Events at Refinery

Updated January 26, 2024

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About This Vendor

Not just memorable... Unforgettable!

Events at Refinery is a wedding venue located in Champaign, IL. This elegantly appointed ballroom is a classic event space that offers peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Couples looking to wed in a romantic and idyllic setting will find that this stunning venue can meet all of their requirements. Events at Refinery offers guests the opportunity to host their ceremony and reception in their luxurious ballroom. Events of up to 470 guests can be helf here with ample room for ceremonies, dining, and dancing. Featuring maple hardwood floors, warm lighting, and carefully placed drapery, this function space is perfect for a grand soirée. Additionally, the illuminating floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to flood the space, ideal for a dreamy ceremony and vibrant photographs. With its versatile, open-plan floor layout, the room can host both your ceremony and reception seamlessly. Couples are invited to customize the space to ensure that their dream wedding event can be brought to life. Led by Director of Events, Chris Chesnut, the dedicated team of event staff at Events at Refinery offers a wide range of services to choose from. Their goal is to ensure that every element of your day is carefully considered and expertly executed. During your event, the venue’s team of bartenders will serve delicious beverages from the ballroom’s built-in bar. Options include beer, liquor, wine, and signature drinks. Set-up and clean-up services will also be provided, allowing you to relax and enjoy your day without worrying about the smaller details.

Amenities & Details

Dressing Room, Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, Liability Insurance, Reception Area, Wireless Internet

Guest Capacity

300+

Ceremony Types

Civil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding, Vow Renewal Ceremony

Venue Service Offerings

Bar & Drinks, Planning, Rentals & Equipment, Service Staff

Settings

Ballroom

Business Attributes

Pricing for Events at Refinery

Option	Value
Starting Cost	Affordable
Cost Starting
Price Range	$4,200 - $7,500+
Couples Usually Spend	$5,850
Peak Season Months
Peak Season Cost	$4,200 - $7,500+
Peak Season Reception Cost	$3,500
Peak Season Ceremony Cost
Peak Season Bar Service Cost	$15
OffSeason Months
OffSeason Cost	$4,200 - $7,500+
OffSeason Reception Cost	$2,800
OffSeason Ceremony Cost
OffSeason BarService Cost	$15

Events at Refinery Reviews

Tory Rose (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-10-2022
This venue was absolutely stunning and suited my needs perfectly. Chris was amazing to work with from start to finish! He was patient with my questions, eased my anxieties, and truly made the whole experience a breeze for a very high-strung bride! I cannot recommend the Refinery or Chris strongly enough.
Reviewed on 29-11-2022

Kylie Knight (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-10-2021
I worked with Chris who was absolutely amazing down to the very last minute! He literally helped my vision come to life. He always made sure I met my deadlines and answered any of my 1000 questions. He was there for me when I was frantic and helped ease my worries. He worked greatly with a few new vendors I brought his way and made them feel welcome and made sure they had what they needed. Thank you Chris for making our wedding day not only look amazing but run with ease!! ❤️🙌🏼 I would highly recommend working with Chris at Events at Refinery to all the future bride and grooms out there.
Reviewed on 20-10-2021

Latrice Coleman (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-08-2021
Chris was amazing! He was responsive and willing to adjust anything that we needed! Chris and the rest of the team that worked on our wedding 08/14/21 made our day perfect! Highly recommended
Reviewed on 17-08-2021

Kim Warning (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-06-2021
Where do I start?! Chris Chestnut is an absolutely AMAZING person and Events Coordinator!! From the very start of planning the reception to us walking out the door at the end of the reception, HE 👏🏻 WAS 👏🏻 THERE!!!! He’s reliable, beyond thorough, oversaw absolutely everything that had to do with the reception, even staying for the whole night!! He and his staff decorated everything sooo beautifully, and were extremely pleasant to work with!! The Refinery is a perfect place to have a reception, or any event!! 1,000 out of 10 our family would DEFINITELY recommend!!!!
Reviewed on 21-06-2021

Cynthia Williams (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-05-2021
My daughter was married 5/28/21 and we had the wedding and reception at the Refinery. We worked with Chris in planning the the special day. Because of Covid we had to change the date a couple of times and Chris always keep us posted and updated as restrictions was lifted. He was very professional and fun to work with. The venue was beautiful and our guest was able to spread out and seat comfortably. I would highly recommend the Refinery for your next event!
Reviewed on 30-05-2021

Paige Potter (bride) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-11-2018
It has taken me 1 year to finally write this very honest review. When we looked at The Refinery, we loved it, it was like a hidden gem that could accommodate our VERY large wedding. We were thrilled. All the planning meetings went great and I fully entrusted in the staff that they would make our dreams a reality. I organized all my centerpieces and decor and boxed them individually with pictures of how they were supposed to look on the table. I had 0 reservations about it not getting done and being perfect. Then my expectations crashed to the ground the day of my wedding about an hour and a half before guests started to arrive. 2 family friends showed up early to double check to make sure everything was in order and perfect. They walked in and 1 single table was set up and ready out of 40!! The wedding planner was simply just sitting there doing nothing. Thank goodness they arrived because my 2 family friends set up 40 table centerpieces and decorated the entire venue in an hour and a half. The wedding planner left in the middle of it all to “go change”. Unfortunately the nightmare didn’t stop there. After being told in 2 pre-wedding meetings to prepare for a very drinking crowd they didn’t. They ran out of booze countless times during my reception. On top of it all, the toilets backed up and the entire venue smelled of sewage. They didn’t didn’t do something immediately to fix this issue or help resolve it, instead they told guests to use the restroom outside in the parking lot. My family ended up having to get upset for something to happen. When it was all said and done, we got a $250 gift card to Amazon and 2 hours of free beer. For paying over $10,000, it’s not worth all the back and forth, rumors and lies to be spread about your wedding day. I would recommended anywhere but The Refinery.
Reviewed on 05-11-2019

Janice Enos (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 11-10-2019
The Refinery is a great, affordable spot for a wedding! Chris was our coordinator, and he was great to work with; he and his staff were attentive, flexible and accessible leading up to and during our wedding. The team set up and tore down everything, making our day stress free. We could be as involved as we wanted to, and had the option to bring in any outside decor for set up. Last, we are big beer nerds, and Chris made sure the bar was stocked with the craft beers we requested. Our guests all enjoyed the venue as well, and had many positive things to say about the aesthetics and the layout. Highly recommend!
Reviewed on 13-10-2019

Paige Jordan (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-08-2019
The Refinery was an absolute dream! Chris was so easy to work with, and answered all my questions immediately. He made our day stress-free and easy. He made sure the venue looked exactly how my husband and I had imagined. Sam was also wonderful the night of. We got so many compliments from our guests! I cannot recommend The Refinery enough!
Reviewed on 06-08-2019

Amanda Klein (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-05-2019
We were recently married and celebrated with a reception at the Refinery. We were so happy to work with Chris in planning the perfect day! He was very organized and offered great suggestions for making the details just right for a gorgeous set up. He took the decorations I gave him and created a beautiful entryway table for our guests to sign the guest book with no direction from me, and I couldn’t have been more pleased! Chris offered his expertise in every fine detail down to helping me choose a napkin color that would look best with the centerpieces. My husband and I felt reassured that he was managing our event and knew that he along with his event staff would make it as beautiful as he would want his own to be, with our vision in mind. He set up a couple of meetings with us prior to the wedding date to go over details and talk with us about our options for upgrades etc, keeping in mind our budget. He was never pushy or made us feel like he was trying to take us for our money. In fact, we initially chose the Refinery because it seemed like the most organized and best deal of all the other venues in the area we had looked into. I really didn’t want to be stressed about all the little details and set up/tear down on my wedding day, so having that all taken care of within their packages was wonderful. Chris also coordinated independently with our vendors to make sure that was a smooth process. The bartenders were friendly and worked their butts off making drinks and taking care of our guests. We even won two Yeti drink holders from the Refinery, which were perfect for our beverages at the wedding and on our honeymoon. Overall we had a great experience with Events at Refinery and would highly recommend this venue for a beautiful and stress free event.
Reviewed on 11-06-2019

Allison Judy (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-05-2019
My husband and I recently had our wedding reception at Events at Refinery and it couldn't have been more perfect! When we walked into the ballroom I was taken aback at how my vision had come to life. The decorations were beautiful from the drapery and chandeliers all the way down to the little details like the table numbers and charger plates. The room came together flawlessly! I started working with Chris part way through my planning process and couldn't be happier that he was the coordinator for our big day. His demeanor, friendliness and personality are exactly what you'd want in a coordinator for your wedding (or any event!). I was always greeted with a genuine smile and throughout the planning process he was knowledgeable in giving me just the right suggestions in order to make sure I achieved the goal I had in mind. He is very easy to communicate with, organized and didn't let any detail slip through the cracks. Working with him made the process very fun. He even accommodated us with a last minute request to play a video during a speech! :) The entire Events at Refinery staff did a great job in making sure that everything went off without a hitch during our reception. Because they take care of the setup and tear down, our day was much less stressful. They did an amazing job ensuring that our reception had the look/feel that we dreamed of - and we received MANY compliments too! I would recommend Events at Refinery to anyone planning any type of event. They make sure the focus is on you and your needs and wants. Chris and the crew did everything in their power to make sure the space looked elegant and our wedding day was perfect! Thank you!
Reviewed on 23-05-2019

Chris Chesnut (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-07-2020
Amazing Venue! What is created here is unbelievable! Staff is so helpful and they do EVERYTHING for you! So awesome!
Reviewed on 07-05-2019

Natalie Durst (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-10-2018
The refinery was an absolutely stunning venue, and Samantha and the rest of the crew were so accommodating and thoughtful! We couldn’t have been happier with how everything turned out:)
Reviewed on 22-10-2018

Brittany Villaloboz (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-07-2018
Coordinators were personal and very professional while attending to every one of my requests. The space was beyond beautiful and the atmosphere was so elegant! The staff took care of all the details to help make my ceremony and reception was a best experience of my life!!
Reviewed on 01-09-2018

Michelle McGee (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-10-2017
The staff and facility were great. Very overpriced though.
Reviewed on 15-11-2017

Jayme Hernandez (bride) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-06-2018
We ended up not using Events at Refinery for our reception - There were several reasons why, but it mostly boils down to pricing and then service. To rent half of the room is $2000 in and of itself, which is excessive for Champaign compared to other venues, and catering is not included in that, and coordinating the bar package is a whole separate thing! When we went to tour the space, the guide took us through the room where an actual wedding/reception was taking place at the time, and then took us through the back room to sit down and talk about what our options would be if we used the space. As we were leaving, there were several gym members that had just finished workouts that were walking out as well. Overall, just not the way we pictured having our reception, so we ended up going with a different venue.
Reviewed on 21-06-2017

Melissa Hahn (bride) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-03-2016
I booked this location for my wedding reception 18 months before the date of the event. I checked many times to make sure the date was free, and was informed each time it was. When I went in saw the place, it was okay. It was really the package that made it seem like a good deal. I put my deposit down the day I saw the place to save the date (the date was very important to me and my fiancée). My check was cashed and I thought I could relax for a bit.\r\rHowever, I was informed a month later that the date “accidently” got double booked and when I was told the situation would be resolved by Friday. I did not hear back that Friday and was not informed until I contacted them, that I was just out of luck for that date. Trying to get my deposit back was another hassle.\r\rAll in all, this was an extremely frustrating and disappointing experience, and I would never recommended this place to anyone.\r
Reviewed on 01-05-2015

Joleen Su (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-10-2015
I had really high hopes for this venue since my hometown is Champaign-Urbana, and was excited to see that it was within my total wedding budget. I had heard and read great reviews, and even was impressed when talking with their preferred caterer. I was so sure I'd go with Events at Refinery. ...Then came my on-site visit/tour. \r\rApartments are upstairs, and someone was moving in that day so furniture was spread throughout the lobby. Also, a child activity center is on the same floor and smelled liked a dirty diaper, and I was surprised a bit to see the venue was set up to be a multi-purpose gym room when I arrived. I knew the Refinery was a gym, but was hoping the floors would be at least buffed or cleaned before setting up an event. I sat there and saw a crew move machinery out and set up tables without cleaning the floor. I'm really hoping they cleaned it after table set up, but I didn't stay that long.\r\rI could have lived with the above, since the owner made it clear the moving in/dirty diaper situation was not normal. However, my fiancee and I sat in front of their office 15 minutes before our set time and they never acknowledged us. 5 minutes past our appointment, I asked if the person who made our appointment was there, and she was, but she only came out to get us then. The brochure she gave to me was the exact same thing as was emailed to me beforehand, and then I was instructed to look up photos of the venue online myself. (I was a little surprised by this since at other venues I've had people show me different room lay out possibilities and pictures.) We got about a 5 minute tour of the room. The total was still under my budget... but only $1000 cheaper than another venue that would provide more bells and whistles with a lot more professionalism, venue privacy, and service. Part of the reason it got expensive is because $1200 is the bar minimum, and since I have a small party and a morning/brunch reception, hitting $1200 wasn't possible for me. Additionally, when I asked about mimosas for a brunch, I was suggested to provide beer instead. It just wasn't a good fit for what we wanted.\r\rBoth my fiancee and I drove from out of town (2+ hours), so we were disappointed that 95% of the information we received was already given to us online or we were told to look online.\r\rHowever, I still think the venue could be beautiful, and if the venue and location is what people want, I do think the staff can get the job done. They did care about getting things ready, and were just as upset about the diaper/furniture issues.
Reviewed on 12-10-2014

Lauren Wolf (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-06-2014
Working with the staff at the Refinery was absolutely the best! I can't even remember the number of times I emailed them with a million questions and they were always there to offer advice and the help I needed. Especially the month before the wedding they were really helpful making sure all the specifics were taken care of and even helped me come up with a signature cocktail for the night. Absolutely everything looked amazing and I can't think of anything that I would have changed about my experience there.
Reviewed on 20-06-2014

Kelly Kirchhoefer (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-03-2014
Wonderful. Michelle Murphy was efficient, inviting, kind, super fun to work with, and extremely classy + accommodating. You know it's a wonderful atmosphere, when those who work for the environment/venue are as near as the attendees. We had both the ceremony and reception at the Refinery, and it was a huge win for multiple reasons. I suggest it! Thanks so much to Michelle and to the Refinery in Champaign, IL. It was my first choice from the beginning, and there was never a comparison made to any other location or service which caused me to waver. Truly awesome. We are glad for you!
Reviewed on 10-05-2014

Sabra Boyd (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-11-2013
We could not be happier with our experience hosting out Wedding Reception at The Refinery. Through out entire planning process of one year, Michelle and the entire team was readily accessible and helpful- even with my demanding work schedule out of town. When the week of the wedding came, The Refinery eased my nerves the day we dropped off our massive amount of decorations. It felt amazing that the weight was off of my shoulders and I had complete trust that they would make everything look perfect. AND THEY DID! Not only that, they made sure that all vendors were in place and everything was up to their and our standards. We were completely in awe of the decorations, service, bar service, and overall quality of our reception and could not have imagine a more amazing night. The Refinery ensure everyone was happy, from our grandparents to the rowdy bridal party! We highly recommend Michelle and the entire refinery staff (the bar tenders are awesome too!!!) and will continue to recommend them to all of our family and friends planning weddings and events!
Reviewed on 26-11-2013

Sonia Vercler (parent) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-05-2013
The Refinery helped guide us through the reception planning step by step. they were willing and able to help us create the reception we desired. The reception was beautiful and the service excellent. The Refinery banquet area is very classy on its own so didn't need extensive decorating. They helped make our day enjoyable and relaxing
Reviewed on 07-06-2013

Erin Vogen (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 13-04-2013
Refinery did an amazing job helping our wedding day to be fantastic! They did everything for us so that we did not have to worry about a single thing at the reception the day of the wedding. It was a relief knowing that we could just focus on enjoying being a newlywed couple! The room rental was a little pricey considering that we had over 300 guests but it was well worth it knowing that the Refinery was taking care of all of our details for us! Thanks so much for making our wedding day such a blast, we had the time of our lives!
Reviewed on 01-05-2013

Elizabeth Frazier (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-10-2012
The refinery staff are amazing! They were so helpful and made my wedding so stress free. Not to mention they made the ceremony and reception so beautiful! 100% happy
Reviewed on 23-10-2012

Emily Rusch (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-06-2012
The Refinery is an amazing place to have your wedding reception. The staff is friendly, helpful, and flexible. I had a completely stress-free wedding because they did all the decorating, coordinating, and clean up for me. The banquet room(s) are a blank canvas that you can decorate to whatever color scheme/theme you have. I am so happy I chose this location over a country club and have the beautiful pictures to prove it!
Reviewed on 09-07-2012

Beth Spark (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-06-2012
The Refinery was absolutely amazing. They coordinate everything for you, and just make everything easy and relaxing so that you actually get to enjoy your day!
Reviewed on 28-06-2012

25 Reviews, with a Rating of 4.36 out of 5.0

Contact Info for Events at Refinery

Contact	Value
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/events-at-refinery-539358472912447/
X (Twitter)	Events at Refinery
Pinterest	events_refinery
Instagram	events.at.refinery
Website	www.eventsatrefinery.com
Phone	(217) 693-4449
Address	2302 West John, Champaign, IL, 61821
Email	chris@eventsatrefinery.com

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