We cannot say enough good things about Walden! From the touring process to the day of, they were so helpful and communicative. Once we decided to go with Walden, we knew we made a good decision and that was clear even after our wedding day. Hannah was our lead planner and she was a DREAM. She really understood our vision and helped bring it to life. Hannah and Katie were there from start to finish to answer our questions and give advice. They recommended great vendor partners and made that communication process seamless as well. On wedding day, we have tons of guests tell us that the food was the best wedding meal they have ever had. The drinks were great and there was never a line at the bar. The wait staff were incredible. It was worth every single penny. 10/10 experience, and I would recommend them to any engaged couple looking for a great venue. read more

Highly HIGHLY recommend the Walden to have your wedding (or any event for that matter). Kalila and the Walden team made everything so seamless and stress free from the second we started working with her. This was actually the first and only venue we saw before we booked it for our wedding. On top of us getting married, we also moved into a new house a week before which was stress city to say the least - I don't know how we would've done it without Kalila. The day of the wedding it was like everything was taken care of, we could just sit back and relax and just be there and enjoy the day. The night truly was one of the best nights of our lives. The feedback we got from our guests was amazing too! Literally everyone texted us the days following the wedding saying how fun it was and how great the food was, the dessert was, and the late night cocktail. One of our guests said she is recommending this to anyone she knows that gets engaged. It was all just perfect. Thank you Kalila and Walden team!!!! read more

We had our ceremony & reception at Walden in January and there aren't enough words to explain how perfect everything was. My husband and I had to postpone our wedding last year and ended up switching venues, and it was one of those moments where you have to believe everything happens for a reason. Not only is the actual venue and space beautiful, the team is what makes this place so special. We worked with Hannah & Briscel and they are absolute gems. They're professional, kind and detail-oriented, while also just being wonderful people to be around. The food is phenomenal and drinks are amazing. We continue to get compliments on everything...how cool the space is, how great the food was, the amazing service our guests received. Having been to 15+ weddings in Chicago and planned two of my own here as well, I can confidently say Walden is the best of the best and you will not be disappointed. read more

We had the most incredible wedding day experience, and we attribute that to the Walden staff and venue. They were so supportive and helpful through the planning process, with reviewing vendors and working with them on our behalf. The day of, everything was timed perfectly and they reduced our stress so much! The food and drinks were so delicious, and our guests have been raving about it. If you want a wedding that you and your guests will fully enjoy, with the support of a dedicated planning team, Walden is the best choice. read more

Our wedding at Walden was absolutely beyond perfect. We cannot express how incredible the entire week in Chicago was, thanks to Walden. Walden was the most perfect venue for us - gorgeously modern, and yet grand and classic, and the team worked tirelessly to make sure that our slightly complicated ceremony on the University of Chicago campus went smoothly and beautifully. We worked closely with Krystle, Briscel, Matt and Nick throughout the year plus of planning and they could not have been more responsive, hardworking and passionate about what they do so well. All of the vendors they recommended provided stellar services. We could not be more grateful for Krystle and the entire Walden team's work to make our wedding the most memorable day of our lives. All of our guests are raving about the entire weekend, the food and drinks at Walden, and how seamless it all was. Thank you, Krystle, for taking the time to be so present with the people closest to us and getting to know our family and friends while also literally running our wedding with your calm and cheerful energy. It really made the whole day feel so personalized and you have been rooting for us every step of the way. Thank you thank you thank you for everything!!! read more

We firmly wish there was an option on here for six stars as our experience with the Walden was nothing short of perfect. From the planning team to the culinary staff and everyone in between, the Walden is the best of the best across the board. We had the pleasure of working with Erika and Briscel as our main planners. The two of them are so sweet, caring and organized; we could not have had the wedding we desired without their support and assistance. They are not only fantastic at their job, but they are two of the most incredible people we have had the pleasure of getting to know. Should you be so fortunate to land their assistance, cherish it and enjoy the journey with them. The culinary and bar team- Nick and Matt- stand alone at the top of the wedding biz. How many weddings have you been to that you're already planning the stop to McDonald's on the way home? We can promise you, though, this will not be one of those weddings. The Walden's kitchen could run itself as a restaurant and it would be in the upper echelon of eateries in Chicago. In tandem with the bar, serving up some of the tastiest cocktails we've ever had, the dining and drinking experience is unparalleled. From the top to the bottom, there is clear care, compassion and consistency for each of their events and each of their guests. Even the ownership takes an interest in your event, as Maria and Nick routinely checked in with us, sharing their excitement for us and for our day. The love and energy that most seek for their Big Day is present through the staff and through the very walls of the building. This short forum cannot fully express the immense gratitude and appreciation we have for the Walden and its people. This venue and this team have graced our lives in a way we are incapable of truly communicating. Should you have the chance to book this venue, it is worth every single penny (and more!) Thank you to the Walden for hosting our wedding and we hope they can host your Big Day as well! read more

We hosted a corporate event at The Walden and the experience was flawless. The team on site was helpful not only during the event but leading up to it as well. If you're looking for a location / venue with space, style and support - this is it! Erika and Ally helped keep our planning team sane and proactively jumped in on topics we needed more expertise on. read more

Getting married at Walden was the best decision we made, and truly impacted every other decision that followed. We chose Walden for the beautiful space, skyline view, in-house kitchen, and full service wedding planning. Over our year and half engagement, Erika, our wedding planner, was with us every step of the way. All of the preferred vendors were great and Erika handled all of the details and communication. She was always available and provided her honest opinion and advice. On the day of the wedding, everything went perfectly. Erika and team (Kristen, Maddie, and Dagne!) had every single detail written out and executed flawlessly. It was honestly incredible and allowed me to relax and enjoy the day knowing they had everything taken care of. If you don't have your wedding at Walden (but you should!), at least hire Plum and Ivy. The space itself is beautiful and designed perfectly with a wedding in mind. From the bridal suite to rooftop view for the first look - to the ceremony space to the cocktail hour to the room reveal for the reception - to the room for the wedding party to hang out while guests walk in - to the mothers room - to the locker to store wedding stuff before and after the date - everything was perfect and made the day so easy. Even with no decorations, the venue itself is beautiful. We are still getting compliments on the food and drinks. Nick and his team did an incredible job with the food. Everyone's food was hot and came out quickly, and everyone said it was the best wedding food they've ever had. And the drinks were amazing. There was never a line at the bar and the speciality cocktails and the drinks on tap were so so good. I am so thankful to Matt for helping make every detail of the bar perfect. Walden is honestly the perfect venue. We are so happy with our choice and so appreciative of all of the support and attention to detail we received along the way. Thank you! read more

Wow!! If you need a sign to book the Walden over other venues in Chicago... here it is! This place has everything you could possibly need and more. Full service event planning team, in-house catering and bar team, beautiful/modern/updated interior, in-house tables/chairs/plates/barware (no additional rentals needed), ceremony+cocktail hour+reception space all under one roof (!!), bridal suite to get ready pre-wedding, mother's room and coat check for guests, additional decor/signage for couples to use as needed all included in the agreed upon fees. Erika, our lead planner, was a godsend in keeping me organized and calm during the entire process (from planning to wedding day). There wasn't a moment during the wedding day that I actually felt like I needed to stress or handle anything because the Walden team had it all, very clearly, under control. This isn't their first rodeo. Similar to the planning team, the bar & catering team were FANTASTIC. I'm fairly positive every single person that attended the wedding commented on how good the food and drinks were. One guest mentioned, "I've never remembered a meal from a wedding until now. You guys set the bar so high for future weddings!". From the tasting day to wedding day, Nick & Matt (and their teams) far exceeded all of our expectations!! The venue alone is a 10 out of 10 and then adding in all the wonderful people mentioned above, this place is a no-brainer. We're sad the wedding is already over but SO happy we made the right call with the Walden! read more

We are so beyond happy with our decision to have our wedding at Walden! It was such a special day that ran incredibly smoothly due to their incredible team. Our lead planner, Kalila, was with us every step of the way as soon as we signed our contract. From our first meeting, we felt comfortable bringing all of our questions and concerns to the table and we felt safe celebrating all the nuances of both of our cultures. We knew we wanted intentionality thread through our whole day and the planning team backed up us the whole way. Food & beverage was absolutely delicious and it was so much fun to come in for our tasting party with our families. It was so easy to make our choices and any necessary customizations. As someone who does not drink alcohol, I appreciated the availability of delicious mocktails to choose from! Our day ran so smoothly from start to finish. We got to the end and thought "huh, nothing went off course all day!". Because of the presence of the Walden team and how thoughtful they are, my husband and I were able to truly soak up our wedding day and be present with our friends and family. We trusted their team and they truly delivered! We could not recommend Walden more!!!! read more

Things happen for a reason. We were initially soft committed to having our wedding at another location that we were very excited about. However, after finding out that my sister was pregnant and due around the same time of our planned date, we had to pivot and find a new venue. That's when we came across the Walden. It was a gift from the wedding gods. I literally don't know how we could have navigated all of the obligations of planning a wedding (we only gave ourselves 7 months) with out the team of planners that are INCLUDED in the cost of having your wedding at this venue. Our planners, Kalila (lead planner) and Katie Rose, were the perfect blend of hype (exuding the most positive energy) and project manager (keeping us in line on to-do lists and due dates). They were sooo knowledgeable about what works well and what to stay away from, what vendors are great to work with and which ones can be difficult, etc. Without their guidance, we would have been lost and way more stressed than we were. My now-wife is a very thorough research queen that doesn't take any choices lightly and Kalila and Katie Rose kept up with her every step of the way, providing recommendations and guidance in just the right amount and tone to help keep things trending in a positive direction. But the impressive support doesn't end with the planing team. They also have a badass bar manager (Matt) who goes over and above to make sure your specialty cocktails are immaculate and your total bar package is on point. We even had two extra tasting days privately with Matt to "create" cocktails that we were super excited about from initial ideas that we had. They both were very unique, complex and turned out to be extremely popular with the wedding attendees and our crew is pretty picky about good drinks. The food the Walden offers is the next point that sets them apart. They have their own kitchen in house, so no need to hire an outside catering service (huge relief) and it's really an elevated experience because everything is cooked on-site. It was so delicious. Everything came together so perfectly. The vendors, the Walden staff, the people who had a role to play in the wedding...everyone stepped up and it was the most beautiful night we could have imagined. Thank you thank you thank you to everyone at the Walden for the amazing support and for making our wedding such a perfect experience in so many ways!!! read more

So many great things to say about Walden, where to begin. We initially saw Walden when it was just dirt, renderings & a dream. As the planning & venue developed, we became so invested in the space and the amazing staff. As we scheduled not one, but two weddings due to the pandemic, the staff was simply amazing - from keeping us up-to-date on what was feasible, best options, rescheduling, timing and so much more, they truly outdid themselves. The space is beautiful -- modern, industrial, yet timeless and lends itself to making it your own vision. The food & drink are impeccable -- elevated hospitality it truly is. We had a unique ask, to blend our two cultures together in a one-of-a kind menu & chef Nick's team did their own research to make it happen & provided us with a truly special palette for our day. The drinks are next level, with cocktails on draft, and great draft beers -- our guests were truly impressed. Lastly, the planning team, who went above and beyond. Zaire made our wedding planning & day run so smooth. Their project management, relationships, coordination and fast response times were top notch. If I had an idea, Zaire had a solution. On our wedding day I knew we were in good hands as she took over & made sure not only myself and my husband always had food, drink & a smile on our faces, but our families and wedding party were at ease and able to enjoy the evening. Our guests raved about the space, food and drinks -- all made possible by their team. There were so many unique touches that Walden did that made our wedding so truly special and one-of-a-kind and we are so grateful to their amazing team for making it a day we'll cherish forever. read more

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We can't say enough good things about the Walden! We first picked our reception space in December 2019 and we were very excited about the coolest all-inclusive industrial space. We were initially supposed to get married in April 2021 but had to pivot a bit, as many couples in 2020/2021 did. We still got married in April and held our marriage celebration/reception in July 2021. The Walden could not have been more helpful and accommodating throughout the process. Our planner, Erika, was truly our saving grace and helped us move all of our vendors and made what could have been a very stressful process so seamless. She even made herself available when we had our intimate ceremony in April. I mean this when I say, we couldn't have done this without her. Erika is one of the sweetest humans I have ever met--she handled everything with such grace and really brought our special day together. She is so organized and kept everything moving along without a hitch. On July 30, 2021 we finally had our 200+ person reception and boy did the Walden deliver! The Walden is a partnership between Half Acre Brewery, Real Kitchen catering, and Plum & Ivy Event so it is the only all-inclusive space in Chicago. Erika, Maria, Nick and the Walden team made everything so perfect, it truly brought tears to our eyes. The day of the wedding we were both able to just relax and enjoy the day, every detail was organized to the highest degree and we got so many compliments on the space from all of our friends and family. Many people told us that it was the best food and drinks they have ever had at a wedding. People went nuts for the mini hors d'oeuvres, the entrees were delicious, and our specialty drinks were a hit. (Shout to Nick and Matt!) My husband and I look back on our wedding celebration as one of the best days of our lives and can't stop gushing about how amazing the Walden was. Having our wedding at the Walden is one of the best decisions we made, hands down. They made our vision come to life and organized it so we could fully relish our day and we couldn't be more thankful. read more

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We had the pleasure of having our wedding at Walden on 11.12.23 and if you find yourself here reading this review--DO. IT. My husband and I first heard of Walden before we were even engaged and after hearing the co-founder of Half Acre (shout out to our fav brewery) was opening up a wedding venue. Even then, we knew when the time came, we would absolutely be checking it out. And we did! And it was way more than what we ever could have imagined. From start to finish, we always felt like we were amonst friends. Every person working here is SO friendly. We had a couple switches with wedding planners, and landed with Krystle, who I was supposed to have a 30 minutes soon call with that turned into an hour and a half just of us absolutely hitting it off. What I was really impressed by was that behind the scenes they decided to pair us with Krystle because they felt like she would be a better fit for us. It felt so good knowing our event was really being analyzed and looked after, and Krystle was, indeed, a fantastic fit for us. Walden uses a project management app for seemless planning that kept us in contact and on track. It was really easy to use and reference back to when I wasn't sure what we should be working on. We picked some of our vendors on our own, but they had amazing recommendations for whichever vendor you need. We found our DJ through Walden and we LOVED him! It was also so worth it for us to have catering and planning included, and really contributed to the ease of planning and the actual day of. The actual day of the wedding, it was hard to ignore how much of a well oiled machine this team runs. Every transition ran so smoothly, and we truly felt the care they put into our wedding. The planning team is so committed to making sure your day goes just as planned and every detail is how you want it. Every accomodation that we needed or wanted the day of, they made sure we got it and then some. They made it so easy to just be present and enjoy this special day of ours. We had a private last dance in the ceremony space and our closing planner lit candles on the window ledges, without us asking, just to make it more special for us. That alone speaks deeply to me that we just weren't another event to them, that we weren't just a number. They put this level of thought and care into everything they do. The food and cocktails were absolutely incredible and the tasting party pre-wedding is SO fun. Walden truly made our wedding day the best day of our life, and if we could go back and do it all again we would pick Walden every single time. This truly does not scratch the surface of how invaluable this experience was. I've already convinced one couple to get married here and I will continue to sing the highest praises of them to any newly engaged couple. read more

The Walden was absolutely INCREDIBLE to work with! And the fact that their package gives you access to their planning team was the number one selling point for us! From day one of signing our contract to the actual wedding day and everything in between, their planning team made everything so easy and magical for us! Specifically our planners, Krystal and Alyssa, who were so wonderful every single step of the way! We truly would not have made it to the finish line without their guidance and support and are forever grateful for everything they did for us! I would recommend Walden and our planners to ANYONE! They were truly incredible and so efficient and understanding and executed everything so perfectly! I truly can't even count the number of compliments we got from friends and family day of saying how seamless everything was and that's truly because of the amazing staff and planners at Walden! If you're looking for a sign to book with Walden, THIS IS IT! You will not regret it! They are 100% the absolute best! read more

My husband and I got married at Walden on September 17th, 2022 and the day was perfection! We had 3 or 4 venues we wanted to look at when the planning part was taking place. We saw Walden first and cancelled all the other appointments, we made up our mind that day and booked it shortly after! The initial reason we decided on Walden was because of the full wedding planning services they had and the in-house food and beverage vendors. We did not expect the planning process to be so smooth. Venue: The venue is so stunning. The exposed brick, the greenery on the top wall, the second floor with skyline views, and the gigantic bar area. We got ready at Walden in the bridal suite. When you walk into the bridal suite, there is a mirror filled room that allowed for 11 women to get their hair and makeup done. It feels like you are at a salon getting ready. Then there is an opening to the seating area that has plenty of space and a gorgeous accent wall with florals on it that was perfect for "getting ready" photos. They had a space for the guys to get ready as well with a tv and a beer package so they could occupy themselves! We were originally planning on taking photos after the ceremony in downtown Chicago but day-of changed our minds and took photos at Walden because of all the unique spaces they had. We ended up taking the majority of the photos on the roof with the skyline in the back. They allowed our whole party to go on the roof with us- which was a welcomed surprise. Planners: We worked with 2 of the most wonderful people on this planet: Dagne and Katie. Our wedding day would not have turned out the way it did without them. During the planning process, they took care of everything! They guided us, reassured us, were always available to chat, accomplished all of our requests, and made sure every detail leading up to the wedding and on the day of the wedding was perfect. Not only are they so kind and caring, but detail oriented and amazing at their jobs. Katie came to our rehearsal and helped get me down the aisle on the wedding day. Dagne was with us throughout the entire reception and was on the roof when we were taking our photos to hold my veil and help the photographer. Nothing went wrong on the wedding day and they made every detail perfect! They put so much energy and love into their jobs- and made you feel so comfortable and taken care of. Food/Beverage: The food and beverage services they have at Walden (Real Kitchen) do not compare to anyone else. Truly the most delicious, high-end quality of both food and drink. Matt (beverage director) and Nick (culinary director) are so creative. Our wedding guests could not get over the draft cocktails or our signature cocktails. The servers and bartenders both at the bar, during cocktail hour, and dinner were fast, attentive, and friendly. The wedding guests all made a point to come up to us at the reception to tell us that the chicken carbonara was the best chicken they have ever had! The tasting for our wedding day food and drink was also a blast with lots of entrees and appetizers to taste, as well as, cocktails and wine! One final special note- when the bar was closed for dinner hour during the reception Matt and Dagne set up an opportunity for me to take a photo behind the bar pouring a drink for my husband (that is how we met!)- it was such a full circle moment for us and grateful to Walden for making us feel so loved! read more

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My husband Eric and I had our wedding at the Walden. It literally was a perfect weekend!! Erika was our lead planner and she is professional, friendly, experienced, and made me feel cool as a cucumber throughout the process. Planning our wedding was easy breezy with the Walden team! I can't believe I haven't mentioned the bar yet.. The lead bartender Matt was extremely accommodating and made us the best cocktail menu of all time. Even ~1-2 weeks beforehand, I asked to add a few mocktails and he came up with the most amazing concoctions! The food was also superior! Eric and I are huge foodies so the food was really important to us. Nick even adjusted one of the dishes for our taste! I've heard of weddings where the bride and groom can't eat or have fun and for us it was the complete opposite of that. We enjoyed the cocktail hour, we had dinner, cocktails, wine, cake, dessert table, AND were able to enjoy our late night snack(s) while dancing the night away on the incredibly spacious dance floor and partying with all of our guests. The DJ, the florist, the lights, the linens, the ceremony trio.. ..most of our vendors were recommended by the Walden team and we even got a few good deals because of their relationships. The best part I think was the week or 2 before the wedding, the planning team reached out to all the vendors and made absolutely sure that everything was taken care. They went above and beyond to help Eric and I with our hotel blocks, the welcome dinner, the welcome drinks, the wedding day, the afterparty, and the post-wedding dim sum. Their advice and guidance was priceless. 10/10 would recommend!!!!!! read more

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Words cannot express how grateful my husband and I are for choosing Walden for our wedding. From our tour day 1, through the planning process, to the wedding day, the team was incredible in all aspects and we can't thank them enough. We were so fortunate to work with Hannah and Alyssa- they were attentive to detail, patient, communicative and so down to earth. They made the planning process a breeze and enjoyable. The day of the wedding was completely stressfree which made me relaxed as a bride and truly able to enjoy the day. The facilities are immaculate from the ceremony space, to the getting ready room, to cocktail hour/dinner space and the rooftop where we had sunset pictures. Our friends and family keep raving about the amazing food and service. In addition, they were blown away by our room reveal. Our wedding was beyond our wildest dreams and we cannot recommend the Walden enough for making it possible! read more

Our wedding was held at Walden this past September, and it was truly one of the greatest days of our lives- a huge part of that being due to the amazing planners, bartenders, and entire team at Walden. From the initial planning meetings to the day of operations, we felt supported and at ease having Krystle and Briscel on our side! Everything went according to plan and we continue to get compliments on how much fun and organized everything was. From the beautiful space, to the amazing drinks and food we couldn't be happier with our decision to celebrate our best day at Walden. Definitly recommend Walden to anyone looking for a space- it was truly magical. read more

The staff here is so incredible! They ran everything for us, but also allowed us to completely personalize the day at the same time. They went out of their way to make sure that we had everything we needed, and gave us some really great recommendations on ways to make us and our guests enjoy the wedding day to the max. Add to all that the fact the the venue is incredible, it made our wedding absolutely perfect. read more

The Walden is the best wedding venue in all of Chicago. We visited over 15 venues and ended up picking the Walden for a variety of reasons - the fact that they offer wedding planners throughout the whole planning process is what solidified my choice in venue. Hannah and Briscel were sooo fun to work with, they answered my million and one questions, and helped me plan the wedding of my dreams. These ladies reached out to each vendor for me, helped us look through contracts and make sure we had everything we needed, got proposal after proposal until we got our perfect vision, and kept us on track day to day until the wedding day! The day of, we had FOUR different coordinators on site making sure things went smoothly; the day could not have gone more perfectly. I left the day in the hands of our planners, and I did not once have to plan/coordinate anything. We got to enjoy every detail of our wedding because of them! Also - the food and drink at the Walden is top tier. You will get on site prepared gourmet food and custom cocktails. All of our guests raved about how good the food was and how fun it was to drink a custom cocktail, not just a vodka soda. My third favorite thing about the Walden was the layout of the venue. Upstairs you have a HUGE bridal suite - I was able to invite my friends for brunch while the rest of us were getting ready with the hair and makeup artists. They have a beautiful rooftop where you can take sunset photos and have gorgeous views of the skyline. The ceremony space upstairs is so beautiful; I loved the white textured wall to take pics in front. The wooden beams in the ceiling and the white washed brick throughout is so gorgeous. Downstairs, the bar/cocktail hour and reception area flow so nicely. I loved that it was one open room so that all of our guests felt like we were in the same space. I wish I could get married every year at the Walden! read more

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Our wedding was the most perfect night we could have asked for, largely thanks to the Walden at its staff. Our lead planner was Erika, but we also worked with Katie, Kalila, Ally, and Jenny. Each lady was fantastic and made sure our wedding day was perfect. People often asked us how wedding planning was going and we always answered "easy," which surprised everyone. But it truly was easy. Having the full time wedding staff, food, and beverage all in one place took a lot of stress out of planning. Plus the Walden has great relationships with our vendors (shoutout to MDM Entertainment for decor and Thistle & Plume for floral). Erika and Katie kept us on track of everything we needed to do. If we ever needed anything, they were super responsive and/or handled whatever task immediately. The day of planners (Kalila, Ally, and Jenny) were also incredible and made sure everything ran smoothly. The security staff, the catering staff, and bar staff the night of were also great. I'm so impressed by each person who contributed to making the night spectacular. They were all so great to work with and we truly feel grateful. Walden is also a perfect space to have a wedding. We had both the ceremony and reception there. The space is beautiful. The food was delicious, the drinks were excellent and no one ever had to wait for a drink. We had a band and the space was perfect for the band and for a large dance floor. I truly cannot say enough good things about the Walden. I would highly recommend the Walden!!! read more

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I got married at the Walden on Friday, September 15 and when I say, I had the most PERFECT day, I genuinely mean it. From the beginning, my experience with Walden was a luxury experience. Hannah was our lead planner and she was terrific. She made sure we were on task with the many things that go into planning a wedding and made sure we felt supported. As a super Type A and anxious person, I was able to relax and fully enjoy my wedding day because I knew Hannah and the rest of the team had it covered. Our wedding guests are saying the food was amazing, the service was attentive and of course, the venue was gorgeous. If I had to do it all over again, I would still choose Walden! read more

My Daughter's wedding was held at the Walden in early September. As the Dad off four daughter's and this being our first wedding I was not certain what to expect other than I hoped the wedding would go off without a hitch and the families of the bride and groom and all of our friends would have a great time. The Walden exceeded our expectations in every way. The entire staff was amazing from start to finish. I have to mention our lead planner, Kalila. My daughter told me she was incredible to work with and I witnessed that first hand at the rehearsal and the day of the wedding. When numerous guests share their thoughts that the wedding was the best and most enjoyable they have been to that says it all. Thank you to the entire Walden staff. The food, the drinks, the service - impeccable! read more

Walden made our day seamless. From the moment I arrived at Walden on our wedding day, I could relax and enjoy every moment. Hannah, Ally, and Briscel worked hard to ensure we were happy. They were responsive to all of our questions and requests. The food and bar team made a specialized entree, salad, and appetizers that honored our cultures and made the day extra special and personalized. Desserts were important to us, and Walden allowed us to bring in whatever we wanted. I highly recommend Walden for any event if you are looking for a low-stress, inclusive venue. Thank you so much to the team at Walden for making our wedding day so special. read more

From the first meeting with Maria in what was then an unfinished event space to the final big day - our experience with the Walden team was fantastic! The team really knows how to throw an amazing event and create a space that is inviting, beautiful and everything you could want as a bride and groom!We planned our wedding from California and the Walden team was so easy to work with and kept us on track through a two year planning process as well as making sure things were stress free and seamless. The Space: The space is just so incredible. They have thought of everything including THE MOST beautiful bridal suite. My bridal party was quite large and we all has an amazing amount of space to get ready, comfy couches, great space for all the make-up and hair vendors to set up and a lovely bathroom for touch-ups! One of my favorite parts about the space is the beautiful greenery wall - its such a nice compliment and can jazz up your wedding decor! The Food: The food was so incredible! Nick and the team is just so talented and customizes your menu while highlighting trendy/seasonal items that are just delicious. Also they do a great job of making sure you have a taste of everything on the big day! The Bar/Drinks: Also an amazing A+! Matt is incredible at what he does and make the most delicious Specialty Cocktails for our guests. Our guests were raving about them! My only regret is not trying my own welcome cocktail :) They also have truly thought of everything related to guest experience, the bar is large enough for all your guests and the draft cocktails, wine and beer really add to time in line. There is no big hold ups to getting your next beverage - which can usually be a pain point at events! The Team: OMG! Everyone on the team is awesome. We had the lovely pleasure of working directly with Natalia as our main contact. She is SO incredibly organized and helpful- she truly tries to minimize all stress related to your big day. She also has amazing recommendations so if you dont know where to start the team is wedding and event experts! Natalia- you are the best! All the Day of Staff provide an amazing experience! If you are thinking of having your wedding at the Walden- Definitely do it! read more

My husband I got married here in July 2023. After we finished our tour of the venue with Maria, we knew we were going to have our wedding here. Our planners, Kalila, Katie Rose, and Erika, were all so helpful throughout the planning process and helped us bring our vision to life. On our wedding day, the food was incredible. Everyone was raving about the sushi (which we choose as an additional appetizer) and the hanger steak. We were very impressed and will recommend Walden to anyone else who is looking for a wedding venue. read more

Where to start with the Walden... I don't think our experience with a wedding venue could have possibly been more perfect! Every single detail, from the resources they devote to planning, to their organization, to the value, to the space, to the INCREDIBLE team - all of it was absolutely amazing! Our wedding was the most perfect day of our lives and absolutely exceeded every expectation. It was truly a dream, and it's all thanks to this beautiful space and the amazing team! We have to give a special shout-out to Erika and Briscel, our planning team who gassed us up constantly, kept us sane, and were the main reason our day ended up being so incredible! The great service doesn't stop with them though - the catering team, the bartenders, and all of the extensions of the Walden were so great to us. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention that we've had dozens of people mention to us that the food and cocktails were the best they've ever had at a wedding! We feel so blessed to have stumbled upon Chicago's most unbelievable new venue. Thank you SO MUCH to the entire Walden team for giving us the greatest day of our lives! read more

BEST VENUE IN CHICAGO! the Walden team made our wedding an absolute dream come true. We worked with Alyssa and Krystle-- the most helpful, patient, funny, kind souls who keep us on track and helped me bring all my crazy ideas to life! Chef Nick let us fully customize our menu (we had breakfast for dinner) and our guest are still RAVING about our food. the bartenders were delightful, quick and kind. Plus, the staff was incredible, the whole experience was 12/10 stars. please do yourself a favor and go with the Walden!! no place better!! read more

We held our wedding at Walden this past February and it was everything we could have imaged and MORE! After touring multiple venues throughout Chicago we chose Walden for a number of reasons: the people are incredible, the space is beautiful, the food and drink packages are amazing and not to mention they provide full planning services! Maria, Erika, and the whole team were SO helpful throughout the planning process! Everything on the day of went perfectly and the staff went above and beyond to make our day so special. I have never been to a wedding with a better food and bar program and all of our guests agreed! The bar was well staffed all night and there was never a line for a drink even with 200 guests! Walden is a 5/5 for us and we would recommend anyone looking for a venue in Chicago to chose this wonderful place and their staff to host their special day! read more

I was 100% less stressed during wedding planning because of how incredible my Walden planning team was (shoutout Briscel & Krystle!!) I truly don't know what I would have done without them. They always had good ideas, whether it was a suggestion of a vendor or detail about the timeline, they got back to me so quickly whenever I had questions, and were just so joyful and fun to work with! They always made me feel like the most important bride, even though I know they were working with so many other couples. The day itself went so seamlessly and I was beyond thankful for the whole team - they are professional, kind, hard working, and deliver just an insanely good product. I can't tell you how many people thought that the food and drinks were some of the best wedding options they've ever had. I could go on and on! Forever thankful we chose Walden and cannot WAIT to go back for my previous roommate's wedding in December 2024! Keep the Walden weddings coming!!! read more

I will not be able to summarize all of the wonderful things there are to say about Walden and the planning team in a short review, but I will do my best! First, the space is beautiful. It has a ton of natural light during the day and looked amazing when we added string lights and disco balls to the reception area. The rooftop is perfect for photos with the city skyline in the background. It was also so convenient to have the bridal suite right there. Next, the planning team. They were AMAZING! Erika was our lead planner and she was a delight to work with, along with Briscel and the other amazing planners. They not made the planning leading up to the day a breeze and made sure our wedding went off without a hitch. They were polite, friendly, experienced and knew exactly what we would need before we even asked. The best thing was hearing my mom on the day of the wedding say how nice it was to not have to do anything that day and to just let others run the show! The food was incredible as were the drinks. It was so seamless to have the catering and bar in house, and I appreciated how flexible they were to make special accommodations when asked. Our guests continue to reach out to say how delicious the food was. Again, we cannot thank the Walden team enough for making our day perfect! read more

We got married at Walden about a month ago and cannot recommend the venue enough. From the very moment we reached out to Walden a year and a half ago, we could tell that working with their team would be something special. Maria was incredibly helpful in answering all of our initial questions and making us feel comfortable and confident in making our decision. There was no pressure or hard selling by anyone we worked with at Walden. Everyone truly wanted to help us create a memorable day that fit our style. Working with our wedding planner Erika was nothing short of amazing. She has great recommendations and relationships with vendors that were invaluable. She truly helped bring our vision to life and was always friendly and responsive! If you want someone to help take away your stress, Erika is the one to do it. Beyond that, the Walden is a stunning venue with so much to offer on it's own. All of our guests absolutely raved about the food and drink offerings, many claiming that it was the best tasting meals and cocktails they had ever had at any wedding. Having the ceremony space on site made everything seamless the day of the wedding, while still giving us the unique spaces for each part of the day (ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception). You can transform the space in so many different ways or just use the natural beauty of the space! We hope to be able to attend another wedding at Walden in the future because we had such a great time at our own. Thanks to the Walden team for giving us a day we will never forget! read more

Walden - Wedding party photo on Walden's rooftop! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One month ago, we had our wedding at Walden. If you take away anything from reading this, it's that choosing this venue and their planning team will be 100% the right decision. From the very first tour and phone call with Maria, I knew this place was different. Before booking with them, she went through all of the things that we might want in our wedding and provided estimated costs for each. This helped us fully understand what we would be "in for" if we decided to go with Walden. Along the way, she provided recommendations to help us save or to add more impact. This level of care really made us confident in a venue that we had already fallen in love with. After booking, we worked with Kalila, Katie, and Erika for our planning & coordinating team. We could not have asked for a more incredible group of professionals to make our dream become a reality. They provided recommendations, answered questions quickly, and maybe most importantly, they dealt with ME, an extremely picky, over-analyzing, and indecisive bride, with a smile. I never once felt as though they were irritated when I asked question after question or changed my mind. They were so kind, patient, and supportive throughout the process. Leading up to and on the day of the wedding, this team took care of EVERYTHING. The planning team at Walden will take of anything that you don't want to and, frankly, don't need to be worrying about. Aside from the usual, here are just a couple examples of how this team went above and beyond. - Kalila helped put together our escort chart with my dad before our rehearsal. - On the morning of the wedding, one of the day-of coordinators helped finish doing my MIL's hair. - At one point before the ceremony, a family member asked where the flower crowns were for the flower girls. As a flustered bride, all I could say was "I don't know; ask one of the girls walking around." Within a minute, they were located and given to the girls. Those are just a couple of things on top of a list of countless others that I either forgot about or wasn't even aware that they did that made the day truly flawless. Kalila was so amazing. She kept the day on track like no other. I don't know what we would have done without her. All I can really say to sum up their work was "PROFESSIONAL". Matt & Nick on the food and beverage team were also excellent to work with. They answered questions quickly and even in some cases recommended options to get us what we wanted and save us money. On the wedding day itself, the food and beverages were INCREDIBLE. If there is anything people complimented the most about the wedding, it was the food and drinks. It was truly restaurant quality food and I honestly can't stop thinking about it. Every day we get compliments on different elements of our wedding. While in some ways it's flattering to us because we chose most of the details, but we know none of them would have come to life had it not been for the truly amazing team at Walden. If we had chose to go it alone or had gone with a different team/venue, it would not have been the same. read more

From start to finish our experience with Walden chicago was top notch, easy, professional yet relatable, and unique. The service, the food, the drinks, the décor and design, the layout, the planners, and staff were all the best in the business. Having Real Kitchen (Thanks, Nick!) onsite in their home kitchen makes a huge difference when it comes to serving mass wedding food. We had numerous people tell us and our parents that it was the best meal they've "ever had at a wedding in their lives", and some said, "the best short rib they've ever had, period". Each dish was served as you would expect to get it at a fine dining restaurant. The chefs are extremely tuned into dietary restrictions and allergies as well; my friend has more than you can count so they made her an individual vegan meal that wasn't even on the menu. Talk about hospitality! Normally when you are at weddings, you get slim options at the bar, or must go with the standard liquor/chaser mixes. Not here!! Matt is a genius when it comes to selecting cocktails, beers and wines. We had margaritas, bees knees, Moscow mules, old fashions and two signature drinks (that we requested from our time in Hawaii) ON TAP. The Walden is environmentally conscious which is amazing, but also the wait time at the bar is near-none since the prep work is done in advance, ready to serve the guests quickly. The bar was absolutely the star of the cocktail hour and competed with the reception food! I have never seen so many people so excited to try cocktails. They were all outstanding, and guests were saying that they couldn't even pick their favorite. On top of the priority services, Walden comes through with thoughtful touches based on their historical experience at and planning weddings. They've created a gorgeous onsite "getting ready" room complete with large mirrors, many outlets for hair tools, a bathroom/shower and plenty of seating. The décor makes for great photos with your bridal party in the morning! They've also added a mother's room with a code to enter and refrigerator for your guests who need it - a service that I received many thanks on! They have décor on hand available for your use - an arch for your ceremony, a card box for your gifts table, pedestals and more. Not to mention the tables, chairs, and dishware they have is perfect. No need to "upgrade". You will be in awe by their standard offering. Plus, there is a locker you can drop off your goods at days before the wedding and pick up everything left days after the wedding. This way, you can carry on your wedding night without worrying about the pickup! The all-inclusive offer Walden brings to the table, unlike other venues (and we looked at 11!), is unmatched. Even for a bride who is extremely type A and loves planning, having everything under one roof was an unknown blessing. I didn't need to organize a single chair, linen, napkin, or table to be brought in. Everything was already available at the venue or coordinated for delivery by the Walden wedding planners. Yes, included in your venue fees comes a FULL-SERVICE wedding planner. I did not realize how valuable this was until going through the process. Not only do you get a main planner, but you have an army of dedicated and knowledgeable planners there for you - shout out to Erika, Lauren, Maria & more! They know more than you could imagine, help you work through decisions, are extremely helpful and professional but also relatable. I was never nervous to ask a question, or hesitant to push back. They made the whole process (before and after) feel like friends planning a party. If you are looking for a modern or industrial or farm-house or contemporary or art decor or boho venue, this is your place to make it happen. The beauty of Walden is that with a few simple decorations, you can turn it into your dream "style". It is a fabulous place to photograph and, therefore, our wedding pictures turned out fantastic. It is stunningly designed and pays off in not needing a ton of extra money spent on decor. Investing in floral for the tables + lighting for the reception ceiling is about all you need to make it wedding-ready. Whatever else you want to add will just escalate it!! The venue is in West Town, a quick 12 minute drive from West Loop, The Loop or River North, where many of the popular hotel and churches reside. It is connected to a popular, and very good, brewery called Midwest Coast, where guests can hang out if you have time in between your ceremony and cocktail hour. The set-up is just too good. We received many guest compliments on the logistics and ease of our day. Let me just end by saying, I planned basically the entire wedding without my husband, as we both agreed was best! When he saw where the money, time and energy went, he was blown away; "I would do it all over again after experiencing this, and seeing how well it was planned and executed". Thank you to the Walden for a day we will always cherish. read more

We celebrated our wedding at Walden a few weeks ago and would highly recommend it to anyone choosing a venue! The process was as easy as it could be - considering the pandemic - and Maria, Zaire, and the rest of the team were amazing to work with. It's a stunning venue with every amenity you can dream of for a wedding. There were no hidden costs, and it was truly "all in," with just about everything you can imagine included in the cost of the venue rental. Make your life easier and book it!! read more

We just got married at Walden last week, the planning team and day of coordinators were life savers the day of. Their experience shines through as they made the day-of as stress free as possible, I highly recommend having your wedding at Walden! Our guests loved the food and drinks- and the planning team helps making every decision leading up to the big day so much easier. read more

Walden is not only a beautiful venue but the team working there are beyond words. Their planners & coordinators helped us literally every step of the way, their food & bar managers accommodated our special requests & helped deliver an amazing culinary experience for our guests, and the rest of their team helped deliver a flawless wedding. People say that planning a wedding is stressful but Natalia, our wedding planner, was able to make it a fun & easy experience. They were with us at every step helping us make the decisions along the way. They gave us a clear set of tasks with dates to complete to make planning an easy to understand process that wasn't overwhelming. We were also planning this wedding from out of town but Natalia and the rest of the team were able to make that a non-issue. The food & drinks at Walden are just unreal and the staff were able to handle our customizations & special requests. The food is not just "wedding food": it's honestly some of the best food we've had in Chicago. This didn't stop at the mains we chose - our guests with dietary restrictions (vegan) were given dishes with just as much thought as the mains we had chosen for the majority of the guests. The venue itself is absolutely gorgeous. The upstairs has the ceremony space which we did very simply to great affect. Also up there is the bridal suite which is huge. The venue space on the first floor has these beautiful wooden trusses, a "hidden wall" of green which makes the place pop, some brick exposed walls, and a great bar. There is also a rooftop that we were able to take photos on (skyline views) as well as escape the wedding for a chance to breathe. The wedding itself was a major success. We had onsite coordinators that day which made sure everything ran smoothly. The staff were just so nice and executed dinner service flawlessly. With all their attention to detail we were able to have a memorable wedding where we didn't have to worry about anything! We highly recommend Walden !! read more

Hosting our wedding at Walden was the most amazing experience. From our first meeting with the team, it was obvious they were a passionate, talented group, and they went above and beyond in making sure our wedding day was everything we hoped for. I was not looking forward to the stress that typically comes along with wedding planning, yet Erika made the process absolutely seamless, simple and stress-free from start to finish. She is organized, patient, helpful, fun, and we truly couldn't have done it without her. The venue itself was the perfect space to hold the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. Thanks to the large (and beautiful!) space, there was no need to turn over any of the rooms, and the whole evening was streamlined and convenient for guests. The food and beverage options were outstanding -- from the cocktails and wine program to the hors d'oeuvres and dinner menu, the eating and drinking components of the evening felt more like a restaurant and cool bar than a wedding reception. I can't say enough good things about the team and venue. Highly recommended for your wedding or event needs! read more

We're officially on the other side of our wedding and cannot imagine putting a wedding together without the help of the Walden team!! Everything about the experience is stellar -- the planning team, the venue, their partners, the food, the drinks -- I could go on and on. All of our friends & family are still raving about how perfect the day was. If you're thinking about booking your wedding (or event) here, just do it. You won't regret it! read more