Pilsen Secret Garden

*A Dream Wedding in the Most Magical Space* Note before I start: I got married Sept 2024 and I planned my entire wedding—DIY, hands-on, no planner. Just me and Beth. So when I say this venue and team were everything, I mean it. *The Space – Absolutely Magical* This venue is beyond beautiful. There’s an aura to it that feels otherworldly. It’s called the Secret Garden for a reason—tucked away in Chicago, yet the moment you step inside, you feel transported somewhere else. Many of our guests said they forgot they were even in the city. This is not a ballroom-style, glitzy Chicago venue. You come here for character, for a space that speaks for itself without needing over-the-top décor. The ivy-covered walls, lush greenery, and intimate ceremony space are effortlessly stunning. If you love a vintage, rustic aesthetic, you’ll fall in love instantly. This was the first and only venue my husband and I visited. The moment we stepped in, we knew: this was it. I still love walking by those red doors in Pilsen because this space will always be special to me. *Beth & the Planning Process* Beth, the venue owner and coordinator, was an absolute dream to work with. Beth, you’re my girl—I love you. I’m a project manager in tech—I live in the details of planning and execution. Beth is a no-BS, straight-to-the-point, pragmatic executor. If you expect to be treated like royalty, this isn’t the place for you. But if you want someone who knows her business and executes flawlessly, she’s your girl. I loved how easy communication was. She was always like, if you need something “Call me whenever, and if I don’t pick up, send me a text and I’ll get back to you.” It really worked for me. To address some rude reviews: Beth runs a restaurant and wedding venue. You are not the center of her universe before your event. If you expect immediate responses 24/7, that’s a you problem. This a project and you have to be a good planner, build in buffer time for your dependencies. That being said, she went above and beyond. We met multiple times to talk vision, setup, and details. She played the role of wedding designer, and good luck getting that level of personal touch anywhere else. Like I said, I had no planner—just me and Beth—and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. *The Wedding Day – Flawless Execution* The day was perfect. Beth and her team handled everything, allowing me to be in full-on la-la land. I later found out there was a lighting issue under our tent—never noticed, because she handled it. Her team, including her husband (who was out there smoking the meats!), worked behind the scenes to make sure everything ran seamlessly. It was everything you dream of—just being present and enjoying the day without a single worry. And the sweetest touch? She sent us back to our hotel with leftovers because, like most couples, we barely ate. *The Food – People Still Talk About It* Months later, guests still rave about the food. And that’s exactly what you want people to remember. We wanted a communal, backyard-style feast—something cozy, delicious, and perfect for a celebration (and lots of drinking ;) ). Every bite was perfection, the mac and cheese, divine. Beth also accommodated our vegetarian, vegan, and meat-loving guests, we even had a family member that has celiac and she made sure we were able to accommodate their dietary needs. Also, can't forget to give a kudos to the bartenders. Absolutely flawless, everyone had a drink in hand all night long. *Final Thoughts* I can sit here forever and talk about how perfect my wedding was, all thanks to Beth and the team at Pilsen Secret Garden. It was everything and so much more This venue isn’t for everyone—but for those who get it, it’s magical. If you want an intimate, beautifully executed wedding, you won’t find a better place. A million thank-yous to Beth and her team for making our wedding the most incredible experience of our lives.

The Secret Garden, that is a hidden treasure, amongst the historical buildings of the Pilsen neighborhood. The Garden is below street level with ivy walls and a beautiful tree and butterfly garden. What use to be a monastery, it now serves as a venue for weddings, birthdays and more. The only issue I saw, it would be impossible for people in a wheelchair. The atmosphere was great, the food was delicious. Parking was a little difficult due to other events in the area. It was a lovely evening, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

We just got married here this weekend. The venue is gorgeous. We received compliments on the beautiful venue from almost every guest. Our original venue cancelled on us 6 months before our wedding date. We were so lucky that the secret garden had our date available. Our wedding guests said it was a blessing that the original venue cancelled and we found the secret garden. It has a cozy cottagecore meets whimsy vibe. We had a fire going with chairs around it. There was a vintage truck that people loved taking photos with. There are lots of different areas tucked away to get beautiful photographs. The food is AMAZING. People are still talking about the banana pudding. We're both vegetarian and didn't want meat at our wedding. Most of our guests are not vegetarians but they've been talking about how delicious it was nonstop. All of the staff are so nice and accommodating. The staff and the venue owner Beth made sure we had everything we needed before during and after the wedding. Their sister business Honky Tonk BBQ stored our cupcakes and flowers in their walk in fridge overnight so we didn't have to transport them on the morning of. Beth also kindly let us come in before our wedding day to set things up.

If you’re looking for a beautiful and tailored experience, you’ve come to the perfect venue. This place has EVERYTHING. Vines, leaves, cobblestones, helpful staff, ample space, and the location is unbeatable! My friend got married here just a few days ago and I’m like dang maybe I should find a random man to marry just so I can be wed in this gorgeous garden.

Not ADA compliant. Look up other code compliance issues. Rotten wood, mold, cracks, no upkeep. Depressing way to try to make money, an entirely dangerous venue. Through reading reviews, the staff seem incompetent, unhelpful, and unable to take responsibility for their actions or lack thereof. I have not personally interacted with any staff/ownership that I am aware of, I've only attended an event as a guest and recognized the instability myself. My opinion of staff comes from whoever is down there arguing about the accessibility of the place. You can look up their half a dozen building code violations from an inspection they had earlier this year. I'm glad I don't have to return.