The Standard — Attraction in Rockford Township

I don't even know where to begin with The Standard. I love this venue in so many ways.

To start, the venue itself is absolutely stunning. When my fiance and I went on our initial tour, I knew we'd found the place. Now given that it was the first place we looked at, my fiance insisted we give a few other places a chance, so I did. I looked into at least 7 other venues but ultimately, none of the compared. The style was perfect for me/what I wanted for my day. Modern, glamorous, and a bit industrial. And the fact that there's a rooftop adds a whole other level (pun intended) of beauty and uniqueness. I also loved that the ceremony and reception can be in the same place AND the bridal party can get ready at the venue with hair and make up just downstairs (if you choose to use Arch Apothecary's services). So convenient and eases the stress (and cost) of travel expenses (i.e. to salons or to and from hotel).

The staff at The Standard were all so knowledgable and friendly, making it so easy to work with and plan your perfect day. I was originally in contact with Sara then switched to Johnna due to some staffing changes. The Standard gave me ample notice of the change and ensured me Sara filled Johnna in on all my details and that she did! In typical type A, bride fashion I was nervous but the transition was seamless! Both Sara and Johnna are a joy to work with! I recommend opting in for the day-off coordinator option because Johnna made sure all the details I wanted went off without a hitch! Praises to her because for a guest count of over 240 people, there's a lot to organize.

The Standard has a partnership with Abreo for all catering needs. At first you might be a little bummed that you don't have more of a variety to choose from but trust me, you WILL NOT regret it. Paul and his staff at Abreo were great communicators and really worked with my fiance and I to check all possible options to ensure our apps, drinks, and dinner menu were everything we wanted but yet as affordable as possible. Even if you don't live in Rockford, be sure to attend your tasting!! It was one of my favorite parts of the wedding process! Paul explained each dish to my fiance and I (as well as my in-laws) and made sure we did not walk away hungry. I had so many people compliment us on our wedding food which to me, is a big deal! My fiance and I are big foodies. One guest even said it was the best wedding food she's ever had and another said it was the best steak (beef tenderloin) she's ever had, period. I'm drooling just thinking about it.

Overall, I would definitely recommend The Standard to a future bride and groom. They also do other events which I'm sure would be a blast as well! -Written by Kelsey,...

I really had no idea what type of venue I was looking for when I first got engaged over two years ago. I saw pictures from The Standard from a mutual friend who got married here and really loved the way they turned out. So my now-husband and I took a tour and it was truly love at first sight. We put the down deposit the next week.

The venue itself is truly an embodiment of Rockford, IL. all while maintaining its own identity. Its classy and elegant, while having this cool industrial feel that felt perfect for our wedding. There's huge chandeliers/mirrors and the conservatory is absolutely breathtaking. Not only that, its fully ADA accessible, which was extremely important for us to have since we had friends and family who are using walkers, canes, etc. to get around.

I also had paid for the Tier 3 planning services to help with the big day, and I cannot state how worth it was to have that. Sara Moore is an absolute gem of a person. She is not only extremely professional, but she gets sh*t done. She's extremely attentive, kind and all around the best coordinator I could have asked for. In the two years she helped me plan, any time I had a question, she would answer. If I had a worry, she would dispel all of my fears expeditiously. Everyone who met her fell in love and understood why I had 0 levels of stress on my big day. She handled everything with grace and kindness, and I could write an entire review dedicated to her.

On top of that, The Standard's Bar Manager, Tim Woolsey, was also incredible. He is such a stand up guy! Funny, kind, attentive, and was always willing to work with us as we couldn't decide on a drink until the last minute. He responds extremely fast and he made everything on the bar side of things very easy to deal with and understand. He really took his time with you, and it was so appreciated.

They also have a full kitchen in the venue, which was perfect for caterers, and all of my guests had fresh, hot food, which was perfect.

All this to say, this venue was absolutely perfect from start to finish. I have absolutely nothing bad to say as my experience was so effortless, I wish I could get married all over again. Thank you to Sara, Tim, and everyone who helped us at the Standard. I highly recommend anyone who is looking for the city feel (without the city prices) to check this place out! Its a gorgeous venue with great people working to make your event perfect....

As soon as my husband and I walked into The Standard (after seeing many other venues in Chicago and surrounding areas) we knew it was the one. Even after changing our date during the Covid pandemic, I knew I wanted to wait it out so that we could have our wedding there.

To start the day, the girls got ready in the bridal suite, also using Arch Apothecary for hair and makeup which is conveniently located attached to the venue. All they had to do was walk across the hall to the Arch salon (which is also beautiful inside) when it was their turn. This was a big hit with the bridesmaids. The guys also enjoyed the "man cave" for lunch prior to the ceremony.

We had our cocktail hour on the rooftop, went down to the main banquet hall for dinner/speeches and first dances, then back up to the rooftop for dessert/party/dancing. This was probably the highlight of the venue for me (although we loved it all!!). To be able to dance outside on the rooftop under the string lights, while still having seating, the bar, and dessert/coffee available in the enclosed atrium was so perfect. Our guests were so impressed with the venue, and couldn't stop talking about how they loved transitioning to the different areas for cocktail hour/dinner/dancing.

On top of how beautiful the venue is, the staff at The Standard was truly amazing. Throughout the Covid pandemic they were so understanding and accommodating. They were so easy to communicate with, and made me feel extremely comfortable and prepared for our wedding day. We mostly worked with Sara (and had coordination with Johnna who was kind enough to continue working with us even after leaving The Standard to be at home with her new son). Both ladies were the best!!

We would definitely recommend The Standard to anyone in the Rockford or Chicagoland area (we live in the Chicago suburbs and we made a weekend out of it - the new Embassy Suites in Rockford was also so convenient and the perfect vibe for our wedding weekend!!)

I wish I could do it all over again! Thank you to The Standard for such a...