Whoever said that Indiana was a fly-over state was sorely mistaken. Though it may be small, it packs a huge, memorable punch for all that give it a chance. This is especially true where weddings are concerned!
Indiana is home to countless wedding venues that highlight its gorgeous landscape, comfortable climate, and family values.
Whether you’re into apple orchards, lakeside paradises, or riveting museums, you should know that it has a little something for everybody.
Better yet, weddings here are very inexpensive affairs. According to the Wedding Report, the average couple spent just $19,300 on their wedding in 2021.
If you’re thinking about having an Indiana wedding, here are 10 of the best outdoor wedding venues in Indiana.
Lakeside Park & Rose Garden – Fort Wayne
Lakeside Park & Rose Garden, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, offers 25 acres of land for picnics, hiking, basketball, and of course, weddings.
One of several parks within the Fort Wayne Park system, the Rose Garden’s romantic ambiance makes it the perfect spot for an outdoor wedding.
This ceremony-only venue is a dreamy oasis that includes a sunken garden, surrounded by 1500 award-winning roses.
White pillars lead to a pergola adorned with roses and at the center of the park is a rectangular pool full of crisp, blue water.
For your ceremony, you’ll descend stone steps to the spot you’ll exchange your vows, then take pictures underneath the white wedding arches as the garden serves as a breathtaking backdrop.
Price Range: $50 for a two-hour rental.
Capacity: Up to 100 guests.
Find Lakeside Park & Rose Garden at Lakeside Park & Rose Garden or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Indianapolis Propylaeum – Indianapolis
Founded in 1888, The Indianapolis Propylaeum is a non-profit women’s organization that prioritizes uplifting, empowering, and advancing women in Indianapolis. During downtime, the historic Victorian-style mansion hosts weddings for people from all over the country.
The home spans 16,000 square feet and offers couples several indoor and outdoor spaces to host an elegant affair.
Your outdoor wedding ceremony will take place in the front yard as the ornate house acts as a gorgeous backdrop for photos. Or, if you’d like to stand above your guests, you can say “I do” on the elevated porch, which overlooks the entire property.
Because the venue books only one wedding per day, you and your guests will have the entire property to yourself for the duration of the rental.
Plus, you can also book rooms to rent for out-of-town guests.
Price Range: Contact the venue for a quote.
Capacity: Up to 125 guests.
Find Indianapolis Propylaeum at Indianapolis Propylaeum or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Country Line Orchard – Hobart
Apples are an integral part of Indiana agriculture, so why not consider a wedding at one of its many apple orchards?
Country Line Orchard, located in Hobard, Indiana, is one of the state’s most beloved orchards and wedding venues. And with good reason!
Its barn accommodations offer a rustic, yet elegant setting for an authentic, country wedding. The barn’s dramatic red exterior draws the eye in the second you step foot onto the property, making it the perfect backdrop for your timeless photos.
You can hold your ceremony on the land in front of the barn. Then, under the cover of nightfall, venture inside the barn and admire its crystal chandeliers and minimalistic decor.
As far as planning, you have to do very little other than show up. The venue’s staff takes care of all of the setup and cleanup.
Price Range: $15,000 and up.
Capacity: Up to 1,100 guests.
Find Country Line Orchards at Country Line Orchards or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Indiana State Museum – Indianapolis
Whether you’re hoping to have a small, intimate affair, or want your wedding to be the talk of the town, you’re in for a treat.
The Indiana State Museum is a bustling cultural hub that preserves and displays artifacts from Indiana’s rich and storied history. It’s also an architectural gem full of spaces that make for great wedding spots.
For an outdoor ceremony, you can choose from several locations.
The Ball Family Terrace is a quaint outdoor venue that sits just off of a canal and offers spectacular views of the Indianapolis skyline.
And Redwood Grove is a splendid garden oasis that’ll make you think you’re dreaming.
Once you exchange vows, you can either continue to marvel at the museum’s gorgeous green spaces, or you can venture inside and immerse yourself in everything that the property has to offer. Win/win!
Price Range: $700 – $10,000.
Capacity: Up to 500 guests, dependent upon venue.
Find Indiana State Museum at Indiana State Museum or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Wasatch Lake Retreat – Poland
Tucked away in Poland Indiana, Wasatch Lake Retreat is a woodland paradise that spans over 300 acres and includes seven cabins and miles of water frontage.
As one of Indiana’s most popular spaces to reconnect with nature, it’s a perfect venue to host an outdoor wedding!
Your gorgeous ceremony can take place on the lawns in front of any one of its rental cabins, or along the riverbed.
You can also take your wedding photos in the wildflower meadow. It all comes down to what you envision!
The best part is that you’ll get a 5-10% discount if you bulk-book accommodations for yourself and your guests.
Price Range: $2,500 and up.
Capacity: Up to 300 guests.
Find Wasatch Lake Retreat at Wasatch Lake Retreat or check out Facebook.
The Willows – Indianapolis
Sitting just off of Spirit Lake, The Willows is a 13-acre garden venue that serves Indianapolis and surrounding cities. This charming hideaway offers two garden spaces for weddings and receptions.
The Terrace Garden is a quaint slice of land that comes with stone-lined pathways, local foliage, and blooming flowers. The gazebo provides the perfect spot for you and your love to exchange your vows.
The Lakefront Wedding offers grander accommodations. A long, meandering path cuts through the middle of the grounds, leading up to a white arch. Look around and you’ll find colorful flowerbeds and large, towering trees helping to give the place a whimsical feel.
Price Range: $2,000 – 12,000.
Capacity: 80 – 450 guests.
Find The Willows at The Willows or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Black Iris Estate – Carmel
Located in Carmel, Indiana, Black Iris Estate is a mansion venue that exudes timeless charm and grace.
This 13-acre property offers two outdoor spaces for ceremonies and receptions. Most couples wed on the lawn in front of the English-style manor or on the patio which offers gorgeous views of the estate.
After the wedding is over, a stunning iron pergola can serve as a wonderful spot for you and your guests to take keepsake photos.
For the reception, Thomas Caterers – the venue’s exclusive caterers – will work tirelessly to prepare and serve you a meal that suits your unique wants and desires.
Price Range: $750 – $6,000.
Capacity: Up to 400 guests.
Find Black Iris Estate at Black Iris Estate or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Lizton Lodge – Lizton
Situated on over 100 acres of lush land, Lizton Lodge is one of Indiana’s most charming event and wedding venues.
The gorgeous property offers four outdoor venue options, which include a courtyard, pond, woods, and a field. You can dress the spaces up or down, depending on your vision.
The venue also provides everything you need to make your day as easy and stress-free as possible, including decor, tables, chairs, sound equipment, two bars, a fire pit, and even bridal and groom suites!
Price Range: $4,500 – $7,500.
Capacity: Up to 200 guests.
Find Lizton Lodge at Lakeside Park & Lizton Lodge or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Hidden Brook Acres – Shelbyville
Hidden Brook Acres is a 10-acre barn venue that used to be a horse farm. Now, it serves couples who wish to have a minimalist wedding under the wide-open sky.
Located in Shelbyville, Hidden Brook’s central attraction is its renovated farm which borrowed inspiration from the original aesthetic. This is the site where many couples say their “I dos” and pose for photos.
Despite being a newer building less than a decade old, the barn still somehow retains its antique charm, while white curtains draped across the barn doors add a contemporary flair.
Note: this venue is only available from April-October.
Price Range: $1,500 – $4,000.
Capacity: Up to 250 guests.
Find Hidden Brook Acres at Hidden Brook Acres or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Avon Gardens – Avon
If you’ve always wanted to marry amid a serene garden paradise, then Avon Gardens is the perfect venue for you.
Here, you can bask in four acres of beauty and the splendor of ponds, gardens, and waterfalls that span as far as the eye can see.
Avon Garden ceremonies take place on the lawn and you can walk down a flower-lined pathway and share your first kiss under old-growth trees.
Your reception site is just a hop and a skip away. On the way there, you’ll pass waterfalls, a koi pond, and more flowers than you could ever count!
At night, strings of lights set the venue ablaze and cast a romantic haze over the entire property.
Ahh…what more could you ask for?
Price Range: $4,000 – $5,000.
Capacity: Up to 250 guests.
Find Avon Gardens at Avon Gardens or check out Facebook or Instagram.
