Every wedding is special and different in its own rites, but there are key differences that begin with the selection of a venue. From an elaborate rooftop ceremony to your childhood backyard, every detail should be personalized for the couple. We’ve compiled a list of venues and created a moodboard for each, from ceremony to unique details for each one. Let’s jump right in!
Museum
Imagine saying “I do” standing in the midst of some of the world’s greatest art, architecture, and archeology. Perhaps you are the type of person who went to museums as a kid, sat on the steps outside before college classes, or worked closely in tandem with art collectors or antiquities directors. Nevertheless, any art or history aficionado will stun their guests with an experience that can never be captured in a frame. For the ceremony, consider something simple, let the museum be your main focal. Include beautiful standing flower pieces or whatever fits the space and style of the area. Between the ceremony and reception, offer a cocktail hour and allow for your guests to tour the museum. This is a once in a lifetime experience to have the museum to yourself, so take advantage! As for the reception, utilize the incredible exhibitions by incorporating flower arrangements inspired by the works, candles, framed photos of the couple, and pops of color to reflect the elegant lights and atmosphere. Curate a wedding as beautiful as the couple!
Backyard
Love is the most natural thing in the world, so why not get married in the heart of a national park! Parks can be found in almost every part of the world, from the Grand Canyon to the Banff mountains. Out in nature is an awe-inspiring place to hold a ceremony or an elopement. Get married under the giant sequoias, on top of a mountain, inside a canyon, or by the icy banks of a glacier. Details to consider, however, are ensuring an intact wedding dress, seating for the ceremony, as well as deliverability for the florist and caterers. For an added detail, toss dried flower petals at the lovely couple as they come down the aisle as a perfect biodegradable alternative. Whatever the season, it is sure to be a beautiful ceremony.
Theatre
Star in your own romantic film with a spectacular wedding in a theatre. This location may be a rare find, but it is well worth all the searching! Bring up the lights, set the stage with flowers or candles, and give the crowd what they’ve been waiting for! Use the dressing rooms to put on a simple or extravagant gown or suit and walk down the aisle in a crushed velvet dream. Some theatres will even write your names on the marquee! Have a beautiful dinner or cocktail hour after the ceremony. Include live music during the reception for a lively atmosphere. An outfit change between the ceremony and reception just might be the best show-stopping detail! Throw a wedding that your guests will remember and say “it was just like a movie.” This incredible venue is perfect for the artists and musicians alike
Courthouse
Imagine loving someone so much that a huge wedding day doesn’t matter as much as simply being together. This wedding venue can be an intimate and authentic way to marry the love of your life, without the stress and planning of a traditional ceremony. A courthouse wedding is a perfect budget-friendly option, often prompting modern couples to save the money they would use for a ceremony and large reception to have an extravagant honeymoon. Take photos in the courthouse, on the steps, and around the city! Make it just the two of you and a witness, or have your friends and family there to celebrate. Host a small reception afterwards, get cocktails, or make a nice meal at home. A wedding is as special as you make it! Walk into the courthouse with flowers, a dress and veil or suit, and walk out as newlyweds!
National Forest Park
Love is the most natural thing in the world, so why not get married in the heart of a national park! Parks can be found in almost every part of the world, from the Grand Canyon to the Banff mountains. Out in nature is an awe-inspiring place to hold a ceremony or an elopement. Get married under the giant sequoias, on top of a mountain, inside a canyon, or by the icy banks of a glacier. Details to consider, however, are ensuring an intact wedding dress, seating for the ceremony, as well as deliverability for the florist and caterers. For an added detail, toss dried flower petals at the lovely couple as they come down the aisle as a perfect biodegradable alternative. Whatever the season, it is sure to be a beautiful ceremony.
Vegas Chapel
Didn’t Elvis say, “Only fools rush in, but I can’t help falling in love with you?” Maybe you can ask him as he officiates your Vegas wedding! Grab your dress or suit and join together with the one you love in matrimony at the Little White Chapel. Everything about the wedding can be as elaborate or as simple as you’d like. There are all sorts of wedding packages and chapels located in and around the city, some are even available 24/7! Take stunning bridal photos in the venue or the bridal suite of your hotel! Capture everything on film to really lock in the nostalgic and colorful feeling of the wedding day. Take film strip photos at the legendary Sure Thing Chapel after your ceremony, and enjoy a night on the town as the reception! Whether you’re eloping, or your friends and family are by your side, a Vegas wedding is undoubtedly one to remember. If your vibe is glitter, feather boas, and vibrant colors, or even chic, classic, and vintage, a wedding in a Vegas chapel will not disappoint!
Rooftop
Shout out your “I do’s” from a rooftop and let the whole world hear it! Have an incredible cityscape as your backdrop and marry the love of your life. A few things to take into consideration: the time of year you would like to have your wedding, the number of guests you’ll be expecting, and easy access for a florist and catering staff. Whether it’s a big city or a small town, a rooftop wedding is a charming option that always provides incredible views and even better photos. What gives this location a layer of flexibility is that a rooftop wedding doesn’t have to be the place for both a ceremony and reception, it can be one or the other! Have your ceremony anywhere else on this list and dance the night away on a rooftop, or have your ceremony on a rooftop and enjoy a reception in the couple’s favorite restaurant or banquet hall! Whatever combination you choose, this location’s views are sure to wow, from morning to night!
Beach
Celebrate your wedding day in the sweet ocean air. This venue can range in styles, but can easily be the chicest choice of all. As for the beach itself, you can opt for a local shoreline closest to you, or go big with a destination wedding on an island or coastal city. The best part of this location is that you can be as elaborate as you wish! For the ceremony, include handheld fans, parasol umbrellas for the sun, or handkerchiefs at each seat. Details that can never be overdone include seashells as placecard holders, wicker placemats, and candles. To create a divide between your ceremony and reception areas, have petals and seashells leading the way to tables or a canopy. Consider adding some whimsy at the end of the night with lanterns for your guests to light and lift to the air. The reflection on the water and free open sky will create an image you’ll never forget. Float down the isle on golden sand and marry the love of your life!
Church
One of the more traditional venues is a church; whether it is a Catholic church, a synagogue, or the hometown church you attended growing up. A lovely way to start your new life, a church often offers a priest or pastor to officiate and bless the wedding. The bride-to-be will often get ready in a chapel, surrounded by bridesmaids and the women in her immediate family. After the vows have been exchanged, the marriage is declared, and the couple has walked down the aisle together, the guests will form a path outside of the church with petals or rice to throw at the newlyweds. Depending on the location, some churches will hold the reception, however many couples over time have decided to have it elsewhere. Whether you grew up religious or would simply like a traditional church wedding, this venue option is one to cherish.
Vineyard
Raise a glass to the happy couple with a wine made nearby! Have a sunset ceremony in the intricate rows of a vineyard and end the night with an intimate reception. While this venue option may not be accessible year-round, it is especially special at the end of summer. Typically, vineyard ceremonies do not allow children, so prepare your guest list thoughtfully in advance. Enjoy the chic, elegant atmosphere with a local glass of wine. String up some lights, set out cloth napkins, and light the candles for the reception. Opt for film cameras at the tables for an added nostalgic touch and an engaging guest book. A unique detail would be creating a one-of-a-kind wine label of the newlywed’s last name(s) as a present, or as the signature wine served. Enjoy a wedding and reception at the vineyard for a classy, sophisticated, and carefree atmosphere. Cheers to the happy couple!
Barn
The rustic charm of a barn wedding offers a countryside environment with warm elegance. With an atmosphere that feels intimate yet grand, a barn is a perfect place for a bohemian or traditional country wedding. Use lights and greenery to accentuate the natural wood and exposed beams. Embrace the vintage antique details inside and outside with flower arrangements, candles, and draped fabric. Enjoy an outdoor ceremony with an indoor reception, or the other way around! Hire a dj or a live band to enjoy during the reception. This venue perfectly lends itself to a small intimate wedding or a grand guestlist. Take incredible portraits in the landscape around the barn and enjoy the wedding day!
Castle
Indulge in your childhood dream of being a prince or princess and get married at a castle! Roam around the halls in your beautiful wedding dress or suit with a glass of champagne. Make the day even more special with a violinist, harpist, or a full string quartet. Whether the ceremony is inside the grand ballroom or outside, it is sure to provide incredible photos that you’ll cherish forever. Include brilliant floral arrangements all around and light the candelabras. Hold an elaborate reception or a simple affair. Dance to live music, enjoy the toasts from your friends and relatives, and at the end of the night, kick off your shoes to run around the castle chambers with your new spouse!
Have a grand destination wedding or a backyard ceremony, a small elopement or celebrate in the halls of a castle. However and wherever you plan to celebrate the start of a new life, choose the venue that suits your dream aesthetic.
Photos are included from Pinterest. The images are linked to the original post.
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