Best Event Management Companies, Chicago 2025: Expert Planners for Every Occasion
Chicago is one of the top cities in the United States for large-scale events and creative productions. Every year, countless businesses, couples, and organizations work with event management companies in Chicago to plan corporate conferences, brand activations, weddings, and social gatherings that capture the city’s energy and sophistication.
These professionals handle every detail, from design and decor to logistics and vendor coordination.
Top Event Management Companies in Chicago (2025)
Chicago is home to some of the country’s most respected event planners and production agencies.
1. Revel Global Events: Best for Corporate and Experiential Events
Revel Global Events is one of Chicago’s most recognized full-service event management firms, known for creating high-impact, brand-driven experiences that go far beyond the typical conference setup. With over two decades of experience, the team has creative production, logistics expertise, and strategic storytelling to help companies engage audiences nationwide.
Services Offered:
Revel is a full-service event management company that takes care of the concept design, venue sourcing, production, and on-site execution. The in-house creative team of the company is responsible for branding, stage design, multimedia content, and AV coordination.
The event managers of the company are in charge of registration systems, staffing, travel logistics, and VIP guest coordination. Additionally, they work with partner vendors for catering, décor, entertainment, and hybrid streaming setups.
Specialties:
Corporate events and conferences
Incentive programs and employee engagement experiences
Experiential marketing and product launches
Gala dinners, award shows, and branded celebrations
Event Types:
Revel has the ability to adapt each show according to the goal of the client and the size of the audience. They organize local C-suite retreats and multi-city roadshows to immersive brand activations and fundraising galas. Mostly, they are known for turning the simplest locations into a themed experience that merges the fun side with the strategic message.
Location & Reach:
2400 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
2. Lola Event Productions: Best for Weddings and Private Celebrations
Lola Event Productions is a boutique, woman-owned planning firm that has become synonymous with luxury weddings and personalized celebrations in Chicago. The team, which is recognized for the creative aspect and smooth run of the event, turns the client's idea into one consistent, memorable event.
Services Offered:
Lola is the one-stop solution for all your event planning and design needs. Their cover everything from budget management, vendor coordination, venue scouting, floral and décor design. Besides full-service planning, their team has some event consulting and partial planning packages. The design team can take care of the custom décor ideas, styling, and the collaboration with best Chicago photographers, caterers, and entertainment vendors to make sure every single detail matches the event’s look for couples who want something beyond the ordinary.
Specialties:
Weddings (luxury, destination, and multicultural)
Social events and milestone celebrations
Engagement parties and rehearsal dinners
Private gatherings and styled shoots
Event Types:
Lola's planning team is known for their perfect mix of contemporary refinement and classic charm. Most of their events become decorated with the innovative ideas such as made-to-measure lounge spaces, signature cocktail bars, and floral-covered ceilings, which essentially bring them to the limelight of bridal magazines and local style blogs again and again.
Location & Reach:
1917 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
3. Liven It Up Events: Best for Creative Full-Service Planning
Liven It Up Events is one of Chicago’s most versatile event planning firms, and it is highly praised for its unique combination of organization and creativity. They think of every event as their first, hence all the aspects: the mood, the design, and the logistics are a perfect match with the client's idea.
Services Offered:
Liven It Up has all the answers when it comes to event planning and production. Some of their services include concept development, budgeting, vendor management, venue scouting, décor and design consultation, timeline creation, day-of coordination, and on-site management.
In addition to that, they can help corporate partners with brand activations, product launches, employee celebrations, and holiday parties, where they also provide AV support, stage design, and entertainment booking.
Specialties:
Corporate events and brand activations
Weddings and milestone celebrations
Fundraisers, galas, and community events
Social gatherings and private parties
Event Types:
Liven It Up adapts its approach to fit each client’s goals. They’re especially known for their creative collaborations with Chicago’s unique venues, including lofts, art galleries, and industrial spaces.They transform raw environments into stylish, functional experiences that feel effortless to guests.
Location & Reach:
1016 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 551, Chicago, IL 60607
4. Michigan Avenue Events: Best for Luxury Weddings
Michigan Avenue Events is a premier event planning firm. Known for their refined aesthetic and seamless execution, the team offers creative design to deliver experiences that are both effortless and unforgettable.
Services Offered:
Michigan Avenue Events provides full-service planning, design, and coordination, covering every phase from concept to cleanup. Their services include budget management, venue scouting, vendor negotiation, floral and design styling, guest experience planning, and day-of logistics.
For destination weddings, they handle travel coordination, accommodations, and guest itineraries, ensuring a smooth experience for couples and attendees alike. Their planners also collaborate closely with designers and lighting specialists to create immersive environments that feel cohesive from ceremony to reception.
Specialties:
Luxury weddings and private celebrations
Destination weddings and travel management
Engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, and weekend itineraries
Design and guest experience consultation
Event Types:
Michigan Avenue Events excels in both large-scale ballroom weddings and private destination gatherings, with a portfolio that spans from Chicago’s landmark venues to coastal resorts and international destinations. Their events are frequently featured in Modern Luxury Weddings, Style Me Pretty, and The Knot, earning recognition for their attention to detail, timeless design, and client-focused approach.
Location & Reach:
917 W Washington Blvd, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, in the West Loop
5. Chicago Event Management: Best for Citywide and Public Events
Chicago Event Management (CEM) is one of the city’s leading firms for large-scale public events. Best known for producing the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the team has an unmatched expertise in logistics, permitting, and operational coordination.
Services Offered:
CEM provides comprehensive event production and management services, including site planning, crowd flow design, vendor and sponsor coordination, city permitting, risk assessment, and emergency planning. Their team also manages volunteer recruitment, course operations, and public safety logistics, often working directly with city departments such as CDOT, Chicago Police, and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Specialties:
Public and citywide events
Races, walks, and endurance sports
Festivals, parades, and outdoor activations
Corporate and nonprofit collaborations
Event Types:
Chicago Event Management is best known for its portfolio of large-scale civic events that bring thousands of participants to the city each year including the Chicago Marathon, Shamrock Shuffle, and corporate wellness runs.
Location & Reach:
110 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
6. Kehoe Designs: Best for Event Design and Production
Kehoe Designs is one of Chicago’s most acclaimed names in luxury event design and production.. The company is celebrated for their high-impact visual environments, dramatic floral artistry, and attention to detail. All of this is supported by a full in-house team of designers, artisans, and production specialists.
Services Offered:
Kehoe Designs delivers event design and management under one roof. Their services include concept development, event styling, floral and décor production, lighting design, draping, furniture rentals, staging, and on-site logistics coordination.
Specialties:
Event production and creative directio
Luxury floral design and décor
Lighting, draping, and custom set fabrication
Corporate and private event styling
Event Types:
Kehoe Designs handles an array of corporate galas, fundraisers, weddings, and private celebrations, as well as product launches, immersive installations, and cultural events. Their team’s ability to integrate creative design with operational precision has made them a trusted partner for Chicago’s most prestigious venues including the Field Museum, Navy Pier, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Location & Reach:
2555 S Leavitt St, Chicago, IL 60608
7. HMR Designs: Best for Artistic Weddings and Large Productions
HMR Designs is like a hybrid between art, architecture, and event design. Being one of the most mature creative production studios in Chicago, HMR unites floral artisans, designers, builders, and planners all in one place to make events that have the right mix of aesthetic appeal, grandeur, and smooth-running logistics.
Services Offered:
HMR Designs offers a wide range of in-house production services that include event production, floral artistry, lighting, draping, staging, set fabrication, and day-of coordination. Their creative team works hand-in-hand with clients to ideate and bring to life custom installations, elevated tablescapes, and signature backdrops that visually communicate the vibe of the event.
HMR also oversees vendor logistics, layout design, and load-in/load-out operations for large-scale projects. As a result, they are a preferred creative and operational partner for corporate clients, cultural institutions, and wedding planners.
Specialties:
Event design and full-scale production
Artistic floral and environmental design
Luxury wedding planning and styling
Corporate galas, fundraisers, and cultural events
Event Types:
From lavish weddings and black-tie galas to museum installations and corporate celebrations, HMR’s portfolio spans Chicago’s most prestigious venues including the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Peninsula Chicago, and the Field Museum.
Location & Reach:
4200 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60646
8. Big City Bride: Best for Personalized Weddings
Big City Bride is among the top and most reliable names in Chicago, known for their classic style, seamless execution, and calm, detail-oriented team. With more than two decades of experience, the firm has built a reputation for creating events that feel elegant, timeless, and authentically reflective of each couple’s story.
Services Offered:
Big City Bride offers full-service and partial wedding planning along with day-of coordination and event management. The team also provides design support in-house for couples who want a chic but stress-free planning process and thus can Charlotte connect clients with the best local florists, photographers, and caterers.
Additionally, they may be considered as a vendor for rehearsal dinners, elopements, and micro-weddings, offering the same level of attention and inventiveness irrespective of the event size.
Specialties:
Wedding planning and design
Rehearsal dinners and elopements
Private and destination weddings
Event coordination and timeline management
Event Types:
From intimate city elopements to large-scale, 300-guest celebrations, Big City Bride plans weddings that feel polished but never formulaic. Their events are known for smooth flow, cohesive aesthetics, and stress-free experiences, often featuring Chicago landmarks like The Rookery, The Chicago History Museum, and The Ivy Room. Clients often praise the team’s poise under pressure and ability to balance logistics with emotional storytelling, making them one of the most referred planners in the city.
Location & Reach:
954 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Types of Event Planning in Chicago
Chicago’s event management scene is all-inclusive: catering to the needs of both the business world and the society through different kinds of events such as corporate shows, glamorous weddings, and social celebrations.
The range of venues in the city, which varies from fancy ballrooms in the downtown area to serene lofts by the river, makes it a gathering place for planners who are experts in either professional or personal events. There are mainly two sectors in which management companies performing at the top level in Chicago can be found:
Corporate Event Planning in Chicago
Chicago’s corporate scene drives a massive portion of the local event market. The city regularly hosts conventions, product launches, and leadership summits that attract national attention. Event management companies handle all aspects of these productions ranging from budgeting and logistics to staging, branding, and vendor coordination. Many also provide hybrid and virtual options for teams spread across different regions.
Wedding and Social Event Planning in Chicago
On the social side, Chicago’s event planners are known for creating one-of-a-kind weddings, galas, and private parties that highlight personal stories and aesthetics. From historic venues like The Geraghty to modern favorites like The Arbory and The Lakewood, every neighborhood offers a new backdrop for creative planners to work with.
Why Chicago Is a Hub for Event Management
Chicago’s location, creative talent, and world-class infrastructure make it one of the best places in the U.S. for event management companies to thrive. The city hosts major corporate summits, large festivals, and hundreds of private celebrations each year.
Key reasons Chicago stands out:
Accessibility: Two major airports and excellent public transit make travel simple for guests.
Venue variety: From Navy Pier to Fulton Market lofts, the options suit every style.
Creative ecosystem: The city is filled with decorators, designers, caterers, and production experts who collaborate seamlessly.
Corporate presence: Headquarters across finance, tech, and media industries ensure consistent demand for corporate events in Chicago.
This environment supports event management companies that can scale from private gatherings to national conventions with ease.
How Studio Pod Supports Chicago’s Event Planners
Event planners know that memorable guest experiences come from the right mix of logistics and creativity. That’s where Studio Pod in Chicago becomes a valuable partner.
Studio Pod is a fully automated photo booth system that captures professional-quality portraits without needing a photographer or staff supervision. Designed for both individuals and large-scale events, it delivers studio-grade headshots instantly, making it an ideal fit for the corporate, social, and experiential events managed by Chicago’s top planning firms.
Benefits for planners and clients:
Compact, fully automated photo setup that requires no staff.
Instant delivery of professional, high-quality portraits.
Easy customization with event branding or sponsor logos.
Perfect for corporate conferences, product launches, or weddings.
Location: 4311 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Session length: 15 minutes
Included: 15 professional headshots, instantly delivered
Planners can integrate Studio Pod sessions into their event timeline as a modern, interactive feature that boosts engagement and leaves guests with something tangible to remember.
FAQs
What does an event management company do?
They handle all aspects of planning and executing an event, including budgeting, logistics, vendor coordination, and on-site supervision.
How far in advance should I book a planner?
For weddings or large corporate events, aim to book 8 to 12 months in advance. Smaller or weekday events can often be arranged within 3 to 6 months.
What is the average cost of event planning in Chicago?
Full-service event management in Chicago typically ranges from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on size, location, and design complexity.
Can I hire vendors separately for my event?
Yes. Many clients hire planners to coordinate vendors like caterers, photographers, or entertainment providers while maintaining control over specific selections.
How can The StudioPod fit into an event managed by a planner?
The StudioPod integrates easily with any event plan, providing guests with a professional-quality photo experience without needing a photographer. It’s ideal for brand activations, weddings, and corporate receptions.
Final Thoughts
Event management companies in Chicago are known for their creativity, professionalism, and ability to transform any vision into a flawless event. From luxury weddings to national conferences, these planners bring together the city’s best talent, venues, and vendors.
Chicago Guides
Joseph West
Photographer, CEO of Studio Pod
Joseph is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the intersection of technology and creativity. He has initiated and expanded multiple ventures, leveraging AI for multiple photography applications.
