, everyone knew Allen and couldn't say enough good things about him. He was responsive, served as a mini-wedding planner (I would email him and ask his ideas about things non-venue related), and also was a great gut-check. His day-of assistant Karen was also great - kept an eye on the card basket and helped me get down the backstairs in my huge dress! This is how classy Allen is - we tried to tip him, and he kept refusing to take it! If you select Floating World, you won't regret it for a minute! read more

This review is long overdue as our wedding was in April 2016, but this venue deserves all the stars (better late than never!) From the get-go Allen was amazing, as others have said he lets you know right away that you can use any vendor and provide your own alcohol. He suggested Millennium Decorations for pipe-and-drape and uplighting which was very affordable and worked perfectly. We used the front room for the ceremony and plated dinner, and we used the back room for cocktail hour and dancing. FWG was the perfect space for our 100 guest wedding and allowed us the ability to have the entire wedding in one place. We were able to hang our own "gallery" pictures and get in the day before for set up and rehearsal. Our guests had a blast and were grateful to have a parking lot available in Lincoln Park. Overall I would recommend FWG for any event! read more

My daughter chose FWG for her September wedding and it was a brilliant choice. The space is beautiful and decorating it was so much fun! We had a village of friends to help us with flowers, photos and lighting and Allen was completely open to what we wanted to do and was with us every step of the way. Allen was warm and welcoming from the start and always made us feel like we were his only clients, which of course we know isn't true. He's very busy but it never showed. He answered emails almost immediately and met with us several times on our timetable. The location is convenient with parking next door and the actual space is perfect for a ceremony and reception. We were also allowed to bring in our own beer and wine which many venues won't allow. I kind of want to do it all again, wish I had another daughter! read more

A BIG thank you to Allen Nichols and his staff for providing the PERFECT venue for our daughter Katharyn's wedding reception on 6/29/13. Not knowing what to expect, we were EXTREMELY impressed with the location and unique building - it was perfect for our 100 guests. The front room was set up for mingling & food, which was catered by J&L Caterers, and allowed the families to get to know everyone better. The back room was where the DJ was set up for dancing and the bar for cocktails. It was spacious and easy to drift between front & back rooms. Both staffs worked well together to make it effortless for all of us. Our out of town guests - mostly from California - were impressed, especially since a few of them were artists themselves. The PERFECT way to end the PEFERCT day! read more

I recently held my wedding at FWG and the venue is amazing. We had 80+ guests travel in from various parts of the globe and it was perfect. The size, location, support of the staff were fantastic. It is a very intimate and classy venue, but what I liked most is that it offers a blank canvass like most other venues cannot. Now Allen.... what can you say that has not already been said! He is the best. Allen was very responsive, supportive, calm, insightful and genuine throughout our wedding process. I would recommend the venue for anyone looking to hold an intimate wedding (80-100ppl) where you have the freedom to let your creative juices flow. I would recommend Allen for anything... he was absolutely delightful. read more

We booked Floating World Gallery for our August 1, 2014 wedding. Allen Nichols was down-to-earth and a little quirky but more importantly, looked out for us as his customers, telling us what he thought about our setup based on his experiences and guided us in some directions that saved us money with vendors. The venue is beautiful and is a versatile space. And of all of the vendors, we probably stopped by, emailed, called and talked to Allen more than any other vendor and every time, he greeted us with a smile and helped us with everything we needed. He was very accommodating with early deliveries (dependent, of course, on what else is booked near your event) and if you are looking, consider this space! read more