When planning a wedding, sometimes it feels like there are no inexpensive wedding venue options. Fortunately for you, Memphis offers a wide variety of affordable event spaces that look anything but cheap.
According to the Wedding Report, the average wedding in Memphis costs $20,975. However, choosing a budget-friendly wedding venue can go a long way in saving you money on your big day so you can start married life without financial stress.
From romantic lodges in the woods to trendy photography galleries to quaint French chapels, Memphis has something for every type of couple.
Read on to learn about 11 affordable wedding venues in Memphis, Tennessee!
Memphis Botanical Garden
These lush gardens are one of Memphis’s most popular wedding venue choices and with good reason.
With over 96 acres of manicured grounds, there is a venue for every budget. And you can keep your decoration budget down because the gardens need very little embellishment.
Goldsmith Room can accommodate up to 200 guests and offers access to the Sculpture Garden, which features the distinguished work of 11 local artists.
If you rent the Goldsmith Room for your wedding reception, you can also pick a garden of your choice for the ceremony.
The Rose Garden, the Water Garden, and the Japanese Gardens are particularly lovely outdoor spaces for wedding ceremonies.
Keep in mind that it is also possible to rent a garden space for the ceremony only.
Prop tip: check out Hardin Hall if your guest list is large.
Typical Cost: garden ceremony packages start from $2,000
Capacity: up to 600 guests
Find Memphis Botanic Garden at Memphis Botanic Garden Rentals or check out Instagram.
Shelby Farms Park
Anyone that has spent time in Memphis knows the public parks are awesome community spaces and so well maintained.
Shelby Farms is one of the many stunning park spaces, but it stands out because it has great amenities and many different spaces to choose from.
The park features 7 pavilions that can accommodate between 30 and 100 guests, depending on which one you choose.
Hyde Lake Pavilion offers breathtaking views of Hyde Lake, 12 picnic tables, 2 grills, electricity, and plenty of shaded, grassy areas.
If you need a large, indoor event space, FedEx Event Center has 7,200 square feet of space, a private bridal suite, a catering kitchen, a private garden and patio, and beautiful views of the lake. You will not be disappointed with these park venues!
Typical Cost: from $200 to $375 for Hyde Lake Pavilion
Capacity: up to 90 guests at Hyde Lake Pavilion and 500 guests at other venues
Find Shelby Farms Park at Shelby Farms Park or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Two Hearts Wedding Chapel and Event Center
Located in Bartlett, this back-to-basics chapel and reception venue are simple, straightforward, and of great value.
If you want to get married without going into debt and don’t want to worry about the details, this is the place for you.
The venue offers a minister, a fully decorated chapel, a bridal suite, a wedding photographer, a DJ, a wedding cake, and a reception area.
The pricing on their website is clear, and you will know exactly what you are paying for.
The venue also offers vow renewals, commitments, wedding rehearsals, elopements, and other special event services.
Typical Cost: wedding packages start from $800
Capacity: up to 75 guests
Find Two Hearts Wedding Chapel and Event Center at Two Hearts Wedding Chapel and Event Center, or check out Facebook.
Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum
Originally constructed in 1871, this stunning French Victorian mansion was restored by the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities and is now a historic house museum.
Those lucky to get married here can choose from various surprisingly affording wedding venues, including the Gingerbread House, the North Garden, and the Front Lawn & Porch.
The Gingerbread House offers an intimate setting perfect for a bridal shower, a small wedding reception, or an indoor ceremony for 30 guests.
Rental of the Gingerbread House includes access to the wedding party suite and the Carriage House’s kitchen facilities.
Typical Cost: from $1,150 for the Gingerbread House or $1,600 for the Front Lawn and Porch
Capacity: up to 30 guests in the Gingerbread House or 150 guests on the Front Lawn and Porch
Find Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum at Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The River Inn
Located across from Greenbelt Park with amazing views of the Mississippi River and Harbor Town Square, the River Inn offers several elegant spaces, including the famed River Hall and the Courtyard.
If you rent both spaces, you can use the River Hall as banquet space and transform the Courtyard into a covered dance floor.
Think of sunset views across the water and the twinkle of string lights as you dance the night away.
For the food, you can choose from buffet-style, plated meals or hors d’oeuvres menus for your guests. Some menu highlights include the Gulf Redfish with Crabmeat and the Herb Roasted Chicken.
Typical Cost: from $1,200
Capacity: up to 120 seated guests or 200 standing guests in the Courtyard and 80 seated guests or 120 standing guests in the River Hall
Find the River Inn at the River Inn or check out Facebook.
The Bridge at ChrisLeigh Farm
If you are looking for a charming outdoor wedding venue with the perfect amount of Southern charm outside of Memphis, you will love the Bridge at ChrisLeigh Farm.
With over 92 acres of land, you can choose from plenty of options for your outdoor ceremony or reception.
One wedding spot that cannot be missed featured 90-year-old church pews nestled in a grove of ancient oak trees.
Walking a short distance from the ceremony site, you can watch the sunset reflect across the lake and turn the trees into silhouettes.
The owners love their farm, and you can see that care through small details and improvements throughout the property.
They also go above and beyond to help their guests make their wedding dreams a reality.
Typical Cost: from $2,000
Capacity: up to 250 guests
Find the Bridge at ChrisLeigh Farm at the Bridge at ChrisLeigh Farm or check out Facebook.
The Jack Robinson Gallery
Situated in the South Main Arts District, the Jack Robinson Gallery is an inexpensive wedding venue that feels urban and eclectic.
You can keep your decoration budget down because Robinson’s photographs and Rainbow Studio’s stained glass windows already serve as an incredible backdrop for your wedding day.
The venue includes 2,500 square feet of gallery space, two floors, a prep kitchen, a freight elevator, two concert pianos, banquet tables, chairs, and a sound system. The venue’s price sheet is straightforward, and you can bring in your own vendors.
Pro tip: take first look photographs in the Stained Glass Studio for one-of-a-kind pictures.
Typical Cost: from $1,500 for weekday packages and $2,000 for weekend packages
Capacity: up to 250 standing guests or 135 seated guests
Find the Jack Robinson Galley at the Jack Robinson Gallery or check out Facebook or Instagram.
409 South Main
Located within walking distance from the Jack Robinson Gallery, 409 South Main is a trendy venue that provides a blank canvas for your wedding day.
This type of venue looks great if you only include a few choice decorations that really speak to you. In the past, couples have incorporated a vivid Turkish carpet and a custom flower arch as their primary ceremony decorations.
You will feel like you are a part of history when you step through the doors and put your feet on the hardwood floors.
The indoor space features a catering kitchen, an onsite parking lot for your convenience, exposed brick walls, industrial lighting, and a well-preserved ceiling with vintage woodwork.
Typical Cost: from $2,000 for the Basic Package Monday to Friday
Capacity: up to 320 guests
Find 409 South Main at 409 South Main or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Chimes & Occasions
Couples seeking a romantic wedding venue in Midtown for a small wedding will love Chimes & Occasions.
Chimes is a non-denominational ceremony space that is reminiscent of a French chapel. This venue is beautifully designed to feature an exterior painted in mauve tones with white trim, French doors, wood pews with Lapis-tone upholstery, 15-foot ceilings, and antique furniture.
The venue also offers Occasions, a reception space that can be booked together or separately from Chimes.
You will love the landscaped courtyard featuring redbrick walls, climbing vines, and French-style furniture. The indoor space is equally beautiful, boasting European antiques and distressed wood floors.
Typical Cost: from $1,500 for rental of Chimes Chapel and Occasions Reception Hall Monday to Thursday ($800 just for Chimes Chapel)
Capacity: up to 125 guests
Find Chimes & Occasions at Chimes & Occasions or check out Facebook.
The Balinese Ballroom
When searching for an affordable wedding venue, sometimes it feels like you have to sacrifice elegance to get a good price. That is not the case at the Balinese Ballroom.
The venue features three signature ballrooms, ranging in price from $1,795 to $1,999. However, the Upstairs Ballroom will take your breath away.
Imagine sharing your first dance with your spouse washed in natural light on a hardwood dance floor.
This venue also includes a separate room with a stunning, custom wood bar that will have your guests talking.
The event planners at the Balinese Ballroom can provide tables, folding chairs, linens, and set up and breakdown.
Typical Cost: from $1,795
Capacity: up to 250 guests
Find the Balinese Ballroom at the Balinese Ballroom or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Sagamore Lodge at Chickasaw State Park
Although located slightly further away from downtown Memphis (1.5 hours to be exact), Sagamore Lodge at Chickasaw State Park is the most beautiful state park wedding location in the area.
While there are several indoor and outdoor venues at Chickasaw State Park, Sagamore Lodge is the best value.
Originally constructed out of brick and stone in the 1930s, this rustic lodge feels like something out of a romance novel.
Some amenities on offer include 2 stone fireplaces, wood styling, vaulted ceilings, a stone patio overlooking Lake Placid, and central heating and air-conditioning.
Pro-tip: the venue does not include a kitchen, so you must bring your own pre-prepared food.
Typical Cost: $275 for rentals Monday to Thursday and $375 for rentals Friday to Sunday
Capacity: up to 100 guests
Find Chickasaw State Park at Tennessee State Parks or check out Facebook or Instagram.
