The Adler Planetarium is one of Chicago’s most iconic wedding venues: America’s first planetarium, opened in 1930 on the Museum Campus peninsula, with the single most famous view of the Chicago skyline in the city. For couples who want their wedding framed by the entire skyline across the water, nothing else compares.
Hosting a Wedding at the Adler Planetarium
The Spaces
- Skyline Solarium: panoramic city and lake views through a wall of glass, the signature ceremony and reception space.
- Grainger Sky Theater: a celestial dome for ceremonies or cocktail hours unlike anything else in Chicago.
- Sunset Terrace: outdoor ceremonies with the lake and skyline as your backdrop.
Wedding Costs
Rental fees typically range from $5,000 to $12,000, higher in peak season (May to October) and lower off-peak, with catering through the Adler’s exclusive partners, bar packages, and rentals budgeted on top. As a museum venue, evening events begin after public hours.
Filming Weddings at the Adler Planetarium
The Adler’s peninsula gives us the shot every Chicago couple dreams of: the full skyline across the water, glowing at blue hour behind your vows. Add drone footage over Northerly Island, the dome of the planetarium at dusk, and the Solarium’s glass walls during the reception, and this venue delivers more cinematic range than any museum in the city. Watch our Adler wedding films on this page to see it.
Adler Planetarium Wedding FAQ
How much does an Adler Planetarium wedding cost?
Rental runs $5,000 to $12,000 depending on season and spaces, with catering and bar through exclusive partners on top.
Can you have an outdoor ceremony at the Adler?
Yes. The terrace hosts outdoor ceremonies with the lake and the full Chicago skyline behind you.
Is the Adler Planetarium good for wedding films?
The best skyline backdrop in Chicago, period: the Museum Campus peninsula frames the entire city across the water, and the planetarium’s architecture adds a setting no ballroom can offer.
Getting married at the Adler Planetarium? We know exactly where the skyline light falls. Check your date →