The list of options for wedding venues in Raleigh NC is… seemingly endless and growing. But in that huge list… how do you find great venues who will keep your wedding a priority?

I’ve been wedding photographer in Raleigh NC for over a decade and with that time… you learn a thing or two about stand out features and staff at wedding venues. I’m going to share my top ten downtown Raleigh wedding venues and a quick why they make the list!

Merimon Wynne

Why Hill

City of Raleigh Museum

Union Station

Tobacco Road

Whitaker and Atlantic

Marbles Museum

Market Hall

The Dock

Heights House Hotel

Merimon Wynne

Its is a perfect example of southern charm and architecture. Between the home itself with the beautiful décor, fantastic staircase and unforgettable mirror, the garden area which is up kept beautifully and their reception hall area are all excellent reasons as to why they are a great choice but to be honest it is their customer service that won my vote. They make a point of taking on your wedding with care and respect of you and are wonderful at giving suggestions of vendors and are well respected because they offer respect. If their esthetic is in line with your wedding design, they are an amazing choice!

Wye Hill

This fantastic restaurant does offer up their space for weddings. It is a perfect choice for a foodie and a lover of downtown. Their complete love of the city is shown in their decor and the beautiful view of the city from their outdoor space is remarkable! Their staff is kind, knowledgeable and desire to give you a night to recall. Their staff is very responsive and caring to your needs. This is a perfect fit for a couple who loves food, wants a simple choice for great food, great views and a chill vibe.

City of Raleigh Museum

Have you ever had that date that wasn’t planned but some how went perfectly? Just enough quirk to make you get out of your comfort zone and just enough chill to make you feel at home? This Museum is perfect for that vibe or for any history nerds. It gives you all the love of the city of Raleigh while also giving you a different take on a wedding venue. This is not as commonly used for weddings but they do have a few different spaces available depending on your desire and guest count.

Union Station

Maybe it is because of watching While you were sleeping one too many times as a kid but this wedding venue has my heart to be honest. There is something so romantic about the idea of getting married in train station! Like the start of a great adventure that could take you anywhere! This is not your standard wedding venue but with that comes an ability to make it a unique call for your wedding. It is one of the larger venues in the downtown area that is not a grand ballroom.

Tobacco Road

This open air but industrial feel with its different levels gives you a very downtown vibe. It’s industrial pipe banisters and simple décor choices make it very easy to accent the beauty that is there while matching a lot of different design choices. Their food is superb and it allows you another option on this list where you get to have your venue and catering locked in with one simple choice!

Whitaker and Atlantic

Their staff is amazing. Sweet as can be and desire to make your wedding day go smoothly and have you smiling the whole day through. Between the quirky bright pink couch in the brides room to the balcony overlook to the option for open air reception with their large garage doors this venue gives you the complete industrial look but in the most vintage way. The stair case down from the brides room allows for a dynamic entrance of the bride for the guests or for a first look!

Marbles Museum

I’m a sucker for the kid at heart. We all forget that play is a part of life. Or maybe that’s just me. So the idea of a wedding, a very adult choice and action being juxtaposed to the playful, imaginative and creative vibes of Marbles could be nothing but perfect. It is taking yourself lightly and promising a life centered on finding the joy, imagination and good in the world. This is a very specific vibe and a very specific design feel so not a fit for everyone but for those desiring a statement venue: this is certainly it

Market Hall

Nestled into old historic downtown Raleigh this beautiful venue is a photographer’s dream. Indoors there are many options for photos but just a small stroll around gives you cobble stone streets, market lights and all the historic downtown scenery. Established and renown for a reason this venue takes care of its couples. Respect, care and service will not be lacking. The exposed brick, wood beams and vaulted ceilings make for a great addition to almost any wedding design.

The Dock

If you are a sucker for history and beautiful things this is your venue. Originally an railway express operation it has been revamped to hold true to it’s history but pull in a more modern minimalistic industrial vibe! This beautiful venue has many amazing features including white washed brick, the older wood floors redone to give you all the history, a very open air feel to the venue including only furthered by their outdoor space! When designing this venue they thought about small details between their choice of where to leave exposed beams, rough wood accents, use of Edison bulbs, herringbone wood wall feature to their choice of large modern garage doors to allow for a literal open air venue and their two dressing rooms for both parts of the couple!

Heights House Hotel

This is a perfect example of taking beauty and adding love. If you are a couple who wants beautiful and service is your top priority this is the venue for you! This beautiful home with amazing décor features takes it to a whole new level with the service offered. They only take on one wedding per weekend to make sure that they give the best experience to each of their couples. They desire to treat your wedding as if it was their own. Their commitment to service is what makes them stand out even more than the beautiful house itself.

I hope this quick dive into the descriptions of these venues gives you an idea why they would make it to my top ten and I hope it gives you some things to ponder as you make your journey to finding the perfect venue for your wedding!

If this information just wet your appetite take a look at some of the other advice articles: 

Top Reasons to Hire a wedding planner

How much $ to invest in your Wedding Photography

How to get the most from your wedding timeline

If you want a more hands on chat about what wedding venue in the area might be a good fit for you: