Finding a Wedding Venue in the US for Under $500!
As a wedding photographer, I've had the incredible opportunity to capture countless beautiful and unique wedding venues. It's truly one of the most enjoyable aspects of my work. Throughout my experiences, I've discovered an array of amazing wedding venues in the United States that are either free or available for under $500. I've been sharing these discoveries on TikTok, and the response has been overwhelming. If you've come across this blog post from there, yay!!
Below, you'll find a collection of the venues I've featured on TikTok, as well as additional options that I've since explored. This list is ever-expanding, so be sure to check back for more additions!
If you decide to choose one of these venues for your wedding, I would be thrilled if you shared your special day with me. I love all things weddings, and it would be an absolute honor to photograph your elopement, micro wedding, or full-size wedding at any of these incredible locations!
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or if you'd like to discuss the possibility of me photographing your wedding. Your celebration is important, and I'm here to help make it unforgettable. Thank you for considering these extraordinary and affordable wedding venues—I can't wait to see the magic that unfolds on your big day!
Alabama
Coming Soon
Alaska
Coming Soon
ARIZONA
- Ceremony Only
- $100 Permit Fee + $35 an Hour
- Fees include the cost of reserving one area, entrance fees for guests and entrance fees for vendors.
- $280-$1,325 Depending on guest count, if reception space is needed, rehearsal dinner space, etc.
- $130 application fee
- 1-10 people $50 a day
- 11-30 people $150 a day
- 30+ people $250 a day
- 1-10 people $150 a day
- 11-30 people $250 a day
- 31-49 people $500 a day
Arkansas
Coming Soon
CALIFORNIA
SOUTHERN:
- 4 Hour Limit
- Up to 50 chairs and 1 archway provided by you
- Resident Fees: $250
- Non-residents fees: $500
- Free! With no Set Up and Less than 10 People Total
- $200 with 10+ people or any kind of step
Northern:
Golden Gate Park: Chinese Pavilion
- Up to 50 People
- Reservation Fee: $531
- Hourly Rate (2 Hour Minimum): $152
Golden Gate Park: Portals of the Past
- Up to 100 People
- Reservation Fee: $303
- Hourly Rate (2 Hour Minimum): $76
Golden Gate Park: Wilhelmina Garden
- Up to 100 People
- Reservation Fee: $531
- Hourly Rate (2 Hour Minimum): $152
- Up to 250 People
- Reservation Fee: $531
- Hourly Rate (2 Hour Minimum): $152
- Must be at one of the location options by the NPS
- $150 fee
- Ceremony only
- $50 Fee
CENTRAL
- $50 Application Fee
- 1-10 People; $50 Per Day
- 11-30 People; $150 Per Day
- 31+ People; $250 Per Day
DELAWARE
Coming Soon
FLORIDA
- $150 Fee for 2 Hours
- $50 Per Day for Under 50 People
- $100 Per Day for 51+ People
- On Sand: Fees Begin at $150
- On Lighthouse Grounds: Fees Begin at $500
Georgia
- In Season:
Residents: $325 for 3 Hours
Non-residents: $625 for 3
Hours
March, April May,
September, October,
November
- Off Season:
Residents: $325 for 3 Hours
Non-residents: $475 for 3
Hours
January, February, June,
July, August, December
- The Wymberley
Monday-Thursday $450
Friday-Saturday $600
Up to 30 Guests
Ceremony Only- 1
Location Option
Three Hours
- The DeRenne
Monday-Thursday $225
Friday-Saturday $300
Up to 10 Guests
Three Location Options
1.5 Hours
- One day rental of Stone Pavilion $575
- Free!
- Ceremony only on the beach
- Free!
- Ceremony only & must call ahead to reserve date
Hawaii
Coming Soon
Idaho
Coming Soon
ILLINOIS
Chicago
- Chicago Parks and Rec. have 100+ parks to choose for your ceremony. Fine the complete list here.
- 2 Hour: $400-$625 Permit Fee Depending on Park
- 4 Hour: $545-$905 Permit Fee Depending on Park
- Free! Under 20 Guests
- Cannot take place on Starved Rock Lodge Grounds
- The Fragrance Garden
- Ceremony Only
- $500
- Chairs additional cost $2 per chair
- Ceremony: $300 per hour
- 17 Location Options
- Permit range: $25-$350 Depending on location, resident and non resident
Indiana
Coming Soon
Iowa
coming soon
Kansas
coming soon
KENTUCKY
coming soon
Maine
coming soon
MARYLAND
- Includes: Shelter, Electricity, Fire Place and Up to 75 People
- $36-$77 Depending on Time of Year
- 1-5 Hours $85 Fee
- 4-14 Hours $200 Fee
- Overnight $275 Fee
MASSACHUSETTS
- Up to 100 people
- $250 per day
- Up to 100 people
- $250 per day
- $125 Fee
- Half Day Permit
- $175 for Residents
- $275 for Non-Resident
- Ceremony Only
- Free! Donations Encouraged
- Up to 40 People
- No Furniture, Food, or Drinks
MINNESOTA
- Boat Wedding
- 1 Hour $700
- BYO Food, and Music
Minneapolis Park and Recreation
(Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Gluek Park, Lyndale Park, Ole Olsan Park and more)
- Ceremony Only
- 3-Hour Permit: $525 + tax
- 1-Hour Low Impact Permit: $100 + tax
- Additional fees for reception sites
(Capitol Centre (EcoLab) Plaza, Hamm Memorial Plaza, Irvine Park, Kellogg Mall Park, Landmark Plaza, Mears Park, Rice Park, Summit Overlook Park, and Wacouta Commons)
- Up to 250 People
- $150 Per 2 Hours
Boyd, Carty, Cochran, Mattocks, Nathan Hale, Summit Monument, and Western Sculpture
- 4 Hours for $75
(Chambers Grove, Enger Park, Leif Erikson Park)
- Monday-Thursday $175-$510 Depending on half day, all day, resident or non resident
- Friday-Sunday $370-1050 Depending on half day, all day, resident or nonresident
- $350-$650 Per three hours dependent on day of week
Mississippi
Coming Soon
MISSOURI
Coming Soon
Montana
Coming Soon
Nebraska
Coming Soon
Nevada
Coming Soon
New Hampshire
Coming Soon
New Jersey
Coming Soon
New Mexico
Coming Soon
NEW YORK
- Free! With under 20 People
Fillmore Glen and Long Point State Parks
- Prior confirmation with the park required
- Permit fees start at $25
- Free with under 50 people
- Two location options
- Strict time restraints
Saratoga National Historic Park
- Ceremony only
- $250 Fee
- Up to 150 people
- Monday-Thursday $500
- Friday-Sunday $750
- $100-$250 Permit Fee
NORTH CAROLINA
- Up to 49 People
- Chairs Limited
- $100 Fee
- Up to 25 People
- $130 Fee
- Free! With under 49 People!
- Includes 102 Parks, Find the complete list here
- $45 Special Use Permit Fee
- Additional $200 to have alcohol served
The Botanical Gardens at Asheville
- 30 People Max
- Ceremony only
- No use of indoor spaces for weddings.
- No tent or chair rentals.
- Outdoor wedding costs range from $150-$250 depending upon the number of people.
North Dakota
Coming Soon
Ohio
- A casual ceremony with the minister and the two of you in your cabin or anywhere on the grounds $159
- Some locations excluded for ceremonies
- Ceremony Only
- Application/Administrative fee: $150
- Monitoring fees: $25 - $60 per hour depending on complexity of event and staffing levels (2 hour minimum).
- Free!
- 50 People Max
- No Seating and no decorations
- $30 for 4 Hours
- Up to 75 People
- $175 for 1 1/2 Hours
- $350 for 3 Hours
- 3 Locations Options
- $300 for 1 1/2 Hours
- $450 for 3 Hours
- 2 Location Options
- $175 for 1 1/2 Hours
- $350 for 3 Hours
- $175 for 1 1/2 Hours
- $350 for 3 Hours
- April 15th-October 15th Only
Oklahoma
Coming Soon
OREGON
- 4 Options for Ceremony Location
- Fees range from $204-$600 Depending on Location
- Special Use Permit $50
- No indoor spaces
- 250+ Parks. Find the complete list here
- Free! When it is only a ceremony, under 50 and no set up.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
- Free!
- Less than 75 people
- Ceremony only
- Officiant cannot be paid
- Up to 100 People
- Up to 50 Chairs
- 2 Hour Limit
- $204
- Up to 100 People
- No chairs
- 2 Hour Limit
- $204
PENNSYLVANIA
- Up to Two Hours
- $500 for 2 Hours
South Steps & Lawn at the Second Bank
- $25 Application Fee
- 1-10 People $50 Fee
- 11-30 People $150 Fee
- 30+ $350 Fee
- $25 Application Fee
- 1-10 People $50 Fee
- 11-30 People $150 Fee
- 30+ $350 Fee
- $25 Application Fee
- 1-10 People $50 Fee
- 11-30 People $150 Fee
- 30+ $350 Fee
Rhode Island
Coming Soon
South Carolina
Falls Park: Rock Quarry Garden
- 100 People Max
- 4 Hours: $350-$675 Depending on Day of Week
Falls Park: The Old Mill Garden
- 100 People Max
- 4 Hours: $425-$875 Depending on Day of Week
- $110 Application Fee
- Ceremony Only
- $325, Up to 75 People
- $500 Over 76 People
- Free! Under 50 People!
- $30 Permit Fee for 51+ people
- Tents and chairs allowed
South Dakota
Coming Soon
TENNESSEE
- National Park Service only allows ceremonies at pre-designated locations
- $50 Fee
- Sunken Gardens- $250-$300 Permit
- Stone Hall $85-$150 Per Hour
The Allee in Percy Warner Park
- $250-$300 All Day Permit
- Ceremony Only
- $55-497 Fees depending on which location chosen
- Indoor and Outdoor Options
- Gazebo $114
- $114 Fee
- Outdoor venue $85
- Indoor Venue: $375-$425
- Outdoor Overlook $142
TEXAS
- Up to 75 People
- Includes an Indoor Space
- $225 per Day
- Up to 100 People
- Includes and Indoor Space
- $200 Daily
- Up to 160 people
- Includes an indoor space
- $1000 Daily (This is much more expensive than others included in this blog but it is GOREGOUS)
- Up to 80 People
- Includes an Indoor Space
- $300 Daily
- Free!
- The Chapel offer 4 free wedding ceremonies per day Monday-Thursday
- Reservation Required
- Up to 50 People
- Ceremony Only
- Two Hour Max
- $350 Hourly
- Ceremony Only
- Two Hours
- Up to 30 Chairs Included
- $400
Utah
Coming Soon
Vermont
Coming Soon
VIRGINIA
- $25-$835 Fees dependent on which locations chosen
- Free! With under 15 People
WASHINGTON STATE
Seattle:
$170 Per Hour Fee
Two Hour Minimum
$148 Per Hour Fee
Two Hour Minimum
$200 Per Hour
Three Hour Minimum
$34 Per Hour for Park
attendant
- Must Use Pre-Determined Locations
- $175 Permit Fee
- No Chairs or Setup Allowed
Saratoga Vista- Cama Beach Historical State Park
- Up to 100 Guests
- Rental hours are from 9 a.m. until one hour before dusk
- $107 fee plus taxes and fees
- Up to 150 Guests
- Free! Between Nov 1 - March 31
- April 1 – Oct 31
-Mon – Thurs $225
-Fri- Sun $450
Scenic Beach State Park- Emel House
- Reservation dates are April 1 – Oct 31
- There are 100 folding chairs included for use
- Monday - Thursday $507 plus tax / day
- Free!
- No more than 30 people total
- No Setup
WASHINGTON DC
- $200 Permit Fee
- Up to 50 People
- Up to Two Hours
- Events must occur between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- Decorations and chairs are not permitted.
- $200 Permit Fee
- Up to 50 People
- Up to Two Hours
- Events must occur between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- Decorations and chairs are not permitted.
- $200 Permit Fee
- Up to 50 People
- Up to Two Hours
- Events must occur between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- Decorations and chairs are not permitted.
- $200 Permit Fee
- Up to 50 People
- Up to Two Hours
- Events must occur between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- Decorations and chairs are not permitted.
- $90 Permit
- Ceremony Only
- $90 Permit
- Ceremony Only
- $90 Permit
- Ceremony Only
WEST VIRGINIA
Coming Soon
WEST VIRGINIA
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Coming Soon
If you are planning your ceremony, wedding, or elopement in any of the above locations, I would love to chat! I am a Destination Wedding Photographer and offer Photography Services throughout the US and Internationally. Let's get amazing photos in these spots for ya!
