Your wedding can take place literally in any locale you want it to, which sounds amazing…but it can also make choosing a venue that fits the occasion something of a challenge! If you can’t afford to rent an actual castle to bring your fairytale to life in and the idea of a church ceremony sounds a little too traditional for your sensibilities, why not get a little creative with your venue and think outside the chapel? Our favorite alternative venues are listed below, places that may surprise you at first, but with a bit of imagination, these spots can make wonderfully memorable spaces to celebrate your most important occasion!
- Brew Pubs
A quaint corner pub nestled in the heart of a central downtown corridor makes a perfectly charming background for an intimate, personal wedding. In addition to providing warm corners for your guests to huddle in, you have a ready bar and potentially even catering services that suit the theme right on the premises, offering sampler flights of local concoctions and bringing community businesses a bit of needed exposure. It’s a special choice for couples with a fondness for craft ale and the cozy comfort of beloved neighborhood bars.
- Museums and Galleries
For a striking setting that’s sure to elevate the vibe of your wedding, research the availability of museums and galleries in your area; many offer their spaces as event halls and wedding spots. Think modern art for a vibrant, contemporary backdrop, or something more classical to surround yourselves with age-old romance. And for an extra stroke of whimsy, check into a science museum or an interactive exhibit that will lend a sense of kinetic fun to the evening!
- Libraries
An obvious choice for book lovers, a marriage among the stacks can turn an ordinary library setting into something unexpectedly magical. If the library in your town happens to occupy a building of the historical sort, you can add to the atmosphere with dramatic lighting and choose a picturesque stairway or glowing wooden archway for the ceremony. And don’t forget to schedule your photos among the volumes…a few shots of you and your beloved reading sonnets to one another would make classic and elegant images for your album.
- The Woods
Nature is always welcome at a wedding, provided the weather cooperates. If you’re an outdoorsy couple, you can choose a nearby forest cove to add a little festive lighting to; if you’re a bit more reserved, you can opt for a woodsy garden setting exploding with blooms to provide natural flower arrangements. Both of these options provide plenty of opportunity for enchantment when it comes to both the ceremony and the reception. An added bonus: a sunset ceremony leading into a reception beneath the stars will add a touch of cosmic spectacle to the occasion.
- Theater
Since weddings are something of a production to begin with, why not opt for a literal theater as your venue? If you’re a film-loving couple, explore a movie locale during off-hours and throw a Golden Age of Cinema-themed wedding that makes use of the screen as a cinematic backdrop. And if you’re lovers of live theater, seek out a community theater that will provide all the staging and seating for a wedding production that suits your tastes to a T – complete with a chamber orchestra to provide sonic inspiration in a space tailor-made for just this sort of wonder!
You get the idea now…a wedding can take place practically anywhere you decide it should (as long as it’s available). The more creative your choice, the more personal your event will feel. Just remember: no matter where you decide to have your wedding, as long as it reflects your personal interests and your sense of fun and romance, you’re bound to have the evening of your dreams!