6 Unique St. Louis Wedding Venues
Picking a wedding venue is very hard. For most couples it’s a struggle just to even agree on the same place let alone cost & multiple locations heres 6 unique St. Louis Wedding venues for you and your fiancé
to think about. Keep in mind when choosing your venue remember these 7 things
Talk to a Planner First.
Choose a Venue That Aligns With Your Vision.
Know Your Guest List.
Remember Your Budget.
Consider Your Guests' Experience.
Think About What Is Included.
Stay True to Yourselves.
The Caramel Room at Bissinger’s
Spaces: Couples have a choice of three separate spaces, including a large permanent bar area, an outdoor terrace overlooking the Mississippi River, and a main ballroom. While many couples choose to use the bar area for a cocktail hour before the reception, others opt to use only this area for a more intimate event. The outdoor terrace is the primary space for wedding ceremonies, with a remarkable view of sunsets over the river. The main ballroom, with an ambience termed “whiskey chic,” is often used for the reception, featuring hardwood floors, as well as a central dance floor.
Capacity: The bar area can hold 200, the outdoor terrace can hold 300, and the main ballroom can hold 300.
Cost: The cost is dependent on the event itself and number of guests, although Amanda Bradham-Little, director of marketing and events at the Caramel Room, suggests that couples can expect the venue to be on the pricier side, given its historic value and the included features.
Scheduling: At press time, there were only two Saturdays remaining for 2016, but several Fridays and Sundays were still available. The Caramel Room is currently booking for 2017, with potential to book up to 18 months out.
Features: Included in the wedding package are secure complimentary parking with up to 200 spots and a choice of linens in 39 different colors. Because of the site’s history as the Bissinger’s chocolate factory, the venue prides itself on providing exceptional food from executive chef Nicholas Miller, often featuring unique uses of chocolate with dishes like a scalloped corn dog with a Bissinger’s white chocolate raspberry mustard, a cocoa-wrapped filet, and a salad with milk chocolate vinaigrette.
From the venue: “I would say there is no other venue in the Midwest like this," Bradham-Little says. "Every part of the venue was hand-selected, but it also tries to be a blank slate for each couple, while introducing the warmth and care of a historic building. The 16 crystal chandeliers are just dripping with magnificence, enough to make you cry just looking at them.”
Spaces:
• Avalon Hall: Defined by Overlook staff as “country elegance,” it's Amish-built with a hand-pressed stone floor, oak beam ceilings, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, three chandeliers, a second-floor mezzanine with custom-built bar, a tigerwood upper deck and lower deck, a three-level water feature with koi pond, a fire pit, and multi-terraced garden behind the deck area.
• Cedarcrest Manor: A federal style manor house built in 1842, it includes a canopied lawn, second-story veranda, heated Romanesque pool, fireplace, and rose garden. The six bedrooms of the manor are included for use by the bridal party for the night of the wedding.
• Rackheath House and Gardens: It offers several outdoor options for the ceremony and reception, although most guests opt to get married beneath the shade of two century-old silver maple trees. Notable features include a covered veranda, English country garden, and large chess board. The three bedrooms of the historic estate, built in the 1860s, are included for use by the bridal party for the night of the wedding.
• Overlook and Avalon Meadow: Fondly termed “wows and vows” by the venue event specialists because of the stunning view of the farm and the Mississippi river below, as well as the huge oak tree anchoring the spot, this is where most couples choose to get married. The location also includes a one-night stay in the Bridal Cottage, with breakfast.
• The Courtyard: A large pavilion-style barn housing Overlook Farm’s restaurant, it features gold mirrors, whimsical chandeliers, gas fire-pits, and hand-crafted copper top bars. This space is ideal for a smaller, more intimate reception.
Capacity: Avalon Hall can seat 300, Cedarcrest Manor can seat 120, Rackheath House and Gardens can seat 200, Overlook and Avalon Meadow can seat 600, and the Courtyard can seat 200.
Cost: Avalon Hall costs $7,000, Rackheath House and Gardens costs $6,000, Cedarcrest Manor costs $6,000, Overlook and Avalon Meadow costs $6,500, and the Courtyard costs $5,500.
Weather accommodations: In the case of inclement weather, the covered courtyard area serves as a backup location for weddings planned for Cedarcrest Manor or Rackheath House and Gardens.
Lodging: Overlook Farm has four bed-and-breakfasts on premises, which are often filled first, and additional guests can find nearby lodging at Tievoli Hills Resort and River’s Edge Resort.
Scheduling: The suggested time frame is six to eight months in advance. However, the farm has taken on weddings with only one week’s notice in the past.
Features: All spaces include white wooden chairs for the ceremony, a four-hour time frame for the reception, shuttle service to and from the location, access to Overlook Farm from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the day of the event, as well as china, flatware, stemware, and glassware.
From the venue: Lindsey Martin, a member of the Overlook Farm events team, says, “What makes each location unique is really the history behind the farm. We’ve had everything from very relaxed, contemporary weddings to more sophisticated, traditional receptions on the farm, and none of them have felt out of place.”
Spaces: Firebird and The Ready Room are concert venues, but because Firebird is structured to have a rock-club vibe, there had only been one wedding there at press time. The Ready Room’s initial concept was more multipurpose, serving as a blank slate for wedding receptions and corporate events, in addition to concerts. Mike Cracchiolo, talent buyer for both venues, explains, “Firebird is about half the size as The Ready Room, and it feels more like a club when you’re inside, but we’re definitely open to having more weddings there. It’s a cheaper alternative than The Ready Room.”
Capacity: The Ready Room can seat 250 people, while Firebird seats about 125.
Cost: The cost for the event is dependent on the number of guests and open for negotiation. Generally, the price falls lower than that for more traditional wedding reception venues.
Scheduling: The suggested time frame is about 6 months in advance, but Cracchiolo says they’re able to work with less time if need be.
Features: One of the big perks of both venues is the use of the stage for live entertainment with all of the production is in-house. This makes for a more memorable music experience during the reception. In other cases, the stage has been used to seat the bridal party, effectively making them the stars of the show. Especially in the case of The Ready Room, the space offers ample opportunity to transform into a venue with a fancier or softer feel, easily accommodating for many different design choices. Both venues have standing deals for catering with businesses in the Grove. The Ready Room also has a second floor with a green room and fully furnished apartment, in which the bride and groom can get ready. The apartment includes a kitchen prep area for catering as well.
From the venue: “Something I’ve seen that’s surprising as a concert promoter is the number of relationships built around going to concerts," Cracchiolo says. "We’ve had multiple marriage proposals take place on our stage and who knows how many more first dates for people in our audiences. There’s definitely a romantic element to live music, and concert venues can take on a special meaning for that reason.”
Spaces: Three Barn Farm, situated in the rolling hills of Pike County, includes a New England-style farmhouse, in which the bride and groom can get ready; a horse barn, half of which has been converted into a waiting area for the event, including couches, tables, and chairs, with the other half serving as the catering kitchen; and a dairy barn, the primary reception location. Most wedding ceremonies are held outside by the lake.
Capacity: The dairy barn can seat 124 including the lofts, but can hold up to 150 for a buffet-style cocktail dinner.
Cost: The cost is $3,000, with a $5,000 food-and-beverage minimum.
Lodging: Most guests stay in nearby Tievoli Hills Resort.
Scheduling: The suggested time frame is nine to 15 months in advance.
Features: Because many guests travel together to Three Barn Farm on buses, the venue provides guests with a cooler of soft drinks for the ride back, and it's currently working with bus companies to develop a more comprehensive package. As Three Barn Farm is a Catering St. Louis venue, menus are custom-designed to include local, seasonal ingredients. Most guests opt for a barbecue-style meal, as the farm prides itself on delicious ribs, lamb chops, jalapeño corn bread, mac-and-cheese, and similar comfort foods. The wedding package includes tables, chairs, china, glassware, mason jars, and games for children, including a bean bag toss, as well as restrooms on premises.
From the venue: “Pike County is simply one of the most beautiful counties in the state of Missouri," says Carleen Kramer, director of marketing for Catering St. Louis. "The vast rolling hills are really the closest thing to Napa Valley that you could find in the Midwest.”
Busch Family Estate at Grant’s Farm
Spaces: The estate includes three event spaces: a tennis court adjacent to the estate, which can be tented; the Great Lawn behind the estate; and the estate itself, including the outdoor patio.
Capacity: The tennis court and lawn can hold 250, while the estate can hold 75.
Cost: The cost is determined by the event and number of guests. An event coordinator for the estate, Karen Coleman notes that the price is on the more expensive side due to the historic nature of Grant’s Farm and the fact that the estate is still a family-owned home. The wedding package for each location includes private first-floor tours given by house staff. Catering and rentals are at additional cost.
Scheduling: The suggested time frame is at least six months out, and the estate is not yet scheduling for 2017.
Features: As the home of the family behind St. Louis’ Anheuser-Busch brewery, the Busch family estate provides the unique opportunity to experience an integral part of this city’s history.
From the venue: “The magnificence of this venue is rooted in its history," says Coleman. "If you’re from St. Louis and especially if you work at the brewery, there is simply no comparison for how unique and stunning it is.”
Spaces: The Studio Inn has an intimate inside dining area, as well as an expansive garden and patio area for outdoor dining and celebrations. This European-style bed-and-breakfast has six separate bedrooms, a billiards room, and a gourmet kitchen.
The Old Barn Inn, a historic property initially built as a barn in 1843, has been renovated to include an outdoor pavilion and patio area, commercial kitchen, rooftop garden, boutique market, full bar and cocktail area, and an inside dining room.
Capacity: The Studio Inn can seat up to 150 guests, and the Old Barn Inn can seat up to 250 guests, both for outdoor dining.
Cost: Wedding packages are priced based on the number of guests, with the average cost around $1,250 to $1,500 for the ceremony, with a facility fee usually from $3,500 to $3,750.
Lodging: Attached to the Old Barn Inn are four new 550-square-foot cottages, each sleeping two people and featuring a wood-burning fireplace and private patio area. Lodging for the overflow from these cottages and the six bedrooms at the Studio Inn is usually at the nearby Wildwood Hotel or the Drury Inn in Chesterfield.
Scheduling: At press time, there were only a few scattered dates left for 2016, with current reservations primarily for 2017. The suggested time frame for booking is about 12 to 18 months in advance.
Features: Both inns, situated on the rolling hills beside the Missouri River, include access to walking paths throughout the grounds, as well as the Country Club of St. Albans, which has a golf course, swimming pool, tennis courts, and private dining rooms. Wedding packages include tables and chairs, as well as glassware, silverware, and china. Bridal suites are available at both venues to provide a place for the bride to get ready, if she chooses not to rent the bridal cottage at the Old Barn Inn. The Inns at St. Albans also has a partnership with Catering St. Louis to provide a unique food experience for each wedding.
From the venue: “The Studio Inn has an absolutely gorgeous view overlooking the Missouri River," says Sarah Brown, director of sales and marketing for The Inns at St. Albans. "And with the Old Barn Inn, you can have an outdoor wedding with the comforts of inside.”
Original post by STL Mag
BY ERICA SLOAN
https://www.stlmag.com/design/Weddings/surprising-spaces/