InterContinental Chicago Wedding Cost Guide (2027)

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

Venue Rental Fees

InterContinental Chicago prices its ballrooms as food and beverage minimums rather than flat rental fees:

• King Arthur Court (up to 160 guests): $26,000 minimum
• Renaissance Ballroom (up to 220 guests): $39,000 minimum
• Grand Ballroom (up to 450 guests): $59,000 minimum

Ceremony fee: $1,000+ for a ballroom ceremony setup (theater-style chairs and a raised platform), subject to tax and service charge.

Food and Beverage

Two wedding package tiers are currently offered:

• $220 per guest+: unlimited wine at dinner, soup, salad, a pre-selected entrée, wedding cake, coffee and tea, 4 butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, and 4 hours of deluxe-brand bar.
• $280 per guest+: unlimited wine at dinner, soup, salad, a 3-entrée choice, wedding cake, coffee and tea, a late-night bite, 5 butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, a signature cocktail, and 5 hours of premium-brand bar.

Bar add-ons: an extra hour for all guests runs about $12/person, upgrading from deluxe to premium brands runs about $15/person.

Service charge and tax: a 25% service charge applies to all rental, food, and beverage charges, plus Chicago’s prepared-food and liquor tax on top.

Other Costs to Budget

Deposit structure: 10% of your F&B minimum due at signing, 25% due 6 months out, 25% due 3 months out, and the balance due 2 weeks before the wedding.

Vendors: photography, videography, florals, music, and planning are separate from the venue. No outside catering is permitted.

Sample Budget: 150 Guests, Renaissance Ballroom

• F&B minimum (150 × $220 package): $33,000
• Ceremony fee: $1,000
• Service charge (25%): $8,500
• Tax (~11%): $3,740
• Total: roughly $46,000, before bar upgrades and outside vendors.

Is InterContinental Chicago Worth It?

We’ve filmed two weddings here: Allie & Nick’s classic October celebration, with a 42nd-floor first look and a balcony grand entrance into the Grand Ballroom, and Loriann & Ryan’s Chinese wedding, which included a traditional tea ceremony in the Hall of Lions and a Renaissance Ballroom reception. The hotel’s mix of historic architecture, sweeping skyline views from the upper floors, and versatile ballrooms gives a wedding film real range in a single location. See our full InterContinental Chicago venue guide and films.

InterContinental Chicago Wedding Cost FAQ

What is the minimum cost for an InterContinental Chicago wedding?
The smallest ballroom, King Arthur Court, carries a $26,000 food and beverage minimum; add the 25% service charge, tax, and a ceremony fee, and a full wedding realistically starts around $35,000 to $40,000 before outside vendors.

What’s included in the wedding packages?
Both package tiers include dinner service, wedding cake, coffee and tea, passed hors d’oeuvres, and several hours of bar service. The $280/guest tier adds a third entrée choice, a late-night bite, and a signature cocktail.

How can we save money at InterContinental Chicago?
Choose King Arthur Court over the larger ballrooms if your guest count allows, select the $220/guest package, and confirm your bar hours carefully since add-on hours are priced separately.

Getting married at InterContinental Chicago? We know its ballrooms, its balconies, and its light. Check your date →