A Historic Wedding Venue Like No Other: Havisham House in Southern Illinois

We offer an interest-free, monthly payment plan. We understand budgets, and when couples begin their lives together, they may not have a huge savings yet. We require a $750 deposit to hold your date, then monthly payments begin a few weeks after we receive your deposit/contract. The entire balance must be paid 90 days prior to your wedding. For those who can pay the entire amount when reserving a date, we offer a five percent discount. We also offer a five percent military discount if you or your fiancé has or is serving our country. (Cannot combine discounts)

No, and this is why… We believe marriage is one of the most important events of your life. Could we book more weddings and make more money by offering daily weddings on weekends? Sure! But, that is not why we created this venue. We created it because we love seeing how happy Havisham couples are before, during and after their wedding. Planning a wedding can be super fun, but it can also be stressful and chaotic on your actual wedding day. You will want time to set up, decorate, get ready, wrangle all your wedding party for photos, etc., and you will need time to just breathe. We want you to relax and enjoy this significant time. The weekend goes by so quickly. We also want you to be able to sleep in after a night of celebrating with your closest people. Of course, you don’t have to stay the entire weekend, but the property is yours as part of our weekend package, so take advantage and savor each day you are at Havisham.

Comfortably 200. We have had more, but it gets tight. Brides have rented tents if their guest counts were over 225. Tents can be secured on the gravel side of our pavilion.

Great question!

60” round guests tables (each seat eight)

White folding chairs

Table cloths (over 50 colors to choose from)

Four 8’ rectangle tables (for caterers, gift table, welcome table, etc.)

Wood farmhouse table for two

Antique furniture (fireplace mantle, side buffet, small table)

Four pub style tables • Green loveseat & chair with area rugs (for an attractive social area)

Beverage/bar area

Two restrooms (one is handicap accessible)

Several bourbon barrels

Fire pit area with benches

Two sets of bag boards and yard games

Dimmable chandelier & string lighting

Of course you can! Although we don't allow animals in our historic homes, we welcome your furry little loved one in your wedding. As a matter of fact, there is a local wedding-pet service that will handle all the details that day with your pet, so you can focus on other wedding details. It’s called Beloved Barks 618-697-9307.

For everyone staying in the main & carriage houses, there is plenty of parking by the historic homes. For your wedding guests, there is parking on both sides of the streets in front of Havisham House (Main & Walnut Streets). Across the road, they are also welcome to park in the gravel lot at Walker Funeral Home. (Please note, there is no long-term parking beside the event pavilion. This is for drop-off & pick-up only.)

Our historic homes were built in the 1800 and are not handicap accessible. But our event pavilion and one restroom inside is handicap accessible.

Of course! The event pavilion is yours until Sunday at 5 p.m. for weekend weddings. This is another perk of booking your wedding at Havisham House. Although some brides opt for the bourbon bar tasting room next door, for its impressive and intimate experience, you are welcome to use the event pavilion for your weekend activities (rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception, Sunday good-bye brunch, etc.)

Yes, someone from our team will be on site at least one-two hours prior to your ceremony until the end of your reception.

Don't worry if it rains, because your ceremony site can be moved inside the pavilion. Our fireplace mantle against the stone wall and the heavy wood arched doors inside make for beautiful ceremony backdrops.

We do this for you! Per your guest count (up to 225) we will set up chairs inside or outside the day before or morning of your ceremony. If you want them moved after your ceremony and before your reception, normally the officiant will ask your guests to please take their chairs to their tables, if you have them set up theater style. (Most of the time, your gentlemen guests will grab all the chairs and take them inside.)

We must have your cancellation notice at least one year prior to your wedding weekend for a wedding package refund. If “you” cancel for any reason, your deposit is forfeited.

The reason for this policy is that we keep our availability transparent on our website. Some couples book now, up to two years in advance. There is no way to know how many couples may have wanted your date, but chose another venue because your date was not available. It is very difficult to fill an open wedding date within one year.

The reason we do not refund your deposit if you cancel (for any reason at any time) is because it takes several administrative hours to complete your wedding booking (contract details, invoice details, calendar syncing, team member notifications, website updates, etc.)

Please call us as soon as you know you cannot make your tour time. We understand, life happens!

But, as for any professional appointment, we all know that a no-show without a call or text is inconsiderate. We don’t live at our venue. We plan our day around your appointment time. We start preparing an hour prior to your appointment by turning on lights, adjusting the heat/air, and so many other details to make you top priority for your tour. This is why we appreciate so much that you give us a courtesy call if you cannot keep your appointment.

Borrow Room items are for our full wedding weekend packages, not the Bourbon & Brides package. However, we do offer elegant table decor for that package as well.

We do rent out our 200 person pavilion for other functions. Our policy is to block all dates for possible weddings. Three months prior to a date which has no wedding scheduled, we will open that weekend up for other functions. Borrow Room items and table cloths are not included for a non-wedding function, but items can be rented for your event.