Ten Alternatives to Traditional Wedding Venues

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Twelve years ago, my now husband popped the question. It was such a sweet moment, and after floating around in a cloud for a few days, it hit me like a ton of bricks: we needed to find a location for our wedding. And since we had less than a year to plan, according to many wedding guides, we needed to do that fast. Or else. (insert dramatic music here)

Therefore, we did as many couples do, which is begin to frantically call places that we were interested in, hoping to secure a primo spot at their venue. Which is when we were hit with the reality that the wedding guides weren’t lying and most (desirable) venues do indeed book up at least a year in advance. So, we were facing the possibility of either needing to wait longer to get married or come up with a better idea.

Thankfully, we had the sense to start looking outside of the box so to speak, and it was a happy day when the option of having our reception in a vacant bird aviary at a local park became available. The round building, with its perfectly aged wooden floors and large original windows, charmed the socks off of me the second we walked through the door.  Based on its beautiful aesthetic, availability, and affordable cost, we knew it was the perfect choice, even if it did require us to do a lot of the work on our own when it came to wedding day preparations.  To us, the fact that we could have a space we loved within the time we needed it was worth sacrificing some of the benefits that may have come with having it elsewhere.

Since that day, I’ve been really grateful to have photographed other weddings in a variety of “non-traditional” locations. There’s been a beach front ceremony with the reception held at a rental house, a reception at a beautiful antiques gift shop, a mountaintop elopement, a wedding at a state park, a Bed and Breakfast wedding, and several backyard weddings, just to name a few.  All very different, and yet they all had one thing in common:

They took less than a year to plan. Some even less than six months

Which lead me to write this, for any of you who may have recently been engaged, want to get married sooner than later, but have run into road blocks when it comes to securing a location. Or maybe you don’t have any road blocks but just want something different! Whether your wedding is set to be big or small, listed below are ten options you may want to consider in lieu of a traditional venues. (Quick side note: The suggested businesses and locations are local to the Charlottesville and central Virginia area, but the broad suggestions can be applied anywhere!)

(1) A campground

If you’re a nature lover wanting to have an all outdoor event and offer affordable accommodations for your guests, this may be a perfect option for you! You would need to alert the campground of your plans, especially if you’re hosting a large group of guests, and securing campsites and/or pavilion spaces would be important. Not a fan of tent camping? Many campgrounds offer small cottage options, and there are also Airstream Parks, such as Virginia Highland Haven that may be able to accommodate your wedding day vision.

(2) A farm or open land space  PIN

This is where you would need to ask around and/or use connections to secure a spot, but there are farm and land owners who would consider hosting a wedding in exchange for a rental fee…and the promise that you won’t destroy their property. The great thing with a large open plot of land is that it’s a total blank slate, which you can choose to leave au natural or personalize with items such as arbors and live plant installations (J. W. Townsend is one local company who provides this service). Also, if you wanted to give your guests an overnight experience, there’s the option of providing tents on site, which can be rented from companies such as Solid Ground Shelters.

(3) The beachPIN

Oceanside weddings give off the most relaxed and carefree vibe, but some people are hesitant to choose this as their location because of the tendency for foot traffic on the beach or uninvited guests parking themselves at your ceremony. However, this can be avoided by (1) choosing to marry in the off season, (2) planning a weekday ceremony, and/or (3) securing a beach space that’s small/private/lacks a public access. Last year I photographed a beach wedding that took place on a Thursday in May, and there were less than five people who walked by their ceremony. Additionally, this couple decided to rent a large beach house for the week of the wedding, giving themselves and their closest family/friends/guests a mini vacation to go along with their special day. The house was large and had a pool, making it the perfect spot for their reception as well. Which leads me to option number four…

(4) AirBNB or Bed and Breakfast

As with renting a beach house for your wedding reception space, AirBNB is a great tool for finding a venue that offers space and accommodations. To search for homes that offer event usage as part of their rental fee, make sure to set your search results to 16+ guests, choose that you’d like to rent the entire home, and select “suitable for events” under the additional filter of house rules (where you can also choose “pets allowed” if you’re hoping your four legged friends can join the party). You may also try inquiring with a Bed and Breakfast, as many will offer the option of renting the entire home for your event – and possibly even help with catering and planning.

(5) Mountains

There’s not much to be said here except that getting married in the mountains is beautiful. The trees, the foliage (even lack thereof in the winter), the sky: it all makes for providing a truly sacred space for exchanging vows. Of course choosing this as a ceremony option means you’ll have to roll with the elements and guests may have to be okay with hiking. Parking could also be a concern, depending on how many people you’re inviting to be with you. However, if you’re set on exchanging vows in the mountains, there’s always the option of keeping that moment private or intimate, then descending to another spot for your wedding day celebration. The couple who eloped at Ravens Roost had the most gorgeous weekday exchange of vows witnessed by just a few, followed by a celebration event with a larger group the following weekend.PIN

(6) Parks

Much like campgrounds, parks are a great option if you’re hoping for an outdoor, relaxed wedding day experience. There’s a great website to help you find state parks that serve as wedding venues in the state of Virginia, though I’ll add one more to the list, being that Pocahontas State Park was a spot of a beautiful wedding I photographed a couple years ago.

(7) Antique or gift shops

One of my favorite wedding receptions of 2016 was held at Gather, an adorable shop housed in an old general store. At the time, the shop hadn’t hosted a large wedding before, but the bride didn’t think it hurt to inquire…and it certainly didn’t, as the owner agreed to take on the challenge! The entire vibe of the day was relaxed and had the bonus vintage charm and warmth due to the store’s ambience. Due to that wedding’s success, Gather is now booking weddings for 2017, so contact Melissa if you’re hoping to get married in the Richmond, Virginia area! Or, if you’re in the Lynchburg area, The Farm Basket is also a wonderful space.

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(8) A chocolate shop or bakery

Not too different from the above example, but just another version of where you may consider having an intimate wedding. I recently met a couple who eloped in a chocolate shop, and my favorite cupcake shop in town, Sweethaus, rents its space out for private events. No matter where you live, if you have a sweet tooth and want some amazing aromas to accompany your day, it never hurts to inquire with the owners of your favorite spots!

(9) An art gallery

If you’re hoping for a unique indoor venue, then renting an art gallery space could be ideal. With its clean white walls and modern aesthetic, a favorite option here in Charlottesville is Second Street Gallery

(10) Backyard

I was saving maybe the simplest for last, but let me just say: when I receive inquiries with the words “backyard wedding,” I immediately get excited. Typically because it means that the backyard is special to the couple, and that by having a wedding at home, it’s immediately going to be warm and inviting. Yes, guest numbers may be limited due to the size of the home or yard, but it’s definitely an affordable and meaningful option.

So, there you have it: a short list of ten alternative locations for your wedding! Hopefully one of the options has you feeling inspired.

However, I’ll address the fact that maybe none of the above options struck a chord with you, or maybe you’ve just always dreamed of having your wedding at a certain outdoor venue. I can totally understand that, as wedding venues who book quickly are snatched up for good reasons. The name of their game is weddings, so they’re professional, the grounds are typically spacious and well maintained, and their wedding packages come along with amenities and services – often including the assistance of a venue manager to make sure your planning experience and wedding day go smoothly.

That being said, there are many popular outdoor venues who are open to booking weekday weddings and elopements if your weekend dates are taken. Three of my favorite local venues who do so are Meriwether Springs Vineyard , The Market at Grelen, and Montfair Resort Farm. All are beautiful, accommodating, and have the most amazing owners and staff to ensure a great experience.

Annnnd one last thing before I go. If you actually don’t want to plan a wedding at all but just want to exchange vows with the love of your life, witnessed only by God, the officiant, and a photographer (I just so happen to know a gal)…eloping is a fabulous idea which can take place in any of the above scenarios as well.

So I’ll really end by saying this: whichever route you choose to go, enjoy your engagement, revel in this season, and focus on what really matters: at the end the day, you’re vowing to do life with your very best friend. The end.

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