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Photo by Ashley Sawtelle
With seemingly endless wedding venue options to choose from, it’s hard to narrow down your choices and select a spot that aligns with your budget, location, and style criteria. Lucky for you, we did the research and legwork, scouring the country (and the Internet) to compile a master list of wedding destinations that are our go-to recs, year after year. From mountain locales with panoramic views and rustic-glam summer camps to chic landmarks in your all-time favorite cities, we’ve got a wedding venue for you, your partner, and your style.
If you’re into the grand outdoors, check out The Little Nell’s sundeck, which sits at a 11,000 feet and features panoramic views of the Elk Mountains, or Brush Creek Ranch, where you pose for portraits, exchange vows, and party on 30,000 acres of untouched landscape. Want a building with rich history? Wow your guests with the unexpected by booking an old library in Boston or a restored brewery in Austin, Texas. And foodies, don’t think we forgot about you. You’ll find your heaven on either coast, whether you’re into the stellar wine list at Meadowood Napa Valley in California or farm-fresh fare at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in upstate New York.
Keep reading to find more wedding venue inspiration—believe us, we’ve got it.
Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington, Connecticut
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Courtesy of Mayflower Inn & Spa
Buy out this charming 30-room escape for great sights and even better service. Photo ops are endless in the Shakespeare Garden, where you’ll exchange vows, as well as inside the resort’s all-white spa.
Boston Public Library in Boston, Massachusetts
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Photo by Sarah Bastille Photography
Charm guests with dinner in book-lined Bates Hall, then head to the Abbey Room for a dance sesh overlooking the courtyard. Bonus: The caterer will ensure you eat, too, thanks to goodie bags filled with fresh entrées, mini desserts, and bubbly for two.
Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, Massachusetts
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Photo by Melissa Robotti Photography
Tie the knot on the private beach before moving to a sailcloth tent or one of the oceanfront dining rooms for a lobster dinner and dancing. Then you’re just steps from the bars on Main Street if you want to continue the party.
Bonnet Island Estate in Manahawkin, New Jersey
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Photo by AH Photography
Want your own private island? You can have that, as well as an open-air chapel and a rustic ballroom (that looks like the inside of a ship) overlooking Manahawkin Bay.
Rainbow Room in New York, New York
Photo by Brett Matthews
Take over the 65th floor of famed Rockefeller Center. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another spot with such epic views—or a rotating dance floor.
The Hay-Adams in Washington, D.C
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Photo by Abby Jiu Photography
Give your guests the ultimate District experience at the Top of the Hay, where they can sip champs and snap #selfies with the White House.
Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri
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Courtesy of Big Cedar Lodge
Take your pick of four wedding chapels, then move on to a cabin with 360-degree views of Table Rock Lake or to the lake itself, where there’s a yacht ready to host 45; Big Cedar Lodge.
Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria Resort in Phoenix, Arizona
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Courtesy of Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria Resort
At this historic landmark, you can lounge in what was Marilyn Monroe’s favorite pool, then watch as guests are stunned by the hands-on service and breathtaking architecture, co-designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California
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Photo by Rodel Valdez of A Touch of Soul Productions
The property’s gilded chapels and ornate ballrooms attract couples after old-world charm in SoCal. Not to mention, this place has been hosting weddings for more than a century.
Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California
Photo by Michael and Anna Costa Photography
After vows in front of the Santa Ynez Mountains, head to the La Pacifica Terrace for sunset cocktails with views of the Pacific—and pods of leaping dolphins.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Incline Village, Nevada
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Photo by BluElla Photography
Get the best of the shore and the mountains at this lakeside property, where coordinators excel at even the smallest of details, like surprise mid-ceremony mimosas.
Castaway Portland in Portland, Oregon
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Courtesy of Castaway Portland
Make this raw space whatever you like—from an industrial-chic fête in the restored warehouse to a romantic affair in the garden.
Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C
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Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium
Don't let its incredible 62-foot columns and grand vaulted ceilings throw you off: This historic, 1930's federal building may look like it's reserved for the Obama family, but it's totally rentable year-round (and seats up to 500 guests). Use one of the Green Rooms for cocktails, then move to the ballroom for the most grand seated dinner ever—and don't forget photos on its famous balcony, overlooking all of D.C.
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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The College of Physicians of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Vows could be made in this medicinal herb garden. It is home to the Mütter Museum of medical history. It is important to note this venue's history is rooted in colonialism.
Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport, Maine
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Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport
It doesn't get more romantic than I dos in the woods or gardens of this luxe, laid-back resort.
University Club of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois
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University Club of Chicago in Chicago
History buffs, take note: Stepping into this centuries-old private club, with its collegiate crests and lake views, is like stepping back in time. After a day of getting ready in the club's many rich and impeccably kept rooms (they're filled with leather-bound books and smell of rich mahogany, if you know what we mean), sip Scotch cocktails with your guests in the historic library before dinner and dancing in the soaring Cathedral Hall.
Villa Bellezza in Pepin, Wisconsin
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Graddy Photography/ Villa Bellezza
This vineyard's picturesque ceremony spots and top-shelf wine bring Sonoma style to the Midwest.
MOHAI in Seattle, Washington
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MOHAI in Seattle
The Museum of History and Industry takes the phrase "industrial loft wedding" to a whole new level. Set in Seattle's Naval Reserve Building, the museum's Grand Atrium soars to four stories and can accommodate up to 750 guests. Make your grand entrance down a spiral staircase, surrounded by historical and military artifacts, and dine on long tables underneath a Boeing B-1 mail carrier suspended from the ceiling.
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia
Walk down the aisle above all of Philadelphia in the rooftop garden, under a breathtaking glass dome with 360-degree city views, and make your grand entrance into the sweeping Perelman Theater's grand stage for an ultra-opulent seated reception.
San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California
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San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara
Since the 1930s, this California dream destination has been the locus of fairy-tale romance for American royalty: Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were married at the picturesque winery, and JFK and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned here. The 500 acres of vineyard and gardens are just as beautiful for an intimate ceremony and reception.
Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor, Maine
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Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor
At this old-timey Mt. Desert Island inn, you can dine and dance by spectacular Northeast Harbor, then make your getaway via romantic sea kayak; Asticou Inn.
The Barn at Walnut Hill in North Yarmouth, Maine
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The Barn at Walnut Hill in North Yarmouth
Dreaming of a woodsy barn affair, but don't want to sacrifice one bit of style? Look no further than this 1887 restored barn and farmhouse, located on 40 acres of pristinely tended land north of Portland, Maine. After an outdoor ceremony, use the reclaimed chicken coop for cocktail hour before getting down in the post-and-beam barn, ornamented with wrought-iron chandeliers and sconces for the most refined rustic affair on the East Coast.