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Hi, I'm Kenny Nakai.

 

As a Chicago wedding photographer, I’m lucky enough to document some of the city's most beautiful love stories.

 

I hope you find inspiration here and connect with the feelings I had when I created each photo.

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CHICAGO WEDDING VENUE

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Wedding Photographer's Tips & Guide

Real tips on the iconic staircase, the seasonal floral installations, the private terrace suite, and the meeting room with natural light that most couples never ask about, from a Four Seasons Chicago wedding photographer who has spent years inside this Michigan Avenue landmark.

Just steps off the Magnificent Mile, in the heart of Chicago's shopping district, sits The Four Seasons Chicago. The moment you step off the elevator, you're welcomed by an impressive floral installation that guide you into the lobby, with a beautiful staircase at the far end leading up to the ballroom landing. For couples getting married here, that staircase is the path to your reception. For me as a photographer, it's one of the most iconic interior architectural features in the entire city.

 

The lobby decor is welcoming, relaxing, and unmistakably luxurious. There are so many photographic spaces inside, and the grandest of all is that staircase. It's such a statement piece you genuinely have to photograph there. What surprises most couples is how the hotel feels. It's large and spacious, but it doesn't feel that way. The space just keeps opening up as you explore, revealing new corners and new compositions the longer you stay.

The Four Seasons also has something most hotels in this category don't: a suite with a private terrace, offering rooftop access for getting ready photos, a first look, or just a quiet moment with the John Hancock Building right there beside you. It's one of the few Chicago venues that gives you so many distinct, on-property photographic spaces in a single location.

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago wedding ceremony dip kiss down aisle

What Most Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Wedding Guides Won't Tell You

The Suite with a Private Terrace

This is the venue's quietest superpower, and not many couples even know to ask about it. There's a getting-ready suite with a private terrace overlooking Chicago, with the John Hancock Building right there beside you. You get roughly 50 feet of outdoor walking space — fully private, no pedestrians, no shared rooftop crowds. It looks bigger than what you typically see in most wedding photos taken there.

 

The suite is an additional cost and completely optional. But for the right couple, it adds an extra dedicated photo location that nothing else in the city quite matches.

rooftop four seasons chicago hotel wedding

The Seasonal Floral Installations

The decor right when you step off the elevator changes seasonally — just like the hotel's name implies. It's a real wow factor the moment those doors open. The symmetry and the scale of the floral pieces command your attention. It's almost like walking through large stone columns in an ancient city — except here, you're walking through modern luxury columns of beautiful floral design.

FIVE-STAR · OFF Michigan AvenuePlanning a Four Seasons
Chicago wedding?I know the staircase, the seasonal florals,
and the Lakeview Room most
photographers never ask about. Let's talk.LET'S START A CONVERSATION

QUICK FACTS

Style: Modern Luxury

Service: Five-Star

Signature: Iconic Staircase

Capacity: 560 Seated

Location: 120 E Deleware Pl

Investment: $$$$

What Couples Say

"Kenny perfectly captured the day — every detail and every moment. Months later, I am still getting frequent compliments on our photos, and countless people have told us they are the most beautiful wedding photos they've ever seen."

— MADDIE & JOHN

bride groom in lobby Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Wedding photo

— Photographer's Note

It also makes for one of the best wedding photo backdrops in the building. Iconic, recognizable, and slightly different every single time of year I photograph there . Which means your wedding photos will feel rooted in your specific season rather than generic to the venue itself.

The Lakeview Room — Natural Light Most Couples Miss

There's a meeting room called the Lakeview Room with beautiful window light overlooking the Magnificent Mile, with views all the way out to Lake Michigan if the weather cooperates. If it's available on your wedding day, you can take photos there and the natural light gives you a completely different vibe than the rest of the venue.

Why I love photographing weddings at The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

A Ballroom Built for Transformation

The ballroom at The Four Seasons is one of the most flexible event spaces in the city. The ceiling height is accessible enough for large installations: hanging florals, draped fabric, custom lighting — and the room itself is large enough to accommodate completely different layouts depending on the vision. The best floral and decor companies in Chicago do their most ambitious work here, which means every Four Seasons wedding I photograph genuinely feels like a different room.

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago wedding ceremony decor photo
ceremony four seasons chicago hotel wedding in ballroom

— Photographer's Note

I love how transformative the ballroom is. The ceiling is accessible for hanging large floral installations and lighting, the layout can flex completely depending on the vision, and Chicago's best floral and event designers have used this room in ways I'd never seen before. No two Four Seasons weddings are ever alike and that's exactly what makes it such an interesting venue to photograph year after year.

Natural Light in the Suites

The getting-ready suites have unobstructed natural light. No buildings blocking the windows, just clean views of the city and Lake Michigan. The suites are large and spacious, which means the morning portraits and getting-ready images have room to breathe and they're lit beautifully without needing a single flash.

 

The suite with the private terrace is one of their larger suites, but even without the terrace, every room at the Four Seasons photographs well in natural light.

bridesmaids four seasons chicago hotel wedding

The Location

You can't overstate how well-placed the Four Seasons is. Michigan Avenue is right outside. Fourth Presbyterian Church and its courtyard are just steps away. It is one of the best quiet, naturally green spots in this part of the city. The John Hancock Building is across the Mag Mile. And at night, you can take just a few steps and capture some beautiful Chicago night photography on Michigan Avenue itself.

fourth pres chicago wedding photo bride and groom

Best Photo Locations at The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

The Iconic Staircase

The staircase is the signature feature of The Four Seasons. Perfectly symmetrical, dramatically scaled, and incredibly photogenic. Wedding party photos on the stairs. A first look on the staircase. Portraits shot from the top looking down. Creative angles from the base looking up. It's one of those places where you can capture beautiful timeless pictures with very little time, and even more memorable creative compositions if you have extra time to play.

staircase Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Wedding

The Main Lobby

The lobby has gorgeous interior decor: from the lighting to the furniture, every element is curated. I always try to make time for an editorial-style wedding party photo here. The fashion-forward energy of the space matches the vibe of the hotel itself, and it gives your gallery a magazine quality that contrasts beautifully with everything else.

bridal party lobby Four Seasons hotel Chicgao wedding photo

The Seasonal Floral Pieces

You really can't help yourself. Every time I'm photographing a wedding here, the iconic seasonal floral installations make their way into the gallery. They add a wow factor to your wedding photos without anyone having to try.

lobby four seasons chicago hotel wedding bride and groom

Lighting, Timing & Logistics Tips from a Photographer

Photograph the Staircase Early

You definitely want to take photos on the staircase at the beginning of your portrait time. This is the main staircase your guests will use to walk up to the ballroom. So you want to be done with that area before guests arrive if you're having a ceremony in the ballroom. It's important to build that into your timeline. If you're coming back from an off-site ceremony, you can also use the staircase right before the reception since your guests have already seen you.

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Wedding photo bride and groom on staircase

Ask About the Lakeview Room

This is the tip almost no one knows. The Lakeview Room is the only natural-light space outside of the getting-ready suites. It offers a completely different look than the lobby. It's adjacent to the main lobby and easy to access. But you have to know it exists, and you have to ask if it's available. I always do, on every Four Seasons wedding I photograph.

getting ready four seasons chicago hotel wedding

Take Night Photos on Michigan Avenue

If you're open to it, taking 10–20 minutes during your reception to step out for night photography on Michigan Avenue produces some of the most memorable images of the entire day. The city lights, the energy of the Mag Mile after dark, the reflections — you simply can't get those photos any other way. You're right on Michigan Avenue. Take advantage of it.

night shots Four Seasons Hotel Chicago wedding photo on Michigan avenue

Real Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Weddings

Every wedding here is genuinely different — different florals, different layouts, different couples, different visions. Here are a few I've had the privilege to photograph. Each tile links to the full wedding story on the blog.

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Wedding photo bride and groom dip in lobbyA White & Black AffairFOUR SEASONS - FEATURED WEDDING
four seasons chicago hotel wedding jewish ceremony in ballroomStop & Smell The RosesFOUR SEASONS - FEATURED WEDDING
View MoreMOST RECENT FEATURED WEDDINGS

Who This Venue is Perfect For

The Four Seasons Chicago is an incredible fit for couples who want a luxury wedding experience that feels elevated without feeling overly formal. The service is polished and intentional, the spaces photograph beautifully year-round, and the venue gives you flexibility that many luxury hotels simply don't.

Couples Who Want a Fully Custom Reception Design

The ballroom at The Four Seasons transforms exceptionally well. Hanging floral installations, layered lighting, draping, custom layouts...the room can become almost anything depending on the vision. If you're working with a strong floral or event design team and want your reception to feel completely personalized, this venue gives you that freedom.

Couples Prioritizing Guest Experience

The Four Seasons is known for five-star hospitality, and your guests genuinely feel it throughout the day. From the moment they arrive, the experience feels smooth, welcoming, and luxurious without ever becoming overwhelming.

Couples Wanting Beautiful Indoor Photo Locations

Chicago weather can be unpredictable, especially for spring, fall, and winter weddings. One of the biggest advantages of The Four Seasons is how many strong indoor photo locations exist without ever needing to leave the property. From the staircase and floral installations to the suites, ballroom spaces, and private terrace suite.

Couples Who Love Modern Luxury More Than Historic Architecture

Some Chicago venues lean heavily historic or traditional. The Four Seasons feels different. The aesthetic is modern, clean, polished, and fashion-forward while still feeling timeless in photographs. If that balance speaks to you, this venue fits beautifully.

Tips for Couples Getting Married at The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

reception four seasons chicago hotel wedding with band

Consider Booking the Suite with the Private Terrace

It's an additional cost, but it adds an entire on-site photo location that not every Four Seasons wedding gets. Given how much thought goes into every other detail of a Four Seasons wedding, the photo opportunity it unlocks is worth considering.

first look four seasons chicago hotel wedding

Add Professional Lighting

Because the ballroom transforms so dramatically with decor, professional lighting from your floral and event design company adds another full dimension to the reception. Most receptions at the Four Seasons do include professional lighting and it's worth factoring into your early planning. The difference between a beautiful ballroom and an absolutely stunning ballroom in photographs is almost always the lighting.

 

decor Four Seasons Hotel Chicago wedding reception photo white orchids

Dream Big

The Four Seasons can do a lot. Different food experiences, ambitious floral design, layered lighting and decor, completely custom layouts. All of it backed by the five-star service the hotel is known for. The staff is more than willing, and genuinely happy, to help bring your dreams to life. If you're considering this venue, let yourself dream bigger than you might at a more rigid space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The getting-ready suites offer excellent natural light with unobstructed city views. There is also a lesser-known Lakeview Room that can sometimes be used for portraits if available.

Some suites at The Four Seasons include access to a private outdoor terrace overlooking Chicago and the John Hancock Building, creating one of the most unique on-site wedding photo locations in the city.

The best time is usually before guests begin entering the ballroom, since the staircase becomes one of the primary guest pathways during reception arrival.

Very well. One of the venue's biggest strengths is the number of elegant indoor photo locations available throughout the property, making it an excellent option during Chicago winters.

The Four Seasons Chicago is located at 120 E Delaware Place, just off Michigan Avenue near the Magnificent Mile and the John Hancock Building.

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Wedding Information

Quick Reference

ADDRESS

120 E Delaware Place, Chicago, IL

SERVICE

Five-Star Concierge-level

STYLE

Modern Luxury

LOCATION

Off Michigan Avenue · Magnificent Mile

Phone

SIGNATURE

Iconic Staircase & Seasonal Florals

INVESTMENT

$$$$

CAPACITY

560 Seated

Planning a Wedding at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago?

If you're planning a wedding at The Four Seasons Chicago and want photos that match the level of the experience itself — natural, elevated, and unmistakably yours — I'd love to connect and hear what you're envisioning.

 

I know the staircase, the seasonal florals, the private terrace, the Lakeview Room most photographers never ask about, and the timing tricks that make Four Seasons weddings flow smoothly without ever feeling rushed. That knowledge translates directly into a calmer day and a stronger final gallery.

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I'm Kenny Nakai, a Chicago wedding photographer creating beautiful, timeless imagery since 2007. For couples who value artistry, authenticity, and the moments that last forever.

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