Chicago Wedding Photo Booth Guide: Pick by Venue Style
Most couples pick a photo booth by scrolling through pictures and choosing the one that looks fun. That works, but there's a better place to start: your venue. A booth that looks great in a brick loft can feel out of place in a gilded ballroom, and the wrong setup on a terrace can leave guests squinting into the sun.
Here's how to match the booth to the room for a Chicago wedding.
Start with the room, not the booth
Before you compare booths, answer three questions about your venue:
- How much floor space is left after the dance floor and tables? A 360 platform needs a clear circle around it. A Digital Booth fits in a corner.
- What does the background look like? Exposed brick, marble, city windows and plain hotel walls all photograph differently. Some rooms are the backdrop. Others need one.
- What's the mood? A black-tie dinner and a late-night party in the same building call for different photos.
Your venue coordinator can tell you where vendors usually set up. Ask before you book anything.
Match the booth to your venue
Lofts and warehouses
Industrial spaces already have character, so let the room do some of the work. Salvage One on Hubbard Street is a good example: it's a salvage shop and event space filled with old doors, lighting and architectural pieces, with indoor and courtyard spaces for ceremonies.
In a room like that, the Printer Booth is a strong pick. Guests get a print with your names and date, and the vintage setting shows up behind them. If you want the night to feel a little looser, a 360 Booth on the open floor gives the dance crowd something to gather around.
Hotel ballrooms
Ballrooms are big, formal and often a bit plain in the corners. The Gold Coast Room at The Drake Hotel is The Drake's largest ballroom, with views over Lake Michigan and room for hundreds of guests.
This is where the Glam Booth shines. Soft beauty light and black-and-white portraits suit a classic room, and nobody looks goofy. Add the shimmery sequin backdrop ($100) so the booth looks finished against a hotel wall.
Museums
Museum weddings mix a formal dinner with a sense of wonder. The Adler Planetarium hosts weddings for 50 to 1,200 guests, with skyline views from the lakefront.
Two booths fit this crowd. The Glam Booth keeps things elegant. The AI Booth leans into the setting: guests snap a photo and get back a version of themselves in a theme you choose, which feels right at home next to the stars.
Rooftops and skyline rooms
Chicago couples love a view. At LondonHouse Chicago, the Juliette Grand Ballroom has floor-to-ceiling windows over the river, and the smaller Étoile room has a private terrace looking out at the skyline.
When the view is the star, keep the booth simple. The Digital Booth has a small footprint and sends photos straight to phones, so there are no prints to blow around if you set up near a terrace door. Ask your venue where outdoor setups are allowed and plan an indoor spot in case the weather turns.
What a Chicago wedding booth costs
Every EMCO Booth package includes props and a personalized design with your names, date and colors. Prices for a 4-hour rental, which covers most receptions:
- Digital Booth: $348
- 360 Booth: $349
- Printer Booth: $398
- Glam Booth: $479
- AI Booth: $499
Popular wedding extras:
- Scrapbook where guests paste a print and sign a note: $240
- Audio Guest Book added to any booth: $299 (or $399 on its own for the whole day)
- Attendant to run the booth: $50 an hour
- Flower wall backdrop: $530
A sample ballroom setup: Glam Booth for 4 hours ($479), shimmery backdrop ($100), scrapbook ($240) and delivery and setup ($75) comes to $894 before tax. Pickup from our location is free if you'd rather grab it yourself.
Timing tips for the day
- Open the booth right after dinner. That's when guests are settled and ready for something to do.
- Put it near the bar or the dance floor, not in a hallway. Out of sight means out of mind.
- If you're at a venue with a strict load-in window, choose delivery so setup happens on the venue's schedule.
- Hire an attendant for big weddings. They keep the line moving and help grandparents with the screen.
Questions people ask
Which photo booth is best for a Chicago wedding?
It depends on your venue. The Glam Booth suits ballrooms and formal rooms, the Printer Booth fits lofts and vintage spaces, and the Digital Booth works well where space is tight or the view is the main event.
How much space does a wedding photo booth need?
A Digital Booth fits in a corner. A 360 Booth needs a clear circle around the platform so it can spin safely. Ask your coordinator for a spot before you book.
Can we add a guest book to the photo booth?
Yes. The scrapbook ($240) lets guests paste a print and write a note, and the Audio Guest Book is $299 when added to any booth.
Do you deliver to downtown Chicago venues?
We serve the Chicago metro area. Delivery and setup is $75, and the booking builder confirms the details for your venue.
Planning a different kind of event in the city? See our Chicago photo booth rental page, or build your package to see your exact price.
Planning in Chicago? See all our photo booth rentals in Chicago.
