If you’re thinking on getting hitched, your venue’s going to play a very big part. It’s probably what guests will remember long after the last tired smile is captured on Instagram and the last plastered bridesmaid is scooped up off the dance floor. So, can you really find an awesome wedding destination that stands out for being beautifully unique? Here’s a list of our 10 top picks from across the US. Tree House Point Issaquah, Washington Credit – Lloyd Photographers If you want to “branch” out from a very ordinary location, then Tree House Point is your spot. Located in a beautiful forest with a wide variety of cozy-looking treehouses, you’ll be amazed at the tranquility and greenery that will add to your special day. With accommodation offered as well, your guests will also have the option of a truly elevated standard of style. Plus, you’ll love all the great photo ops (we loved the deck of the Upper Pond Treehouse) the environs provide. Did we mention you’ll be just 30 minutes away from Seattle? Credit – Lloyd Photographers Under St. John’s Bridge (Cathedral Park) Portland, Oregon Image via Flickr – CC BY 2.0 – Dylan Howell Right under the St. John’s Bridge on Cathedral Park, the arches of the bridge make for a wonderful gothic style venue perfect for weddings. This unique alignment of the arches can make for great photos, and getting a permit from Portland Parks is a convenient online process. Guests will love the open-air atmosphere and the majestic architecture. This is one location sure to make your unique wedding a walk in the park! Beaulieu Garden Rutherford, California Credit – Lori Paladino Photography Looking like something straight out of a scene from a Hollywood romance, Beaulieu Garden in Napa stands out for its unique sycamore trees and elegantly landscaped vegetation. While trees line the drive into the garden, shading guests and looking absolutely stunning on a clear day, the overall chateau-like ambience will make people think they’re in a vineyard in the South of France. All we have to say is c’est parfait! Dunton Hot Springs Dolores, Colorado Credit – Dunton Hot Springs Dunton Hot Springs is a romantic ghost town that’s been resurrected for the purpose of providing guests with an enchanting experience. Located just 1 hour away from Durango-La Plata Airport, the town is complete with carefully crafted log cabins that are tastefully furnished, a saloon that serves food, hot springs, a stunning open-air chapel, and beautiful alpine valley trails. Rent the town for your special day and you won’t regret it! For those who want an overnight stay with a bit of a difference, luxury “glamping” options are also open. Cafe Brauer (Lincoln Park Zoo) Chicago, Illinois Credit – Amanda Megan Miller Photography/Shannon Gail Completed in 1908, this historic building that houses Cafe Brauer is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building’s great design allows for a classy yet warm environment that is both welcoming and inspiring. You’ll love the high sky-lit roof and elegant chandeliers of the Great Hall on the second floor, while the outdoor section offers guests a spectacular view of the Chicago skyline. Plus, who wouldn’t want the luxury of having a beautiful boardwalk through a prairie pond ecosystem with plants and wildlife? Race and Religious New Orleans, Louisiana Credit – Sarah Becker/Race and Religious While the Francophone charm of N’awlins makes it a beautiful city no matter how you look at it, Race and Religious certainly stands out as a uniquely stunning wedding location. Able to host up to 300 guests, this old masonry home’s compound offers a romantic setting that you can decorate according to your preference and style. You’ll be amazed at the great photo backdrops the location offers, and your guests will certainly appreciate being able to build a holiday around your wedding in the Big Easy! Vista West Ranch Dripping Springs, Texas Credit – My Mint Photography While the Vista West Ranch offers some great packages that include food and décor, the overall ambiance created by the space’s folksy vibe makes it the perfect backdrop for your special day. Located about 30 minutes outside Austin, you can get your guests comfortably there in time for the ceremony, while also giving them the opportunity to make a holiday in one of the South’s most vibrant arts and live music cities. Credit – Two Pair Photography You may also like: Dress to Impress: How to Pack Formal Attire for a Destination Wedding Barnsley Resort Adairsville, Georgia Credit – Barnsley Resort Looking for a little Southern fairytale wedding? Then you should consider booking some cheap flights to Georgia! Barnsley Resort’s wonderful ancient ruins with their vine-covered walls, “Fairy Godmother’s Garden,” and poolside pavilion invite family and friends alike to partake in a one-of-a-kind wedding. The setting is only made perfect by the resort’s opulent accommodations and golf and spa facilities as well. Credit – Barnsley Resort Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Miami, Florida Credit – Bill Sumner/Vizcaya Museum and Gardens This graceful museum and accompanying gardens, with their Venetian statues and primly cropped hedges, can definitely transport you to a dreamy waterfront mansion in a classical city in Europe. But in the heart of Miami? Must be dreaming right? Wrong! The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens stands out amid the skyscrapers of Miami and provides a perfect wedding location in a city that has so much merriment to offer visitors. The exterior of the building and its grounds have also featured in movies such as Any Given Sunday and Bad Boys II! Credit – Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Metropolitan Building Long Island City, New York Credit – Brklyn View Photography This electrical parts factory turned artisan studio has three interesting floors: a French-inspired space, a prop room, and a large open wooden-floored space. Photo ops won’t be a problem at the Metropolitan Building with the artful yet uncluttered interior, while the prop room is sure to make any photographer drool! As for a destination wedding, you can’t have a better place than New York City, which would be an added bonus for your guests. Credit – Metropolitan Building Are there any other cool and unique wedding locations that we may have missed? Let us know in the comments below!
