A Guide to Galleria Marchetti Weddings in Chicago
Galleria Marchetti is a gorgeous Chicago wedding venue best known for its indoor-outdoor spaces, La Pergola and The Pavilion. After photographing weddings in both spaces, I really fell in love with the garden vibes that you can’t really find anywhere in the city. Greenery, a tented space, open-air, and a beautiful, intimate venue for your wedding day.
I’ve photographed many weddings at Galleria Marchetti and for each, there was something unique that the couple brought to their day. A plant-loving, dessert-filled wedding in La Pergola. A documentary-style celebration with their dog and an open-roof ceremony. A classic summer reception in The Pavilion. There are so many ways to make this wedding space personal and your own, and I wanted to share what I’ve found helpful in my experience shooting weddings at Galleria Marchetti.
What I Love About Galleria Marchetti
Galleria Marchetti is perfect for couples who want a garden-inspired wedding while still being in the city and not having to leave Chicago. Even though you’re still in the city, there’s so much greenery, courtyard spaces, ivy walls, and Italian-inspired details.
Having photographed weddings at both spaces at Galleria Marchetti, I can say that both spots are amazing!! Want an intimate European courtyard inspired feel? La Pergola. There’s some really cool old-world design with a retractable roof so you can enjoy the air conditioning or dine beneath the night sky. Need a larger space but still want the outdoor option? The Pavilion gives you plenty of space between the courtyard for outdoor ceremonies, and the luxurious tented ballroom.
From a photography perspective, I love the gorgeous portrait locations that Galleria Marchetti has for wedding days. There’s a bridal suite with vintage gold accents, greenery backdrops, and Tuscan-inspired details that I absolutely love. If you’re choosing The Pavilion, it has great on-site portrait locations for group photos. And if you choose La Pergola, I have some beautiful nearby spots for your wedding party and family portraits.
Having a gorgeous venue like Galleria Marchetti is the perfect setting for documentary style photos. See more about my approach to Chicago wedding photography if you’re looking for photos that feel candid, true to life, and still guided when you need it.
La Pergola at Galleria Marchetti
La Pergola is definitely the space I would point couples toward if they want something more intimate and garden focused. The retractable roof is a huge part of what makes this space something special. With good weather, you can keep the roof open to make the space feel airy. If Chicago decides to be Chicago, the roof gives you a built-in backup without changing the look, design and feel of the wedding. It’s so rare to find that kind of flexibility in a wedding venue!
Naomi and David had their ceremony and reception in La Pergola, and the open-air setup was beautiful. Plants and gardens were always going to be a meaningful part of their day. They met in New York City at a summer program, had their first date at a botanic garden and conservatory, and carried that connection into the wedding! The greenery at Galleria Marchetti gave their day a cozy and intimate feel that tied perfectly into their story.
Carrie and Avery also chose La Pergola and wanted the roof open for both the ceremony and reception. Thankfully, the weather held out and they got to enjoy the full day under a beautiful sky. They were drawn to the Tuscan villa vibe, the plant wall, and the warmth. Their planner, Emily, did an amazing job designing the ceremony and reception with drapery, florals and potted plants and lemons on the table. There was a light summer feel that felt so perfect for them, and really made La Pergola’s design shine.
And for photos, La Pergola is a dream!! The plant wall is a favorite and there’s so much greenery outside, but I also love how each space flows into each other. It may seem like a small detail, but it gives real freedom to capture candid photos in my documentary style.
Sarah and Wil’s restaurant wedding was another Chicago wedding with incredible candid moments. See more from their wedding day here.
Venue & Catering: Galleria Marchetti // Photography: Audrey Simper // Planner: Emily Nuzzo // Floral: Flowers for Dreams // Hair & Makeup: Pin Me Up Chicago // DJ: Total Harmony Entertainment // Musicians: 3rd Coast Live // Draping: Remarkable Events // Chairs: Tablescapes Event Rentals // Cake & Desserts: ECBG Cake Studio // Wedding Painter: Jaime Elaine Creative // Dog Care: Sit Wag & Wed
The Pavilion at Galleria Marchetti
The Pavilion is the larger Galleria Marchetti space, and it’s a better fit for couples with a bigger guest count who need more room. Although it’s all called The Pavilion, it includes the courtyard, an old-world style anteroom, and of course, the tented ballroom by the same name.
Margaret and Alex had their ceremony at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Lincoln Park, right by DePaul University, then hosted their reception at The Pavilion. Their wedding had a classic summer ambience, no wedding party, and a fun, relaxed reception. For couples who have a big wedding, like Margaret and Alex’s church ceremony, it can be a great change of pace and scenery moving to a garden-inspired reception at Galleria Marchetti. The central location also means you don’t have to build in much time between the ceremony and reception.
See more from Margaret + Alex’s wedding on my Instagram!
Venue & Catering: Galleria Marchetti // Photography: Audrey Simper // Planner: Nora Events Chicago // Floral: Flowers for Dreams // Hair: Magali Montoya // Makeup: Julia Simone of Shannon O’Brien // DJ: Treble Monsters // Desserts: Dipsy Desserts // Wedding Dress: Weddings 826
My Favorite Photo Spots for Galleria Marchetti Weddings
The best photo locations for weddings at Galleria Marchetti depend on the space you book, and the time of day, but there are gorgeous options without ever leaving the venue!
For me, the highlights are the greenery, ivy and plant walls, courtyard areas, and the getting-ready suite. Naomi and David’s wedding is a good example of how the getting-ready space really brought something extra to her bridal portraits. The room has vintage furniture, tile, and gold accents that made for stunning photos! I highly recommend booking the suite if you want beautiful getting-ready photos.
One moment that stands out to me was when Naomi came down the stairs from the getting-ready space into the first look. I love capturing all of the little in-between moments on a wedding day, and this one ended up being one of my favorite images from their day!
Another option is to build in some time away from the venue to make a stop or two for portraits, heading to Galleria Marchetti. Carrie and Avery got ready at a friend’s apartment downtown, then went to Lincoln Park Zoo for wedding party photos, couple portraits, and photos with their dog. With some intentional planning, it’s absolutely possible to add in some nearby locations for photos.
I always help my couples with planning their wedding day timelines so that everything makes sense and runs smoothly. Reach out if you’re looking for a Chicago wedding photographer who will guide you through your day!
Takeaways From Photographing Weddings at Galleria Marchetti
La Pergola is ideal if you want an open-air feeling without fully committing to an outdoor only plan
La Pergola is so unique and beautiful, and is usually couples’ favorite space at Galleria Marchetti. It’s also my personal favorite! The retractable roof gives you that open-air feeling when there’s good weather, but there is still a built-in option if Chicago weather changes.
If you’re debating between La Pergola and The Pavilion, start with guest count and feel. La Pergola feels more intimate and indoor-outdoor, while The Pavilion gives you more room for a larger reception.
Decide if you want portraits fully on-site or at a nearby Chicago location
Galleria Marchetti has plenty of on-site photo options, so you don’t have to leave the venue to get a strong wedding day gallery. That said, I photographed weddings where we started downtown, then went to some nearby portraits locations and even took family and bridal party photos before heading to Galleria Marchetti. It worked because those photos were a priority and the timeline allowed for travel, which was absolutely doable.
If you want off-site portraits, I would just keep the location close and build in extra buffer time. I know all the best spots and will be able to help you out with timing!
The getting-ready suite is worth using if it fits your timeline
One of my favorite getting-ready spaces at Galleria Marchetti has vintage furniture, tile, gold accents, and really lovely light. I love using the suite for detail shots and bridal portraits.
The Pavilion works well for a larger reception or a church-to-reception timeline
The Pavilion is a good fit if you want a larger reception space with a courtyard and tented ballroom. I photographed weddings that had a nearby church ceremony followed by a reception at The Pavilion. That kind of timeline works great as long as you account for travel time and probably a little buffer time as well.
Plan cocktail hour around the photos you care about most
Cocktail hour can be a great time for candid guest photos at Galleria Marchetti, especially when people are moving between the courtyard and indoor spaces. If guest candids are important to you, it helps to finish most family photos and portraits before cocktail hour. That provides a lot of time to photograph everyone together and make the whole gallery feel alive.
Kind Words from Galleria Marchetti Wedding Couples
“We couldn’t be happier with Audrey! She knew from our Zoom meeting we liked more candid photos vs posed and she couldn't have executed on better photos for our wedding day. She was incredibly personal and laid-back, which helped us feel relaxed and completely ourselves in front of the camera. She also was happy and gave good energy the entire day. This really helped with our moods on the wedding day because she was with us every step of the way!! The photos turned out amazing—I could have been happy with just the preview gallery because that is how great those turned out and I was in awe. Every shot felt genuine and thoughtfully taken. Our friends and family keep commenting on how stunning the pictures are!!!!! If you’re looking for someone who brings both talent and a calming presence to your wedding day, look no further. Highly recommend!”
- Margaret and Alex
“We had such a great experience working with Audrey!! Audrey was easy to communicate with throughout the entire planning process and made us feel comfortable on the day of our wedding. Her ability to direct us for poses resulted in photos that truly captured who we are, and she even managed to make our dog look like a star in the shots. What really impressed us was her willingness to handle our special requests and her attention to detail in every frame. The second photographer was also fantastic. We can't recommend Audrey enough and would absolutely book her again in a heartbeat!”
- Carrie and Avery
FAQ About Galleria Marchetti Weddings
Is Galleria Marchetti a good wedding venue for an indoor-outdoor wedding in Chicago?
Absolutely yes, 100%! Galleria Marchetti is a great option for couples who want an indoor-outdoor wedding in Chicago. La Pergola has a retractable roof, and The Pavilion includes tented indoor space with courtyard access, so couples can get a garden feel with more weather flexibility than a fully outdoor venue.
What’s the difference between La Pergola and The Pavilion at Galleria Marchetti?
La Pergola is the more intimate indoor-outdoor space with the retractable roof and plant wall. The Pavilion is the larger space with a courtyard, anteroom, and tented ballroom. I’ve photographed weddings in both, and the better fit depends on guest count, layout, and whether you want a more intimate or larger reception.
Can we have both the ceremony and reception at Galleria Marchetti?
Yes, you can host both the ceremony and reception at Galleria Marchetti! I’ve worked with multiple couples who chose to have both their ceremony and reception at the venue in La Pergola while others had a ceremony off-site and hosted their reception there instead.
Venue & Catering: Galleria Marchetti // Photography: Audrey Simper // DJ: Just Press Play // Cake & Desserts: Coco and Eve // Dress: Second City Bride
Planning a Galleria Marchetti Wedding
Galleria Marchetti is, in my opinion, one of the best wedding venues in all of Chicago. It’s so hard to find something like this in the city, and after photographing weddings in both La Pergola and The Pavilion, it’s truly become one of my favorite venues to work at! Planning your wedding in Chicago at Galleria Marchetti? Reach out to chat about your plans and see if we’re a good fit. I’d love to work together!
