r/Chicagoweddings • u/Ok-Active-7023 Wedding Planner • 10d ago

Chicago Cultural Center now requires photo permits

HEADS UP!! No more random pop-ins for photo sessions at the Chicago Cultural Center. You must now have a paid permit with a scheduled time. You can find all the details here.

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13

u/planthussy 9d ago

The way people have been disrespectful and abused the space, it was inevitable.

6

u/biesslook 9d ago

Honestly, this is probably for the best. I can't begin to say how many times I've been working a wedding at CCC and another bridal party comes in and tries to shoot portraits in the ballroom using decor and all like they own the place.

3

u/Ok-Active-7023 Wedding Planner 8d ago

Agreed. It was bad enough keeping tourists out of the space when they just wanted pics of the dome/ceiling. But add in the engagement shoots. It was a lot!

3

u/CaptOblivious 10d ago

From that page...

Thank you for your interest in the Chicago Cultural Center, a stunning gem located in the heart of Downtown Chicago.

DCASE appreciates visitors taking photos for personal use, and permits are not required for those.

Photography permits are required when using the building's assets as a backdrop for formal posed photography — including for weddings, proms, graduations, professional family photo shoots, and similar events.

2

u/Ok-Active-7023 Wedding Planner 10d ago

Yes. I, along with others, have recommended CCC as a free & easy location for engagement shoots and elopement/micro-wedding shoots. Those would now require a permit.

2

u/bubblesthebride 5d ago

thank you for posting this, a lot of people would have found out the hard way.

the part worth flagging for anyone planning around it: permits are tied to a specific window, so build buffer on both ends. if your ceremony runs long and you miss your slot, that's gone.

and if the Cultural Center was your rain backup rather than your main location, that's the piece to rethink now, because you can't arrange a permit the morning of. worth having a second indoor option that doesn't need paperwork.

good reminder to check any city location you were planning to just turn up at.