Downtown Raleigh Wedding Venue Guide
Welcome to our downtown Raleigh wedding venue guide! Weddings in the heart of the downtown Raleigh are known for offering Southern charm and hospitality. From art and natural history museums to food truck rodeos, downtown Raleigh is bustling with entertainment for any wedding party. On any given weekend you will surely see bachelorette parties on beer trolley tours, or wedding parties posing in front of the giant acorn! In the City of Oaks, you can host an entire weekend of events, all within walking distance of modern hotels. Let’s start planning your downtown Raleigh wedding with our guide of the top wedding venues!
Vidrio – Upscale Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Wedding Venue
Stepping into Vidrio in Raleigh is like stepping into a modern art gallery meshed with the whimsy of creative Mediterranean fine dining. This upscale downtown Raleigh wedding venue has a metropolitan vibe. Vidrio is suited for hosting up to 250 people across multiple spaces. Vidrio has two levels full of breathtaking decor, including a wall covered in a rainbow of blown glass to match the venue’s name (vidrio means glass is Spanish). This Raleigh restaurant is well equipped to host wedding rehearsal dinners, intimate wedding ceremonies and microweddings as well as big wedding receptions.
Downstairs at Vidrio you’ll find a comfortable bar area with more than 50 wines on tap, plus a large dining space with a smaller raised seating area surrounded by projection screens. Wow your guests with Vidrio’s vibrant small plates and larger courses. The food is just as beautiful as the art on the walls! Choose from plates such as beef skewers, to intricately prepared yellowfin tuna and so much more. Keep scrolling to discover more venues on our downtown Raleigh wedding venue guide.
The Cannon Room – Bright, Airy Downtown Raleigh Wedding Venue
The Cannon Room is an elegant, intimate wedding venue located in downtown Raleigh. This bright and airy space is on the 12th floor of the Capital Club building. The Cannon Room’s ballroom has beautiful, big windows along three of the four walls in the top-floor space. This lets natural light pour throughout the entire venue. Your guests will also love the expansive views of downtown Raleigh’s city scene.
The Cannon Room is able to host events of up to 130 guests comfortably. The venue’s dedicated staff has multiple creative floor plans. Tables, chairs and some soft furniture are provided by The Cannon Room staff, and all furniture is moved by an on-site team of professional movers on your wedding day! The Raleigh venue also offers wedding party suites on-site for you and your partner to get ready with all of your friends. Food and booking is through its exclusive operations partner, Rocky Top Catering. Rocky Top happens to be one of our very favorite local caterers, and we guarantee you’re in great hands with this team.
Warehouse Wedding Venues with Style in Downtown Raleigh
If you’re looking for a wedding venue to display distinct style, downtown Raleigh has tons of unique venues to suit any taste. Repurposed warehouse wedding venues such as Market Hall stand out at the historic Moore Square at City Market. Exposed brick walls and cobblestone streets are a match made in heaven for this Raleigh venue. Market Hall has has soaring 20-foot ceilings and an Old World look. With two large industrial ballrooms under one roof, Market Hall is one of the most sought-after warehouse wedding venues in Raleigh.
The Market View room can host up to 350 seated with a dance floor, and most weddings are 150 to 250. Its white exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and ample natural light make it a great option for a daytime or evening event.
The Park View room can host up to 150 seated with a dance floor, and most weddings there are 75 to 125. Couples love weddings in this space because of the blank canvas of the uber-industrial building. It has an upstairs loft which can be used for a wedding ceremony or as a cocktail lounge. The black iron staircase that leads up to this loft is the centerpiece of the room. There is a giant wooden backdrop perfect for ceremonies, and windows line two of the walls.
The Grove at City Market – Raleigh’s Newest Industrial Warehouse Wedding Venue
Market Hall is not the only venue situated among the cobblestone streets of Raleigh’s City Market. The Grove is a newly opened wedding and event venue that, like Market Hall, draws on the romantic market lights and walkable streets of this Raleigh district. Yet, this intimate venue is suited for groups of 100-150. The Grove has three distinct spaces:
The Willow room is perfect for your ceremony space or cocktail hour lounge.
The Grove is a lush outdoor ceremony and cocktail area features a grove of trees, market lights, a fire pit and lounge and is large enough to also be the site you say “I do.”
The Oak Room has speakeasy vibes and vintage lighting in a modern-industrial reception space.
The Stockroom at 230 – Downtown Raleigh Wedding Venue Guide
Another Heart of NC Weddings favorite is The Stockroom, an urban venue with big city “loft” flair situated on the second floor at 230 Fayetteville St. This spacious, historic Raleigh event space is easy to fall in love with. Exposed brick walls and wooden beam ceilings open up to gorgeous windows. There is an elevated area which can be used as a lounge, or for your cake display. There is also a large chalk wall – fun to decorate for a ceremony or as a sweetheart table backdrop.
The Stockroom at 230 can host large weddings. The space comfortably fits 185 for a seated dinner or 275 guests at a standing reception. This wedding venue is also a short walk (or bike taxi ride) away from downtown Raleigh hotels and restaurants.
There is also an on site bridal suite, called The Glass Box. This is a penthouse suite in the same building and a couple of floors above The Stockroom. This small venue can be rented for stand-alone intimate Raleigh events. The Glass Box is a beautiful getting ready suite for the wedding party, as well as a place for wedding portraits. Guests fall in love with its ample natural light and outdoor patio in the center of downtown Raleigh.
Heights House Hotel – Historic Raleigh Landmark + Wedding Venue
The historic Italianate mansion called Montfort Hall reopened as a 9-room boutique hotel and event space named Heights House Hotel a few years ago. This special piece of history in Boylan Heights received an extensive restoration. The magnificent house is perfect for intimate gatherings both indoors and outside.
The visionaries behind the plan to revitalize the local landmark are husband and wife team Sarah Shepherd and Jeff Shepherd. The pair have restored the home’s most notable feature: its gorgeous rotunda which leads up to a stained-glass skylight. They have also created a reception area and two first-floor luxury bridal suites. These suites have bathrooms with marble walls and French doors that open out to a balcony. Sarah and Jeff have made so many other renovations such as adding arched doorways, skylights and restoring the original exposed brick. Additionally, they have refinished the existing structural wood from the 1800s and repurposed it throughout the house. Heights House is a stand-out on our list of notable downtown Raleigh wedding venues!
The Jiddi Space & Courtyard – Open-Air Courtyard Wedding Venue in Downtown Raleigh
You’ve probably eaten at Sitti and Gravy in downtown Raleigh – but did you know that they have an amazing industrial, warehouse style venue with a large open air courtyard nestled behind them? Jiddi Space & Courtyard might just be Raleigh’s best kept wedding venue secret.
Equal parts modern industrial and peaceful urban oasis, the Jiddi Space and Courtyard is truly a hidden gem in downtown Raleigh. This secluded indoor and outdoor venue is perfect for events of all varieties, including wedding ceremonies and receptions, rehearsal dinners, holiday parties, and corporate events.
The Courtyard comes equipped with market lighting, a full bar and lounge seating. There is adequate space for live music or a DJ, so if weather works out, the entire event can be open-air. Adjoining the Courtyard is a fully enclosed private dining room that is called the Jiddi Space. “Jiddi” means Grandfather in Lebanese.
Penthouse Views from This Downtown Raleigh Wedding Venue
For those seeking a truly urban experience, consider City Club Raleigh. This private club offers sweeping city views from the 28th floor – but don’t worry, non-member events are welcome, too! There are multiple floors and spaces to choose from for your event, including a spacious ballroom and cocktail area with a built-in bar.
The Merrimon-Wynne House – Historic Southern Elegance in the Heart of Downtown Raleigh
If a Southern estate is more of your style, you don’t have to venture outside of downtown Raleigh to find your dream wedding venue. The Merrimon-Wynne House has it all – a historic home, a landscaped lawn and an updated event pavilion. This is one of the most renowned wedding and special event venues in North Carolina. Nestled in a charming neighborhood of downtown Raleigh, the historic home is a perfect Southern backdrop for a wedding.
The property boasts two charming and beautiful suites for a celebrants to get ready for the day – both with plenty of natural lighting! After a couple gets ready they can head out to the grand staircase or the front porch, both perfect for portraits.
There is a lush green lawn for the perfect outdoor wedding ceremony or reception, as well as the Carriage House – a large Raleigh reception venue that can either pose as a backdrop for a ceremony or serve as an indoor wedding space. The Carriage House has beautiful chandeliers, exposed beams and large doors that open out to a pergola and lawn. It is perfect for a wedding reception and well suited to a fabulous dance party. Overall, The Merrimon-Wynne House is one of the top wedding venues in downtown Raleigh.
Trophy Brewing and Young Hearts Distilling – Modern Downtown Raleigh Venue Options
Did you know that Trophy Brewing opened the first distillery in downtown Raleigh? Young Hearts Distilling offers three floors that can be booked for private events from 20 to 300. Young Hearts’ covered roof deck has a garden feel and has heaters and fans making it a three-season event space. The best part? Your guests can enjoy signature cocktails made with spirits distilled on-site.
Luxury Hotel Wedding Venues in Downtown Raleigh for Ultimate Convenience
There are an abundance of Luxury hotel wedding venue choices in downtown Raleigh. Let’s explore!
The Willard Rooftop Lounge at AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown
If you’re looking for a rooftop wedding venue with unbeatable views of Raleigh’s skyline, put The Willard Rooftop Lounge at AC Hotel at the top of your list. Located in downtown Raleigh on Glenwood South, this rooftop lounge is unlike any other venue you’ve seen. The Willard offers multiple modern indoor and outdoor event spaces – on the top floor of the new AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown. The Willard has not one, but two terraces overlooking downtown Raleigh.
The Sheraton Raleigh
If you are interested in having a downtown Raleigh wedding at a venue that is affordable and chic, check out The Sheraton Raleigh. Your guests will enjoy the classy accommodations, the on-site restaurant, Jimmy V’s Osteria & Bar, and the access to all of downtown Raleigh’s entertainment. The Sheraton Raleigh Hotel is nestled in the historic downtown district, surrounded by many churches and some of the best restaurants, museums and theaters.
The Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley
The Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley’s recent renovations are like a rebirth for this centrally located hotel across from Raleigh’s largest shopping mall. For a wedding weekend that will flow seamlessly for both you and your guests, be sure to call their event managers for a tour of the wedding facilities. The grand ballroom of this Marriott boasts new carpeting and lighting with a modern look for up to 500 guests.
The Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel
The Renaissance Raleigh is located in the desirable and bustling heart of Downtown Raleigh. This is a beautifully chic and modern hotel. Its striking entrance is the first thing you’ll notice as you drive into North Hills shopping center. The architecture and interior design was developed to bring the outdoors inside with open spaces throughout and creative use of works of art including and emulating nature throughout the hotel. Add to the convenience the fact that the event specialists at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel will help plan and execute your day.
Our Downtown Raleigh Venue Guide Continues: Nondenomenational Chapels for Raleigh Weddings
Tie the knot at All Saints Chapel before moving on to a fabulous downtown reception. This is a beautiful, nondenominational chapel for the modern bride who wants to walk down the aisle. If you envision a wedding in a little white chapel, but are not a member of a congregation, visit this wedding venue!
All Saints Chapel has been called the “Prettiest Chapel in the South.” This little gem was built in 1875, and was saved from demolition by Empire Properties in 2006. A preservation team spent two years restoring All Saints Chapel to its original glory. Inside you’ll find a wooden beamed cathedral ceiling, stained glass windows lining the walls, and stunning woodwork.
Saint Mary’s Chapel is another beloved wedding venue near downtown Raleigh. This sweet white chapel can be reserved for wedding ceremonies. Events can also take place on the school lawn or in the school event hall.
Saint Mary’s School Chapel is a true North Carolina treasure. Its campus is a beautiful site to behold, and it has a lovely, historic white chapel which is available for wedding rental from both alumnae and non-alumnae of the school. The on site Raleigh wedding chapel can host up to 230 guests.
At the end of the day, we promise that you cannot go wrong with any of these incredible downtown Raleigh wedding venues. Happy wedding planning!
