Lake County's newest "natural treasure", Independence Grove is a lovely 1100-acre preserve with a beautiful indoor/outdoor special event facility (Audubon Hall), an outdoor event pavilion. Nice country lake and pavillion for indoor or outdoor weddings. This place is classy. From the tablecloths to the chairs, it screams wedding.
I was at a wedding in Chicago in the Summer of 2010 and Independence Grove was top notch in terms of atmosphere, facilities, and the picturesque background you want to see at a wedding. On at least several hundred acres of land, there is a lake, beautiful gardens, a clubhouse, beach, pier, and an auditorium-like area. The lake side and lake side plaza make a beautiful site to see during a wedding, and the clubhouse, and gardens make for great areas for an all-in-one wedding (service plus reception). The site is amazingly beautiful, can fit as many or as little as you would like, and let's just say that wedding albums come out perfectly from here.
Audubon Hall, located at the highest point in the preserve, offers a panoramic view of the marina, lake and beach. This handsome structure is constructed with cedar, stone and glass that wonderfully complement the natural resources of the preserve. The elevated ceilings and the spacious design make this the perfect setting for a wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, holiday party or corporate meeting.