The Carter Chicago Review
Heirloom Event Company does not receive a commission for positive reviews or venue referrals for The Carter
The Carter is one of Chicago's standout wedding venues, and it’s easy to see why. With its industrial style, outdoor patio, large bridal suite, great food, and rare guest parking in the West Loop, this venue is a dream come true. The Carter was dreamt up by the team behind D’Absolute, a catering company with years of experience in wedding and corporate events.
My first introduction to The Carter was during Olivia and Eli’s wedding walkthrough in 2024. From the very first glance, I knew it was something special.
And then I saw the pricing…
Price
One of the first steps we take with Heirloom clients is reviewing their contracts. Oftentimes, contracts can have hidden fees or odd restrictions with line items, likely causing a couple more expenses on the back end. When we saw The Carter’s breakdown, we were impressed with how many items were included:
Early morning bridal access starting at 8 a.m. (large suite of 800 sqft)
Lounge furniture (2 sofas, 4 armchairs & 2 coffee tables)
Champagne wall
Cheers Neon sign
Four patio heaters
Pre-ceremony drinks
Two passed signature cocktails after the ceremony
Two wooden bars with the patio featuring beer and high noon tubs for easy access
Five passed hors d’oeuvres for cocktail hour
Plated dinner service with salad, bread, three entrées (vegetarian option included), and two side dishes
Coat Check Room
9 Crystal Chandeliers
8 Wall Up Lighting
Dessert and coffee service
Three late-night snack options
All cocktail and reception tables, chairs, linens, glassware, flatware, china
Staff gratuities included
We’ve had multiple clients choose The Carter since that walkthrough, and their experiences with pricing have been consistent. Every detail is laid out from the start, with no surprise fees. We had one couple who worked closely with Chris, the owner, to negotiate pricing. Rates came down by thousands, and even more when they offered cash payments.
Here are examples of prices we’ve seen for various guest counts in 2024:
250 guests: $49,000
275 guests: $41,036.80
For reference, the average cost of catering, bar, and venue combined for our 30 weddings in 2024 was $41,997. And in many cases, venue packages don’t include extras like lounge furniture, pre-ceremony cocktails, or multiple late-night snacks.
Rating: 10/10
Planning Process
One common frustration for couples is when vendors initially respond quickly and have a good turnaround time, but once they're booked, communication declines. This is not the case at The Carter. Chris and Mena are consistently prompt, often responding almost immediately, if not the same day. The staff is easy to get in touch with and answers any questions you may have. Chris truly pours his heart and soul into every guest interaction. He’s usually consistently texting with the groom by the time their wedding day arrives.
For the final walkthrough, couples meet with Stefan, the day-of venue manager. He goes above and beyond to assist brides and their families on the big day. I’ve seen him clean up everyone’s trash, display their florals and personal belongings nicely for photos, help the bride’s family with small tasks, bring shots and alcoholic beverages to the bridal party, and rally around to give the best support. Stefan could have an entire blog post of praise because he and The Carter are that good.
From hands-on help with the floor plan and linen selection, this venue acts as a helpful wedding planner, caterer, bartender, rental manager, and more.
Rating: 10/10
Day-Of Execution
We’ve never had such free range and help at the same time. Most of the time, the venue manager is either hardly present or very overbearing. Working in tandem with Stefan was a breath of fresh air. Stefan arrives bright and early, at 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., for the bridal party to start getting ready. While they enjoy champagne and music in the suite, Stefan helps greet the vendors and familiarizes them with the space.
He’s provided rooftop access for photographers to have a creative angle for first looks and ceremony coverage.
Plus, when couples leave for off-site photos, they return to a clean and tidy space.
While Heirloom’s experienced team can handle many weddings with large guest counts with a single planner, it's welcome to have a venue manager as a partner in crime.
The catering and service teams are also exceptional. Mena, or the lead captain, oversees table setup, linen pressing and flatware placement. My team can focus fully on the bride, décor, and day-of logistics because The Carter staff takes such great care of the venue setup and flow.
What’s especially noteworthy is The Carter's flexibility and personal touch. Their team often establishes such strong relationships with couples that they’ll allow personal items and decor to be dropped off the day before or picked up the day after. It’s a simple gesture that removes stress and reflects how much they truly care.
To date, I’ve never had a ceremony run late, dinner run too long, or the night end in any way that wasn’t to the full satisfaction of the couple.
Rating: 10/10
Why You’ll Love It
From the pricing to the planning and day-of execution, no Chicago venue does it better than The Carter.
Chris and his team are constantly improving, too. They actively seek feedback from planners, like us, to refine their services and elevate the guest experience. Past concerns, such as the unfinished rooftop area or gravel parking, have been resolved. The patio was extended. The parking lot is now paved. The rooftop now has a railing and faux greenery to protect the bride’s dress.
Their commitment to constant improvement is so rare and one of the many reasons we love working with them. Chris and his staff are doing it right, and we will continue to suggest that our clients get married here.