10 Historic Wedding Venues Perfect for Celebrating Your Love Story
Some of our favorite historical wedding venues include Tuscan castles, Irish estates, and stateside chapels and museums. Settings like these can provide a certain gravitas to make your big day feel even more monumental and meaningful.
As you exchange vows in rooms and gardens where so many others have lived and loved, you’ll be adding your very own stamp to the history books.
If you’re just getting started wedding planning, you may want to consider these 10 top historical wedding venues for your upcoming nuptials.
What You Will Learn
- 1. Castello del Trebbio, Florence, Italy
- 2. Marigny Opera House, New Orleans, Louisiana
- 3. Plimoth Patuxet, Plymouth, Massachusetts
- 4. Traquair House, Peebles, Scotland
- 5. The Bell Tower, Nashville, Tennessee
- 6. The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
- 7. The Gonzalez-Alvarez House, St. Augustine, Florida
- 8. Tranquility Farm, Purcellville, Virginia
- 9. Kilkea Castle, County Kildare, Ireland
- 10. The Crane, St. Philip, Barbados
- Historic Wedding Venue FAQs
- Protect Your Wedding with BriteCo Wedding Insurance
1. Castello del Trebbio, Florence, Italy
For a Tuscan destination wedding, look no further than Castello del Trebbio, a vineyard and castle dating back to the 1100s and the Florentine Renaissance. Located just 15 minutes from the town of Florence, it’s in a prime destination city.
The best part is, you can host your wedding ceremony in the castle itself and then hold your reception in the venue’s on-site restaurant, which offers terrace views of the vineyards. Meanwhile, all of your guests can stay on-site as well, before and after the wedding day, in the apartments and villas located on the grounds.
2. Marigny Opera House, New Orleans, Louisiana
Originally, this property built in 1853 was known as Holy Trinity Catholic Church. But today it serves as the Marigny Opera House or The Church of the Arts. Unlike the Italian castle above, a big benefit of this wedding venue is that the property is located stateside, so there’s no need to ask your family and friends to travel too far for your special day.
As an extremely popular and well-known historic wedding venue, Marigny Opera House may have slim openings. So you’ll want to begin planning early if you’d like to celebrate your big day here. Wedding bookings are made up to 18 months in advance.
3. Plimoth Patuxet, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plimoth Patuxet (previously known as Plimoth Plantation) in Plymouth, Massachusetts is a complex of living history museums depicting the first successful British colony in North America. The expansive grounds offer multiple locations in which you can hold your wedding and/or reception.
Couples who have chosen the spot rave about the venue’s easy wedding planning process, the location right on the historic waterfront, and convenient catering options provided by the property.
4. Traquair House, Peebles, Scotland
Not only is Traquair House one of the oldest historic venues in the United Kingdom, built in the 12th century, but it’s also the oldest owned and inhabited house in Scotland.
You can hold your wedding indoors in the Catholic chapel, in the house itself, or outside in scenic spots such as the old walled garden with lush greenery. There’s space for more intimate weddings as well as larger events, and smaller parties can even choose to have dinner in the 18th century dining room, surrounded by historic portraits of nobility.
5. The Bell Tower, Nashville, Tennessee
In downtown Nashville, The Bell Tower is ideal if you want to host a massive celebration with up to 700 of your closest friends. However, this historic building, constructed in 1874, is significant for more than just its size. It was originally one of the first churches built by freed African-American slaves after the Civil War.
6. The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
When perusing historical wedding venues, you’re bound to come across a few wedding venues that are a bit haunted, too — like the Queen Mary, a historic ocean liner docked off the coast in Long Beach, California.
Operational since the 1930s, the ship’s long history includes ferrying passengers across the Atlantic and operating as a troopship during World War II. The rumor is that she’s haunted — but that shouldn’t discourage you from hosting your dream wedding aboard her. It’ll leave all your guests with memorable stories!
7. The Gonzalez-Alvarez House, St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, Florida, is the oldest city in the United States and, as such, it boasts some amazing old wedding venues like The Gonzalez-Alvarez House, built in the 1700s. The gorgeous gardens make for an enchanting and charming spot to exchange your vows.
8. Tranquility Farm, Purcellville, Virginia
If you’re torn between historic wedding chapels and a barn wedding, get the best of both worlds at Tranquility Farm in Virginia.
Originally an 1800s Quaker farm, the grounds now offer a vineyard and event venue, with a myriad of locations around the property where you can host your wedding, including an antique barn, a manor house, courtyard, and more.
9. Kilkea Castle, County Kildare, Ireland
Not only is Kilkea Castle an excellent wedding venue, but it’s also one of Ireland’s oldest inhabited castles, dating back to 1180. The property has been holding weddings for nearly a millennia, too, so you know you’re in good hands with their vendors.
Host your fairytale wedding in the castle itself, or choose one of the adjacent buildings elsewhere on the estate, all of which are just a short walk away.
10. The Crane, St. Philip, Barbados
If you’re dreaming of a Caribbean destination wedding, you can have both historic beauty and fun in the sun at The Crane, the oldest continuously operating hotel in the Caribbean.
Established in the 1800s, The Crane offers a myriad of spaces in which to host your celebration. Intimate celebrations can take place on the pink sand beach (regularly voted one of the world’s best beaches). Larger weddings can be held in spaces such as the historic wedding garden, adjacent to the property’s 1700s villa, or The Carriage House Bar & Restaurant, which originally served as the resort’s stables when it first opened.
Historic Wedding Venue FAQs
What Should You Consider When Picking a Wedding Venue?
First, talk to your husband or wife to be (this is not a decision you want to surprise them with), and discuss important factors such as your budget, personal style, and preferences for your big day. While picking a wedding venue can be exciting, it’s best not to rush into this big decision. Your wedding venue will be one of your biggest expenses and will set the entire tone for your celebration, as well as dictate vendors you work with.
What Influences the Wedding Venue Cost?
Many factors will impact what you’ll pay for your wedding venue, including availability and demand, whether you’re holding your wedding during a low or high season, the day of the week you’re holding your wedding, and more. The important thing is to not overextend your budget when picking a venue, so that you get married life off on the right financial foot. If you have your heart set on a specific venue, you can often lower the cost by choosing to hold your wedding on an off-day or time of the year that’s not as popular.
Are Historic Venues a Good Fit for a Modern Wedding?
Yes! Even if you’re planning to create a more modern wedding, you can still utilize a historic wedding venue. Many have been restored and allow you to incorporate your own personal style into your décor and other wedding considerations. So you can take advantage of the beauty of the historic architecture without going all out on a historic wedding theme.
How Far in Advance Should You Book Your Wedding Venue?
Some of these historic wedding venues are in high demand, so you’ll want to plan ahead as much as possible, booking your venue as far out as 18 months in advance.
How Much Will You Pay for a Historic Wedding Venue?
Your wedding venue will be one of your largest wedding costs, and you can expect to pay near $10,000, at minimum, for hosting your wedding in an in-demand historic venue.
Protect Your Wedding with BriteCo Wedding Insurance
A wedding is a big investment, and you shouldn’t have to worry about lost money due to an unexpected cancellation, vendor no-shows, or other issues. BriteCo’s wedding insurance ensures that, if your wedding is canceled, your venue is damaged, or a wedding guest is injured, you can recoup those costs.
Learn more about wedding venue insurance and get your quote from BriteCo now!
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