Holy Name Cathedral Wedding Cost Guide (2027)

Planning a wedding at Holy Name Cathedral? As wedding videographers who’ve filmed there, here’s the realistic cost breakdown.

Ceremony Fees

Holy Name Cathedral’s own published fee guidance, from its wedding office, breaks down by parishioner status. Registered parishioners can expect a suggested offering of roughly $1,500 to $3,000, generally covering the cathedral, priest, and organist. Non-parishioners typically pay $2,500 to $5,000 for the same services. Confirm current figures directly with the cathedral’s wedding office, since parish offerings are periodically revised.

One detail worth budgeting around: per the cathedral’s official wedding guidelines, use of the Cathedral Musicians is required for every wedding, it isn’t optional the way music sometimes is at other churches. Couples who want additional musicians or soloists beyond the required cathedral musicians can expect to add $200 to $500 or more. Other line items include Pre-Cana preparation ($100 to $200), a rehearsal fee ($100 to $200), and an optional wedding coordinator ($200 to $500). Florals are arranged separately with a florist of the couple’s choice.

Other Costs to Budget

Like the city’s other historic cathedrals and churches, Holy Name is a ceremony-only venue. The fees above cover the sanctuary and its required musicians, not a reception. Couples are also budgeting for a reception venue, catering, photography and videography, florals, and transportation between the Near North Side cathedral and the reception.

Pairing With a Reception Venue

Holy Name sits at State and Superior, minutes from Chicago’s Magnificent Mile hotels. Two weddings we’ve filmed show how naturally it pairs with a luxury reception:

Christiana and AJ married at Holy Name Cathedral, officiated by Monsignor Kenneth Velo, then celebrated at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago, with an Etta James first dance and an after-party that ran until 2am. Kristin and Kevin paired their Holy Name ceremony with a reception at the Peninsula Chicago.

We’ve also filmed Holy Name paired with the Langham and the Signature Room at the 95th, both a short drive from the cathedral.

Sample Budget: Holy Name Cathedral + Ritz-Carlton

Ceremony fee (non-parishioner, required musicians included): roughly $2,500 to $5,000. Additional coordinator and rehearsal fees: $300 to $700. Reception at the Ritz-Carlton: packages start around $20,000 for ceremony and reception space, with catering priced at $180 to $340+ per person; a 150-guest classic celebration there runs roughly $40,000 to $70,000+ before service fees and tax. Total for a 150-guest wedding: approximately $45,000 to $80,000, before photography, videography, florals, and attire.

Is Holy Name Cathedral Worth It?

Holy Name is the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and it looks it on film: a soaring Gothic Revival nave, bronze doors, and a grand exit onto State Street that’s one of the most dramatic moments in Chicago weddings. Christiana and AJ’s ceremony with Monsignor Velo and Kristin and Kevin’s pairing with the Peninsula both show why couples choose it. For a cathedral of this scale and history, the fees are genuinely modest next to what the reception will cost.

Holy Name Cathedral Wedding Cost Guide FAQ

How much does a Holy Name Cathedral wedding cost?
The cathedral’s own guidance puts ceremony fees at roughly $1,500 to $3,000 for parishioners and $2,500 to $5,000 for non-parishioners, which include the required cathedral musicians. Add $100 to $700 for Pre-Cana, rehearsal, and an optional coordinator. Confirm current rates with the cathedral’s wedding office.

Do we have to use the cathedral’s musicians?
Yes. Per Holy Name’s official wedding guidelines, the Cathedral Musicians play all cathedral weddings. Additional musicians or soloists can be added for a further fee.

Where do couples hold receptions after a Holy Name ceremony?
The Magnificent Mile’s luxury hotels are minutes away. Couples we’ve filmed have celebrated at the Ritz-Carlton, the Peninsula, the Langham, and the Signature Room at the 95th.

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