4.8
Praised by couples for:
Amenities
Guests comfort
Helpful staff
Swissotel Chicago is an award-winning luxury hotel
Holds ceremonies and receptions
I had the pleasure of working with Phyllis Washington, the Senior Event Sales Manager at Swissotel Chicago, for my wedding on January 27, 2024. From the very beginning, Phyllis was incredibly helpful, attentive, and professional. She went above and beyond to ensure that every detail of our wedding was perfect. Her expertise and dedication made the entire planning process smooth and stress-free.
The Swissotel Chicago itself is a stunning venue, with breathtaking views and a sophisticated, modern interior that truly added to the elegance of our celebration. We felt so lucky to have our wedding at such a beautiful location.
Phyllis was always available to answer my questions, provide suggestions, and offer creative solutions. She truly made a difference in ensuring that our big day was exactly how we envisioned it. If you're planning a wedding, I highly recommend working with Phyllis—her support was invaluable, and she played a key role in making our day unforgettable.
Thank you, Phyllis, for everything!
SunHee M.
5.0
We had our wedding at the Swissotel and it was a dream. The staff was amazing to work with and went above and beyond to ensure everything was just how we wanted it. They did a fantastic job of making my husband and I feel so special the whole weekend. Our guests were blown away by the views, their accommodations, and the food during cocktail hour, dinner, late night snacks, and dessert. I can’t say enough good things about getting married here. I can’t imagine a more prime Chicago venue.
Allison P.
5.0
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Based in Chicago, IL, Swissôtel Chicago is a luxurious hotel wedding venue. This designer hotel is the creation of renowned architect Harry Weese. It offers stunning views of nearby Lake Michigan and is just minutes away from the Magnificent Mile. The hotel’s all-glass exterior allows for panoramic views of the Chicago cityscape, for a breathtaking setting for your special day.
The team at the four-diamond Swissôtel Chicago prides itself on its attention to detail. They want to make your wedding the best that it can be, hoping to exceed your expectations at every turn. This hotel combines a modern aesthetic and decor with classic hospitality, showing why it is an award-winning venue. It sits in the heart of downtown Chicago, with a whole host of museums and attractions for loved ones visiting the city. O’Hare International Airport is less than half an hour away by car. If you want to get out for some fresh air, the Chicago River Walk is just outside the hotel’s front door.
Swissôtel Chicago offers five chic ballroom spaces for your wedding. One of these ballrooms is the recently renovated Elévé, which sits on the hotel’s 42nd floor. A direct elevator from the hotel’s lobby opens onto this fusion of elegance and modernity. A breathtaking chandelier runs the length of the room, illuminating your celebration with its unique mirrored appearance. This room is over 4,800 square feet in size and is available for receptions with 300 guests. On Saturdays during the summer, this penthouse ballroom offers a first-class seat to Navy Pier’s fireworks display. The hotel has 662 guest rooms, welcoming your loved ones to turn their trip to the Windy City into an unforgettable experience. These generously sized rooms are outfitted with modern furnishings and warm colors, inviting you to feel at home. You can enjoy the city or lake views from the comfort of a luxurious bed before exploring the city.
37+ years in business
Speaks English, Spanish
Large team (21+ members)
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Ballroom
Hotel
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff
Transportation
Any questions?
Reviews
4.8
out of 5.020 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Swissotel Chicago is praised as a stunning, modern wedding venue with breathtaking city views, notably the Eleve Ballroom's floor-to-ceiling windows. Couples and guests applauded the accommodations, food, and attentive, professional staff, with an event manager who made planning smooth. Highly recommended as a world-class Chicago wedding location.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Cecile K
4.0
We had our wedding in the Eleve Ballroom at the Swissotel and overall had a great experience. The space is beautiful with amazing views, and the room flip from ceremony to receptio...
n was seamless. The event staff were fantastic, very attentive and always making sure we had everything we needed.
One thing to note is that the room is all windows, which is stunning, but it did create some glare in our nighttime photos, so I’d recommend giving your photographer a heads-up.
During the planning process, we worked with Phyllis, and communication was a bit challenging at times, which led to a few hiccups. That said, we really appreciated how accommodating she was in the end and her efforts to make sure everything came together. Overall, we’re so happy with how our wedding day turned out and would recommend this venue to other couples!
SunHee M
5.0
I had the pleasure of working with Phyllis Washington, the Senior Event Sales Manager at Swissotel Chicago, for my wedding on January 27, 2024. From the very beginning, Phyllis was...
incredibly helpful, attentive, and professional. She went above and beyond to ensure that every detail of our wedding was perfect. Her expertise and dedication made the entire planning process smooth and stress-free.
The Swissotel Chicago itself is a stunning venue, with breathtaking views and a sophisticated, modern interior that truly added to the elegance of our celebration. We felt so lucky to have our wedding at such a beautiful location.
Phyllis was always available to answer my questions, provide suggestions, and offer creative solutions. She truly made a difference in ensuring that our big day was exactly how we envisioned it. If you're planning a wedding, I highly recommend working with Phyllis—her support was invaluable, and she played a key role in making our day unforgettable.
Thank you, Phyllis, for everything!
Any questions?
Allison P
5.0
We had our wedding at the Swissotel and it was a dream. The staff was amazing to work with and went above and beyond to ensure everything was just how we wanted it. They did a fant...
astic job of making my husband and I feel so special the whole weekend. Our guests were blown away by the views, their accommodations, and the food during cocktail hour, dinner, late night snacks, and dessert. I can’t say enough good things about getting married here. I can’t imagine a more prime Chicago venue.
Brittany V
5.0
We held our wedding reception at the Swissotel (Eleve Ballroom on the 42nd floor) - it truly was a gorgeous event. Our event manager, Phyllis, is a seasoned pro and keeps great tab...
s on making sure your experience from beginning to end is awesome. The venue itself, contents of our reception package, quality of the food/beverage/staff/service were all world-class. Our guests had endless compliments of the entire Swissotel experience, as did we!
Erin R
5.0
The Eleve Ballroom is an incredible venue for a wedding ceremony and reception! It is modern, has floor-to-ceiling windows- stunning views of Chicago. Phyllis Washington is a pleas...
ure to work with! Every staff member at the Swissotel Chicago is kind and hardworking! Amazing customer service! The Duplex Suite is incredible! The suites that our parents stayed in were beautiful! We HIGHLY recommend the Swissotel for your special occasion!
Response from Swissotel Chicago
Dear Erin and Mike,
Thank you very much for choosing to hold your wedding Reception at th...
e Swissôtel Chicago. It was truly an honor to partner with you throughout the entire process to create the wedding of your dreams!
I would again like to thank you on behalf of our associates. As a Swiss tradition, we look forward to welcoming you and Mike back to Swissôtel Chicago to celebrate your first year wedding anniversary as our guests!
Wishing you joy, love and happiness for a lifetime!
Kindest Regards,
Phyllis
Kate K
5.0
The minute we saw the Eleve Ballroom on the 42nd floor, we knew we wanted our wedding reception to be there. It has the most beautiful view of the city! Phyllis Washington was amaz...
ing to work with. She was very accommodating to our requests and needs. Everything from the ballroom to the hotel rooms and suites were great. The service from everyone was beyond amazing! We truly had our dream wedding there.
Michelle B
5.0
The Swissotel was our dream venue for our May 2022 wedding! From the moment we toured and saw the views from the 42nd floor ballroom - the lake, the river, and the city - it took ...
our breath away. The reception room is modern and glamorous, and our bridal suite was just as exquisite. Being Italian, we were worried about the food, and boy did the Swissotel deliver. The tasting experience was phenomenal, and our guests are still raving about how amazing the food was! Phyllis Washington was there for us every step of the way - Sweet, kind, patient, and beyond helpful. She was attentive to all of our questions and needs, and gave great advice based on her years of experience. Being a hotel, the Swissotel was really able to give us the full package, and take so many tasks off of our plate. We loved our experience with their team!
G K
5.0
What an AMAZING wedding venue. The penthouse (Eleve) with floor to ceiling windows offered views of Chicago that were breathtaking. The event coordinator, Phyliss Washington ...
was kind, professional, attentive and true perfectionist. It was so stress free knowing that she was in charge. The food/drinks were amazing and the chef worked with us and even made a custom salad! The guest rooms/fitness gym were updated and beautiful. Would highly recommend!
Josephine K
5.0
We could not be more thrilled with how amazing our wedding was at the Swissotel. The venue is just stunning – you can see views of navy pier, the skyline, river and lake. The Swiss...
otel team is also wonderful… Phyllis Washington is a true professional; she’s so easy to work with, responsive, kind and helpful! Phyllis takes pride in her work and wants to ensure your event is perfect! The food at our wedding was unparalleled! We got so many compliments on how good the food was! The service and bar was also top-notch. Phyllis and Joe (banquet manager) even sent us a few appetizers and champagne to enjoy privately as a newly married couple before we met back up with guests, which was such a special touch! Everything went flawlessly at the Swissotel and Phyllis helped make that happen! Our wedding felt like an absolute dream – I hope every couple has that feeling and I’m sure you will if you have your wedding at the Swissotel!
Cindy Q
5.0
I really only have the highest praise for our venue experience with Swissotel. Phyllis Washington, the venue coordinator (I think her official title is Senior Event Sales Manager) ...
and Joe Cedillo the banquet manager were great. Phyllis was extraordinarily incredible - I'm one to value clear communication, and Phyllis answered ALL my questions in all of our email correspondence in a timely manner, which is not something that I can say happens with most people I correspond with, vendors or not!
The venue itself is gorgeous - the ceremony and reception were both hosted on the 42nd floor with views of the river and the lake. Views from rooms were outstanding as well, which was a huge bonus for our guests traveling from out of town staying at our hotel block - even though the weather was crappy all weekend which made it hard for guests to explore Chicago, they got to see a lot of it just out their window! Overall, highly recommend!! So easy to work with and such a pretty place - and compared to some of the other downtown venues this one is fairly reasonably priced.
Reena P
5.0
Great hotel to use for our wedding room block. They offered an amenities package that was very generous. The staff, Jennifer and Annie, were amazing to work with. Annie was our mai...
n point of contact, and she was very responsive and easy to work with. The perks that you get and the service provided were easily the best out of many hotels we reached out to. The rooms are great with a near guaranteed view of the river and/or lake. On behalf of the many guests who traveled in from out of town thank you Swissotel for a phenomenal experience.
Pamela F
5.0
We had our wedding here in mid-June and it was absolutely spectacular! From the very beginning, we were treated like family because the hotel did everything possible to make our sp...
ecial day a reality. Our coordinator, Dan Jack, was wonderful to work with and made himself available to whatever questions and concerns we had as well as making helpful suggestions.
We had our reception on the 42nd floor in Eleve. The room was gorgeous with all the uplighting, room layout, linens, and lighting with our initials.
Special thanks to our room coordinator Rebecca and Vahan, and Josh from the banquets team. They checked in with us to make sure we had everything we needed. Also, to the front desk Jacqueline and Alfred.
Finally, our hotel room was amazing as well. It was spacious and allowed the bridesmaids to get ready in one place. At the end of the night, in our suite, they left my husband and I a special surprise of chocolates, champagne, and a picture of us cutting the cake.
We also had a brunch the next day in Eleve and that was wonderful as well.
All their little touches and attention to details did not go unnoticed and was greatly appreciated. Our guests were gushing over the wedding and how beautiful it was!
s s
1.0
Swissotel was disappointing as a hotel venue for my wedding guest. I blocked a group of rooms for my wedding guest. I decided to have breakfast offered the next day to my guests. N...
ot knowing who would come down or how much I figured get continental breakfast should be enough options and more food than one person would eat. I was wrong. Even though the contract and menu said “Croissants, Danishes Pastries, and Associated Muffins” all 3 listed and all 3 are plural so I assume at a minimum it would 3-6 pieces per person the staff only budgeted 1.5 so literally 1 and half an item per person. Who does that, half of a muffin? I paid +$960 for 20 people to have 30 SMALL pastries. I could have spent less money catering in. So not only did we spend money in blocking 20 rooms at over $200+ each room they took +$960 for a breakfast that I was embossed by. I brought it up to the hotel and they refused to resolve this even though I said it was embarrassing and put a damper when I think of my wedding. It was one of the few disappointments I had. I emailed corporate and heard nothing. So I am letting future brides beware. If you block the rooms and plan to offer breakfast make sure you discuss in detail what they are offering as they will cheat you.
Rachelle N
5.0
The room we had our ceremony in was beautiful and they allowed us extra time to get everything set up as well as giving us a card with a number to call if we needed anything during...
the setup!
Kim B
5.0
Swissotel was a fabulous place for our wedding guests to stay. I worked with Alina and Jennifer in their sales team, and they were both such a pleasure. They did a great job making...
sure we had all the rooms we needed and that every guest had what they needed. We had some issues with check-in, but the staff was quick to fix the issues and we ended up having a great stay. It was a great location too. I would highly recommend this hotel for a wedding.
Kara M
5.0
Our ceremony was in the Montraux space on the 2nd floor, and the wedding reception was in the Edelweiss penthouse on the 43rd floor. What sold us on the venue was the amazing view...
s of the city and the lake/Navy Pier from Edelweiss. Daniel Jack and the entire service staff were unbelievably easy to work with-From the first time we saw the space through the final communications after the event. The food and its presentation were both amazing, and a few months beforehand, we had a tasting where we were able to choose the menu and customize some of the dishes to be served (and meet the chef and see the kitchen where the food would be prepared). As for the wedding itself, several of our guests have told us it was the smoothest wedding they have attended. Daniel was so helpful throughout planning and especially the day of (the entire week-of!). He coordinated with the other vendors and we spent the entire day/evening having a good time and enjoying our guests, not worrying about every little detail and whether it was getting done or not. Everyone at the Swissotel was totally professional and amazing and we’ve heard nothing but compliments and praise from everyone who attended-The entire event was phenomenal!
Shirley G
5.0
Excellent relationship between cost and benefits. Great location. Great food. Great venue. Great service.
Charlotte S
5.0
We reserved a block of rooms for ourselves and our wedding guests at The Swissotel (we did not have our wedding there). The location of the hotel cannot be better (walking distance...
to the lake, river and the Magnificent Mile) and the room price we locked in was very reasonable for all of our out of town guests. The hotel upgraded us to an amazing suite with a phenomenal view once we reached a certain level of room reservations. We worked with Jennifer and Rachel at the Swissotel and they were professional and very easy to work with. Highly recommended!
TANIA V
5.0
Being the dead of winter in Chicago and with wedding guests travelling from all over the globe, we wanted one site that would do it all. The experience was completely painless. We ...
used the penthouse for the ceremony, cocktail/meet & greet and the reception. The moving of guests and changing of rooms was seamless. The views were amazing and our guests felt special and pampered. They were also very accomodating of special requests (i.e. vegan meals for some of guests, babysitting for children in wedding party, etc.). I can't say enough good things this about this venue. As a bonus, they gave us a 1 year anniversary offer to return for a visit on them.
Amy K
5.0
If you are looking for a breathtaking view of the city, great food and phenomenal service, I would highly recommend the Swissotel. View: We had our reception in the Edelweiss Su...
ite, located on the 43rd floor. The room has an amazing view of the skyline, river and Navy Pier. We looked at numerous different reception locations, and this one had the best view of any we saw. We had our wedding on a Saturday in August, so our guest were treated to the Navy Pier fireworks- you could see them perfectly from the room! If you are looking to incorporate Chicago into your wedding, you should definitely consider the Edelweiss suite. Food: It has been a month since the wedding, and our guests are still talking about the food (especially the Beef Wellington appetizer)! The catering manager helped us plan a menu that reflected our tastes- the head chef was also very flexible in customizing the meal to our specifications. The presentation of the food was outstanding- I felt like I was in a 5-star restaurant! The Swiss uses Marked for Dessert for the cake, and it was delicious. Our cake was designed exactly how we requested ° and it tasted just as good as it looked. Service- It was an absolute pleasure working with the Swiss for our wedding reception. From the very beginning, we were consistently amazed with our primary contact- Philip Pessin (Catering Manager). He was extremely helpful throughout the planning process, and he was diligent about responding to all of our questions
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