If you’re on the hunt for the best Kentucky wedding venues I’ve got you covered! As a Kentucky wedding photographer, one of my favorite things is helping couples find their dream venue, and Kentucky definitely has no shortage of incredible places to get married! So whether you’re having an intimate wedding with just your closest friends and family, or the party of a lifetime, we’re gonna tackle all of the best venues in the area that you should consider for your big day. But before we jump right in, let’s cover some of the basics to think about when you’re choosing your wedding venue.
How to Choose Your Kentucky Wedding Venue
It’s no easy task trying to find the perfect space for your wedding day! Your wedding venue is going to be what determines how your day looks and feels, how many people you can invite, what sort of activities you can include, and what sort of other vendors you hire. So it’s a pretty big deal! But don’t stress it. Before you start your Kentucky wedding venue search, you should ask yourself these questions:
What’s your budget?
We’re jumping into the scary question right off the bat, but knowing your budget before you start your Kentucky wedding venue search is key to keeping your wedding finances in order. Things snowball fast, so having a budget and sticking to it when you’re looking for your venue will open up the door to spending a little more generously on your dream vendor team later on, because that’s where the magic really happens! Your vendors are who bring your vision to life, so balancing your budget between your venue and vendors is key.
How many guests do I want to invite to my wedding? What’s the maximum number?
Often this will determine which venues you’ll leave out of your search pretty quickly. If you plan to invite 200+ people but fall in love with a venue that can only host 75, you’ll have to either cull your guest count or say goodbye to your dream place. When planning, ask yourself which feels more important to you beforehand to save yourself the heartache.
Does this venue include things like tables/chairs/rentals or catering?
When planning your overall wedding budget, consider if your venue offers things like tables/chairs/rentals/catering in their pricing not only to save your budget but also for convenience! Having rentals and catering onsite already eliminates the need to check another thing off of your to-do list.
Does your venue require insurance?
While not a deal breaker oftentimes, it’s a great question to ask upfront so you know exactly what you need to do to make the wedding of your dreams happen. Event insurance is relatively inexpensive (typically $100-$400 depending on what size your wedding is and the location) and easy to get, but better to know ahead of time exactly what they require!
What do you want your wedding day to feel like?
Do you want something light and airy? Dark and moody? Do you want to embrace the local art scene or history? Having a clear vision before you start your search is massively helpful in avoiding decision fatigue and creative burnout. Making a Pinterest board beforehand or writing down words that come to mind when you think of your dream day is a great place to start!
The Best Kentucky Wedding Venues
1. Ice House
Right in the heart of downtown Louisville, Ice House is at the very top of the list for one of my favorite Kentucky wedding venues. A perfect blend of modern sophistication with historic charm, Ice House has multiple indoor spaces from the Mezzanine area that overlooks the Main Hall, to a rooftop garden, and a beautiful outdoor space called the East Terrance that has a covered bar and fire pit, perfect for letting your guests lounge! It has a 150 guest limit and the perk of in-house catering available too.
2. Cason’s Cove
If European elegance is your vibe, Cason’s Cove is the venue for you. Rolling farmland and European-style stucco buildings, gorgeous gardens, and plenty of space to customize your event, it’s an all-inclusive venue that screams fairytale elegance. With a guest limit of 200 indoors, and 400 outdoors, you’ll have plenty of space for you and your guests to spread out across the grounds.
3. Speed Art Museum
Beautiful, modern, and contemporary, the Speed Art Museum is a dream venue for anyone who loves art and design. With plenty of spaces to incorporate both traditional and modern elements of your wedding, it’s one of the most luxurious feeling venues on this list! Imagine your guests enjoying their dinner in the museum atrium, admiring the glassy reflecting pool, and exploring the museum after hours (um, how cool?) on your wedding day. With spaces to get ready on site, multiple options for ceremony locations, and plenty of space to dance, you can’t go wrong.
4. The Frazier Museum
With expansive Ohio River views, located right in Louisville’s historical downtown, and the ability to host up to 360 guests, the Frazier Museum is one of the most expansive venues on this list, and would be an absolute catch if you’re history-obsessed! Its magnificent Grand Hall, unique loft-style space, and intimate speakeasy make this one of the most flexible venues too, no matter what size your wedding is. And one of the biggest perks if they host events 7 days a week if you’re thinking of doing something a little nontraditional too.
5. 21c
If you’re looking to embrace Louisville’s eclectic art scene and incorporate art into every part of your wedding day, then 21c is the perfect place. With a guest count of 120 for your ceremony, and up to 450 for your reception, it has multiple spaces to accommodate just about every size wedding. But its art is what sets it apart! Full of funky, eclectic, brightly colored exhibition spaces, it’s the perfect place to add some color and modern glam to your wedding day.
6. The KY Castle
If you think of a European castle dropped right out of the sky into central Kentucky when you hear Kentucky Castle, well then you’d be correct! This Kentucky wedding venue has the most breathtaking mix of Southern hospitality and charm with European elegance. Think luxury Medieval Times complete with turrets, massive iron gates, a luxe ballroom, and gardens hidden in castle walls. Princess fairytale vibes and all!
7. Whitehall House & Gardens
A grand 19th-century antebellum home that’s been preserved as it was in 1909, the Whitehall House and Garden is pure Southern charm and historic beauty. Think southern romance novel meets wedding day, and voila! Whitehall House and Gardens is it! While this venue has a smaller guest count hosting ability, it makes up for it with its unmatched historic preservation and incredible opportunities for some stunning photos all over the property. It can host up to 200 people outdoors and 75 inside the mansion itself.
8. Sanctuary Lex
An absolutely breathtaking contemporary venue in Lexington, Kentucky, Sanctuary Lex is one of the most beautiful venues on this list and one of the most practical! They have onsite accommodations for two nights for your wedding, all furniture rentals are included, and you’ll have the space for the whole weekend. But what really makes this space so stunning, is its beautiful natural light, massive paned windows, cool lime wash walls, polished concrete floors, the perfect compliment to any modern wedding aesthetic.
9. Germantown Gables
If light, bright, and industrial with a touch of garden-esque design is your vibe (cause it’s an AMAZING combo), Germantown Gables should be at the top of your list on your Kentucky wedding venue must-sees. Clean modern lines, bright open spaces, with plenty of flexibility no matter what your wedding vision is, it’s absolutely to die for if you’re a design-inclined couple.
10. Clerestory at Greyline
Housed in a former bus depot, this industrial beauty has maintained its original architecture to create one of Kentucky’s most gorgeous wedding venues. With ivy-covered exterior walls, nearly floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and open space to host ALL of the dancing and eating, Clerestory at Greyline is last but not least on our list of Kentucky wedding venues! With an ability to host 350 people, it has plenty of room for all of your friends and family, in one of the most beautiful venues in the state.
