Robyn Lytle on Building Chicago’s Unique Wedding Venue

For this interview with Robyn Lytle, owner and event manager of The Lytle House, we explore the story behind one of Chicago’s most unique and beloved wedding venues. Robyn, along with her wife, has crafted an “anti-wedding” venue experience that celebrates authenticity, creativity, and the joy of intimate gatherings.

In this conversation, Robyn shares how their journey from wedding photography to venue ownership was fueled by a passion for creating a laid-back, personalized space for couples. From overcoming initial funding challenges to building strong vendor relationships, Robyn offers an inspiring look at the values and vision that shape The Lytle House.

Inspiration Behind The Lytle House

SBS – What inspired you to create The Lytle House, and how did you get started?

Robyn – My wife started with wedding photography right out of high school. When we started dating, I started working with her as her second shooter so we could spend more time together. Being a wedding photographer allows you to photograph all over the world. We have photographed in hundreds of different locations and venues and often felt inspired to create something different. When we got engaged, we had a hard time finding a venue that suited our needs — we wanted an intimate wedding with 100 guests or less, and we wanted it to be more of a casual, fun vibe with less focus on formalities and traditions. We wanted it to feel like a big party that we would plan ourselves and want to attend.

Challenges in Launching The Venue

SBS – What challenges did you face when launching this business, and how did you overcome them?

Robyn – Funding was our biggest challenge. We knew we wanted to own our business location instead of leasing it. We also knew we wanted to find a historic Chicago property that we could turn into something extra special. We had a three-year plan to save, save, save, and then partner with a bank for a construction loan. We found the property we wanted, secured the building with our savings, and then we just needed our construction loan to get started.

We talked with over 50 banks, creating business plans, attending in-person meetings, going through the loan process, only to be turned down during the final steps. We were at the point where we thought we would just fund the construction ourselves and do the project in phases. It would have taken us five years, but we were willing to do it if it was our only option. We decided to try reaching out to credit unions before completely giving up. After a meeting with our third credit union, we found a partner! We found someone who believed in our business plan and trusted our experience in the industry. We were able to start construction immediately after securing the loan, and we built out our dream in just under a year!

Target Audience

SBS – Can you describe your target audience and how you cater to their needs?

Robyn – We have become known as the “anti-wedding” venue and we love it. We strive to be flexible and different. Our clients tend to be less conventional and very focused on the fun parts of wedding planning (picking out the best food and the best drinks and surrounding themselves with their favorite people). In almost eight years, I have never dealt with a “bridezilla.” I can honestly say that our couples are relaxed and less stressed because they are focused on what’s most important — getting married to their partner and celebrating that in a way that is authentic and meaningful to them. Our venue hosts weddings with 80 guests or less, and that also lends to couples being able to truly enjoy their wedding and not feel rushed or pulled in all these different directions.

Effective Marketing Strategies

SBS – What strategies have you found most effective in marketing your venue?

Robyn – Word of mouth. We actually don’t do any marketing. Our venue is hidden behind a 12-foot steel gate covered in ivy and a Dolly Parton mural. People often wonder what’s behind the ivy gate or who painted the Dolly mural, but part of our appeal is that our venue has this speakeasy vibe. Once you step off Broadway Street and pass through the gate, you are stepping into a private courtyard that you would never expect in the city of Chicago. It’s magical and full of the best energy. We hear time and time again that people just “feel” the energy of the space, and we often have guests who previously attended weddings come back and get married here.

Building Vendor Relationships

SBS – Can you share your approach to building relationships with preferred vendors and caterers?

Robyn – This is so incredibly important. My wife and I are the only owners and operators of The Lytle House. Having preferred vendors and caterers makes it feel like we have other people who are partners in our success. We started building our preferred vendor list with the vendors we used for our own wedding. We were so thrilled with our DJ, photographers, videographer, etc., that we started by putting them on the list. From there, the list grew based on our experience working with different people. We only have the best of the best on our list — people who care about their work and their product and will make planning a wedding or event easy!

Ensuring a Seamless Event Experience

SBS – How do you ensure a seamless experience for clients during their events?

Robyn – We stay onsite the entire time, and we have a system in place for any scenarios. Our goal is to take on all the “thinking” for that day and let the couple just enjoy themselves. We have everything covered.

Unique Features of The Lytle House

SBS – What are some unique features or services that The Lytle House offers that you believe stand out?

Robyn – We include a lot of amenities and services that other venues charge for. We include planning services, a day of coordinator, tables, chairs, decor, and a photo booth! I always tell my clients to focus on the fun stuff — go on tastings, pick out their favorite menu selections, think of special cocktails for the bar, make a list of their favorite songs to dance to, invite their closest people, and taste ALL THE CAKES! If you can have fun with that stuff, then the wedding is planned, and you didn’t even stress out.

Memorable Event

SBS – Can you share a memorable event that took place at The Lytle House and what made it special?

Robyn – I love it when there are surprises throughout the night. I had a bride plan to surprise her new husband with a song she wrote and performed before their first dance. I have also had a groom surprise his new wife with a special cultural dance he learned to honor her heritage.

Handling Challenges During Events

SBS – How do you handle difficult situations or last-minute changes during events?

Robyn – What’s a wedding without a little bit of drama? We have dealt with some challenging family dynamics — usually, we are warned upfront about this kind of stuff. Our goal is always to protect our clients and follow their wishes. If someone is trying to cause drama on their wedding day, we are the barrier between that person and the couple. Sometimes, it feels a bit like being a therapist and also a bodyguard. Weather is another variable since we have a large outdoor component. We always build our timelines in a way that allows for shifting if needed. Being flexible and adaptable is important.

Pricing Strategy and Value for Clients

SBS – How do you manage pricing and ensure value for your clients while maintaining profitability?

Robyn – We started our venue with the main goal of making weddings more affordable and easier to plan. We invested a lot upfront to include furniture and built-in sound equipment, natural backdrops, and a beautiful courtyard — this just makes it easier to plan and less for the couple to have to bring in or rent. I believe we attract a lot more clients this way — people who know they are in good hands with us.

Top Lessons Learned in Business

SBS – What are the top three lessons you’ve learned since starting the business?

Robyn –

1. It’s good to say “no.” I know what will work in my venue and what won’t work, and although I wish I could say “yes” to every idea — it’s important to be honest and say “no” if I know it won’t work how the client wants.
2. Not every inquiry is going to be a good fit. My goal is to find couples who can execute their dream weddings in my venue, and I’m honest if our venue just doesn’t seem like the right fit. A lot of our clients walk in for a tour and immediately get a feeling that this is where they want to get married. That’s a great sign that it’s a good fit.
3. Working with your spouse is incredibly rewarding. We celebrate our success together, and we know exactly what it took for us to get here. We feel grateful for that every day and are so proud of what we have built together.

Advice for Aspiring Event Entrepreneurs

SBS – What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the event space market?

Robyn – Be prepared to sacrifice your weekends. We miss out on a lot of family parties, sporting events, vacations, etc. But we have an incredible work/life balance the rest of the week. We love this reserve schedule, but it’s not for everyone. We love being around all the happiness and celebrating — it’s a very fulfilling job to experience so much happiness all the time.