Your ultimate source for wedding venues is here. Browse our list of top wedding venues, from beachside resorts to mountain lodges to historic estates, and find the best venues in your area. View photos of weddings at each venue to see how different couples made it their own, and get in touch with your favorites.
A one-of-a-kind oceanfront resort, The Breakers Palm Beach is one of America’s premier destinations for magnificent weddings and celebrations. As a self-contained, oceanfront resort, each couple and their guests never have to leave property.…
Located on a historic dairy farm near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Fearrington offers a picturesque, full service venue for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Fearrington's stunning grounds are perfect for garden ceremonies year-round, and…
Yes, this day has been a journey in the making. Having been dreamed, realized, and choreographed ever since you can remember. And in between, your new life has opened up, like this valley. Here, among mountain steeples, down verdant aisles, and…
Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara is the most coveted location for weddings on the West Coast of the United States. The romantic, Spanish Colonial architecture of the resort, Santa Barbara’s sublime climate and the unobstructed…
OHEKA CASTLE A ROYAL ESTATE OF AFFAIRS Celebrating the Art of Entertaining since 1919 OHEKA CASTLE is the premier venue to host exquisite society weddings and gala celebrations, located on Long Island's famed Gold Coast between New York City…
A LUXURY RESORT THAT CAPTURES THE ROMANCE OF THE CALIFORNIA COAST Tucked onto 78 acres overlooking the Pacific, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara combines the appeal of this coastal city with the beauty of its natural surroundings. Here, you…
Pippin Hill Farm is Charlottesville's most comprehensive boutique winery & vineyard, created in an authentic environment that is distinguished by a sustainable viticulture program, purpose-designed event venues, and landscaped gardens and…
Since 1928, Sea Island has been known as an exceptional destination appealing to those who appreciate gracious service and heartfelt hospitality. With four Forbes Five-Star experiences — The Cloister at Sea Island, The Lodge at Sea Island, The…
At Montage Laguna Beach, our gracious oceanfront resort inspires once-in-a-lifetime memories. Here, you can create the wedding of your dreams. Ensuring that your wedding surpasses your every expectation is our consuming passion. That's why…
At Cedar Lakes, we are committed to maintaining the highest quality of service, care, and personalization, which is why only host a select number of weddings each year. The estate offers both indoor and outdoor event venues with breathtaking views…
Patina Events at Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers more than just weddings: social events, corporate events, bar mitzvahs, engagement parties, rehearsal dinners and more. Our impeccable culinary artistry and inventive design allows us to design every…
Few occasions are celebrated as elegantly and joyfully as weddings at Pebble Beach Resorts. We cater to your every need, working with you to plan the perfect event for you and your guests in one of the world's most magnificent settings. Be it…
Wythe Hotel was created inside of a former cooperage built in 1901. It is located in Brooklyn's vibrant Williamsburg neighborhood, on the waterfront, just minutes from Manhattan via taxi, subway or ferry. All of the inherent character of the…
The exclusivity of Mar Vista Wedding Estate at The Resort at Pelican Hill celebrates only one wedding per day at the magnificent venue; it's the only way to ensure a couple has the exceptional experience that's both deserved and desired.…
Located on Central Park at 61st Street, The Pierre exudes quiet grace and iconic glamour. Having played host to New York City's most elegant social affairs since its opening in 1930, the hotel is distinguished by impeccable service, whimsical…
Weddings at Blue Hill at Stone Barns can be hosted in the beautiful HayLoft, which offers soaring ceilings, original stonework and can accommodate up to 260 guests. Ceremonies can be hosted on site, and one of the outdoor gardens is the perfect…
In the cooling foothills of Pinnacle Peak, the AAA Five Diamond Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale offers a truly handcrafted desert resort experience. Spacious casitas and suites open to astonishing scenery in the high Sonoran Desert. Heart-skipping…
Tribeca Rooftop's spectacular 15,000 square-foot penthouse features views of the Hudson River, Empire State Building, and Fashionable TriBeCa. The incredible rooftop offers unsurpassed views of NYC, while a magnificent skylight over an…
The perfect setting for a beautiful wedding, at Vermont's most beautiful address. Celebrate life's most special occasion at Woodstock Inn & Resort and discover why we're one of New England's most scenic, romantic, and…
Charming, Mountain-Inspired Highlands Weddings Celebrate your wedding surrounded by the beauty and serenity of the Blue Ridge Mountains, at Old Edwards. Rustic-inspired settings, elegant outdoor spaces, and fashionable venues for rehearsal dinners…
With its pre-eminent address on Michigan Avenue and spectacular Grand Ballroom, Four Seasons Hotel Chicago is the setting for the city's extraordinary events. Let us cater to you as we create the wedding of your dreams. On-site catering…
Framed by the soft ridges of the nearby mountains Solage accommodations are modern, thoughtfully-appointed and private — providing a resort experience that is unforgettable and unique to Napa. Whether you’re experiencing one of Spa Solage’s…
Striking a balance between a storied past and the promise of future stories, The Plaza Hotel embraces the contemporary spirit while honoring a rich tradition and history. Top caterer Great Performances' exclusive relationship with The Plaza…
The Lodge at Torrey Pines provides a one-of-a-kind setting for the perfect La Jolla wedding, offering the beautiful backdrop of the world-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course and Pacific Ocean coastline. Historical Craftsman era décor,…
Why not have it all? A ballroom with two story-high ceilings, a staircase that allows you to make a grand entrance, the Pacific Ocean keeping watch. A perfect place for a Santa Monica wedding reception and ceremony that will take your breath away.…
Surrounded by 14 acres of live oak groves and peaceful river views, downtown Charleston's last great waterfront estate has enchanted visitors to this idyllic setting for more than four centuries. Lowndes Grove stands proudly along the…
Since the 1930s, the stars have aligned for celebrations at San Ysidro Ranch. A favorite getaway for celebrities, Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were married at the Ranch and John and Jacqueline Kennedy honeymooned here. Your experience will…
The St. Regis New York invites you to begin your journey as a married couple with a wedding in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Our fabled hotel is home to some of the most magnificent wedding halls in Manhattan, including a rooftop ballroom venue…
The Avalon Palm Springs delivers a boutique atmosphere in the heart of one of Southern California's most sought-after destinations. Ensconced in the dramatic backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains, the idyllic and serene property offers up over…
At Fairmont San Francisco, our dedicated and experienced wedding and event professionals provide warm and intuitive service throughout the planning experience. Your personal San Francisco wedding and event specialist will expertly coordinate every…
Some wedding venues are traditional favorites. They pass the test of time. Others are ideal for hosting a wedding reception after the wows. However, a contemporary bride might look for a wedding venue that suits her unique style. Is there a wedding venue that could be ideal for your planned ceremony? You bet.
You’ll want to start by thinking about where you want to get married first—your hometown, a remote beach, a big city with an airport that is convenient for all your guests—and then start honing in on wedding reception venue options in that location.
How do you find the right wedding venue for you? An early consideration should be indoor vs. outdoor wedding venues. In the past year, outdoor wedding venues have been the most popular and in highest demand. An excellent compromise is a location that offers the opportunity for indoor and outdoor festivities. Wedding caterers favor this setup because it offers on-site amenities that allow for food storage and meal preparation.
Resorts frequently offer stunning grounds that make beautiful backdrops. Couples can host wedding receptions indoors or outside.
Some city hotels have small outdoor garden areas, but many offer rooftop spaces. Hotel wedding venues may also provide in-house catering services (and restrict outside caterers.) This can make hotels very convenient wedding reception venues
The photos from a vineyard wedding are almost always gorgeous. Consider going when the vines are green or heavy with grapes (they’re lovely, but not quite as idyllic in the colder months when the vines are empty). Some vineyard wedding venues have full restaurant and catering services available, but if they do not they may still have kitchen facilities that your caterer can use.
Another type of gorgeous location that will result in stunning wedding pictures are estate wedding venues. There, you benefit from the structure’s architecture and well-manicured landscapes. And if you’re thinking of having a wedding videographer or drone photography capture aerial views, an estate wedding venue is epic.
In addition to having an innately special, exclusive feel, country club wedding venues typically offer multiple spaces that can serve your wedding day. From bridal suites where you can get ready, to a separate space for the ceremony, cocktails and the reception, a country club wedding venue offers multiple options.
While outdoor wedding venues provide gorgeous natural light that is great for wedding photography, there are a few factors to consider. Weather can be unpredictable, so be sure to have a rain plan (a tent, or nearby structure that can be used as a back-up), or provide outdoor heaters or air conditioning in extreme temperatures. You may also need to rent and provide bathrooms, transportation, kitchen equipment and waitstaff.
Indoor wedding venues have the advantage of being practically weather-proof. The infrastructure that comes with a building with restrooms, climate control, and an existing kitchen will save you a lot of headaches. We also love a mixed indoor-outdoor wedding venue where you can have some moments of your day outdoors (perhaps the ceremony or cocktail hour), and then move indoors for the wedding reception—or if the weather turns!
Maybe your dream wedding has always included an Elvis impersonator and a little chapel in Las Vegas. Or maybe your style is more glamorous ballroom with gilded accents from the tabletops to the ceiling. Whatever style you’re drawn to should inform your selection of wedding venue.
For example, bohemian weddings favor the unconventional and even artistic. The best wedding venues would be theaters or performance spaces, art museums, and sculpture gardens. For classic weddings, a more traditional types, a cathedral or estate wedding venue is best.
For glam weddings, there are opulent ballrooms, regal hotels, and historic estate wedding venues. If you favor a more industrial chic, look at lofts, restored factories, and warehouses. For modern weddings, art galleries, restaurant wedding venues and nightclubs could be excellent choices.
If you prefer to lean more into rustic weddings but do not want to head out to the farm, a barn wedding venue, summer camp or retreat space in the mountains could be a great fit. And for vintage wedding style, we love a historic building—like a train station—or even a pop-up wedding in a field.
Look no further than celebrity weddings to find “western flair” and other themes. When you do have a theme in mind, your choice of venues narrows down a little. For example, barn wedding venues are ideal for the ceremony with a western influence. We also love couples who transform their barn wedding venues into elegant, formal affairs. For couples dreaming of museum wedding venues, remember that the other elements of the wedding should suit the overall ambiance of the space, from decor to wedding musicians. Couples getting married at museum wedding venues might prefer a cellist to a DJ. You can even have your wedding cake created to mimic the architectural details of your wedding venue!
Other options like restaurant wedding venues or event spaces are ideal blank canvases that can be transformed into themed wedding receptions. While these styles offer you plenty of room for personalization, other styles need a wedding venue that is already in line with that specific look.
Secret weddings are not just for celebs. Some couples don’t want to wait for months and months until venues are available, or want to prioritize their funds on the next chapter of their life, opting for an intimate, more affordable wedding celebration (because the fewer the guests, the lower the cost.) Couples choosing to elope might opt for City Hall or the offices of a Justice of the Peace, followed by a small celebration with family, or just the two of them.
But if you’re looking for a wedding venue that will make a splash, hire a wedding planner, and dance to the rhythm of a full band, because it is time to look for scenic spaces.
Would you love to tie the knot at dusk, the sun is setting, and the water is lapping at your bare feet? Beach wedding venues are dreamy and timeless.
Or benefit from the beauty of nature away from the water. Desert wedding venues lend themselves towards bohemian and modern styles for the cool or glam bride.
Garden wedding venues are personal. Whether it’s grandma’s backyard, the orchard back home, or a rooftop garden at a restaurant or hotel, there’s a beauty and intimacy that sets the tone for your entire day.
Are you outdoorsy? Engaged couples might opt for a mountain location that doubles as a wedding reception venue. But think through your wedding dress and shoes choices to ensure that they will fit in with—and survive!—the scenery.
If you have a large extended family or anticipate a wedding guest count north of 200, you will definitely need to focus specifically on large wedding reception venues, which can require extensive planning and scheduling. Suitable outdoor wedding venues might include botanical gardens, parks, and cruise ships. For indoor wedding venues, you might consider ballrooms, large resorts and hotels, or an opulent mansion or chateau. Because the amount of venues that can accommodate an extra large guest count may be limited in your area (and may even have waiting lists), put your name in as soon as possible.
The nice thing is that there really is an enormous range of price options when it comes to reception locations? From a pricey all-inclusive package at a luxury hotel or resort wedding venues to a small tent in the rural countryside, the location and type of wedding venue you choose, as well as the number of guests it will need to accommodate, have the biggest effect on cost.
First things first is you need to prioritize. Remember that there are trade-offs with every type of wedding venue. If you’re considering an outdoor garden that’s in full bloom as well as assorted indoor wedding venues, just know that the your wedding flowers cost will be higher at the indoor venue that doesn’t come with any. And while a backyard wedding or pop-up ceremony in a field might seem like the more affordable option, the cost of bringing in catering, restrooms, kitchen equipment, and furniture may offset any savings. By thinking through some of these additional wedding reception details and costs in advance, you can get a more thorough picture of what your wedding venue cost really is.
Another cost factor is the region. Wedding costs in Hawaii will be higher than in Kansas. In some cases, destinations such as Las Vegas or Istanbul can also save you some cash because these locations cater to the wedding trade. Finally, do not be afraid of the destination wedding in another state. A general rule of thumb: In areas where the median household income is lower, the average cost of a wedding is also less. However, be sure to hire wedding vendors from that location.
If your wedding venue is your number one priority, you may choose to allocate more of your wedding budget to the venue, and cut back in other areas. To save on wedding dresses, savvy brides might choose a beach wedding venue where an ornate, over-the-top gown would feel out of place, but a simple silk slip-dress would be stunning.
And while everybody loves wedding cakes, many couples are opting for personalized cupcakes for the wedding reception as a more affordable option, or even just to make the dessert feel unique. Plus you can still have a small bride and groom cake for that cake-cutting moment.
Most wedding photographers offer tiered plans so that you can choose the option that works for your priorities and budget. Some packages focus more heavily on the ceremony and couples portraits, and only includes a few party shots from wedding receptions.
If your dream wedding venue costs more than your budget will allow, consider theme-adjacent less expensive venue options. Maybe you were hoping to get married on a beach that would involve expensive travel and accommodations for everyone attending, but there’s a charming riverfront wedding reception venue in your hometown. You’ll still get the gorgeous photos that a waterfront wedding provides at a price that is more manageable for you and your guests.
And while you may have hoped to set up a wedding ceremony and reception space in a remote pasture, consider outdoor wedding venues that have an available building with restrooms, furniture you can use, kitchen equipment, and even a rain plan space will save you from the expense of renting a tent, furniture, etc.
If looking at a wedding planning checklist and the costs associated with it are giving you anxiety, fear not. Not all picturesque reception spots come with four and five-figure site fees.
Reserving space at a public park or garden is a surprisingly inexpensive outdoor wedding venue option. Bonus: you can often have as many guests as you would like for park wedding receptions.
A private beach resort or yacht club is always going to be an idyllic waterfront wedding venue, but if that is not in your budget, a city or country beach may be a more affordable version of the same idea. Just don’t forget to research and secure any necessary permits far in advance!
Not for the faint of heart, backyard weddings at home require more of a heavy lift than you might guess (a wedding planner is a MUST). But with backyard wedding venues, you do avoid expensive site fees, which can be the largest cost of a wedding.
Selecting a wedding dress for an outdoor wedding on the beach is different from picking a gown to wear while walking down a lengthy cathedral aisle. For country weddings in a barn, your dress must be suitable for dealing with the possible unevenness of the terrain.
If you are having all of your day-of events at the same wedding reception venue—the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception and after-party—consider whether you want to change into a different dress for different moments of the day. Therefore, choose a gown that keeps you cool for beach or desert weddings, and warm for forest weddings in the winter months. Waterfront weddings may mean high winds that can make a long wedding veil hard to wrangle. And don’t forget about your bridesmaids! Their dresses should be pretty, but uniquely comfortable for garden weddings or mountain weddings, whichever type of wedding venue you choose.
From wedding DJs to venues, Carats & Cake connects you with the best wedding venues and vendors in the business. Find mountain wedding venues from Aspen to Lake Como, or host a wedding reception at a swank Texas country club. Carats & Cake has all the advice and inspiration you need to find and book your wedding vendor team.