Types of Wedding Venues in Edmonton (& Which One is Right For You?)

When you get engaged, the first thing you do (after you tell all of your family and friends, of course!), is start looking at wedding venues. It’s one of the biggest (and most important!) decisions you’ll make as you start to plan your wedding, so it makes sense to spend a little extra time on this step. You want to find a wedding venue that matches your budget, guest count, and vision. Not always an easy feat! And while I have shared a few of my favourite Edmonton wedding venues on the blog before (click there if you are interested!), today I wanted to take it one step further and break down the different types of wedding venues you may want to consider!

While you start daydreaming about your wedding day, you can also view photos of real Edmonton weddings in my portfolio, or learn more about working together (including packages and pricing) here. I still have a few 2022 wedding photography dates available!

Outdoor Tented or Barn Wedding Venues

First, let’s talk about one of my favourite types of wedding venues (because – why not?). Just outside of Edmonton, we have a RANGE of outdoor wedding venues. Anything from a rustic old barn giving you all the farm wedding vibes to something a little more glamourous like the clear top tent at Pine and Pond (seriously – the star views!). There seems to be a rumour going around that all out-of-town wedding venues are rustic and I’m here to let you know: that could not be further from the truth! I love a good rustic farm wedding but I equally adore an outdoor tented wedding that’s super boho, or modern, or whatever feels just like you.

Acreage or Backyard Wedding Venues

While we are talking about outdoor wedding venues (and SPECIFICALLY in the last two years where venue availability has been particularly challenging), more and more couples are choosing to “build a wedding venue” somewhere they own. Whether you choose a backyard in the city or a family property just out of town, the advantage to an acreage or backyard wedding venue is obvious: you can do whatever you want and you don’t have to pay a rental. Keep in mind, depending on your vision, building your own wedding venue might not be cheaper than choosing a wedding venue with all the inclusions! If you are renting chiavari chairs at $8/chair or paying someone to flip the ceremony space to the reception space (to avoid renting double the amount of chairs), costs for creating a wedding venue can add up very quickly!

With all that said, the beautiful thing about a family property is that you DO have all the flexibility you want, so you can splurge or save wherever YOU see fit. Want to avoid hiring the “preferred caterer” who charges $80/plate? Choose a wedding venue with no preferred vendors at all. Still vet your vendors carefully though!

Golf Course Wedding Venues

Do you or your spouse love to golf? Or are you just looking for an outdoor wedding venue with a solid rain backup plan? What I love about golf course wedding venues is not only that they are often well-run, but also because they usually have indoor space options (in case of rain OR in case you want to have the ceremony outside and the reception inside). There are so many incredible golf courses within the city and in surrounding areas so there is no shortage of options. Plus, they often have on-site catering so that’s one less thing you need to shop around for!

Hotel Ballrooms and Hall Wedding Venues

I’m kind of cheating putting these two together but hear me out: both are indoor wedding venue options, and both require you to design from scratch. Both will often provide the tables and chairs (and maybe some white linens!) but you are on the hook for pretty much everything else. So how do you decide which one is right for you?

A Hotel Ballroom is almost guaranteed to be more beautiful, and you will likely have a venue coordinator working with you to guide you throughout the wedding process (check here to read my thoughts on if you need a wedding planner!). Hotels will often have on-site catering which means it’s taken care of (YAY!) but you don’t have as much flexibility in choosing your caterer (potential con).

Church Wedding Venues

I got married in a church and I honestly couldn’t have imagined it any other way. If your faith is important to you, you’ll want your wedding to reflect that. Choosing the church you have grown up in, or the one you found together, is a great place to start the next chapter in your love story. Although I don’t think you should EVER feel pressured to choose a church wedding venue, trust me when I tell you they can be absolutely beautiful.

Unique Event Spaces in Edmonton

This might be kind of a “cheat” category when it comes to types of Edmonton wedding venues but I honestly can’t think of what else to call it! Around Edmonton, there are quite a few unique event spaces you can rent: from a more luxury “all inclusive” option like The Foundry, or something a little more bare-bones like renting the rooftop of your apartment building (seriously – don’t overlook this option!).

As you start your search around the city, don’t limit yourself to just Edmonton wedding venues. Consider searching “Edmonton event spaces” or “rental spaces around Edmonton”. Just don’t pretend you are not throwing a wedding – please. A  lot of times even places that don’t explicitly advertise for weddings will rent you their space – especially with a smaller guest list. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative and bring your vision to the space! For just a few of my favourite Edmonton wedding venues, check out this post here. 

Which Type of Wedding Venue is right for you?

I hope you can tell that I think the sky is the limit for you (because I really do). When you start your wedding venue search, I KNOW how overwhelming it can be. My hope is, when you start to breakdown different types of wedding venues, you can at least gain a better understanding of what’s right for YOU and go from there. I’m a big believer that more is not always better! If you want to talk wedding venues (or really – anything else), make sure to say hi over on Instagram. Or, head here to connect with me directly and talk about your wedding photography!