12 Unique Wedding Venues That Are Perfect for Unconventional Brides and Grooms

Once upon a time, brides and grooms had to exchange vows in a church. That’s not the case today. The sky is the limit when deciding where you want to get married, so why not do something a little different?

If the idea of getting married in a barn or having your reception in a hotel ballroom makes you yawn, we’ve got you covered.

Here are 12 of the most unique and unconventional wedding venues, along with decorating tips to help you make the most of the vibe in the venue you choose.

Bride and Groom Posing in Front of Three Slot Machines: Ember and Stone Events

Casino

A casino can be a fun place to host a wedding. You can rent a room if you want to dance, or you and your guests can while away the hours playing table games. Not to mention, this unique wedding venue provides you with some seriously cool photo opportunities.

Dice, playing cards, and poker chips are no-brainers when decorating for a casino wedding. Champagne towers, cigars, and green velvet table runners — especially over black tablecloths—fit right into the theme too.

Wedding Guests Eating Dinner at a Long Reception Table in a Book Store: The Knot

Library or Bookstore

If you and your partner love the written word, don’t just decorate with books. Consider having your wedding in a library or a bookstore!

This is among the best unconventional wedding venues because you don’t have to do a lot of decorating if you don’t want to. Instead, consider having a book bar where guests can take home a new novel. Cloches can be a fun way to add interest to centerpieces, while old-fashioned pedestal vases can hold flower arrangements.

Wedding Aisle Lined With Pampas Grass and Petals in a Horse Stable: Vogue

Horse Stables

If you like the idea of a rustic barn wedding but don’t want to do what everyone else is doing, have your wedding in a horse stable instead.

If you decide to go with this non-traditional wedding venue, skip the decorations guests are likely to expect, like burlap and mason jars. Instead, do something unexpected. Drape tables with chiffon table runners, get fancy with gold floral charger plates, and hang string lights throughout the space. Hanging wreaths on stable doors is also a nice touch.

Bride and Groom Exchanging Vows at a Baseball Stadium: MLB

Sports Stadium

Love sports? Sports stadiums are among the best unconventional wedding venues!

Whether you love baseball, football, or hockey, many stadiums offer wedding packages, with some allowing you to get married right on the field. Not a lot of decorating is needed, but a ceremony arch is a good idea, as it helps define the altar in an otherwise oversized space. Foam fingers and fireworks are a lot of fun to have at a sports stadium wedding too.

Bride and Groom Posing at a Balloon Altar Surrounded By Bumper Cars: Bespoke Bride

Amusement Park or Fair Wedding

Bring out your inner child and have an amusement park or fair wedding!
Although it is one choice among non-traditional wedding venues, it does come with some more traditional options. For example, most amusement parks have large spaces you can rent so your guests have a home base at the park. Keep with the playful theme and create balloon arches, decorate with streamers, and don’t be afraid to have fun with color.

Wedding Reception Table With Red Chairs in an Antique Store: Green Wedding Shoes

Antique Store

If you want to feel like you have stepped back in time at your wedding, you don’t have to choose an old mansion or dish out thousands of dollars to make a rented space look old. You just have to head to the local antique store!

You won't have to do a ton of decorating, but you will likely have to rent or buy certain items, like chairs and dining tables. You will also likely have to rent or buy tableware. Keep with the theme and choose antique charger plates, antique silverware, and mismatched votive candle holders.

Bride and Groom Feeding Two Giraffes: Brides of North Texas

Zoo or Aquarium

Zoos and aquariums are among the best unconventional wedding venues. Many even have large gathering spaces that can be rented, which means you can get married and have your reception in the same place.

Find fun ways to let the animals shine if you choose this type of venue. For example, paper lanterns look like hanging bubbles at an aquarium wedding, while animal-themed tables are a fun way to help guests find their seats.

Two Grooms Holding Hands Posing in Front of a Theater Entrance: Degrees North Images

Theater

If you and your partner have a flare for the dramatic, get married in a theater! Unconventional wedding venues include both live action theaters and movie theaters.

You can get married right on stage, or you can make a slideshow or mini movie to play on the big screen. Have a popcorn bar, decorate with filmstrips and VHS tapes, and hire a food truck to come at the end of the night.

Bride in a Sparkling Peach Dress Sliding Down a Fireman’s Pole: Emma Mullins Photography

Fire Station

If you want to honor public servants, having your wedding at the local fire station can be a lot of fun. Some historic stations may even have banquet facilities.

This unconventional wedding venue is perfect for a sparkler send off in a fire truck. The bridal party can make their big entrance by sliding down the firefighter’s pole. Tabletop firepits are a fun touch when you provide the ingredients for guests to make smores.

Wedding Reception With Long Tables and Guests in an Airplane Hangar: Grace E Jones Photography

Airplane Hangar

If you're looking for a wide, open space for lots of guests, look no further than an airplane hangar.

These unique wedding venues are also a blank slate. They’re the perfect place to create stylish vignettes with couches, chairs, and end tables where guests can have intimate conversations. Hanging things from the rafters is also a lot of fun. Go big with swaths of draped fabric and floral chandeliers, or keep things simple with patio lights.

Bride and Groom Posing Between Two Paintings in a Museum: 100 Layer Cake

Museum

Museums can be a fun place to have a wedding. Natural history and art museums are a no brainer, especially because they often have spaces that can be rented, but don’t be afraid to consider more unconventional wedding venues.

For example, The Neon Museum in Las Vegas is a funky place to get married. The Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee could be a memorable place to get hitched. It’s about finding a museum that resonates with you. Then, let the collection shine without too many extra decorations.

Sailboat Decorated With Greenery and Bougainvillea: Ruffled Blog

Boat or Cruise Ship

Love the water but want to skip the beach wedding? Hop on a boat to say your I-do’s!

You can rent yachts and other ships for your big day. You can find cruise ship wedding packages as well.

Keep things simple with garlands of greenery or hang creeping bougainvillea on the masts of a sailboat. Centerpieces should be simple too so they don’t slide off the table if the waves get a little bumpy.

Have another unique wedding venue in mind? Just ask! You’ll be surprised how many businesses are open to hosting a wedding. Because they are considered non-traditional wedding venues, you may find that you end up paying a lot less for an unconventional space that’s more meaningful to you and your partner than any hotel ballroom ever could be.

FAQ

What is an unconventional wedding venue?

An unconventional wedding venue is any location where brides and grooms usually don’t tie the knot. Unconventional wedding venues often don’t advertise themselves as a wedding venue, and because of that, they are often more affordable.

What are some unique or unconventional wedding venue ideas?

An unconventional wedding venue’s primary function isn’t wedding related, like a fire station, zoo, or library. Some other examples of unique wedding venues include a horse stable, antique store, and yacht.

What are some DIY décor ideas for a non-traditional wedding venue?

Shopping at a discount wholesaler, like Koyal Wholesale, is a great way to find affordable DIY decorations for a non-traditional wedding venue. You should match your decorations to the vibe of your venue. For example, balloons are a good choice for an amusement park wedding, while dice and poker chips are perfect for a casino wedding.