The Morton Arboretum - Thornhill Arbor Room & Founder's Room
Lisle, IL
| Venue type | Garden & Conservatory |
| Location | Lisle, IL |
| Published price | $3,000 to $4,000 |
| Capacity | Up to 130 guests |
| Setting | Indoor |
| Event type | Ceremony and reception possible |
What the venue publishes
Thornhill Education Center Arbor Room and Founder's Room rental: Saturday daytime $3,000; Sunday daytime $3,000; Sunday evening $3,000; Friday evening $4,000 (Saturday evening is $6,000, over budget). A discounted 'Thornhill Package' winter wedding rate of $3,000 room rental plus catering is also offered January through April.
The source publishes a range of $3,000 to $4,000, so which end applies depends on the options the source lists.
Included per the venue's site
- Founder's Room ceremony space (seats up to 100 for ceremony or 130 for pre-dinner reception)
- Arbor Room reception space
Catering is priced separately (entrees $98-$120/guest plus a 23% administrative charge and tax) and is not included in the room rental fee shown here.
Published on mortonarb.org, checked August 2026. Fee schedules change, so confirm before booking.
Where this price sits in Chicago
$3,000 is the 17th lowest published starting price of the 18 venues listed in the Chicago metro. The metro median starting price is $510, and 1 of the 18 listings publish a higher starting price than this one.
Among the 5 garden & conservatory listings in the metro it ranks 5th lowest, against a median of $800 for that type.
What the capacity costs per guest
The source publishes a capacity of 130 guests. At $3,000, filling the space works out to $23 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 Lisle
These listings in Lisle publish a starting price below $3,000.
| Venue | Published price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| The Morton Arboretum - Sycamore RoomLisle, IL · Garden & Conservatory | $1,000 to $3,000 | 60 guests |
| The Morton Arboretum - Fragrance GardenLisle, IL · Garden & Conservatory | $600 | 50 guests |
Other garden & conservatory listings in Chicago
Same venue type, prices closest to this one.
| Venue | Published price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Wilder Park Formal GardenElmhurst, IL · Garden & Conservatory | From $800 | 130 guests |
| Fabyan Japanese GardenGeneva, IL · Garden & Conservatory | $200 to $250 | not published |
Marriage license in DuPage County, IL
The venue fee above does not include the license. Lisle sits in DuPage County, IL, and these are the terms that county publishes. Checked September 2026.
| Issuing office | DuPage County Clerk's Office421 N County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 |
| License fee | $35the license fee of $35.00. We accept cash or check payment. Credit/debit card payments are accepted with a 3.5% transaction fee. |
| Waiting period | 1 day |
| License valid for | 60 days |
| Who must appear | Both parties, in person |
| ID required | A valid government issued identification with proof of age: a valid U.S. driver license, U.S. state ID card, U.S. passport or U.S. military ID. Applicants without one of those must present two alternative documents such as a certified birth certificate. |
| Appointment | Not required |
| Apply online | Application available online |
| Same-day issue | Issued the same visit |
| Ceremony at the office | OfferedCourthouse weddings must be scheduled through the online Wedding Ceremony Registration before the license is issued, because the Clerk requires a confirmed ceremony date in order to issue the license. No ceremony fee is published on the Clerk page. Ceremony questions go to 630-407-8232. |
| Witnesses | None required by statute |
Source: dupagecounty.gov, ilga.gov
The online marriage application must be completed before the couple comes to the office. Marriage licenses are issued Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. only, and no appointment is necessary. Licenses become effective the day after they are issued and the Clerk states plainly that it cannot waive the one day waiting period. A license issued in DuPage County cannot be used in any other county, state or country, so couples must confirm the venue address falls inside DuPage. The physical license is handed over at the counter, but it does not become effective until the next day.
How the metro prices out
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Other spaces at The Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum rents 3 spaces for weddings and each is priced separately, so booking this one does not get you the others. Compare all 3 side by side.