Ovation

Where to even begin??? I met Spencer back in August of 2014. My fiancé and I were looking for a venue that would fit 200 people, but wasn’t your typical hotel ballroom. Luckily our caterer knew of this fantastic spot that would be opening in September of 2014.
When we walked in it was still dirt floors and very raw. But the second we met Spencer and he began talking about his vision and what his plan was for the space, we were hooked! We booked the next day, didn’t think twice about it, we knew this was going to be the perfect spot of our reception! And it was, our guests are still talking about our June 2015 wedding and how much fun it was.
They loved the space! We had a lot of out of town guests at our wedding and they had never been to a place like Ovation before and they were blown away by beauty and function of the space.
Aside from the perfect event space, Spencer and his team made the entire wedding planning process a breeze. He was so accommodating about showing us the space, answering our millions of questions and helping us with ideas on how to best use the space. The fact that Ovation includes the DJ, sound system, gorgeous tables and chairs, a photobooth, two video screens and has a huge prep kitchen, took the stress out of planning our wedding.
Ovation is my go to event space in the city. Spencer and his team have created the perfect spot for any event. We are truly grateful for all of his help and I know that he was a huge part of our reception going off without a hitch and turning our wedding into an event that people will talk about for a long time.
Thank you Spencer and Ovation!

This review has seriously taken me some time to do. Why should it? The space is perfect, the owner is amazing, and everything was beyond what I could expect.
Sometime it’s just hard to find the words actually! So my company reached out to Spencer for an upscale gala involving a charity, needless to say the planning on my part was going on for months. But this space has everything you could possibly imagine! We had two separate bands for the night, which the AV was ON POINT! They even provide a DJ if you want music and a dance floor to end your festivities with, which we gladly did. Our company and sponsors had many logos, but Spencer incorporated them throughout the space including the photo booth, tv and projectors. We went through a series of interviews with catering company because of our budget, but every single one has worked with Ovation before and were so glad to be delivering, so you know it will be easy to plan your event here!
What more can I say? He’s extremely easy to work with, returns my bizillion last minute emails, and knows his stuff for sure! I can’t say enough about Ovation and Spencer alone, and I truly can’t wait to plan our next event here. This space is one of a kind, and if you’re thinking of a wedding, a corporate event, or even a small gathering, this space has your needs!
I’m very thankful our black tie gala was held here, I wouldn’t have wanted it anywhere else!

I am so happy I chose Ovation for my wedding, it has lots to offer! Our wedding party started as a small intimate gathering by the bar, and then opened to a large dining space with up lights and candle treatment. The big screens played our wedding story pictures, the sounds by Style Matters DJ John Simmons were awesome, and street parking was easily available for guests.
The transition between cocktail hour, dinner and dancing was smooth. The photo booth was very popular, and guests raved about the look and comfort of the space and lounge furniture. The amenities included in the wedding package really set Ovation apart from any other venue in the area.
Working with Spencer was simple, he’s very honest and straightforward. There were no surprises regarding terms or services and he was very quick to respond to inquiries. I had a lovely time celebrating my special day here, you will too!

My husband and I loved working with Ovation for our Wedding DJ! Dustin was the bomb and we could not be happier with the party he threw! No one was ever in their seats and the dance floor was the place to be. He was easy to work with and Spencer was really wonderful to deal with along the way too!

My son and his bride were recently married at Ovation. Everything went as planned including the cocktail hour, the ceremony, and the dinner and dancing.
The place looked great and we were well taken care of by Spencer.
He accommodated our every concern and we managed to have a terrific wedding event.
We would highly recommend Ovation for any couple that would like to have a great wedding party.

We attended a wedding at Ovation recently and the venue was amazing. Great atmosphere and service. Impeccable with all the details and everyone enjoyed themselves.

There is certainly a reason why Ovation has all of these stellar reviews, it is because everything about the experience was a class act! I got married 8÷29÷15 and from the moment I started communicating with Spencer and once I saw the venue — I knew Ovation was going to host my wedding reception. Since our wedding, my husband and I have gotten so many compliments from our guests, saying how unique and beautiful the venue was. You truly get to express your creativity and make what you want out of the space.
Let start with the venue itself, Ovation has history, being an old foundry. The outside of it is so unique & modern and the inside has so many features. The ceiling lets in natural light, the farm tables are perfection, chairs are unique, the bar is beautiful, so is the dj booth, and a photo booth is available for your guests. The place also has curtains, couches, up-​lighting, a bridal suite and you get to use the Rolls Royce for a ride on your big day — which is awesome for pictures. The dj is also included in the deal. You fill out a detailed questionnaire and if you take the time to fill it out, you will be very happy with the music — we received SO many compliments on the music.
Now on to Spencer. His customer service alone helped me decide to host my reception here. He’s so responsive to emails, listens to your ideas, is very open to them and is just a hard worker. He was also our DJ and was there for every single walk through with my vendors. There’s something to be said about when you put your heart and soul into building a business with your family, he always went the extra mile to help make my husband and I happy customers. You do not get the same customer service out of venues that are not managed by their actual owners.
If Ovation is available on your date, do not look any further! Book it and I promise you won’t regret it!

Perfection, nothing less. We first went to Ovation in looking for an event space to have both our ceremony and reception in one. Oh, and we wanted to have Chicago Food Trucks as our meal options. We first met Spencer before Ovation was even completed. We went there and he shared his vision of what the space would be, and we shared it and booked it. The vision became a reality and Ovation was even more than he told us it would be. Absolutely everything was perfect (except the threat of rain) but I think Spencer took care of that too. ;)
It’s been a few weeks since our wedding now, but all we hear is how great and special it was. And that’s the truth. My new wife and I sat at the end of the night and said that it just could not have been any better. And that’s because Spencer, his Mom & Dad, and everyone at Ovation were working to make sure things went as planned. They worked the event as if it was their own party, and you just can’t ask for anything more.
We certainly are recommending Ovation to everyone and also have already been getting requests from our guests who want more information to use the venue for their corporate events.
Thank you Spencer, your team made our day even more special than we thought it could be.
Ovation rocks!

There are just not enough superlatives for Spencer, his team, and his venue. My husband and I had our wedding ceremony and reception at Ovation last weekend – what an incredible experience from start to finish! It exceeded my very high expectations, which, if you know me, is not easy to do. I’ll start with the space. The pictures on Ovation’s website do not do it justice. It is gorgeous, light-​filled, warm, and spacious. Guests commented on the amazingness of the space throughout the night and continue to do so post-​wedding. Unlike other wedding venues in Chicago, you get SO MUCH bang for your buck with Ovation. Included in the price are a photo booth, a killer DJ from StyleMatters, beautiful tables and chairs, lights, candles, a Rolls Royce ride, and much, much more. Unlike so many other wedding venues in Chicago, you do not need to «dress up» Ovation. It’s perfect just as it is.
Ovation is 100% geared towards making your event as hassle-​free and fun as possible. And that starts with Spencer. Spencer just gets this wedding thing. He has great ideas, but is not pushy in any way; he’s incredibly responsive; and he’s tremendously detailed-​oriented in contrast to most of the other people I worked with through the wedding process. Most of all, Spencer dispenses with all of the wedding industrial complex nonsense, which is so refreshing. He lets you bring in your own alcohol. He lets you choose your own caterers. All of this makes having the event YOU want a breeze.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the sound system and the DJ. Our guests were on the dance floor, having a blast, all night long. We were having so much fun that we extended the evening about a half hour (for free, of course, thanks to Spencer). After the wedding, our guests – many of whom are seasoned wedding pros! – got in touch with us to tell us it was the best music they had ever heard at a wedding. Ryan, our DJ, rocked the house.
I could go on for hours about Ovation. Suffice it to say, it was the best night of our lives, our guests absolutely loved the party, and we would do it all over again in a heartbeat. If there’s any justice in the world, Ovation will be booked solid for years to come. Get on the Ovation train while you still can!

I hosted a 300+ person nonprofit gala here in April, and could NOT have been more thrilled with our entire experience. Ovation is a very unique venue and great choice (whether for weddings, galas, or other events) for several reasons:
1. EVERYTHING is included in your price — beautiful furniture (which is so nice that does NOT need linens), photo booth, DJ, staff, technology/​AV, ping pong table, and a Rolls Royce ride to boot!
2. Spencer and his team are AMAZING to work with — they not only made our experience seamless, they also made it fun. Not enough good things to say about them.
3. The space is just freakin’ COOL! It’s an old foundry, and they’ve done a great job turning it into an urban-​chic venue with exposed brick, metal, and huge windows.
If you’re thinking about Ovation, and are expecting under 350 guests, stop looking — you’ve found what you’re looking for!

There’s nothing I would have done differently except find this location a lot sooner than what we did. Honestly, you won’t find another venue as great and with all the bells and whistles included.
Danielle and I had our wedding at Ovation Chicago and it was hands-​down the best time of our lives!!! This was such a life-​changing event for us and we couldn’t have chosen a better place to showcase our love for each other.
It was such a pleasure working alongside the owner, Spencer, his parents and their team of professionals. They exceeded our expectations and went above and beyond anything we could have imagined.
Despite becoming a first-​time father and dealing with his own life-​changing events, Spencer went out of his way during this time to make sure our experience and journey leading up to our wedding was seamless. Everything from creating a custom slide-​show of Danielle and myself for my guests to enjoy, to the candlelight treatment, high-​end lounge furniture and the DJ from Style Matters was perfect!
Thank you so much Team Ovation for creating such an amazing venue and for making one of the most important life-​changing events in our lives memorable!!!
We high recommend Ovation Chicago to anyone looking for an amazing place to host their event/​party!!!

My husband and I had our wedding at Ovation last month (July). From the beginning, Spencer took the time to explain AND listen to what we needed and wanted in our event. There was no pushing or prodding, simply a word from the wise, or a «this seems to have worked well if it fits into what you are going for». Follow through and execution were top-​notch and the ability to schedule several site visits was important when any changes occurred. DJ Intel (with Style Matters) proved you can have a wedding without terrible music. His approach was fresh, inventive (again, he listened to what we did/​did NOT want), and now we try and see him at his resident gigs all over the city. He’s that good.
Our day was perfect for a number of reasons and we owe a lot of it to the work that Ovation put into it. Their space is beautiful, they take pride in what they’re creating and the team is dedicated and fun. We looked like total ballers in front of our friends and family.
Do the math — you won’t find a space this nice with amenities so crucial (most importantly a professional DJ) for their price anywhere else. I know. I looked everywhere.

Ovation is an absolutely amazing venue. From the staff, to the location, to the ambiance and décor, this place is a 10 star.
I had my baby shower here with around 50 people. There was more than enough space for our catering and people to easily move around. Due to the concrete floors the sound was fantastic. The sky lights and large windows allow for a ton of natural light, so it doesn’t have that stuffy feel of a typical venue. The floor space is huge, you can easily put 100 people in this place with plenty of room to dance and eat. There is also a photobooth, so if you are a whore for goofy photos of yourself and your guests, this is a total added bonus. The logistics of bringing our catering in was super easy, no fuss at all.
We also had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Spencer and his parents. These are wonderful people who were totally hospitable and professional. This place is a hidden gem that should definitely not be overlooked for any of your events. Whether you have 50 or 100 people, make sure you have this on your list as a local Chicagoan. Had this been around 6 years ago when I got married, this would have been a #1 contender!

My husband and I had a beautiful wedding ceremony and reception on July 4, 2015 at Ovation. This gorgeous, newly renovated, light-​filled, industrial space is fully loaded with everything you could ever need (custom wood dining tables, vintage tolix chairs, a custom photobooth, video wall, candles, 1959 Rolls Royce, on-​site parking) All you need is a caterer, a florist, a photographer, and an officiant and you have an amazing wedding on your hands without the hassle of renting your own chairs, tables, and having to go nuts with décor. My husband is a DJ, so the Void sound system and DJ were the most important details on his list to throw an amazing party (both are also included when you book the space). We were also pleasantly surprised to find out that we could get custom-​designed graphics to display our seating chart on the projector wall (right behind the dinner buffet) and «welcome graphics» that matched our style (they integrated the album covers from our ceremony music into the design which was really special).
A little bit about our day… We had a short and sweet flower-​filled evening ceremony (florist Cornelia McNamara) and Hearty Boy’s Urban BBQ for dinner. After dinner we left for a photo-​shoot in the neighborhood and were chauffeured around in the Rolls Royce with our wedding photographer, Jenn Schaffer. We got some really cool photographs in front of local graffiti art, one near the train with a panoramic Chicago skyline in the background, and the Rolls was a nice photo-​shoot prop as well! We moved the party over to the bar/​DJ area around 8pm just as the sunset. We really wanted a speak-​easy vibe and to have a more intimate setting, so we used the drapes to close off the dinner area for the second half of the night. We had 50s-​60s classic movies playing on the videowall. Spencer completely handled the movie set-​up for us. He even downloaded the movies!
The last thing we wanted on our wedding day was to worry about a million moving parts, but at the same time we wanted our wedding to feel modern, urban, cool, and for our guests to have a memorable experience. We found the perfect balance at Ovation. The place is fully loaded, which greatly streamlined the wedding planning process. Spencer and his team have so much pride in the work they do and will go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure your wedding is perfect. We can’t thank Spencer enough for all he did!
Make the wedding planning process a little easier on yourself and book Ovation!

Ovation is a dream come true for a Chicago Wedding and/​or Reception. This venue is way ahead of the curve in terms of décor, music and creative. We had the pleasure of working directly with the Owner — Spencer from the very beginning, but everyone we interacted with was fantastic. We toured Ovation as a construction zone and it still somehow surpassed all other places we viewed in the city, so we booked it right away. We couldn’t had been happier about taking that risk when we were finally able to see the finished product (and it keeps getting better!).
The staff is as professional and experienced as they come. They provide really unique ideas but also give you free reign to make the space yours; even though you don’t need much on top of all that they offer for the night (DJ!, Tables, Chairs, Screens, Photo Booth, Lounge Furniture, Bar, Parking, A ROLLS ROYCE, etc.). Much better value than you get with the standard ‘blank canvas’ venue in Chicago.
I can’t say enough good things about Ovation, and neither can our families and guests who were in attendance. We wanted a special night that was a bit different than your standard banquet reception, and Ovation is the main reason we were successfully able to achieve that.
Other Vendors we used in conjunction with Ovation:
Catering — Maison Catering
Alcohol — Garfield Liquors
Photography — Aubrey Jane Photo
Table Décor — Shaadi Creations
DJ – Fancy Boy (Provided by Ovation)

My new husband and I hosted our wedding reception at Ovation and wouldn’t have changed a thing! Spencer and his team have created a much needed Chicago venue that includes so many great amenities.
Planning– Spencer & his team were very accommodating throughout the entire planning process. They fit us into the schedule for various vendor (and parental) walkthroughs and had the space ready for us the day prior to our reception so we could set out some décor elements.
Space/​Décor– The tables and chairs are great and fit the warehouse feel of the venue– definitely beats rental tables with linens. Also loved the wood bar, counter top and DJ booth. We had the drape closed during the cocktail hour and when it opened the guests had a great surprise factor seeing the rest of the space. We played old movies on the video screens and projector throughout the night and it looked great. The Ovation team was able to stream our movie selections without a problem. Everyone loves a photo booth so that was another big crowd pleaser!
The Rolls Royce is amazing. Spencer and his dad picked us up from our ceremony in the car and it was a great added touch to the day to make us really feel like celebrities. So far our favorite photos are of us getting out of the car in front of the Ovation window.
Music– Style Matters covered all of our musical needs. String Theory played during our offsite ceremony and again for our cocktail reception. Again, very accommodating and worked with our specific requests. Dustin was our DJ and he was great. We didn’t want to give too specific of a list and it worked out perfectly. Dustin assessed the audience and kept people dancing for almost 6 hours straight. We had a pre-​meeting with Dustin to review our musical requests and the overall timeline (when to do speeches, cut cake, etc.) which was very helpful.
Guest Reactions– everyone that attended our wedding had an amazing time (or so they say!) and really seemed to enjoy attending a party in a different space. I think our event was very memorable and kept people entertained throughout the entire night. My parents are already trying to decide what type of event they can host there next :)
Other Highlights– The upstairs green room was great for us to take a breather and eat some dinner. Our caterers appreciated the amazing kitchen space. All vendors seemed to load in and out with ease.
Photo credit to Rachel Gulotta;

This venue is spectacular. I hosted a pop up dinner here in February and everything went SUPER smooth. Ovation has really thought of every accommodation that many venues don’t, and it’s gorgeous to boot! Everything from the custom tables to the amazing sound system has been carefully considered. I would 100% recommend this for anyone looking to host an event, or tie the knot in a very special venue.

I cannot say enough fantastic things about Ovation! I hosted a New Years Eve party there and the space and event team exceeded all expectations. First off, Spencer and his team are amazing. Not only was he extremely helpful with everything, including creating a video countdown for us, but he was constantly helping out at the party. You can tell Spencer has seen a lot of parties and really knows what works. Max, our Style Matters DJ for the night, was the best, keeping everyone on the dance floor the whole night. He played great music for our demographic, and I am so grateful he was able to help us create the dance party we dreamt of.
Not only is the crew amazing, but the space is perfect. We had 150 guests, and the warehouse fit them comfortably, also providing us with various couches and lounge furniture for the guests to sit on. Ovation also has beautiful tables and chairs, along with tallboys and a stunning and extremely long bar. Lastly, there is a photo booth, which was the hit of the party. Ovation is an amazing and unique place that all our guests commented on.
Ovation made everything perfect for our party so obviously they are five stars. So happy we booked with Spencer and his team!

Ovation, and Spencer and his team, are absolutely top-​notch! Our wedding was the second event in the space, and, similar to Matt M., we only saw the space when it was a big old barren warehouse. In a matter of months, that space was transformed into one of the most amazing venues in the city!
First, as noted above, Spencer and his team (most of them being his hard-​working family!) are an absolute delight to work with. They really care about the details of your event. Spencer and I exchanged dozens of emails about everything from the color of the drapery to the width of the tables. Because Spencer has worked 100s of weddings himself, he is very tuned in to details of what works and what doesn’t.
The space is beautiful. Many of the guests at our wedding said, «when you described the venue, I didn’t expect THIS!!» The space is sleek and modern, but with a warm glow of reclaimed wood and exposed brick. There is a large skylight that allows natural light to shine down, and two full walls of windows. There is a nice bridal suite on the second floor in the back of the space that has comfortable furniture for lounging before the ceremony, and a private bathroom at the bottom of the private staircase. They’ve thought of many little details like including a mirror in the bridal suite and cloth towels in that bathroom.
The woodwork is one of my favorite things in the space. The bar, dj booth, and the TABLES were custom made from reclaimed barnwood, and they’re beautiful! We chose to set the 8-​foot long tables end to end to make 4 very long communal tables. I loved the look, and it actually made the table assignments much easier to do because people aren’t restricted to talking to just the 8 people at their table! It was a great fit with our family style meal.
And for those of you into music, this is your place. The sound system was, of course, amazing. You don’t realize what a difference that makes until you go to a wedding or event where the wonky rented AV system has static or is abnormally loud.
Photobooth! This was one of the highlights of the wedding for the guests. How much fun is it to have free photobooth photos? I am still finding strips of ridiculous photos left from that night in bags and shoe boxes.
All in all, Ovation is the complete package. What other venue can give you: a killer soundsystem, modern, beautiful space, custom reclaimed wood tables, photobooth, Rolls Royce (with the nicest chauffeur around!), and service with a smile? Many people say that your wedding day is one of the best days of your life. Mine definitely was, and it was in no small part because of Ovation & the Ovation team! Can we do it all over again next year?

Unique, modern venue with a sophisticated rustic urban vibe. We celebrated our wedding this October at Ovation & everything was absolutely flawless. Spencer & his entire team were instrumental in ensuring that every detail was tailored to our personal style. It was their attention to detail & commitment in ensuring the space reflected us that really sets Ovation apart from the competition.
The space is beautiful & really sells itself, however, when you consider all of the other amenities included, there is no other venue that remotely compares. Unlike it’s competitors, there are no hidden costs or up charges, they really do offer a straightforward, no nonsense approach to doing business.
All of our guests were really impressed by the venue’s elegant simplicity, it undoubtedly had the WOW factor! The music from start to finish was on point the entire night. The cocktail music set the perfect vibe while the DJ set got our all of our guests on their feet to dance the night away. Everyone had a blast & still talk about it today. Ovation, a befitting name for the venue, Spencer & his team deserve one for their help making it a truly remarkable evening that we will always remember…