Old Post Office Chicago Wedding Cost Guide (2027)

Planning a wedding at The Old Post Office? As wedding videographers who’ve filmed there many times, here’s the realistic cost breakdown.

Venue Rental Fees

The Old Post Office doesn’t publish a single flat rate; rental depends on which spaces you book, the day of week, and the season. Third-party planning sources put weekend rentals starting around $10,000 for a Saturday, with a roughly 10-hour access window, and weekday rentals starting around $7,500. Full buyouts spanning multiple spaces, the Historic Lobby, The Meadow rooftop, and the Telegram Lounge, run higher, with total rental commonly landing in the $13,000 to $25,000 range depending on the combination.

The rental fee typically includes in-house tables and chairs, building security, and janitorial. Add-ons like gold Chiavari chairs (around $6 each), a champagne toast (from $10/person), floral packages (from $2,000), and lighting or draping (from $1,500) sit outside the base rental.

Food and Beverage

Catering and bar service are arranged through the venue’s approved caterer list rather than a single in-house kitchen, so per-person costs vary by caterer and menu. Couples we’ve worked with here have used caterers like Paramount Events and Limelight Catering.

Other Costs to Budget

One advantage of the Old Post Office is its built-in AV, lighting, and sound infrastructure, which means less production rental than most historic venues require. Couples are still budgeting for florals and decor, a band or DJ, photography and videography, and transportation, since the building’s three distinct spaces (marble lobby, rooftop, lounge) invite couples to use all of them across the night.

Sample Budget: Old Post Office Wedding

Our own venue guide’s published average for a full Old Post Office wedding is around $70,000 all-in, depending on guest count, season, and vendor choices. That tracks with a rough build: venue rental $13,000 to $25,000, catering and bar roughly $200 to $250/person (a common Chicago range for a full-service caterer), florals and decor from $2,000 up, and entertainment, photography, and videography layered on top.

Is the Old Post Office Worth It?

Few Chicago venues give a wedding film three different worlds in one building. Katelyn and Andrew’s 293-guest reception filled the Historic Lobby with an 11-piece band and a streamer-filled church exit beforehand at Holy Family. Carli and Sean cut into a pie instead of a cake in the Vault, then poured a champagne tower before dancing to the Becca Kaufman Orchestra. Kate and Ben moved from Old St. Patrick’s five minutes away for golden hour on The Meadow rooftop and karaoke in the Telegram Lounge. The riverside Art Deco building photographs like nowhere else in the city, and the built-in production infrastructure keeps costs a bit more predictable than most historic spaces.

Old Post Office Chicago Wedding Cost Guide FAQ

How much does an Old Post Office Chicago wedding cost?
Most weddings here total around $70,000 all-in, per the venue’s own published average, depending on guest count, season, and vendor choices. Venue rental alone typically runs $13,000 to $25,000.

What spaces are available at the Old Post Office?
The Historic Lobby (marble and Art Deco detail), The Meadow rooftop (skyline views, good for ceremonies and cocktail hours), and the Telegram Lounge (cocktail hours and after-parties).

Can you have an outdoor ceremony there?
Yes. The Meadow rooftop hosts ceremonies and cocktail hours with panoramic skyline views.

Planning a wedding at The Old Post Office? Check your date with 312FILMS →