Forest Preserves of Cook County Special Event Permit (Picnic Groves)
Various sites, Cook County, IL
| Venue type | Park & Pavilion |
| Location | Various sites, Cook County, IL |
| Published price | $312 to $341 |
| Capacity | Up to 100 guests |
| Setting | Outdoor |
What the venue publishes
$25 application fee plus Special Event Permit fee for a group of 25-100 people: $287 (resident) or $316 (non-resident), for a total of $312-$341. Larger groups cost more (101-200: $339/$373; 201-399: $469/$516). A $250 security deposit applies for groups of 25-399. Not-for-profit and veteran organizations may qualify for 50% off base fees; bookings Monday-Thursday (excluding holidays) get a 25% discount.
The source publishes a range of $312 to $341, so which end applies depends on the options the source lists.
Covers reservable picnic groves/shelters across the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Couples should confirm with FPCC that a Special Event Permit (rather than a basic Picnic permit) is the correct permit for a wedding at their chosen grove; a plain small-grove picnic permit with shelter is even cheaper ($85 resident / $94 non-resident for 25-100 people) but may not allow decor, DJs, or catering setups.
Published on fpdcc.com, checked August 2026. Fee schedules change, so confirm before booking.
Where this price sits in Chicago
$312 is the 8th lowest published starting price of the 18 venues listed in the Chicago metro. The metro median starting price is $510, and 10 of the 18 listings publish a higher starting price than this one.
Among the 4 park & pavilion listings in the metro it ranks 2nd lowest, against a median of $366 for that type.
What the capacity costs per guest
The source publishes a capacity of 100 guests. At $312, filling the space works out to $3.12 per guest for the site fee alone, before the license, an officiant, food, or rentals. The median published capacity across the 9 Chicago listings that publish one is 75 guests, so this space is larger than the metro median.
Cheaper published prices in Chicago metro
These listings in Chicago metro publish a starting price below $312.
| Venue | Published price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Schaumburg Park District Garden/Shelter RentalSchaumburg, IL · Park & Pavilion | $200 to $300 | not published |
| Fabyan Japanese GardenGeneva, IL · Garden & Conservatory | $200 to $250 | not published |
| Emily Oaks Nature Center - Program RoomSkokie, IL · Other Venue | $95 to $120 | 60 guests |
Other park & pavilion listings in Chicago
Same venue type, prices closest to this one.
| Venue | Published price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Park District Outdoor Wedding Ceremony PermitChicago, IL · Park & Pavilion | $420 to $950 | not published |
| Naperville Riverwalk Grand PavilionNaperville, IL · Park & Pavilion | $600 | not published |
Marriage license in Cook County, IL
The venue fee above does not include the license. Various sites, Cook County sits in Cook County, IL, and these are the terms that county publishes. Checked September 2026.
| Issuing office | Cook County Clerk's Office, Vital Records118 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60602 (plus three suburban Vital Records locations) |
| License fee | $60Marriage Licenses ($60). Marriage certificates are a separate $15, with additional copies $4 each. |
| Waiting period | 1 day |
| License valid for | 60 days |
| Who must appear | Both parties, in person |
| ID required | Valid identification with proof of age for both applicants. Applicants who divorced within the last six months must provide a certified copy of the divorce decree. |
| Apply online | Application available online |
| Same-day issue | Issued the same visit |
| Ceremony at the office | OfferedCouples without their own officiant can be married by a Cook County judge at the Marriage and Civil Union Court in the lower level of 119 W Randolph Street, six days a week, and at the suburban municipal district courthouses where times and restrictions vary and some are by appointment. Neither the Clerk nor the Circuit Court page publishes a ceremony fee. |
| Witnesses | None required by statute |
Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, cookcountyclerkil.gov, cookcountycourt.org, ilga.gov
Licenses are issued while you wait, become effective one day after issuance, and are valid for 60 days. They are valid only for ceremonies performed in Chicago and suburban Cook County, and must be returned to the Clerk within 10 days after the ceremony. The Clerk advertises optional appointments for faster service but does not state that an appointment is required. The Clerk notes that Illinois wedding officiants are not required to register with any government office.
How the metro prices out
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