Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel
In 1871, Potter Palmer bequeathed his fiancée, Bertha Honoré, with one of the most extravagant wedding presents of all time, Palmer House. This grand hotel is one of the twenty-six remaining palace hotels in the world. Matrimony celebrations here are marked by subtle symbols of love, including frescos of Greek mythology spanning the awe-inspiring lobby and complemented by 153 years of history. You’re invited to share Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel as your “Something Borrowed”.
Stylishly situated in downtown Chicago, no wedding venue boasts such a legacy of romance as Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, with its ornate ballrooms, inspired catering, and French-inspired décor. The symbolism of love begins upon your arrival at the main entrance, as a statue of Romeo and Juliet warmly welcomes you at the top of the staircase, before making your way to the awe-inspiring lobby. The ceiling of this grand space is resplendent with 21 panels of Greek mythological scenes, designed by the French Art Deco painter Louis Pierre Regal, who created the panels in the City of Love, Paris, before shipping them across the Atlantic and installing them on the vaulted ceiling of the hotel. The romance encapsulated within these frescos is further accented by 1.25-ton, 24-karat gold winged angel candelabras designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, flanking the entrance of the Empire Room.
Photography by Olivia Leigh Photography
Let the romantic embellishments of the hotel’s historic Ballrooms guide you toward the beginning of your unique love story. If you are planning a larger-sized wedding, select the Grand and State Ballrooms with its ornate backdrop, where some of the most glittering social galas have taken place. The Red Lacquer Room and its authentic chandeliers is famous for the “Greatest Banquet in American History”, hosted in 1879 to honor President Ulysses S. Grant. Set your stage at The Empire Room, the Crown Jewel and French Inspired event space, located in the heart of the hotel. From the 1930s to 1970s the Empire Room was a famous supper club known for hosting legendary entertainers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Liberace. For a more intimate gathering, such as a reception or small ceremony, select the Honoré Ballroom, named in honor of Bertha Honoré Palmer, with its natural daylight, blushing colors, and the grand portrait of Bertha as captured by Anders Zorn in 1893. For a quaint ceremony, reception, or celebration, consider private dining rooms or hospitality suites for a more intimate setting.
Photography by Ben Ramos Photography
Bertha Honoré-Palmer was a great patron of the arts who amassed the greatest collection of Impressionist Art outside of France, which later would be donated to The Art Institute of Chicago. Her foresight continued with a special request to the hotel's pastry team in 1893 to create a dessert that could easily be transported in Chicago to The World's Columbian Exposition. This chocolate confection with a fudge-like density, topped with walnuts and apricot glaze, served as the original brownie recipe. As one of the most synonymous foods associated with love, the Original Palmer House Brownie is the perfect enhancement to your wedding celebration.
A hotel built upon love, Palmer House boasts a legacy of romance having hosted over 9,000 weddings. The wedding team offers matrimonial experiences that engage, delight, and reflect the distinctive style and personality of each couple, ensuring your celebration to be an extraordinary wedding – one that’s not only talked about, but remembered.
Photography by: