Getting married can be super expensive, and for the cost-conscious among us, those pesky wedding-related expenses can make it difficult to stay positive about your upcoming nuptials.
The average couple in the United States spends $28,000 on their wedding day, but thankfully you can get away with a bit less if you decide to get married in North Carolina, where the cost of getting married is around $23,000.
Charlotte, home to tons of great restaurants and a fantastic basketball team, has a ton to offer when it comes to affordable wedding venues; from elegant outdoor venues like the McGill Rose Garden to historic options like the NoDa Wedding Chapel.
Below, you’ll find a quick rundown of the most affordable wedding venues in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Mint Museum
500 South Tryon Street
Mint Museum Uptown is a contemporary venue conveniently located in a thoroughly modern building close to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and the Harvey Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture.
Mint Museum Uptown has a stunning collection of paintings by European and American artists in a light-filled building featuring tons of open spaces and floor-to-ceiling windows. And thanks to its close location to hotels such as the Charlotte Marriott City Center, your guests will be able to stay within walking distance of the venue.
The vibrant stained-glass window in the Robert Haywood Morrison Atrium floods the room with light and bright yellow and blue shadows — it also has 60-foot tall windows with a view of the Levine Center for the Arts.
The Sally and Bill Allen Terrace and Carroll Entryway provide a sheltered space for an outdoor ceremony and cocktail reception, and couples can take advantage of Best Impressions Caterers’ tasty and affordable menu options.
Price Range: $1,200 – 3,400.
Capacity: 400 guests.
Find the Mint Museum at Mint Museum or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 South New Hope Road
The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a popular choice for affordable outdoor events, but don’t be fooled by the reasonable price, this elegant spot is one of the most desired locations in Charlotte!
If you snag one of the venue’s coveted spring or summer wedding spots, you won’t have to spend a cent on flowers as the garden will be in full bloom!
The venue offers several packages to make planning super simple, the most affordable being the micro-wedding combination. Pick a spot pretty much anywhere on the grounds, indoor gardens included, and it can be yours during the week for an intimate ceremony for 30 people.
Parking for all guests is included in the cost.
Price Range: $950 – $2,500.
Capacity: 500 guests.
Find Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden or check out Facebook or Instagram.
McGill Rose Garden
940 North Davidson Street
The McGill Rose Garden is a 2-acre public park that’s one of the top wedding locations in Charlotte for gorgeous, romantic weddings.
This unique venue featuring paths, hidden garden nooks, and more than 500 rose bushes is just footsteps away from the NoDo art scene — providing a sense of vibrant, eclectic energy that flows into utter calm once you enter the rose garden.
Tying the knot in front of the garden’s vintage boxcar fronted by green hedges is an extremely popular choice. Add a few garlands to the boxcar to create a pretty, dramatic effect, and opt for one of the venue’s lighting packages to create a magical, romantic nighttime wedding.
The site’s wedding packages all include venue rental, chairs, tables, and access to a reception area with a dance floor. Don’t worry, it’s protected from the rain!
Price Range: Starting at $2,500.
Capacity: 100 guests.
Find McGill Rose Garden at McGill Rose Garden Events or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Queens University of Charlotte
1900 Selwyn Avenue
Queens University of Charlotte’s stunning 95-acre Greek Revival campus offers several options for traditional events, all at great prices.
The university’s gorgeous campus features red-brick buildings, fountains, and vast open spaces, making this a wonderful setting to get hitched. Plus, it’s located less than 10 minutes from uptown, so your guests can get there in minutes.
Couples looking for a traditional ceremony can’t go wrong with Belk Chapel. With gorgeous Greek Revival interior touches, the chapel has room for up to 500 seated guests.
McInnes Parlors in Historic Queens Hall has space for up to 100 people to enjoy a bespoke indoor-outdoor reception with access to Hall Brown Terrace.
If you graduated from the university, you’re in luck! Alumni qualify for drastically reduced venue rental rates!
Price Range: $600 – $3,500.
Capacity: 500 guests.
Find Queens University of Charlotte at Queens University of Charlotte or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Hilton Charlotte University Plaza
8629 J M Keynes Drive
The Hilton Charlotte University Plaza is a hotel and event space with six sites available for affordable traditional wedding receptions.
The hotel is located just outside of the University of North Carolina’s Greensboro campus, so your guests can enjoy the nearby UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens or a stroll through the university’s campus to get a breath of fresh air.
The high-rise hotel features windows covered with colorful awnings and overlooks a stylized water feature surrounded by lamps and a border of grass.
Lakeside Dock, with a herringbone brick terrace on the water’s edge, is an extremely popular ceremony location. And after you get hitched, you and your guests can enjoy a rocking reception in one of the ballrooms.
Venue rental includes catering and centerpieces.
Price Range: Starting at $2,500.
Capacity:500 guests.
Find Hilton Charlotte University Plaza at Hilton Charlotte University Plaza or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Foundation for the Carolinas
220 North Tryon
Modern and super sleek, this light-filled space in the heart of downtown Charlotte has a variety of places ideal for contemporary weddings with traditional touches.
It’s located in the heart of uptown, so guests visiting from out of town who stay close to the wedding venue will have tons of restaurants and attractions to enjoy, including the Levine Museum of the New South, which is just minutes away.
The Solarium’s dramatic picture windows fill the space with a bright light that shimmers off the room’s hardwood floors, complimenting the space’s fun contemporary light fixtures. And if you’re a serious art lover, you can host a reception amid modern masterworks in the Sonja and Isaac Luski Art Gallery!
Another fun option is to exchange vows in front of the museum’s living wall featuring lush greenery.
Price Range: $2,000 – $9,500.
Capacity: 200 guests.
Find Foundation for the Carolinas at Foundation for the Carolinas or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Big Chill
911 E Morehead St #100
Big Chill offers a unique, laid-back, and affordable wedding venue in the heart of uptown Charlotte.
Greats such as The Tommy Dorsey Band and John Legend have played in what was formerly a jazz and blues supper club, so it’s a great venue for a themed wedding due to its slightly alternative vibe.
Fun, flirty, and original ceremonies and receptions will be right at home in this space featuring polished hardwood floors and orange walls.
Dress the space in billowy fabric for a romantic wedding vibe or opt for something entirely different, like a big band-themed event; the built-in marble bars surrounding the dancefloor certainly create a festive atmosphere.
The venue offers packages that include catering options and bar service.
Price Range: Starting at $1,500.
Capacity: 300 guests.
Find Big Chill at The Big Chill Charlotte or check out Facebook or Instagram.
NoDa Wedding Chapel
420 E 15th St
The NoDa Wedding Chapel, located near the heart of the Mill District, is a simple chapel perfect for an inclusive alternative ceremony.
Housed in a progressive church, you don’t have to be religious or affiliated with the church to get married at this venue.
The historic red-brick building featuring charming wooden accents is a great option for a deeply meaningful and personal ceremony.
The chapel’s white plaster walls and windows, featuring gold accents, lend the venue a sense of quiet elegance highlighted by the sparkling gold-leaf lighting hanging delicately from the ceiling.
The church also has a reception room and limited outdoor space. There are getting-ready rooms for the bridal party, and the church takes care of the lighting and sound.
Note that you’re not going to get catering and wedding coordinators here, so be prepared to do a fair bit of wedding planning on your own.
Price Range: Starting at $2,000.
Capacity: 150 guests.
Find NoDa Wedding Chapel at NoDa Wedding Chapel or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Banquet One
10616 Metromont Parkway
Banquet One is a fun and extremely affordable wedding venue in North Carolina located 15 minutes from uptown Charlotte. It’s close to I-77 and I-485, and there are several hotels nearby for guests who need accommodation.
Perfect for a DIY or funky alternative wedding, the site has two connected rooms, a larger 1800 square foot option ideal for sit-down meals, and a smaller location often used as a dance floor.
Dance the night away on the venue’s wall-to-wall hardwood floors in a room featuring gorgeous crystal light fixtures and charming marble countertop details. Add a few colorful fabric touches, and the space becomes transformed into a fairytale dancefloor!
The venue throws in tables, chairs, and a sound system with the rental fee and ensures that everything will be set up and ready to go when you arrive.
Price Range: $600 – $1,599.
Capacity: 120 guests.
Find Banquet One at Banquet One or check out Facebook.
The 1932 Barn
The 1932 Barn3900 Rocky River Road
The 1932 Barn is a wonderful place to throw a unique farmhouse wedding. It’s the central attraction of Hodges Hill Farm, with acres of land to explore. Plus, if any of your guests are art lovers, they’re in luck — Charlotte’s fabulous NoDa arts district is just a short distance away.
The space is rustic chic, with unfinished wood adorning the sides of the renovated Dairy Barn, a truly beautiful place to host your reception.
The 1932 Barn offers all-inclusive wedding packages with transparent pricing available for you to peruse on the website.
The venue fee includes access to the barnyard, main yard, annex, and dressing rooms for the bride and groom.
You can purchase additional services, such as a lawn game set up for completely reasonable prices.
But if you’re in the mood to splurge, the site has a few premium-upgrade packages that include super-special plates, silverware, and decorations.
Price Range: $5250 – $8250.
Capacity: 120 guests.
Find The 1932 Barn at The 1932 Barn or check out Facebook or Instagram.
