The Anthem area may not currently be thought of as a wedding destination, but that perspective is changing, especially if Aleah Chilleen has anything to say about it. She’s the proprietor of The Venue at Chilleens and has transformed a casual steak house into a thriving wedding and event hotspot.
Located in Black Canyon City, just off the I-17, Chilleens has long been an area landmark. Aleah’s parents purchased the property in 2003, and she bought it from them in 2016. Since then, she’s been implementing plans to expand the site and enhance its offerings. While Chilleens on 17 still offers excellent steak and hometown favorites, The Venue at Chilleens is quickly earning a reputation as a destination for beautiful weddings and events. Aleah’s ultimate goal is to create a one-stop event venue for out-of-town guests, as well as locals, complete with onsite lodging. Currently, the venue hosts more than 100 weddings annually after adding the option in 2013. They also offer meeting space for corporate events and parties.
Event Planning Made Easy
One of the ways in which The Venue at Chilleens aims to exceed their clients’ expectations is through all-inclusive solutions. Chilleens' all-encompassing event-planning services include a choice of two dinner options, nonalcoholic drinks, and an open bar; DJ with a custom playlist; five hours of photography services; a three-tier wedding cake; and all floral arrangements in their large meeting space. Similar packages are available for meetings and corporate events, also at all-inclusive price points. Currently, packages range from $1,000 to $20,000+ depending on the number of guests, the type of event, and what clients choose to include.
The goal of a one-price option is to make events run more smoothly. Aleah has cultivated a team of vendors who work well together like a well-oiled machine, allowing guests to just relax and enjoy the event. However, if someone has vendors they prefer to use, that can work, as long as the vendors are licensed.
“Our team of vendors works really well together as a team, allowing us to produce memorable events with minimal stress,” shared Aleah. For weddings, she jokes that all couples need to bring are their outfits; the rest is taken care of by Chilleens.
Giving Back to the Community
In addition to providing a stunning backdrop for weddings, parties, and corporate events, The Venue at Chilleens is excited to give back to the community. The Chileen Dream Foundation’s mission is to grant weddings and vow renewal ceremonies to couples whose lives have been drastically affected by illness, injuries, and other challenges that make planning or financially affording their dream wedding unattainable.
“Our entire team of vendors is on board with this,” gushed Aleah, “and we hope to grant at least one wedding each year from start to finish.” Packages will include everything from invitations to lodging. Nominations will begin in the summer of 2023 as couples are invited to share their story. Next, The Chilleen Dream Foundation's board of directors will review nominations and choose their top three candidates. The community will be asked to vote for the couple they feel is most deserving.
Looking to the Future
While launching The Chilleen Dream Foundation, Aleah has other big goals for the event venue in the future. In addition to the land on which the venue stands, Aleah also owns 3.5 acres to the south, which is currently being eyed for an expansion that will include guest lodging. The vision now is to provide cabins and an RV park, and Aleah is currently in conversations with an architect and the county to firm up logistics.
Until that happens, though, The Venue at Chilleens is playing catch-up. “We had to postpone 72 weddings during the pandemic,” Aleah shared. “Once we could start back up, we had our biggest wedding year ever, hosting 135 events in 2022. Our couples were willing to choose any day of the week we could book them!” It's been a very busy year!
Luckily for those rescheduled guests, they were welcomed back to an updated space since Chilleens underwent some key refurbishments during the month they were closed during the pandemic. The staff is grateful to be back to normal and able to delight guests once again at the venue. Plus, there’s always an opportunity to celebrate at Chilleens, where the kitchen serves up fresh-smoked barbecue and steaks in the restaurant. Outdoor bar and patio areas allow guests to enjoy music at their fall and spring concert series as well as providing additional event space. And another, larger patio is in the plans to host events for up to 70 guests.
It could soon be a given that the Anthem area is indeed a renowned destination for weddings and events.
"Our team of vendors works really well together as a team, allowing us to produce memorable events with minimal stress," shared Aleah Chilleen.
