As a wedding photographer, I’ve photographed ceremonies at well over one hundred different locations over the last decade. I’d be lying if I said I’ve seen it all, but I sure have seen a lot. During that time, a few venues have really stood out for being not just wonderful to photograph, but also providing an experience that my couples seem to love.
Jump to Venue Information
21c Museum Hotel
Artistic & Modern Downtown Wedding Venue
With ever-changing artwork and a huge variety of spaces to choose from, 21c Louisville is a perfect spot to get married whether you are eloping with just the two of you or having 100 guests. I love the amazing light in the rooftop apartment, the view from the garden terrace, and the drama of the atrium. Their Asleep in the Cyclone room makes you feel like you’ve time-traveled just by stepping inside— and is a fun space for unique photos.
21c is an ADA-compliant, wheelchair-accessible, and LGBTQ+-friendly venue. They do not have public gender-neutral bathrooms, but events in the rooftop apartment would have access to the hotel room’s individual restrooms. A variety of other spaces are available for rent including five galleries, a private dining room, and the atrium. All rentals include an event manager, room planning and set up, assorted tables, chairs, linens, votive candles, custom printed menus, and cleaning services.
Site fees and food and beverage pricing are highly dependent on a variety of factors, but the majority of their wedding events fall in the range of $100 - $150 per person.
View a full wedding from 21c Museum Hotel Louisville here.
3rd Turn Oldham Gardens
Romantic & Botanical Greenhouse wedding venue
3rd Turn Oldham Gardens is one of those spaces where you just want to spend more time. As soon as you step under the wisteria vines you’ll see a long wooden table under dappled light— the focal point of their beer garden. If you keep walking through the venue you’ll find the frames of old greenhouses that break the space up into areas for the ceremony, lawn games, and dinner. I love the celosia and hydrangea throughout the gardens and how it’s easy to find a private spot to slip away without feeling like you’re separate from the group. Protip: if you book the venue on a Sunday they are closed to the public so you can have the full beer garden all to yourself!
3rd Turn is fully wheelchair accessible, however since they are an outdoor venue the terrain can be a mix of grass, gravel, and rock pavers that can cause some trouble for electric chairs and other mobility aids. They are LGBTQ+ friendly and have gender-neutral restrooms. Their rental fee varies depending on the day, space required, and time needed. They have in-house catering, alcohol service, and a majority of in-house rentals. They can seat 200 people in a rain-contingency-controlled space, but have 1.5 acres of space available that can be used for multiple configurations. Since their site is geared towards outdoor offerings, they do not offer cold-weather weddings.
View a full wedding from 3rd Turn Oldham Gardens here.
610 Magnolia
InTIMATE Old Louisville Wedding venue with Courtyard
610 Magnolia is the perfect spot for an intimate wedding. Tucked away in Old Louisville, 610 is wheelchair accessible, LGBTQ+ friendly, and has gender-neutral bathrooms. They do not charge a room rental fee unless the guest count goes below 12— their pricing is per person since they are primarily a restaurant. The maximum number of guests that can be seated in the wine studio for dinner is 30, however, cocktail parties and events that use the outdoor courtyard can accommodate a larger group.
View a full micro-wedding at 610 Magnolia here.
Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest
Casual & Woodsy Outdoor Wedding Venue
While not technically in Louisville, Bernheim is so close to the city and holds a special place in my heart so I had to include it! There are a variety of locations couples can choose for their ceremony at Bernheim, but the most popular are the Big Prairie Overlook and the Quiet Garden. The Magruder Picnic area is also available for wedding rentals and provides a peaceful wooded setting for those looking for something more intimate. Weddings can be held seven days a week for a 2-hour period anytime between 7 AM until two hours prior to sunset and the rental fee is $1,000. There are also indoor rental options including The Garden Pavilion building which is easily accessible at the edge of Lake Nevin, the Sassafras Room inside the visitor’s center, and the education center. Since Bernheim has 16,137 acres, the accessibility of different locations varies considerably. Luckily, they have an extensive accessibility guide so you can plan your visit. Bernheim is LGBTQ+ friendly, but they do not have gender-neutral restrooms.
Copper & Kings
Unique & Modern Butchertown Wedding Venue
Copper & Kings is one of the most unique venues in Louisville. I love their outdoor space and the variety of ways it can be used! Guests always enjoy getting to go on distillery tours during cocktail hour and I love that they have a monarch butterfly habitat at the front of the property. The light is always fun to play with in their space — plus there are lots of Airbnbs really close by to make your wedding day effortless.
Copper & Kings is wheelchair accessible, LGBTQ+ friendly, and has gender-neutral restrooms. They are also a member of Inclusive Kentucky Weddings! Spaces that are available for rental include their gorgeous courtyard, second-floor gallery, as well as their rooftop bar— or a full facility rental.
Gheens Foundation Lodge
Modern & Romantic Wedding Venue in a Park
With floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded by nature, it’s easy to see why so many couples are drawn to Gheens Foundation Lodge in Beckley Creek Park.
The main building at Gheens is wheelchair accessible, but there is a bit of uneven ground going from the side lawn to the concrete. They are LGBTQ+ friendly. While they do not have gender-neutral bathrooms, there is a private bathroom in the hospitality suite that could be provided for that purpose if discussed ahead of time.
Their weekend rental fee is $3,750 from January through March and is $4,250 the rest of the year. While their capacity for seated guests is 300, they usually don’t go over 250 for weddings. Clients are required to hire approved vendors for all food and drink services outside of desserts. Caterers charge a 15% facility fee. An added bonus is that all rentals help support The Parklands!
View a full wedding from Gheens Foundation Lodge here.
Hazelnut Farm
Thoughtful Wedding Venue with a view
Melissa Montgomery, the property manager, shared, “We feel our venue is the perfect blend of indoor and outdoor features to incorporate Kentucky's beauty with all the comforts and weather backups the building offers. With a blend of modern and traditional styles in the architecture & details, Hazelnut Farm perfectly suits a limitless range of event designs and every wedding is completely unique to that couple.
When you book with Hazelnut Farm, we consider you family! We want to set you up for success with a full vendor referral booklet as soon as you sign, expert staff to offer quick and thorough answers during your planning journey, and a team to be onsite the day of your event. We even offer all couples married here complimentary lifetime access to use the property for photo sessions before or after the wedding! You can make the planning even more seamless and comprehensive with the addition of our in-house planning/coordination services.”
Hazelnut Farm is fully ADA-compliant with a ramp graded for wheelchair access. Their entry doorways are wheelchair accessible as are the restrooms. The only spot within the venue not wheelchair accessible are the two upstairs dressing suites, but they can provide a supplemental private dressing suite on the main level when needed. They are LGBTQ+ friendly and have two gender-neutral restrooms. They can host events with up to 350 guests, however, their typical guest size is 150-250 people.
Hazelnut Farm has a pre-approved list of caterers that clients can choose from — those caterers add a 15% facility fee to the cost of food and beverage for the use of their catering kitchen and dumpster services. The rental fee begins at $4,500 for weekday events and weekend rates range from $7,000 - $12,500 depending on the day and the season. All rentals include tables, chairs, set-up, staff onsite, security, and a variety of furniture and smaller decor items that can be used.
View a full wedding from Hazelnut Farm here.
Hockensmith Barn
Casual & Rustic Barn Wedding Venue in a Park
Hockensmith Barn in Turkey Run Park is the perfect wedding venue if you’re looking for cozy & casual rustic barn vibes at your wedding! The space accommodates up to 225 people, and the rental includes the adjacent lawn that can be tented and used for wedding ceremonies or other events as well! Though the barn was raised in traditional Amish style, it’s ADA accessible and offers restrooms, parking, and a food prep space for approved caterers. The side cocktail area does have some uneven ground, but no steps. Since the wood slats make the space pretty open, it is only available to rent from the middle of May to the middle of October. They are LGBTQ+ friendly and all of the nearby restrooms are gender-neutral bathrooms. Caterers must be approved and charge a 15% fee. Rentals help support the Parklands— the rental fee is $2500 for May - October—except for July and August when it is $2000. Bonus: guests have access to the large yellow silo, which has a great view during the sunset.
Ice House
Industrial & Dramatic Downtown Wedding Venue
I asked Bailey Rose, Ice House’s Brand Manager what couples who are considering their venue should know, she said, “Our team truly cares about our couple's experience from beginning to end. We want to know all about your story, your love, and how you envision your big day! Knowing that every couple is unique and so their celebration should reflect that. We understand that planning a wedding can be overwhelming but we hope to bring more excitement and ease to the process than anything else. With Crushed Ice Catering and The Ice House, you're in good hands.”
Ice House is fully ADA accessible and LGBTQ+ friendly. They do not have gender-neutral bathrooms. They can host events with up to 500 guests for a cocktail-style gathering or up to 300 for a seated event. They work exclusively with Crushed Ice Catering.
Tables, chairs, event security, housekeeping, reception coordination, event set-up, and event breakdown are included with all of their wedding packages which begin at $4,000 for Saturdays during peak wedding season.
View a wedding reception held at the Ice House here.
Mellwood Art Center
Adaptable & Industrial Factory Wedding Venue
All of Mellwood’s event rooms are wheelchair accessible— accessible parking is farther from some event rooms, but all rooms have an area nearby where guests can be dropped off as well. They are LGBTQ+ friendly and a founding member of Inclusive Kentucky Weddings. The facilities do not have gender-neutral bathrooms, but the Pigment Gallery, Van Gogh, and Da Vinci Rooms all have their own private event restrooms which couples can designate however they like during their event! They have an open vendor policy and their guests may use any vendors they like with no additional fees.
Rental fees vary by room and date. The smallest room, The Pigment Gallery, seats 60-80 guests and is $1000 on Saturday, whereas the largest room, the Da Vinci Room, seats up to 1000 guests and is $7,800 on a Saturday. There are discounted rates for weekdays and off-season rentals, with their smallest rooms priced at $800 for Monday-Thursday rentals.
Marketing & Communication Director Jamie Shepherd added, “We have an 18-hour rental period, the longest in town that we know of, from 8 am on your event date until 2 am the following morning. And above all else, we have tons of free parking so that your guests don’t have to pay to park to attend your wedding!”
You can view a full intimate wedding from Mellwood Art Center here.
MozzaPi
Cozy & Eclectic Pizza Restaurant Venue
With exposed brick, tall windows, and a spacious interior, MozzaPi in Anchorage is an intimate and unique venue choice for your wedding! Their pizzas are delicious and their beignets are heavenly. Guests love it as different types of pizza keep coming out of the oven throughout the reception so they can try all the different types while they are hot!
MozzaPi is wheelchair accessible on their main floor— the loft seating requires about 20 stairs to access. They are LGBTQ+ friendly, but do not have gender-neutral restrooms. Their rental fee is $5000 per day— this price allows up to 100 guests. Their catering begins at $22 a person and a standard menu includes focaccia, fire-roasted olives, varieties of pizza, and homemade marshmallow smores. They also have a full alcohol license and can staff bartenders for events— beverage pricing is by request only and based on event size.
Patrick O'Shea's
Historic Downtown venue with Exposed Brick
Patrick O’Shea’s offers a unique venue right on Main Street. With three separate floors that each contain elements of the original building alongside updated decor, you have lots of beautiful spaces to choose from for your wedding. The Whiskey Cellar accommodates 100 seated or 150 cocktail style and the rental fee starts at $500 with a food & beverage minimum of $1,000. The Grand Loft can host 150 seated or 250 for cocktails. The room rental for weddings starts at $1,900 with a food & beverage minimum of $2,000. The Penthouse & Rooftop Garden seats 80 or can host 200 for cocktails. The room rental starts at $2,000 for weddings and the food & beverage minimum is $2,000 as well. They have also recently added a couple of smaller room options as well with smaller minimums! They are LGBTQ+ friendly and a founding member of Inclusive Kentucky Weddings, but I am waiting to hear back if they have gender-neutral restrooms.
The Refinery
Industrial Wedding Venue with tall Ceilings
My favorite part about the Refinery has to be the tall ceilings and tall windows— the way the light comes in is so pretty! They are not technically a Louisville venue, but since they are just across the river I thought it was only fair to include them on the list. My couples have said they really love how many different options they had for the arrangement of their day in the space— especially with the courtyard!
All of The Refinery’s facilities are wheelchair accessible. They are LGBTQ+ friendly but do not currently have gender-neutral restrooms. Pricing varies, but begins at $2,000 for weekday rentals of either the Refinery North or the Refinery South and goes up to $7,500 for Saturday rentals of the entire facility. Their rentals include tables, linens, chairs, set-up and break-down of Refinery-provided equipment, on-site staff, and the option to update to all-day access to the rented spaces for $500. Guest capacity varies, but the recommended max capacity for a seated dinner in the Refinery South is 410 guests. While they do not offer in-house catering, they allow clients to bring in whatever vendor that they like (with proof of proper licensing and proof of insurance.) Their venues do not charge fees for bringing in outside catering. They are also pet-friendly!
View a full wedding at The Refinery here.
The Speed Art Museum
Classic meets modern Museum Wedding Venue
I still remember the feeling of walking into the renovated Speed for the first time— I was so overwhelmed and excited that this was in *our city!* I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the exhibitions that have come through since then and every time I get to photograph a wedding there I’m over the moon! The huge staircase in the atrium makes for a dramatic entrance and I love that guests can explore the museum during cocktail hour! With Wiltshire catering, the food is always amazing and the Grand Hall is the perfect reception spot with its state-of-the-art acoustics and big windows.
The Speed is ADA compliant and has designated parking for persons with disabilities in the parking garage as well as wheelchair access available in the entrance located near the security office. All restrooms at the Speed are wheelchair accessible, and they have three elevators throughout the galleries for guest use, as well as an elevator within the Speed parking garage, wherein accessible parking is available on every floor. If you need one, wheelchairs are available to borrow at Guest Relations. The Speed is LGBTQ+ friendly and has gender-neutral restrooms available on the second floor of their North Building, right outside the Modern and Contemporary gallery. I am waiting to hear back in regard to rental fees.
View a full wedding at The Speed Art Museum here.
Whitehall House and Gardens
Romantic & Botanical venue on a historic property
The gardens around Whitehall are truly magical— they weave along the side of the property and seem to go on forever! I love the variety of plants and the architectural elements throughout the garden that tie everything together with a classic look. Inside the main house, there are a variety of vintage wallpapers that make for unique backdrops and beautiful photos of getting ready.
Whitehall is wheelchair accessible— they have a ramp into the mansion and all of the gardens can be accessed without changing levels. They are LGBTQ+ friendly and have individual gender-neutral restrooms inside of the main house. Wedding rental fees vary based on the spaces rented, time of the year, and day of the week with weekday off-season rates starting at $1,000 and weekend summer rates for the mansion and gardens at $4,500.
Tented events have a maximum capacity of 300 guests while events inside the historic home are able to accommodate 100 for a cocktail reception or 75 for a seated dinner. Couples can choose from their preferred catering list and they charge a 15% service fee for use of the commercial kitchen. Outdoor music does have to stop at 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday nights and 9:00 PM on Sunday nights due to being in a residential neighborhood.
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
Lush & Modern Garden Wedding Venue
Yew Dell is a venue that immediately had my heart as soon as I saw it. As a horticulture nerd, I love watching how their landscape changes and shifts through the seasons! As a photographer, the hardest part about weddings here is narrowing down what areas to use for photos— there are so many beautiful and unique spaces from the expansive arboretum to the rock garden to the big meadow and the greenhouse.
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens is mostly wheelchair accessible— there is a paved path around the garden, to Gheens Barn, and the Lower Pavilion. With advanced notice, they can also provide gift cart service to the Event Lawn. They are LGBTQ+ friendly and have two gender-neutral restrooms by the Lower Pavillion. Rentals of the grounds with the Rounsavall Pavilion are $7,700 and without the Rounsavall Pavilion, $5,400. Additional fees apply for events with over 350 guests. Their list of approved catering companies is on their website.
You may notice a few familiar venues left off this list such as Hermitage Farm, Blackacre, Oxmoor Farms, Locust Grove, Farmsley-Moremen Landing, and Farmington Historic Plantation. While these are beautiful locations, many of which I have previously photographed, I personally believe that plantations should not be used for weddings. Many of these sites work to educate the public — for example, Oxmoor Farm, Locust Grove, Farmsley-Moremen, and Farmington formed The Louisville Coalition on the History of the Enslaved to “to interpret and share the stories of the men, women, and children enslaved on our sites, and to find relevance between these stories of the past and the events of the present.” However, other venues such as Hermitage make no mention of their history on their websites. This is not a judgment on anyone who has gotten married in these locations— I just don’t want to further promote weddings where people were enslaved.
