Floating World Gallery

We cannot say enough great things about Floating World Gallery.
Allen, the events manager is wonderful to work with and really understand his space, he know how many guests are too many, where things look best, how not to decorate the space etc, and is so full of advice and guidance on the big day.
Allen was responsive throughout the entire process, suggested great vendors for the day, and was a big part of the day, and made sure the bride got down the aisle.
The price for FWG is very fair compared to other venues of similar size/​capacity out there.
You are not restricted to a list of caterers, you can bring your own.
You can bring in your own alcohol, big plus, when on a budget.
The team is flexible about getting in and out of the space before the wedding (within reason)
There is a separate room for dancing/​cocktails, major plus if you have a lot of older people that loud music be an issue for.
We had our ceremony and reception there and the team at Millennium Decorations helped execute all of the changes needed to convert the room to a ceremony spot room
You won’t be sorry if you have your wedding at FWG Gallery, it was the perfect location for our big day.

We had our wedding at FWG this past weekend and it was unbelievable. When we found the place we were immediately smitten with the beautiful exposed bricks, the elegance and simplicity of the gallery, and the classy fun environment of the glass brick room (plus the hanging lanterns!).
We loved it from the start, but it was ten times better once we had it decked out for our event. They let us hang our own decorations the day before, which worked out well because we had 1,000 paper cranes and it took a while. Allen (more about him later!) recommended Milennium Decorations for lighting and they were amazing to work with as well, the lighting was fun and the whole process was easy peasy. The glass brick room was perfect for dancing, and it was really nice to have a separate room for our guests that wanted to sit and talk without shouting over music. The event space is just magnificent, and conveniently located too!
Ok, now to say a few words about Allen, who was an absolute delight to work with. He’s down to earth and real, and he provided us some great suggestions and recommendations for style as well as vendors. We didn’t want a lavish and expensive affair and I felt like Allen really understood and supported our vision, not just because it’s his job to but also because he was on the same page. He was easy to get in contact with and was so accommodating in terms of making sure that we had everything we needed, that we had access to the venue whenever we wanted to brainstorm some ideas, and as previously mentioned he let us set up early/​tear down late because there were no other events scheduled that weekend. Plus he was a little quippy and sassy, which I always appreciate in a person. Absolutely a great guy, and a big selling point to this overall awesome venue.
I should also mention that we had some interactions with the owner as well, who seemed pretty laid back and really sweet. They definitely took care of us at Floating World.
If I ever throw another large-​scale event, I would totally use FWG again, no questions. I can’t sing their praises highly enough!

This is one of those reviews that I post hesitantly because I feel like this might be a little bit of a hidden gem and I want to make sure we can get in there easily for our next event… but I can’t hold in in. Floating World Gallery and staff are amazing.
The small non-​profit on whose board I sit held our annual silent auction/​cocktail party at Floating World and it was far and away the best event we have ever done… thanks in large part to the setting. The space captures the intersection of elegant and minimal with the loft aesthetic that Chicago does so well in so many of its buildings and it was the perfect mix to elevate our event to something that felt very chic and sophisticated… which translated for us into a very successful fundraising venture.
The staff at FWG was a joy. Allen is the man: a great mix of professional, laid back, and willing to help out in whatever way possible. It was truly a joy to work with him on securing the space, talking through possibilities for our event, and making it happen. Ross and Emily, the event coordinators there during the event, were incredibly helpful and seemed to take a real interest in helping us make our event the best it could be: Ross was up on ladders adjusting track lighting to feature our silent auction items just so while Emily really helped us figure out what lighting could work best to capture the right ambiance for the party. I felt very supported throughout the evening.
I was also very pleased and impressed with some of the «process» related factors: like the fact that the Wi-​Fi was lightening fast and reliable (a surprisingly hard thing to find in venues), Allen gave us earlier access than we expected so we had more time to set-​up our event, and the accessibility of the gallery for patrons. An easy quick walk from the parking structure next door.
I already told Allen to look out for us next year… give them a try… you won’t be disappointed.

My daughter chose FWG for her September wedding and it was a brilliant choice. The space is beautiful and decorating it was so much fun! We had a village of friends to help us with flowers, photos and lighting and Allen was completely open to what we wanted to do and was with us every step of the way.
Allen was warm and welcoming from the start and always made us feel like we were his only clients, which of course we know isn’t true. He’s very busy but it never showed. He answered emails almost immediately and met with us several times on our timetable.
The location is convenient with parking next door and the actual space is perfect for a ceremony and reception.
We were also allowed to bring in our own beer and wine which many venues won’t allow. I kind of want to do it all again, wish I had another daughter!

Allen is such a delight to work with, after our wedding we already told him we wanted our anniversary party at FWG in 10 years! His calm, positive energy shined through after the first meeting we had. Welcoming and warm, we fell in love with the space. Its intimate and elegant, just what we were looking for and having the ability to decorate the space however you want really allowed us to add some beautiful touches to make our day special. You can not go wrong in this space.

If I could give 10 stars, I would: 5 stars for the venue, and 5 stars for Allen himself. FWG is exactly what we were looking for for our August 2015 wedding.
The venue: We wanted to get away from the banquet hall and into something with a lot more character. The brick, wood, and exposed ceilings were perfect for our look, and we were able to hang our own artwork on the walls for the event, but we did not need to do much to enhance the space: it is beautiful on its own. Our guests loved the cooler vibe, and we were able to utilize the two rooms for both the ceremony and the reception; the flow in between was seamless. The Lincoln Park location is great for Chicagoans like ourselves, and it was easy to get to for our in and out of town guests. A plus — there is parking right next door. You could say all of our boxes were checked.
Allen: To be honest, Allen was one of the main reasons we chose the space. From the moment we met, we got the feeling he was going to be someone we could trust with questions, opinions, and true honesty, and he was. I never had any doubts about how FWG was managed, and Allen was there for us every step of the way. We had true confidence in his knowledge and opinions, and couldn’t have asked for a better person to work with.
If you’re looking for a cool space in Chicago for any event, I urge you to check out FWG. I promise you’ll be glad you did.
To Allen and everyone else at FWG: Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You guys are amazing!

Allen Nichols is absolutely phenomenal to work with. He is responsive, creative, helpful, and well-​informed about local vendors.
We had our wedding at FWG, and it was beautiful. Our guests could not stop raving about how classy, elegant, and Chicago-​chic the venue was. We were also able to secure parking spots in the parking garage next door – which itself is a hidden gem. We would definitely choose Floating World twice over. It’s the perfect space for a small-​medium sized wedding.

We got married at the FWG last weekend, and it was amazing! The venue is such a cool/​unique space, and looked absolutely beautiful for our wedding. Allen was super responsive throughout the planning process, and answered all of our questions in a very timely manner. We could come by the venue any time during the planning process, and Allen was there too, to help if we needed him. Our wedding was about 120 guests, and the space seemed the perfect size.
Allen and the space itself are highly recommended!

My daughter got married at FWG in March. We looked around quite a bit and settled on FWG due to location, space, and flexibility. We took advantage of both rooms– the «glass block» room was set up for the ceremony of 100+, later reset as a lounge area and buffet. The larger room up front was used as the dance floor/​DJ/​seating/​bar— we did the wedding party more of a cocktail style venue– worked great getting people to dance, mix, float from room to room.
We received outstanding help from Allen from beginning to end. He was really easy to work with, patient, and provided many helpful suggestions to plan the space/​event. He let us set up day before and even mounted photos of the bride and groom on the wall in the gallery. We mounted a projector to the ceiling for a slide show that worked out well; would be better if FWG had that available as a plug in option vs bring your own.
We catered with Fig Catering (A+, separate review), used Binny’s for alcohol (free delivery and buy back of unused alcohol), and Millennium for lighting. Guests stayed at Hotel Lincoln– was OK, but not walking distance.
The only negative was lack of parking (or more DIY in the neighborhood– but believe a parking garage next door should be operational now– bonus.
FWG is highly recommended!
– Steve from Chicago

Our wedding at Floating World Gallery in October of 2014 was amazing. We had both the wedding and reception there, with about 100 people. From the beginning, Allen was a pleasure to work with, and was able to recommend all kinds of vendors to fit our budget and needs. Phone calls and emails were replied to promptly, which is important to me. We were able to get in the day before to set up, and the day of the wedding went smoothly. Everyone loved the look and feel of the space; very urban and loft-​y. If you are looking for something besides the normal ballroom or church, I would recommend checking this place out. Thank you to Allen and all the staff at FWG. We couldn’t have asked for a better night!

This was a beyond phenomenal event space for our wedding. My partner and I were blown away from the beginning with the simple elegance of the Floating World Gallery, and our wedding was no less amazing.
Allen told us that the space would be «hot» and he was absolutely right that the place would look fantastic. It was better than either my partner or I could have imagined.
Allen was an absolute dream from the beginning, guiding us through the process and introducing us to some of our favorite vendors. He made getting married a simple, easy, fun and rewarding process — was quick to respond to our e-​mails, was inviting when we needed to see the space and worked with us to make everything as stress-​free as possible.
I cannot thank FWG enough for making everything so easy. Allen was wonderfully supportive the night of and Karen, whom he had us working with, was a delight.
Thank you for making this such a wonderful night.

We couldn’t have asked for a better place to have our wedding. Allen Nichols and his staff helped us with anything that we needed and made it super easy. The gallery’s simple and elegant decorations matched us perfectly.
We hosted 80 people for the wedding ceremony and a reception with dinner in the front and dancing in the back. A cocktail hour in between to allow for DJ and caterer to flip the room. Allen welcomed and was able to give directions to a first time caterer of the gallery so everything went smoothly.
Great Venue within our budget provided for a perfect wedding for us.

We booked Floating World Gallery for our August 1, 2014 wedding. Allen Nichols was down-​to-​earth and a little quirky but more importantly, looked out for us as his customers, telling us what he thought about our setup based on his experiences and guided us in some directions that saved us money with vendors. The venue is beautiful and is a versatile space. And of all of the vendors, we probably stopped by, emailed, called and talked to Allen more than any other vendor and every time, he greeted us with a smile and helped us with everything we needed. He was very accommodating with early deliveries (dependent, of course, on what else is booked near your event) and if you are looking, consider this space!

My husband and I just had our wedding reception at Floating World Gallery last weekend. It was the most beautiful and elegant evening I could have imagined. The front gallery worked perfectly for our cocktail reception as guests enjoyed cocktails and food catered by Wolfgang Puck while a French singer and accordion player performed towards the center of the gallery space. The back glass brick room was the ideal space for the DJ to set up with a dance floor and lounge area. Allen Nichols was a delight to work with as we planned our reception from afar as we had just moved out of state. He is knowledgeable, experienced, beyond friendly and has many wonderful suggestions and contacts to help make any event a success. From the location, to the interior design and layout, Floating World Gallery was the perfect venue for us and our 100 guests. We were even able to hang our wedding photos from Paris on display for our family and friends to view during the reception. Oh, and I have to mention that Allen was always quick to reply to calls and emails and was incredibly helpful with coordinating deliveries prior to the event as well as scheduling times to pick things up after the reception. Thank you Allen!

We just had our wedding here a week ago and couldn’t be happier with the venue and staff. Allen was an absolute pleasure to work with through out the process. He was extremely accommodating and responsive — every time we had a question or concern, he would literally provide us with a response within minutes. He also made himself available whenever we or our family wanted to stop by to check out the venue. Not to mention the great advices he gave us on how to stay on budget! All our guests were impressed by how unique and beautiful our venue was and we got a ton of compliments during and after the wedding. We would recommend Floating World Gallery to anyone that’s looking to host a wedding or just about any event!

This review is a year overdue. A complete departure from the usual banquet hall, the Floating World Gallery was our first stop while searching for a venue. Initially, my husband did not understand my intimate art gallery wedding vision but once he saw the space he was sold. No other galleries compared. Located in Lincoln Park, FWG is close to Downtown. Mr. Allen Nichols (Event Manager Extraordinaire) was a dream to work with and a respite from the stress of dealing with my other vendors. Allen was attentive, insightful, thoughtful, professional, flexible and accomodating. Allen is a true asset to the FWG staff. My ideas were my own and they (mostly) came to fruition on my wedding day. One year later, my guests are STILL raving about the venue and how beautiful it was. Above all, my husband has memories he won’t soon forget:
Me walking down the aisle past the art
Canvas photos of us during our courtship on display
He and his groomsmen on the patio smoking cigars
Cocktail hour in the glass brick room
Violinist playing during pre-​ceremony
1^st dance with my husband (with a broken foot)
Of all the vendors, my venue was the best! I highly recommend the Floating World Gallery for your next celebration. Allen, you are find!!!

Where to begin? Allen is magnificent; his wealth of knowledge regarding event planning and weddings came into play multiple times over the course of our year of planning. He encouraged us to visit the space as much as we wanted running up to the big day, provided us with tips and ideas, and connected us with two of the vendors we used. The Floating World also allows wedding party’s access to the space the Friday before a Saturday wedding for set up, it’s the perfect place for a DIY wedding. You really get the opportunity to make the space your own. Allen even switched out some of the gallery artwork with photos from my sister and brother-​in-​law (both photographers) to personalize the event even more. We had our wedding on 10.12.13, with the ceremony in the back room, reception in the front, and returned to the back for dancing. Can’t say enough about this excellent space and awesome staff led by Allen!

I had my wedding here on October 5^th, 2013, and I could not have asked for a more beautiful space. Everyone at the gallery is incredible to work with and extremely accommodating. I wish I could have more weddings just so I could use this gallery again!

A BIG thank you to Allen Nichols and his staff for providing the PERFECT venue for our daughter Katharyn’s wedding reception on 6÷29÷13. Not knowing what to expect, we were EXTREMELY impressed with the location and unique building — it was perfect for our 100 guests.
The front room was set up for mingling & food, which was catered by J&L Caterers, and allowed the families to get to know everyone better. The back room was where the DJ was set up for dancing and the bar for cocktails. It was spacious and easy to drift between front & back rooms.
Both staffs worked well together to make it effortless for all of us. Our out of town guests — mostly from California — were impressed, especially since a few of them were artists themselves.
The PERFECT way to end the PEFERCT day!

Whether you want to go to a unique and wonderful art gallery or use this space for an event, it’s wonderful.
Our wedding was here this summer, and it could not have been more perfect. Allen came in halfway through the planning process and just shined. Everything worked out perfectly, and even the day after when we needed to pick things up, Allen went above and beyond.
The space is perfect for a 100 person wedding reception or event, the exposed brick is lovely paired up with the artwork on the walls. The area is great (it’s the heart of Lincoln Park) so the red and brown line are near by and cabs are always there… just not much parking, but where is there in Lincoln Park?
I hope that I need to throw another event in the future just so that I can work with Allen again and have an event in this beautiful space!